With the holiday season soon approaching, you may start to wonder which Christmas markets you should plan to visit. I spent a week traveling through Europe and experienced some Christmas magic in beautiful cities. There’s no better way to experience the season than by seeing all the lights and grabbing a mulled wine or hot chocolate. So, where should you think of going?
Vienna, Austria Christmas Markets
During the Christmas season, Vienna transforms into a winter wonderland. All the historic squares are lit up, and the aroma of mulled wine and hot chocolate flows through the markets. While looking through the various stalls at the markets, be on the lookout for traditional Austrian crafts.
Pro tip: Look into eating at Lugeck and Zwölf-Apostelkeller. The food and atmosphere at both are outstanding! I’d highly suggest making a reservation to ensure you can eat at either. Also, what’s a trip without some dessert? Check out Demel or Café Sacher for an afternoon sweet treat.
Strasbourg, France Christmas Markets
Known as the Capital of Christmas, Strasbourg has one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, dating back to 1570. The market is set in front of the stunning Strasbourg Cathedral, with hundreds of stalls selling ornaments, food, and handcrafted gifts. Don’t miss out on visiting Place Kléber to see the giant Christmas tree that lights up, and be sure to stand in line for the famous raclette on top of your sausage.
Pro Tip: Allow for time to visit Colmar and the other villages around the Alsace Region. There is a Christmas market bus that will make accessing the smaller towns like Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé easier when you don’t have a car.
Munich, Germany Christmas Markets
The heart of Munich’s Christmas Market centers around the Marienplatz. Wandering through the various stalls selling ornaments, crafts, and local delicacies, pick up a mug of spiced mulled wine (Glühwein) and catch the enchanting caroler’s performance. Each market offers a unique charm, and Munich was no different. Seeing a German Christmas market will leave you with unforgettable memories and right in the Christmas spirit.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on seeing the Glockenspiel and grabbing a drink at Hofbräuhaus. Not far from the Munich Residence there are two more Platz that will have Christmas markets for you to walk around.
Basel, Switzerland Christmas Markets
This city quickly became one of my favorite Christmas Market stops. Basel in the winter was truly magical and even snowed during my stay. While they have stunning markets all around the city, my favorite activity was searching for the magical Christmas courtyards. Locating the courtyards around the town truly heightened my Christmas spirit. My favorite courtyard was right next to the Johann Wanner Christmas shop! The two main Christmas markets I enjoyed were in the Münsterplatz and Barfüsserplatz. I was able to find some of my favorite gifts here, and I hope you can too!
Pro tip: Stop for lunch at 1777 Kaffee Restaurant Bar to fuel up for the day ahead. Keep your eyes open while there, and you may just see another Christmas courtyard! If you need to warm up for a bit, check out Café-Bar Elizabethan, which is a cafe within a cathedral.
For more insight into my travels be sure to follow @bffswhotravel!
Bffswhotravel 