Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World’s Best Christmas Markets

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Experience the Magic of the Holidays in Nuremberg, Germany

Step back in time and immerse yourself in old world charm at Nuremberg's famous Christkindlesmarkt. Dating back to 1628, it's one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany and draws over 2 million visitors each year. Wander through the stalls in the city's quaint, medieval square and soak up the festive spirit. The tantalizing smells of sizzling sausages, roasted nuts, and sweet treats like Nuremberg's famous lebkuchen gingerbread will make your mouth water. Savor a mug of hot, spiced glühwein or warm up with a cup of hot chocolate as you browse handmade crafts and ornaments.

At the heart of the market sits the Christmas Angel, a golden-haired cherub who opens the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt each year. Children gather with excitement to hear the Christmas Angel recite the holiday prologue from the balcony of the Frauenkirche church. The opening ceremony is a magical experience that really sparks the holiday spirit.

In the evenings, the market glows with the soft flicker of a thousand lights. Wander beneath the towering, illuminated Christmas tree and admire the elaborate nativity scenes. Let the festive music transport you back through the centuries. Brass bands, choirs, and street performers entertain visitors with traditional Bavarian tunes.

For children, rides and carousels add to the enchantment. Kids can hop aboard a merry-go-round decked out with reindeer and candy canes, whirl around the Ferris wheel to get a bird's eye view of the market, or ride the miniature steam train. A visit to the old world toy shop on the south side of the square allows kids to pick out a classic, handmade toy as a special Christmas keepsake.
Beyond the market, Nuremberg itself provides a picturesque, medieval backdrop during the holidays. Snow dusted timber-framed houses are adorned with advent wreaths and strings of white lights. Historic churches glow in the darkness, their soaring Gothic spires covered in dazzling illuminations. The festively decorated Handwerkerhof, or Craftsmen's Courtyard, transports visitors back to 16th century Nuremberg with live workshops, demonstrations, and exhibits.

What else is in this post?

1. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Experience the Magic of the Holidays in Nuremberg, Germany
2. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Wander Through Traditional Wooden Stalls in Vienna, Austria
3. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Indulge in Sweets and Treats at Strasbourg's Christkindelsmärik, France
4. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Marvel at the Lights of Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
5. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Sip Mulled Wine at Basel's Glittering Christmas Market, Switzerland
6. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Take in the Sights and Sounds of Krakow's Main Market Square, Poland
7. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Soak up the Charm in Bruges' Historic City Center, Belgium
8. Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Enjoy Festive Music and Dance at Prague's Old Town Square, Czech Republic

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Wander Through Traditional Wooden Stalls in Vienna, Austria

Transport back to the elegance of the Austrian Empire amid the flickering lanterns and horse-drawn carriages of Vienna’s enchanting Christmas markets. Over 20 markets transform Austria's capital into a magical winter wonderland from mid-November through Christmas Eve. Bundle up against the crisp winter chill and meander down sparkling lanes illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights. The tantalizing scents of punsch, gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, and sizzling sausages create an irresistible aroma. As you weave between stalls adorned with festive greenery, hand-blown glass ornaments twinkle from a thousand trees.

Vienna’s most famous Christmas market is found in front of the grand Rathaus, or city hall. This market started in 1298 when Albert I granted Vienna’s citizens the privilege to hold an annual December market. Today, it’s a highlight of the holiday season. The towering Christmas tree presides over 150 stalls offering handmade crafts, ornaments, toys, and holiday treats. Kids can meet Santa, ride the carousel, and marvel at the lights. Enjoy a warming cup of mulled wine while listening to carolers, brass bands, and choirs spread holiday cheer.

For a more intimate experience, head to the historic Spittelberg district. Cobblestone lanes lined with Baroque architecture set the stage for this quainter market. Spittelberg explodes with color, light, and artistry. Marvel at the craftsmanship of unique glass, leather, jewelry, ceramics, and woodwork. Enjoy a cup of Austria’s famous glühwein as you soak up the charm. Spittelberg draws those looking for quality, handmade artisan goods.

At the Schönbrunn Palace market, imperial splendor meets Christmas magic. The market's beautiful backdrop of Austria's most famous palace provides a regal setting. Browse the stalls for high-end gifts and crafts as music from Vienna’s classical heyday fills the air. Curl up with a warm beverage and just soak in the beauty. Schönbrunn offers royal treatment worthy of an emperor.
For novelty, head to the quirky Kunstmarkt on Freyung square. Browse edgy designs, avant-garde jewelry, modern art, and offbeat gifts rarely found at traditional markets. It's an excellent place to find unique Christmas presents. The Kunstmarkt’s hipster vibe provides a modern contrast to Vienna’s old world elegance.

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Indulge in Sweets and Treats at Strasbourg's Christkindelsmärik, France

Step back in time beneath the glowing lanterns of Strasbourg’s magical Christkindelsmärik - one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in Europe. Dating back to 1570, this Alsatian wonderland springs up each Advent season around the soaring Gothic cathedral. The tantalizing smells of cinnamon, roasted almonds, and fresh waffles waft through the streets as you stroll between festively decorated wooden stalls. Indulge your sweet tooth and sample some of Alsace’s tastiest holiday treats!

At the heart of Strasbourg’s market sits the towering “Grand Sapin,” a dazzling Christmas tree adorned with sparkling lights and ribbon. Kids gasp in awe as a crane lowers a massive gingerbread cookie crown onto the tree’s top. The ceremonial opening kicks off five weeks of cookie decorating workshops where children learn the art of piping intricate designs. Attendees proudly show off their hand-decorated gingerbread creations.

lays claim to inventing the但tery thin waffle over four centuries ago. Stop by one of the many waffle stands and watch as the vendor expertly ladles batter onto a hot iron griddle, then peels the perfectly crispy result off the grill. The heavenly aroma alone will make your mouth water before you top your treat with butter, sugar, jam, Nutella, or whipped cream.
Another Alsatian specialty is bredele - crispy, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas butter cookies. Vendors offer samples of different bredele varieties; classics like gingerbread and cinnamon stars, but also unique regional specialties that have been passed down through generations. Bring home a decorative tin filled with an assortment to share with family at teatime.

Kids' eyes grow wide with wonder as they pass pastry displays piled high with kougelhopf - a brioche-like cake studded with raisins and almonds. Little fingers eagerly point to South Germany’s favorite holiday cake, the stollen. Generously stuffed with candied fruit, nuts, and spices, these treats make the perfect accompaniment to a steaming mug of hot chocolate or vin chaud (mulled wine).

Satisfy your chocolate craving with a cup of thick, rich Schokoladen - Strasbourg’s take on drinking chocolate. The best cups come crowned with Chantilly cream. Or nibble your way through a box of Anisbredele, subtly sweet cookies flavored with refreshing aniseed.

The crowning glory of Strasbourg’s Christmas market has to be the mouthwatering piles of pain d’épices - aromatic honey and spice gingerbread. From simple rounds studded with nuts or chocolate to intricately iced gingerbread houses, the creativity is astounding. Bakers craft whimsical shapes from fairytale characters to little boats sailing a sea of frosting. It's truly a gingerbread lover's paradise.

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Marvel at the Lights of Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

Step through the fairy-tale gates into a winter wonderland sparkling with over 500,000 twinkling lights. Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens dazzles visitors each holiday season by transforming into a magical Christmas market that looks straight out of a Hans Christian Andersen story.

For over 170 years, Tivoli Gardens has enchanted locals and visitors alike with its whimsical architecture, lush gardens, and fantastical rides. From mid-November through December, Tivoli adds even more magic by draping itself in glittering lights and yuletide cheer. Stepping into Tivoli's Christmas wonderland feels like walking into an illuminated snowglobe.
Towering above the market glows Tivoli's showstopping Christmas tree, adorned with thousands of lights and reflective baubles. At 43 meters tall, it's one of the tallest Christmas trees in Europe. Kids gaze up in wonder as the shimmering star topper twinkles high above. Surrounding the tree, charming chalet-style stalls are decked out with greenery, baubles, and flickering candles that reflect off the ornament-lined trees. The nightly tree lighting ceremony bathes Tivoli in a dazzling multi-colored glow.

Tivoli's historic pavilions emit a warm, welcoming glow, their striped awnings and turrets adorned with strings of lights. The aroma of æbleskiver (apple fritters), gløgg (mulled wine), and roasted almonds draws you from stall to stall. Carolers serenade visitors while strolling brass bands spread yuletide cheer. You can almost hear the faint jingling of sleigh bells in the distance.
Kids cling excitedly to their parents as they weave through the lights, pausing to peek into Tivoli's intricately decorated shop windows. Inside, Tivoli's elf cobblers hand-make the softest slippers and stuffed nisse dolls while candy stores overflow with shelves of treats. For little ones, Tivoli holds cookie decorating and ornament crafting workshops within its fairytale confines.
At night, Tivoli sparkles even brighter, the lights dancing across the lake and the historic scenes glowing within each pavilion. The Ferris Wheel transforms into a dazzling illuminated sculpture, slowly spinning against the night sky. Young and old snuggle under blankets aboard Tivoli's horse-drawn carriage for a festive ride through the shimmering lights. High above, Tivoli's historic rollercoaster, the Rutschebanen, whirls passengers through an explosion of color.

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Sip Mulled Wine at Basel's Glittering Christmas Market, Switzerland

Nestled along the Rhine River, Basel transforms into a magical winter wonderland once a year when its historic town center springs to life with the largest Christmas market in Switzerland. At the Basel Weihnachtsmarkt, the aroma of sizzling sausages and mulled wine draws you from stall to stall while nostalgic carols echo through the streets. But it’s the shimmering lights reflecting off the Rhine that make Basel’s Christmas market truly unforgettable.

The Christmas market’s centerpiece is the grand Tannebaum, or fir tree, rising over 30 meters into the night sky and aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. At the ceremonial tree lighting, children gaze up in awe as tiny flames flicker to life across the towering tree. Parents lift small children onto their shoulders so they can place their own candle on one of the massive tree’s boughs.

As you meander down sparkling rows with a steaming mug of glühwein, the intricate craftsmanship of handmade ornaments catches your eye. Glassblowers demonstrate their skill, twisting molten glass into intricate Christmas baubles. Woodcarvers chisel away at blocks of wood, coaxing out charming nutcrackers and smokers. Delicate smokers perfume the air with the nostalgic scent of incense.

While sipping a cup of rich, mulled Baselbieter wine, watch as vendors offload baskets overflowing with tart green wreaths and fragrant cinnamon sticks from boats docking along the Rhine. The wreaths’ tart scent mingles with aromas of roasted chestnuts and sweet Lebkuchen. Children roast chestnuts over open fires, peeling away the blackened shells to reveal the sweet, nutty treat inside.

As dusk falls, the market glows with over 700,000 tiny lights. The illuminated Münster Cathedral casts a warm, golden glow across the market, its two towering spires stretching high into the night sky. Crowds gather at the steps of the town hall, faces upturned to watch as flickering candles adorn each window. Musicians huddle in alcoves to serenade bundled-up shoppers.

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Take in the Sights and Sounds of Krakow's Main Market Square, Poland

Transport back to medieval Europe amid the flickering lanterns and horse-drawn carriages of Krakow's enchanting Main Market Square. As one of Europe's largest medieval town squares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site provides a picture-perfect backdrop for Poland's most acclaimed Christmas market.

The tantalizing smells of grilled kielbasa sausage, pierogi dumplings, and warm obwarzanek bagels beckon you from stall to stall. While sipping a steaming cup of grzane wino (mulled wine), watch as artisans demonstrate their craft - twisted strands of golden oscypek cheese, delicate wycinanki paper cutouts, and glittering beads of hand-blown glass. Stalls overflow with cobbled treats like makowiec poppyseed rolls, gingerbread pierniki, and bowls full of ornaments dangling with carved wooden szopki figures.
As the largest square in medieval Europe, Rynek Główny provides plenty of room for Christmas cheer. An ice rink materializes in the square's center, glowing beneath towering lights. Children clutch tightly to their parents as they wobble across the slippery surface, rosy-cheeked with excitement. Young carolers circle the rink, bundled in scarves, warbling Polish holiday melodies.

While most visitors flock to the square's center, don't miss poking down the atmospheric side streets that radiate from the edges. Here, local artisans and craftspeople sell their wares from tiny stalls glowing with twinkle lights. Hand-knitted socks and sweaters make for toasty gifts on cold Polish nights. Hunt for hidden treasures like handmade wycinanki paper cutouts and collectible Christmas ornaments.

After night falls, the square transforms into a magical glow of light and color. The two-tiered Sukiennice Cloth Hall shimmers beneath strings of glowing bulbs. Beneath the hall's Renaissance arcades, roasters turn skewers of oscypek over glowing coals. As you pass, the smoky, salty-sweet scent makes your mouth water. The tempting aroma of sizzling potato pancakes and spirals of trdelnik cake sweetened with cinnamon sugar pulls you from stall to stall.

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Soak up the Charm in Bruges' Historic City Center, Belgium

Step back in time amid the medieval charm of Bruges’ UNESCO-listed historic city center, made all the more magical by the glow of twinkling lights and the scent of gingerbread. From late November through early January, Bruges transforms into a Christmas wonderland, drawing visitors from all over to experience its enchanting holiday markets.
Wander cobblestone streets and winding canals that transport you back to the Middle Ages, when Bruges was an important trading hub. The city’s remarkably well-preserved Gothic architecture provides a picture-perfect backdrop for the Christmas markets that spring up in its squares. Bruges invites you to meander between stalls glowing with the warm flicker of lanterns, pausing to admire handmade lace, listen to carolers, and indulge in Belgian waffles smothered in chocolate and whipped cream.
Bruges’ biggest Christmas market sprawls across the expansive Grote Markt, dominated by the soaring belfry of the 13th century Belfry of Bruges. Kids cling excitedly to their parents as they ride the Ferris wheel, towering high above the market’s twinkling lights. Grab a steaming cup of creamy hot chocolate and join the crowds gathered beneath the market’s towering Christmas tree, adorned with over 600 glittering ornaments and 11 km of sparkling lights.
For a more intimate experience, head to the chocolate box pretty ‘t Zand square, where you can warm up with a cup of glühwein and watch ice sculptors chip away at blocks of ice, coaxing glistening Christmas scenes from the frosty canvas. The nostalgic notes of brass bands fill the air, beckoning you from stall to stall to hunt for Belgian chocolates, handmade souvenirs, and irresistible holiday treats.
Don’t miss MARKT, Bruges’ hipster Christmas market situated along the banks of the picturesque Jan van Eyckplein. This lively market mixes modern art, design, and cuisine with traditional holiday joy. Catch live music acts while admiring edgy art, avant-garde jewelry, and tucking into street food like halloumi burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. Kids squeal with delight as they ride the old-fashioned carousel, weaving between food trucks serving up local craft brews and mulled wine. MARKT provides a trendy contrast to Bruges’ old world charm.

Sip Glühwein and Soak in the Festive Spirit at the World's Best Christmas Markets - Enjoy Festive Music and Dance at Prague's Old Town Square, Czech Republic

Step back in time amid the medieval charm of Prague's Old Town Square, made magical by the flickering glow of lanterns, the clip-clop of horses on cobblestones, and the soaring Gothic spires of the Church of Our Lady Before Týn. From late November through early January, Old Town Square transforms into a festive winter wonderland, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its enchanting Christmas markets and holiday traditions.

According to Prague native Petr Novák, Old Town Square provides the perfect fairytale backdrop for sipping hot svařák (mulled wine) and hunting for handmade ornaments. "With its astronomical clock, Gothic architecture, and historic charm, no place captures the magic of a medieval Christmas quite like Old Town Square," says Novák. "It transports you back to a simpler time."

Travel blogger Anne Baker recommends bundling up against the chill and strolling Old Town Square in the early evening, when the market really comes alive. "The square glows with thousands of twinkling lights strung between pastel-colored buildings. Choirs fill the air with nostalgic carols, beckoning you from stall to stall. Breathing in the mulled wine and baked bread aromas while gazing up at the old clock tower, you feel immersed in centuries past."

In addition to its old world charm, Old Town Square boasts plenty of holiday music, dance, and cheer. Brass bands dressed in traditional Czech folk costumes wander through the square piping out festive tunes. You can't help but tap your feet along to the lively music! Visiting in early December? You may catch St. Nicholas accompanied by shining devils and angels swooping in to judge whether children have been naughty or nice. The costumed characters entertain with songs and dances before handing out candy and small presents.

Ballet lovers flock to Prague each December to see productions of The Nutcracker at the gorgeous National Theatre. few things get you into the Christmas spirit quite like watching Clara's magical adventure set to Tchaikovsky's famous score. If you visit Old Town Square at night, you can catch impromptu ballet performances right beneath the glittering tree. Dancers twirl across the square, their graceful movements in harmony with the soaring notes of violins and cellos.