If sipping glühwein, perusing limitless stalls of vacation wares and admiring 1000’s of glittering fairy lights looks as if your private winter wonderland, plan to have fun this season at one among Europe’s festive Christmas markets.
Many of those markets had been canceled in previous years as a result of pandemic. However, issues are again in motion this yr, with nearly all markets working as regular.
Traditional Christmas markets date again tons of of years and are nonetheless standard as we speak in lots of European nations.
Although the climate is chilly (and snowy in some locations), experiencing the glowing lights, wafting smells of conventional meals and vacation cheer are one of the best methods to courageous the chilly temperatures. Since many markets start in November and run via the vacations, vacationers have loads of alternatives to snag a fall or winter flight deal or off-peak award redemption.
Here are a few of the finest Christmas markets in Europe, full with tips about methods to get there and the place to remain.
Vienna, Austria
Wander previous greater than 100 stalls at Vienna’s largest Christmas market, located within the well-known City Hall Square in Rathausplatz (Nov. 19 to Dec. 26). Kids will love the reindeer prepare, Ferris wheel and carousel — there’s even a Nativity path, too. This yr, the market and its stalls will concentrate on enhancing sustainability, so count on extra eco-friendly merchandise and supplies.
Planning a winter 2023 go to? Strap on rental skates at Vienna Ice World in City Hall Square to glide across the 96,000-square-foot rink (Exact dates are TBD, however the rink needs to be open from January via March 2023).
Stay: The Park Hyatt Vienna is the final word Viennese luxurious: excessive, arching ceilings, an indoor swimming pool and suites decked out with chandeliers and marble loos. Winter charges begin at 456 euros ($457) or 21,000 Hyatt factors per evening, however are considerably increased round Christmas.
Arrive: Austrian Airlines, the flagship provider, is a part of the Star Alliance. If you could have miles on any accomplice airline, it’s best to be capable of get a seat at an excellent valuation. Austrian flies direct from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Boston Logan (BOS) and Washington Dulles International (IAD), with seasonal flights from Los Angeles (LAX). If you’re flying right into a European hub resembling London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), British Airways and Austrian fly nonstop between the 2 cities, in addition to low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair.
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Germany
One of essentially the most well-known nations in Europe for Christmas markets, Germany has a market in virtually each metropolis. We couldn’t decide only one, so listed here are a few of the finest:
- Cologne: This metropolis, well-known for its towering Gothic cathedral, options not one however seven totally different Christmas markets, together with an LGBTQ-friendly Christmas market (most run from Nov. 18/19 to Dec. 23).
- Munich: Bavaria’s most well-known market usually operates in Marienplatz, adorned with 1000’s of candles and that includes greater than 100 stalls (Nov. 21 to Dec. 24).
- Munich Airport: Jump proper into the vacation spirit (even go ice skating) throughout an extended layover at Munich International Airport (MUC), which transforms right into a Christmas market (Nov. 19 to Dec. 26).
- Frankfurt: Enjoy purchasing and a 100-foot-tall Christmas scene at Frankfurt’s predominant Christmas Market (Nov. 21 to Dec. 22).
- Nuremberg: In addition to its world-renowned lebkuchen (gingerbread), maintain a glance out for this market’s Christkind, a younger woman with curly blond hair dressed like a golden angel who makes frequent appearances on the festivities (Nov. 25 to Dec. 24).
- Berlin: Germany’s capital has a lot of Christmas markets, however among the finest is the market flanked by two cathedrals in Gendarmenmarkt (Nov. 21 to Dec. 31). Expect the standard meals and purchasing but additionally unimaginable holiday-inspired performances from hearth eaters, acrobats, jugglers and choirs belting out classical, jazz and gospel Christmas tunes.
- Dresden: One of the nation’s oldest and largest markets the Striezelmarkt in what was as soon as East Germany options puppet theaters, storytelling time and gingerbread-decorating workshops (Nov. 23 to Dec. 24).
Stay: The JW Marriott Frankfurt options 219 rooms and greater than 200 hand painted artwork items by German Artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Rates begin as little as 264 euros ($264) or 45,000 factors per evening.
Arrive: Star Alliance accomplice Lufthansa operates direct flights to Germany out of a number of U.S. airports, together with main hubs like New York (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago O’ Hare (ORD), in addition to smaller airports, resembling Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Denver International Airport(DEN).
If you wish to go to in consolation and magnificence, you may splash out for probably the most iconic fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S., provided by Singapore Airlines between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Germany’s Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Super-luxurious business-class awards on this route price 81,000 miles every manner via Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. You can switch factors to KrisFlyer from all the transferable factors packages — American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Strasbourg, France
Although you may’t go incorrect with markets in French spots like Lyon and Lille, Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik, close to the town’s cathedral, is one among France’s hottest vacation haunts for sipping mulled wine, tasting French wintery treats like tarte flambée or sugary bredele biscuits and searching for wares among the many wood stalls (Nov. 21 to Dec. 23).
The metropolis is named the Capital of Christmas. Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree, hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and festive ice rink can persuade any Grinch to like the festive season.
Stay: Stay at one of many latest lodge additions to the town, the Aloft Strasbourg. The lodge is welcoming and fashionable, only a 15-minute stroll to the principle Christmas market. Rates begin at 96 euros ($96) or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.
Arrive: Strasbourg is a smaller metropolis, and you may’t fly nonstop there from the U.S. Instead, fly to Strasbourg Airport (SXB) from hubs resembling Paris, Madrid (MAD) or Amsterdam (AMS). Or, plan a layover to take a look at Munich Airport’s Christmas market (see above), then proceed on to Strasbourg. You can even take a prepare from Frankfurt or Paris to the French metropolis.
Tallinn, Estonia
Sample Baltic vacation delicacies like black pudding and gingerbread paired with spiced wine on the Christmas market in Tallinn’s medieval city sq. (Nov. 25 to Jan. 8).
The setting is solely gorgeous: Historic buildings encompass stalls promoting Christmas items and decorations (a lot of that are heart-shaped, as Estonians firmly consider Christmas is a time of affection), with the big tree as a centerpiece.
This season, there’ll be two totally different carousels for the little ones and a double-decker vacation bus to journey round city.
Stay: The Radisson Blu Sky Hotel is a brief stroll away from the city sq., which you’ll view from the lodge’s out of doors terrace that overlooks the Estonian capital. Rates begin at 96 euros ($96) or 44,000 factors per evening.
Arrive: Although you may’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to Tallinn Airport (TLL), you may join simply to hubs resembling Warsaw (WAW), Istanbul (IST), Frankfurt or Brussels (BRU) after which fly on over. If you fly Finnair between the U.S. and Helsinki (HEL), a ferry to Tallinn takes about three and a half hours. From numerous London airports, you may fly to Tallinn on low-cost airways like Air Baltic, Ryanair or Wizz Air.
Brussels, Belgium
While Antwerp, Ghent and Brugge’s markets have a smaller, extra charming and cozier vibe, Brussels’ Winter Wonders market (Nov. 25 to Jan. 1) is the most important and most spectacular in Belgium, with greater than 200 stands weaving via the town middle.
Take a spin across the ice rink, fly excessive within the Ferris wheel or take pleasure in a go to from Santa. The market additionally gives an immersive audio and visible Christmas present, an modern solution to expertise all the vacation enjoyable.
Stay: Budget vacationers can keep within the midst of all of the motion on the Holiday Inn Express Grand Palace for as little as 133 euros ($133) or 27,000 IHG factors per evening (breakfast included).
Arrive: Fly to Brussels on Star Alliance carriers from hubs like New York-JFK and Washington, D.C.(IAD). Some of your one-way redemption choices embrace United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer. Consider combining a visit to Brussels with different European cities (or Christmas markets) utilizing the Brussels Airlines pit-stop service. This stopover program permits passengers to remain from one to 5 nights at no additional cost in Belgium.
If you fly from the U.S. into London, you may fly to Brussels on British Airways and Brussels Airlines. Taking the Eurostar prepare between London and Brussels is another possibility — the journey takes simply over two hours. Rates begin as little as £33 ($37) every manner.
Prague, Czech Republic
It’s arduous to determine whether or not to go to Prague’s Old Town Square market or Wenceslas Square market. Considering they’re a 10-minute stroll from one another, it’s simple to go to each (Nov. 26 to Jan. 6).
There’s additionally one other market close to the Prague Castle. The markets promote related objects, like Medovina honey wine and Czech crafts like puppets and dolls, however Old Town Square has stay animals like sheep and donkeys for kids to pet.
Stay: Hilton Prague Old Town is a 10-minute stroll from Old Town Square, providing fashionable comforts and renovated visitor rooms that also retain that outdated world Prague allure. Room charges begin at 145 euros ($145) or 33,000 factors per evening.
Arrive: Find nice offers over the subsequent few months, flying to Prague from the U.S. with TAP Air Portugal and LOT Polish Airlines. Fares from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Miami International Airport (MIA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) may be discovered for as little as $500.
Many airways fly to Prague (PRG) from quite a few European hubs, which can be a value efficient manner of touring throughout winter. Although British Airways has a direct path to the Czech Republic capital, it’s simple to get to there in case your Avios steadiness isn’t fairly topped off by way of low-cost carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2 and Wizz Air from numerous London airports.
Just ensure that to brush up on the principles earlier than flying European low-cost carriers so you are not caught off guard.
Zagreb, Croatia
Voted quite a few instances as Europe’s finest Christmas market, Zagreb’s vacation magic is really particular. In reality, the complete metropolis is decked out with lights, Nativity scenes and decorations. Start on the Zrinjevac Park Christmas market (Nov. 26 to Jan. 7), the place you may pattern sizzling štrukle, a pastry with melted cheese or medenjaci cookies paired with soul-warming wine as you browse handmade ornaments and toys.
Then go to Zagreb Cathedral with its well-known Nativity scene out entrance. Finish the night up with a number of laps across the King Tomislav Square ice rink or a journey on the carousel in Strossmayer Square.
Stay: A brief stroll away from the Christmas motion, the Westin Zagreb is good for these wanting a quiet, modern area to chill out whereas nonetheless staying near all the vacation cheer. Rates begin 108 euros ($108) or 15,00 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.
Arrive: Getting to Zagreb (ZAG) will take you multiple flight: There are not any nonstop flights out there from the U.S. to the Croatian capital and United’s nonstop seasonal service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) solely operates from May to October.
You’ll must cease first in locations like London, Frankfurt, Istanbul or Frankfurt en path to Zagreb on numerous airways. Both British Airways and Croatia Airlines fly between London Heathrow (LHR) and Zagreb (ZAG), with Ryanair additionally working from London Stansted Airport (STN).
Basel, Switzerland
Wander via over 160 snow-covered wood stalls at Basel’s Christmas market, stretching from Barfüsserplatz to Münsterplatz (Nov. 24 to Dec. 23). A steaming mug of glühwein completely enhances conventional delights like waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette.
Stay: The new Basel Marriott gives one of the best of Swiss tradition with out sacrificing modernity. Rates begin round 169 Swiss Francs ($171) or 27,000 Bonvoy factors per evening.
Arrive: Getting to Basel (BSL) from the U.S. requires a cease someplace in Europe. The airport (formally EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg) is definitely in France, although it is a brief drive from each Basel and the border of Germany — good for visiting three nations in a single journey. You can even fly Swiss International Airlines to Zurich (ZRH), stopping there rapidly earlier than hopping on a Swiss Federal Railways prepare to Basel, bookable as one full ticket on the Swiss web site.
If London is your most popular worldwide hub, attending to Basel from the U.Ok. is straightforward. You can fly EasyJet from London Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN) or Edinburgh (EDI), or British Airways from London Heathrow (LHR).
Christmas markets are again
Christmas markets are a festive solution to have fun the vacations, full with native gastronomy, mulled wine, ice skating and twinkling vacation decorations. And after two years with out a lot of Europe’s hottest markets, it’s lastly time once more take pleasure in all of the seasonal delights these markets provide.
If you wish to go to different European locations, examine earlier than reserving to see in case your vacation spot has a market. Many cities have variations of those seasonal markets, together with Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Madrid, Budapest and Krakow.