Europe’s Christmas markets are known globally for their magnificently decorated chalets, mulled wine, and winter activities.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit several of these festive markets in both well-known locations and in some lesser known ones as well.
From London to Zagreb, here are 4 Christmas markets I recommend visiting this holiday season.
London
London is always a great place to visit, especially during the holiday season! It’s also the best starting point if you’re doing a 10-day or two-week tour of different cities across Western European countries.
The English capital does Christmas well with festive décor on every corner of central London. Restaurants come out with holiday menus, popular streets like Carnaby and Bond street go all out, and there’s markets scattered throughout the city.
On top of this, Harrods has their semi-annual sale in December, making it a great time to do your shopping!
I recommend visiting Leicester Square’s Christmas markets which are open from now until January 2, 2025. While there, you’ll find several stalls selling all types of snacks such as delicious mini nutella pancakes and mulled wine.
You could also head across the river and visit the South Bank Christmas market, which is another great holiday spot, with the added bonus of having fun rides.
That said, for the ultimate holiday experience, you must visit Winter Wonderland! It’s one of the biggest Christmas markets in London and hosts a ferris wheel, ice skating, and dozens of chalets. It opens on November 21, 2024, and ends on January 5, 2025.
When it’s time for a full meal during your visit, there are tons of great restaurants all over the city, but three places I definitely recommend visiting during your trip include Bob Bob Ricard off Carnaby Street, Roti Chai near Selfridges, and Harry’s Dolce Vita across from Harrods. They do get quite busy so make sure you have reservations ahead of time.
Paris
Paris is stunning this time of year with festive décor all throughout the city. The window displays are fun to see, and Galleries Lafayette always comes out with an extraordinary Christmas tree.
Additionally, the city of love has numerous Christmas markets located in different parts of the city, including in Montmartre, the Tuileries Gardens, and near the Eiffel Tower.
In addition to the Christmas markets, the city is also home to quaint shopping arcades near the Palais Royal, Place de Madeleine, and Champs-Élysées, where you can shop and explore.
I personally enjoy exploring the different streets and shops while admiring the Christmas décor.
I consider Paris to be one of the best cities in Western Europe to use as a hub for visiting other nearby countries. For example, you can easily reach Munich by train after a few hours, and from Munich, you can then reach Zurich.
Paris is also an incredible food city, and two restaurants I would recommend in the French capital include Mon Square and Le 404.
Mon Square is a stylish Parisian restaurant that is great for dinner and cocktails with friends. Located just a 10-minute drive from the Eiffel Tower, it’s an ideal spot to dine before watching the iconic monument sparkle at night.
Le 404 is a traditional Moroccan restaurant in the trendy neighborhood of Le Marais, only seven minutes away from the Louvre by car. Le Marais is home to local shops, the Place des Vosges, and Hôtel de Ville Christmas market.
While you may be wondering why I recommend Moroccan food in France, it’s because France has a Moroccan influence due to colonialism and cultural exchange. It’s a great spot to dine after spending a few hours exploring the markets and shopping!
Strasbourg
Only two hours away from Paris by train, Strasbourg is my favorite place to spend the holiday season. It’s nicknamed the “Capitale de Nöel” because of its extravagant holiday décor and charming chalets. Additionally, it’s considered one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.
When you visit the market, you’ll find dozens of stalls spread out throughout the city, selling handmade ornaments, gingerbread cookies, cozy winterwear, and more.
Additionally, there’s a merry-go-round near the Cathédrale-de-Notre-Dame that adds to the holiday magic and is perfect for kids.
While you’re in the region, I recommend that you try Alsatian cuisine staples, including tarte flambée, baeckaoffe, and coq au riesling.
Restaurant Gurtlerhoft, which I’ve been to twice and highly recommend, serves these traditional Alsatian dishes and makes for a unique dining experience since it’s actually located inside a cave!
Also, if you’re planning to spend at least three days in Strasbourg, a great day trip is visiting the town of Colmar. It’s only 30 minutes away by train, and the trip gives you the opportunity to see a smaller but equally beautiful and charming city in Alsace.
Zagreb
Zagreb is an underrated city to visit for magical Christmas markets. Located in the north of Croatia, and less than an hour from the Slovenian border, this capital city is a wonderful choice for a holiday visit.
Throughout the center of Zagreb, there are Christmas markets scattered around European Square, Masarykova Street, and King Tomislav Square, plus around Ban Jelačić square, you’ll see lots of holiday decorations and a beautiful Christmas tree.
While visiting, you can also go ice skating in King Tomislav Square while admiring the colorful lights along the fountains at night.
In terms of restaurants and cafés in the city, I recommend Boban and Meet Mia. Boban is an amazing Italian restaurant that I’ve visited a handful of times while living in Zagreb as a digital nomad, and Meet Mia is a cozy café specializing in delicious cakes and pastries.
Zagreb’s Christmas markets start on November 30, 2024, and are open until January 7, 2025.
Conclusion
While there are many Christmas markets I have yet to explore, I’ve been to the four mentioned above, and I recommend all of them for your holiday travels.
If you haven’t booked your trip yet for this season and are thinking of visiting a Christmas market, you should book it as soon as possible as the price of flights and accommodations are only going to go up!
Also, as a friendly reminder, American Express credit cards aren’t as widely accepted in Europe as they are in North America. To make sure your trip goes smoothly and that you continue earning rewards, I recommend bringing a Visa credit card and some cash for the Christmas markets.
