Which Christmas Markets are the best? Over the 2021 and 2022 Christmas seasons, we traveled to eight cities across five European countries to visit some of Europe’s best Christmas markets. As we plan our Christmas market world tour for 2023 to seven other cities in seven different European countries, we’re reflecting on our favorite markets we’ve visited. While all Christmas markets have a few similarities, each offers unique specialties, settings, and vibes, giving them their own flair. 

It’s tough to compare these cities and markets in a way that makes them seem less special than another, especially when we truly enjoyed our time in each of them and would genuinely recommend each stop to anyone looking to visit Europe during the Christmas season. But for complete honesty and to help you choose which market city might be best for your upcoming trip, here is our current ranking of our favorite to not-quite-as-favorite Christmas market cities so far. 

This feels like picking a favorite child. *sigh.* We’ll start from the bottom of the list and work our way up to the favorite (that will forever be hard to beat!) Turn on a Christmas playlist, queue the fireplace screensaver on the TV, snuggle into a blanket, and grab a cup of cocoa or glass of wine to conjure the spirit of the season, and let’s get into it!

*We’ll continue to update the list as we visit more Christmas markets in our 2023 winter travels.*

We’re ranking them based off of three things:

Atmosphere: Is there music? Is there a theme? Are there just a few market stalls on a busy street, or does it feel immersive? Vibe or atmosphere counts for the most in our book. It just does. Size isn’t everything – the atmosphere is! Especially when it comes to Christmas magic, moments, and memories!

Offerings: How is the food? Are there unique gifts that are actually tempting to buy? Are there enough market stalls? Is there anything other than stalls? Almost every Christmas market has sausages and ornaments, so we’re counting what different offerings stand out.

Ease of travel: Is the market easy to access? Is it simple to get from one market to another? Many cities have more than one market or must-do Christmas experience, so ease of travel counts a lot when it comes to market hopping!

Zurich is a beautiful Swiss city, but because of its large and urban vibe, it didn’t feel transformed for the holidays like some of its counterparts. A few corners and streets were dotted with Christmas specialties, but the vibe was not immersive. We only spent time in Zurich because it was surprisingly one of the cheapest cities to fly into from Dallas, Texas. So if you’re already flying to Zurich for the season, it’s worth a one-night stop in your itinerary. However, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit during the holidays. Instead, visit Zurich in the early summer when you can enjoy the beauty of the mountains, lake, and bustling city for all it’s worth!

Biggest Pros:

• The Zurich Christmas markets almost exclusively take debit or credit cards for purchases. This is rare for markets, and is especially handy since Switzerland goes off of its own money, Swiss Francs, not euros. 
• The Wienachtsdorf at Sechseläutenplatz offers various cultural foods, including Thai, Mexican, and more. If you’re Christmas market hopping, this will be a welcomed change from the standard sausage and potatoes! 
• The train station market is impressive, and watching the live singing Christmas tree was special!

Biggest Cons:

• True to Swiss standards, this was the most expensive city and market to visit. We stayed in an average 3-star hotel for almost $200 a night, spent about $20 on lunch each day, and didn’t buy any souvenirs because they were more expensive than any other stop we made.
• The market stops are very spread out. Zurich is a large city with several markets dotted around. And unfortunately, in between markets, it didn’t really feel like “Christmas time in the city” as much as other destinations.

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Zurich Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

Capital cities are tricky for Christmas for the same reason we mentioned Zurich. And like Zurich, if you’re not flying to Finland to explore the snowy wonderland of Finnish Lapland or plan to add visits to nearby countries like Sweden or Estonia, there’s little reason to fly all the way up to Helsinki specifically for its Christmas markets. The city is more elaborately decorated than Zurich. It offers more of a Christmas vibe due to its likelihood of snow, but we wouldn’t call this destination worth the trip just for its Christmas markets.

Biggest Pros:

• Visiting Rovaniemi (the hometown of Santa Claus) in northern Finland, then stopping in Helsinki for its Christmas charm and markets, makes for a memorable winter wonderland getaway!
• Helsinki’s Christmas Parade is hands down the cutest, funniest, and merriest parade we’ve ever seen. Get a glimpse of it in our Helsinki Christmas vlog! 
• Finnish food is incredibly underrated and might be one of our favorite cuisines! Eat some of everything, and don’t miss out on eating reindeer! Reindeer are adorable… but also delicious

Biggest Cons:

• It’s really, really cold. As the most northern option on the list, it’s hard to fault the markets on behalf of the weather, but it’s undoubtedly a factor! We were thankful we had our snow pants from our visit to Rovaniemi because we needed them after spending hours outside in December!
• There’s not much sunlight in Finland during Christmas time! The sun rises around 9 a.m. and sets around 3 p.m. If you want to go sightseeing in the daylight, do it early!

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Helsinki Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

It’s hard to rank Basel so low because we thoroughly enjoyed it! However, because it only had two markets to offer that were both very similar, it’s further down the list than some stops. It was an easy train ride away from many destinations and is definitely worth a stop if you’re visiting Colmar, Zurich, or Strasbourg. But if you’re not in the area? It’s really not that different from many of the German Christmas markets.

Biggest Pros:

• It’s very easy to walk between the two major Christmas markets of the city, and in between them is a beautiful, more high-end shopping street that’s wonderfully lit up for the holidays. 
• You can’t beat all the fondue options! This is Switzerland, after all. 
• The Basel Christmas Markets are among the first to open, so if you’re American and utilizing the Thanksgiving holidays, Basel could be an excellent option for your visit.

Biggest Cons:

• The two big markets offer almost identical food and shopping options. The settings feel pretty different, but the offerings are the same. 
• You’ll need a completely different currency (Swiss Francs) in cash to eat, sip, and shop around here. Many places will not take cards, even for meals around $20-$30.

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Basel Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

7. Frankfurt, Germany

What? A German Christmas market is mid-tier? Frankfurt offers a similar problem to Zurich. It has such a classic big-city vibe that though several small markets are scattered around the city, the only one that gives you the feeling of a cozy Christmas market is the main one.

Biggest Pros:

• The Römerberg market in the old town center does not disappoint! The carousel, the colorful buildings, and the cozy environment make Frankfurt worth a stop for Christmas.
• Frankfurt is centrally located near many other wonderful ones in the area, so it’s an easy addition if you intend to visit several different Christmas markets.
• If you like warm, sweet drinks, Feuerzangenbowle is a German specialty mulled wine with added sugar, rum, and fire! Though it can be found in a few places around Germany, the Feuerzangenbowle we tried at the Frankfurt Christmas markets was our favorite.

Biggest Cons:

• The Römberg market had an annoying system for purchasing drinks. If you want a cup of something warm, you pay for the drink and a deposit for the mug (just like anywhere else). But along with your mug of cider, wine, or cocoa, you’re also handed a token you need to keep up with and remember exactly where it came from. While at most markets, you can return a mug for your deposit back just about anywhere, at this market, you have to return your mug and your token exactly where you got it from. It requires annoying backtracking and carrying around an empty mug longer than necessary. 
• Outside the Römberg market, the other Frankfurt options are like anywhere else. Not bad! Just not special.

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Frankfurt Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

6. Budapest, Hungary

What? A German Christmas market is mid-tier? Frankfurt offers a similar problem to Zurich. It has such a classic big-city vibe that though several small markets are scattered around the city, the only one that gives you the feeling of a cozy Christmas market is the main one.

Biggest Pros:

• The St. Stephen’s Basilica market is large and beautiful. It’s set in front of the remarkable St. Stephen’s Basillica which is also the setting for a regularly programmed holiday projection show!
• The stately monuments of Budapest are spectacularly illuminated and dotted along the Danube, adding to the breathtaking Christmasy ambiance of the city. 
• Hungarian food is the underrated hero of European cuisine! If the rankings were based on food alone, Budapest would instantly steal the number one spot. From the chimney cakes to the goulash and everything in between, Budapest by far has offered the best Christmas market food of all.

Biggest Cons:

• While Hungary is a member of the EU, they still use their own currency. So instead of the Euro which is very close to the US Dollar and the British Pound, Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint. It’s unfortunately set at a very different conversion ratio than other currencies. At the time of writing in November 2023, 380 HUF (Forint) = €1; 347 HUF = $1 USD; 437 HUF = £1. It’s not a simple conversion and we struggled to quickly calculate costs while shopping.
• Outside the two main markets and the fashion street, there aren’t that many markets or Christmasy corners of the city to explore. But at least everything is centralized! 

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Budapest Christmas Markets Vlog on our YouTube channel!

Colmar is a beautiful little city in the Alsace region of southeastern France that transforms into a Christmas land during the holidays. It’s dreamy…and everyone knows it. Even on a weekday, the crowds were packed! You’ll find yourself shoulder to shoulder with countless travelers and locals in the markets and the streets. It’s an easy trip from Strasbourg and Basel, but that might be one of the reasons for its intense crowding.

Biggest Pros:

• It’s absolutely adorable. Not only are the markets full of holiday cheer, but the colorful buildings are all heavily decorated. This city goes all out for Christmas! 
• One market is considered the culinary market, and it does not disappoint! The best meals of our entire trip came from this market. We ate something different for dinner there three nights in a row!
• On many weekend evenings throughout the Christmas season, you can see Papa Noel and a boat full of children sing Christmas carols right on the river! Watching this has become one of our favorite travel memories.

Biggest Cons:

• Hands down, the crowding here was the worst we’ve seen anywhere. 
• Two of the places that are considered “Christmas markets” felt really modern in a bad way. They sold electronics and cheap clothes you’d find on Amazon or a discount store. Not a vibe.

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Colmar Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

As one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, it’s no doubt that Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are iconic. With many spread throughout the city, there’s no shortage of options to stroll through. The only thing missing was snow!

Biggest Pros:

• The primary market at Place Broglie has the absolutely stunning backdrop of Strasbourg’s Notre Dame, with a giant and famous single spire. It makes for such a pretty setting!
• The city’s Christmas lights down every street near the markets make for warm fuzzy feelings everywhere you go. It always looks like Christmas! 
• The space between market stalls is much bigger than in many other cities, so crowding is often less of an issue. While Strasbourg draws significant crowds, we never felt claustrophobic or too crowded.

Biggest Cons:

• We did not enjoy their vin chaud (mulled wine) at all. The star anise or licorice flavor was so incredibly powerful it was hard to drink. If you’re a licorice fan, help yourself!
• While some market shopping options were beautiful, handmade gifts, we noticed most options here were imported or very repetitive market to market. It’s kind of a bummer for shopping.

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Strasbourg Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

Before you ask, we’ll tell you – Where is Estonia anyway? Directly under Finland, to the left of Russia, and directly above Latvia. This northern European country might not be on many bucket lists yet, but it should be, especially for the holidays! Being so far north, the likelihood of wandering through a market on a snowy day is high and brings so much Christmas magic.

Biggest Pros:

• The one market they have is absolutely so well done. Located in the center of the old town, the atmosphere, vibes, and setup are perfect. 
• There is so much medieval charm in this city which is so unique! It carries over to a few of the market stalls and makes walking around the decorations of the old town incredibly charming. 
• If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas market, Tallinn is literally perfect for it. One of our favorite travel memories of all time is walking up the Old Town streets in the freezing cold, hearing Bing Crosby’s White Christmas playing overhead as we round the corner to the Christmas market as it started snowing giant, fluffy flakes. It felt like a movie moment. That is what Christmas travel dreams are made of.

Biggest Cons:

• There is only one market. While this one market is impressive, Tallinn doesn’t offer quite as many Christmas market options as other destinations. 
• It’s not really close by too much. Unless you’re already visiting Finland or Latvia, there are few reasons to fly to Estonia in the winter. While we enjoyed our winter visit, we know an Estonian summer would have to be incredibly beautiful and probably better for sightseeing.

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Tallinn Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!

This central European country might not be on your bucket list yet, but it should be, especially for the holidays! Clear and bright, waltzing through the grand Viennese streets during Christmas time is sure to become a core memory.

Biggest Pros:

• Vienna opens there Christmas markets before everyone else in mainland Europe, so if you’re hoping for a dose of Christmas before American Thanksgiving, this is the place!
• There is so much elegant charm in this city! As the home of generations of royals, the ornate and elegant atmosphere of the city center carries over to a few of the market stalls and makes walking around the decorations of the city a truly breathtaking experience. 
• Since Vienna is a really convenient city to fly into, it’s the perfect hub for visiting other central European markets like Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, or Salzburg. In fact, you can even take a day-trip to Bratislava from Vienna!

Biggest Cons:

• While Vienna opens a few market in mid-November, not all of the markets open at once. Three main markets open in mid-November, and then an additional three or four markets open the end of November and beginning of December.
• Everyone talks about how expensive Switzerland is to visit, but no one tends to mention how pricey Austria can be! A dinner of a Weiner Schnitzel, salad, and beer costs about $30, and a sweet treat of the famous Sacher Torte and Viennese coffee costs about $15. 

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Vienna Christmas Markets Vlog on our YouTube channel!

1. Cologne, Germany

When we think of Christmas, we think of coziness and fun – precisely what Cologne and its many markets bring! With its ultra-themed markets, delicious food, and fun activities, there is so much to love about Christmas in Cologne, no matter how you spell it. (It’s written as Cologne, Köln, and Koeln – just so you’re prepared!)

Biggest Pros:

• We have never seen markets so themed as the ones in Cologne! Whether the market theme is gnomes, angels, cathedrals, fish, or Santa, each market goes all out! The Gnome market was our absolute favorite. It was like playing I-spy all day.
• The food was some of the best we’ve had across all the markets we’ve visited. 
• We shopped more at these markets than anywhere else. From handcrafted sweaters and jewelry to clever souvenir mugs and hats, we bought a little something at nearly every market in Cologne.

Biggest Cons:

• The markets are pretty spread out. Getting from one to another will give you a grand tour of the city, but that’s not always the most fun on chilly days!
• Everyone knows German Christmas markets are amazing, so many of the Cologne Christmas markets were very crowded. Still, it’s worth it!

Want a closer look at what it’s like to visit? Check out our Cologne Christmas markets vlog on our YouTube channel!