The 20 Best Christmas Markets in Europe

Some of these markets have been trading since the Middle Ages, others sit in caves or under Ferris wheels; cathedral squares and Baltic old towns fill out the rest.

1. 1
   Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market

   A Christmas market in Esslingen am Neckar where traders and performers in medieval costume sell crafts beside a regular Christmas market.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik

   Strasbourg's Christmas market, held since 1570 around Strasbourg Cathedral and Place Kléber, is one of the oldest in France.
   999pts
3. 3
   Riga Christmas Market

   A Christmas market on Dome Square in Riga's old town, a city that claims the first decorated Christmas tree in 1510.
   953pts
4. 4
   Stockholm Stortorget Christmas Market

   A Christmas market of red stalls on Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm's Gamla stan.
   840pts
5. 5
   Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

   Nuremberg's Christmas market on the Hauptmarkt square, opened each year by the Christkind's prologue from the Frauenkirche balcony.
   750pts
6. 6
   Munich Christkindlmarkt

   Munich's main Christmas market on Marienplatz, in front of the New Town Hall.
   680pts
7. 7
   Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz

   Vienna's largest Christmas market, held on Rathausplatz in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall with lights strung through the trees of the Rathauspark.
   680pts
8. 8
   Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

   Salzburg's Christmas market on Domplatz and Residenzplatz, in front of Salzburg Cathedral in the UNESCO-listed old town.
   600pts
9. 9
   Colmar Christmas Markets

   Several themed Christmas markets spread through the half-timbered old town of Colmar in Alsace, including Little Venice.
   600pts
10. 10
    Valkenburg Cave Christmas Markets

    Christmas markets held inside the Velvet Cave and the Municipal Cave in the marl caves of Valkenburg in the Netherlands.
    508pts
11. 11
    Frankfurt Christmas Market

    Frankfurt's Christmas market on the Römerberg in front of the Römer town hall, first recorded in 1393.
    400pts
12. 12
    Dresden Striezelmarkt

    Dresden's Christmas market on the Altmarkt, first held in 1434 and named after the Striezel, the local word for Christstollen.
    400pts
13. 13
    Prague Old Town Christmas Market

    Prague's Christmas market on Old Town Square, set around a large Christmas tree in front of the Church of Our Lady before Týn.
    400pts
14. 14
    Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market

    A Christmas market on Roncalliplatz beside Cologne Cathedral, the best known of the city's several Advent markets.
    400pts
15. 15
    Aachen Christmas Market

    A Christmas market around Aachen Cathedral and the town hall, known for Aachener Printen gingerbread.
    400pts
16. 16
    Kraków Christmas Market

    A Christmas market on Kraków's Main Market Square, beside the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica.
    400pts
17. 17
    Advent in Zagreb

    Zagreb's city-wide Advent festival, voted best Christmas market in Europe by European Best Destinations in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
    400pts
18. 18
    Budapest Vörösmarty Square Christmas Fair

    Budapest's central Christmas fair, held each Advent on Vörösmarty Square at the northern end of Váci Street.
    273pts
19. 19
    Bruges Christmas Market

    A Christmas market on the Markt square in Bruges, beneath the medieval Belfry tower.
    273pts
20. 20
    Tallinn Christmas Market

    A Christmas market on Town Hall Square in Tallinn's medieval Old Town, a city that claims to have raised one of the first public Christmas trees in 1441.
    273pts

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