Sleigh bells have just about started ringing, so it’s time to get excited about those jolly trans-European trips to make merry and stock up on gifts. Enjoy our HI pick of top cities for Christmas markets this year.
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1.Bath – UK
27th November – 14th December
Located in the shadow of Bath Abbey, drop in at this Christmas shoppers’ haven filled with rows of little wooden huts selling bespoke, handicraft items. Bath is a Georgian city, and has a rustic prettiness which means it’s well prepared for Christmas magic even without the trimmings, but the sounds of carol singers, sights of richly coloured decorations, and smells of warm British food and mulled wine wafting through the air all help.
2. Berlin – Germany
24th November – 31st December
During the year’s final months, Germany becomes especially popular because of its famous seasonal celebrations. There are around 50 Christmas markets in Berlin, which transform the already-vibrant city into a festival fairy-tale wonderland. Our favourite is the Weihnachtszauber at the Gendarmenmarkt, central Berlin, great for its cosy atmosphere and location sandwiched between three impressive buildings - the Deutsche Dom, the Konzerthaus and the Franzozische Friedrichstadtkirche.
3. Basel – Switzerland
27th November – 23rd December
Basel hosts some of Switzerland’s largest and most romantic Christmas markets, two of which are held in the heart of the city, near the cathedral and around the historic Barfüsserkirche. A huge pine is decorated by Christmas tree specialist Johann Wanner; waffles, Basel Läckerli biscuits and grilled sausages are served, and lights illuminate the streets. The opening ceremony on 27th November will be accompanied by the Musik Akademie Basel horn ensemble and free tea, mulled wine and soup will be provided.
4. Brussels, Belgium
28th November – 4th January
Visit this modern Winter Wonders market based in the beautiful Place Saint Catherine. With a sound and light show at the Grand Place UNESCO World Heritage site, ice rink, ferris wheel, roundabouts, concerts and marching bands, these guys have your dose of tradition coupled with a more progressive dip into surrealism and new design: the Art Nouveau arabesques, the comic strip displays and a green agenda through recycling and Fairtrade. The Belgians do it differently, and enchantingly.
5. Vienna – Austria
15th November – 24th December
Perhaps the grandfather of European Christmas markets, Vienna’s typical and well-established ‘December market’ scene has been going since 1294. Advent here is filled with nostalgia and beauty, and markets include the City Hall market, and the traditional Viennese Christmas Markets at Freyung, Spittelberg, Am Hof and in front of the church of St. Charles Borromeo. Expect the sensory treats of candied fruits, Christmas punch and roasted chestnuts alongside pony-riding and trips on the Christkindl Express in the adjoining park.
6. Barcelona – Spain
25th November – 23rd December
From grand mercados to cosy collections of local traders, Barcelona offers a heady and unforgettable Christmas experience. The classic and more well-known Fira de Santa Llúcia has expanded to more than 300 stalls and alongside all of the expected handcrafted decorations, gifts, poinsettias and Christmas trees, you will find a rather strange, Catalan Nativity figure called caganer, or ‘crapper’, a small figure crouching over a fairly un-festive, steaming yule log. Much to everyone’s delight, smaller versions of the figure are sold at the stalls.
You can sleep in a Hostel Pere Tarrés.
7. Lille, France
20th November – 30th December
During Christmas, Lille’s Place Rihour comes to life, resplendent as a sparkling winter wonderland and filled with "joie de vivre." The majestic 50 metre high big wheel provides panoramic views of the whole city, and even if it’s not really snowing, the Grand Place Square is sprinkled with artificial snow, still convincing enough to have you reaching for your gloves, and is dominated by an 18-metre high Christmas tree.
8. Bologna, Italy
21st November—7th January
Christmas-friendly Bologna is perhaps not on everyone’s radar; but despite being smaller than any of Germany’s showstoppers, the city’s Fiera di Natale allows you to enjoy fairy-lit landmarks such as the Asinelli Tower whilst filling your pockets with stocking-sized presents and unique, wooden figurines. Here, you can graze on citrus peel dipped in dark chocolate and roasted nuts, and enjoy the kitsch, twee cherubs emblazoned around the city. Don’t forget to bring back a bag of torrone – delicious Christmas nougat.
9. Stockholm, Sweden
Skansen’s Christmas market is a perfect way to experience this ultra-festive, Scandinavian capital. Held annually since 1903, you can get stocking up (forgive us) on traditional Swedish handicrafts such as straw-made ornaments, hand-dipped candles, and decorative art by local crafts-folk. Hungry? Go for Swedish Christmas fare: smoked sausage, eel, saffron buns, pepparkakor (gingersnaps), and glögg (mulled wine).
10. Vilnius, Lithuania
One of the newer hosts of Christmas markets, Vilnius began throwing festive shows in 2009 and is becoming an increasingly popular place to visit around this time, owing to its innovative folkloric celebrations. Traditional fairy tale the ‘Christmas Dream’ is projected onto the Cathedral wall, the ‘old man of Christmas’ has a house at the centre of the market for children to visit, accompanied by the soft sounds of Eastern European Christmas music floating throughout the city. Be sure to grab a Kucia, a native, festive treat of poppy seeds, honey, grains, hemp seed and pulses.
