Christmas Market Packing List Essentials
Packing for the European Christmas markets isn’t quite like your typical winter vacation. You’ll be spending hours outside, possibly in freezing temps, wandering through charming stalls with mulled wine in one hand and your phone or camera in the other. If you're underdressed or unprepared, it's easy to go from magical to miserable real fast.
After years of market-hopping through Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and more, we've figured out exactly what you need to bring to stay warm, dry, comfortable, and ready for every photo op or souvenir impulse buy. These are the must-haves that non-European travelers (ourselves included) swear by when exploring Europe's Christmas markets.
There’s no need to pack your entire closet or every travel gadget you own, but showing up underprepared for winter in Europe is one way to make a magical trip feel meh. With the right gear, you’ll be warm, festive, and ready to soak in every cozy, twinkly, mulled-wine-scented moment the Christmas markets have to offer.
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Winter-Ready Clothing to be Outside All Day
Insulated, Waterproof/Water-Resistant Coat: Not just warm, but windproof and waterproof too. You’ll be outside for hours, sometimes in wind, drizzle, or snow flurries, and a cozy coat that blocks it all makes a huge difference. Peacoats and wool coats are okay, but you’ll see more puffer coats than anything. Whichever coat you go with, we highly recommend bringing one that covers your rear or goes down to the knees for extra warmth. A water-resistant coat like this is a great choice! Or if you need a fully waterproof coat, choose this one. Size up if you need room for a thick sweater underneath.
Base Layers: Thermal long sleeves and leggings add warmth without bulk. Uniqlo’s Heattech or merino wool layers are our favorites. You can always remove them if you overheat inside a restaurant or museum.
Mid-Layers: A good sweatshirt, sweater, or fleece makes a big difference. Bonus points for something festive, since you’ll be surrounded by twinkly lights and Christmas cheer! We’ve launched our festive Christmas Markets Collection of long-sleeve tees and sweatshirts for your Christmas markets trip! Shop your favorite cozy pieces here!
Warm, Waterproof Shoes: Cobblestones, snow, and slush do not mix well with cute but impractical shoes. A pair of lined, waterproof boots with solid tread will save your feet and your mood. Be sure to break them in before your trip! These have been Kait’s go-to boots for years, and these are some of Andrew’s favorites!
Wool Socks: Bring several pairs of thick wool or thermal socks. They insulate better than cotton, and if your feet are cold, the rest of you will be too. We’ve packed these on every winter trip, and they’re borderline too warm; they work so well!
Where Is the Best Christmas Market?
We asked 500 Christmas-market goers to pick their absolute favorite Christmas market in Europe, and the results are in!
Check out the rankings here!
Cold-Weather Accessories for Market Hopping
Hat that Covers Your Ears: Whether it’s a beanie or a fleece-lined headband, make sure your ears are covered. Wind chill is no joke, especially in the evenings. Shop our ‘Tis the Season beanie featuring two adorable boot mugs here!
Scarf (Wool or Cashmere): A scarf adds extra warmth and makes every photo more festive. Go for one that’s soft and substantial—you’ll use it constantly. We recommend bringing only one and buying another while you’re there as a practical, memorable souvenir!
Insulated Gloves or Mittens: Touchscreen gloves like these are great for staying warm while taking photos. If your hands get extra cold, consider liners or mittens over gloves for more warmth.
Hand Warmers: Disposable or rechargeable, these are lifesavers on especially cold nights. Keep a pair of these rechargeable ones in your coat pockets and thank us later! If you forget to pack them, you can usually find single-use warmers at drugstores like DM (Germany and Austria), Müller (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), or Monoprix (France). In Switzerland, check Coop or Migros.
What to Do if There’s a Train Strike
Strikes are a relatively common occurrence in Europe, especially around the holidays. Don’t let a train strike derail your magical Christmas Market itinerary!
Find out what to do if a train strike threatens your trip here.
Tech Essentials for Christmas Markets
Plug Adapter: Most of continental Europe uses Type C/E/F plugs. Bring the right adapter so you can charge your gear. If you forget, you’ll find adapters at FNAC (France), MediaMarkt or Saturn (Germany and Austria), or Interdiscount (Switzerland). Airport shops and hotel front desks may also carry them in a pinch.
Portable Charger: Cold weather drains batteries faster. A power bank keeps your phone ready for navigation, translation apps, and, of course, market photos. We’ve always liked using this one from Anker! Just remember, while you’re packing, the power bank MUST go in your carry-on luggage. Power banks are no longer permitted in checked luggage.
Camera or Smartphone: Markets are stunning at night—glowing lights, steaming mugs, decorated trees. Your phone’s night mode might be enough, but if you’re into photography, bring your camera! Just make sure to use a camera strap and bring a discreet bag to keep it safe and secure when you're not using it.
Wanna know what camera gear we use while traveling? Check out our blog where we break down what’s in Our Camera Bag!
eSIM: Make getting around and using data a breeze with an eSIM like Airalo! We’ve used this company for years to avoid major roaming data fees.
Smart Bags and Packing Helpers
Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag: A zippered crossbody that you can keep in front of you is ideal in crowded markets. Pickpockets love tourist-heavy areas. Baggallini is a high-quality, reputable brand that our travel friends have sworn by for years.
Kait alternates between a Coach crossbody and Lo & Son’s Crossbody purse, depending on whether she’s carrying her camera. Our best advice, no matter what you wear, is to wear your bag over your middle layer and under your coat so it can stay extra protected.
Canvas Tote: You’ll want something to stash gloves, scarf, purchases, and extra layers. Also, many vendors at Christmas markets don’t offer bags or charge for them. A tote is super helpful for carrying gifts or snacks! We swear by a classic canvas bag, so much so that we made a collection of our own Christmas Market-themed canvas bags! They fold up small in a pocket or purse and are great extra storage when you need them!
Packable Duffel or Suitcase: Going carry-on only on the way over? Smart. But consider bringing a foldable duffel for the trip home. You’ll probably collect a few fragile mugs or ornaments. This is our go-to because it folds up so compactly until you need it!
Ziploc Bags: Great for packing home mugs, keeping sticky items separate, or corralling messy snacks. Always bring a few gallon-size ones!
Bubble Wrap or Socks for Fragiles: If you’re bringing home breakables, either bring some padding or be ready to sacrifice a sweater for the cause. If you forget bubble wrap, you can usually find it at post offices (La Poste in France, Deutsche Post in Germany, Österreichische Post in Austria, or Die Post in Switzerland) or stationery shops like Buro Center or Papeterie stores. DM and Müller also sometimes carry small rolls.
Winter Wellness Essentials For Your Carry-On
Lip Balm: Cold air and hot drinks can lead to chapped lips. Keep it handy. And don’t let overcast days fool you - make sure it has SPF!
Hand Cream: Between the dry air and frequent hand washing or sanitizing, your hands will thank you for a little extra TLC.
Hand Sanitizer & Wipes: You’ll be eating with your hands a lot. Sanitize first. Wipes are also great for cleaning off sticky treats or those market mugs you want to keep.
Tissues: Your nose will run. Always have tissues in your coat pocket. Always. If you run out, look for brands like Tempo or Kleenex at supermarkets, convenience stores, or drugstores (DM, Müller, Coop, Monoprix).
Insulated Water Bottle: Hydrate, especially if you’re drinking glühwein! You’ll do a lot of snacking and shopping and not realize how far you’re walking from place to place and for how long. Stay hydrated out there!
Over-the-Counter Meds: It’s harder to find your go-to cold meds in Europe. Bring what you might need, just in case. If you do need something while abroad, visit an Apotheke (Germany/Austria), pharmacie (France), or Drogerie/Apotheke (Switzerland). Popular brands include Doliprane or Nurofen (France), Thomapyrin (Germany), and NeoCitran (Switzerland). Just know that medications are often kept behind the counter, so you’ll sometimes need to ask for help.