Oh, Tannenbaum!
Americans should be recovering from Thanksgiving, but Christmas is already in full swing across the pond in Europe, where a festive array of seasonal markets have quickly turn out to be the focus in city after city, from the Atlantic to the Adriatic.
Extravagant decorations, traditional crafts, local and seasonal foods (and drinks, after all) are only the beginning, with each event putting their very own unique spin on what is going to often be one of the vital necessary — and probably the most anticipated — local happenings of the 12 months.
And based on one newly-released rating that goals to award one of the best holiday celebrations on the continent, the Christmas market scene in countries like Germany — perhaps the best-known to American travelers — is only the start of the fun, with all types of obscure spots edging the famous cities off, or at the least far down the list.
Greater than 750,000 travelers and locals voted in Best Christmas Markets in Europe survey, which was launched back in 2009. In response to them, the primary spot for 2025 — which managed to snag greater than 90,000 faves — is the pride of a lesser-known Baltic Sea port town just a brief drive from the Russian border.
The runner-up is equally — if no more — off the beaten path, hosted by the seventh-largest city in a Black Sea-facing country that pulls off what’s reportedly the most important festival of its kind in all of Europe, bringing 280,000 square-feet of fine cheer to a reasonably historic town center.
Are you for a glass of mulled wine — and perhaps an evening of skating under the celebrities to a 1980’s pop soundtrack, when you’re lucky? Listed here are one of the best of one of the best.
Gdansk, Poland
An enthralling pair of nutcracker hosts, a vintage, Venetian-style carousel, theater, dance and singing performances within the streets, and a great deal of crafts and art and lightweight canopies and more — that’s December as usual within the Polish port city, with an old town that’s appealing all 12 months long, when you can’t get here before 12 months’s end.
Craiova, Romania
Also snagging greater than 90,000 votes — an apparent record — was this massive, multi-faceted feast for the senses considered to be the most important Christmas event in Europe. Like a pop-up theme park, Craiova’s celebration is split in to 4 distinct experiences — a Beauty and the Beast experience bringing the classic tale to life, Santa’s Village, a stroll through a standard Romanian experience and, for the Star Wars fans, a “futuristic” Galactic Christmas party. Fly high over all of it via the panoramic Ferris wheel, the higher to soak up the thousands and thousands of lights on display.
Geneva, Switzerland
The shores of Lake Geneva — in one among the world’s wealthiest cities — is a most auspicious location for what’s been named one of the best market in Switzerland, one of the vital Christmas-loving countries anywhere on the planet. At what’s often called the “Noël au Quai,” expect all the normal Swiss favorites — raclette and mulled wine, needless to say — and numerous great crafts. It’s all an amazing jumping off point for the Geneva in winter experience — with winter swimming (and sauna), a vigorous cultural scene and all of the luxurious pampering you possibly can afford in an array of high quality restaurants and a number of the continent’s most plush hotels.
Riga, Latvia
A straightforward day trip from the better-known city of Helsinki, Finland, Riga’s well worth the fast and reasonably priced ferry ride at any time of 12 months, but actually immediately for its oft-celebrated annual celebration featuring what’s been called one of the best light display in Europe, in addition to the general most authentic holiday party of its kind. Seeing the cleverly illuminated landmarks of town’s blue ribbon-worthy historic center is half the fun.
Asti-Govone, Italy
One in every of The Boot’s best is special enough that one town can’t hold all the affair, as a substitute spilling out and about on this section of the Piedmont region, a Unesco World Heritage Site, taking up the three separate communities of Govone, Asti and San Damiano d’Asti. Search for a recreation of a nineteenth century Christmas, a living nativity and — after all — a detour to the North Pole, where everyone knows you’ll find Santa’s house.
15 more of one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, based on voters
Essen, Germany
Valkenburg, The Netherlands
Montbeliard, France
Vienna, Austria
Marbella, Spain
Prague, Czechia
Bath, England
Brussels, Belgium
Birmingham, England
Salzburg, Austria
Edinburgh, Scotland
London, England
Helsinki, Finland
Bruges, Belgium
Manchester, England
Oh, Tannenbaum!
Americans should be recovering from Thanksgiving, but Christmas is already in full swing across the pond in Europe, where a festive array of seasonal markets have quickly turn out to be the focus in city after city, from the Atlantic to the Adriatic.
Extravagant decorations, traditional crafts, local and seasonal foods (and drinks, after all) are only the beginning, with each event putting their very own unique spin on what is going to often be one of the vital necessary — and probably the most anticipated — local happenings of the 12 months.
And based on one newly-released rating that goals to award one of the best holiday celebrations on the continent, the Christmas market scene in countries like Germany — perhaps the best-known to American travelers — is only the start of the fun, with all types of obscure spots edging the famous cities off, or at the least far down the list.
Greater than 750,000 travelers and locals voted in Best Christmas Markets in Europe survey, which was launched back in 2009. In response to them, the primary spot for 2025 — which managed to snag greater than 90,000 faves — is the pride of a lesser-known Baltic Sea port town just a brief drive from the Russian border.
The runner-up is equally — if no more — off the beaten path, hosted by the seventh-largest city in a Black Sea-facing country that pulls off what’s reportedly the most important festival of its kind in all of Europe, bringing 280,000 square-feet of fine cheer to a reasonably historic town center.
Are you for a glass of mulled wine — and perhaps an evening of skating under the celebrities to a 1980’s pop soundtrack, when you’re lucky? Listed here are one of the best of one of the best.
Gdansk, Poland
An enthralling pair of nutcracker hosts, a vintage, Venetian-style carousel, theater, dance and singing performances within the streets, and a great deal of crafts and art and lightweight canopies and more — that’s December as usual within the Polish port city, with an old town that’s appealing all 12 months long, when you can’t get here before 12 months’s end.
Craiova, Romania
Also snagging greater than 90,000 votes — an apparent record — was this massive, multi-faceted feast for the senses considered to be the most important Christmas event in Europe. Like a pop-up theme park, Craiova’s celebration is split in to 4 distinct experiences — a Beauty and the Beast experience bringing the classic tale to life, Santa’s Village, a stroll through a standard Romanian experience and, for the Star Wars fans, a “futuristic” Galactic Christmas party. Fly high over all of it via the panoramic Ferris wheel, the higher to soak up the thousands and thousands of lights on display.
Geneva, Switzerland
The shores of Lake Geneva — in one among the world’s wealthiest cities — is a most auspicious location for what’s been named one of the best market in Switzerland, one of the vital Christmas-loving countries anywhere on the planet. At what’s often called the “Noël au Quai,” expect all the normal Swiss favorites — raclette and mulled wine, needless to say — and numerous great crafts. It’s all an amazing jumping off point for the Geneva in winter experience — with winter swimming (and sauna), a vigorous cultural scene and all of the luxurious pampering you possibly can afford in an array of high quality restaurants and a number of the continent’s most plush hotels.
Riga, Latvia
A straightforward day trip from the better-known city of Helsinki, Finland, Riga’s well worth the fast and reasonably priced ferry ride at any time of 12 months, but actually immediately for its oft-celebrated annual celebration featuring what’s been called one of the best light display in Europe, in addition to the general most authentic holiday party of its kind. Seeing the cleverly illuminated landmarks of town’s blue ribbon-worthy historic center is half the fun.
Asti-Govone, Italy
One in every of The Boot’s best is special enough that one town can’t hold all the affair, as a substitute spilling out and about on this section of the Piedmont region, a Unesco World Heritage Site, taking up the three separate communities of Govone, Asti and San Damiano d’Asti. Search for a recreation of a nineteenth century Christmas, a living nativity and — after all — a detour to the North Pole, where everyone knows you’ll find Santa’s house.
15 more of one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, based on voters
Essen, Germany
Valkenburg, The Netherlands
Montbeliard, France
Vienna, Austria
Marbella, Spain
Prague, Czechia
Bath, England
Brussels, Belgium
Birmingham, England
Salzburg, Austria
Edinburgh, Scotland
London, England
Helsinki, Finland
Bruges, Belgium
Manchester, England
