Every year, in December, countries worldwide embrace the spirit of Christmas by celebrating the festival in a grand, traditional way. The well-lit-up cities with shimmering and colourful lights, the majestic Christmas trees and the other grand decorations make for a splendid visual treat. During Christmas Eve, many cities and towns host several Christmas markets which feature a variety of handicrafts, street food, and other exciting commodities. These markets are well worth a visit and make for a fun-filled and unique experience. Here are some of the best Christmas markets around the world worth visiting.
15 Best Christmas Markets Worldwide In 2024
There’s no end to what you can buy at these markets. Most of these sell all sorts of Christmas goodies possible, making sure the festive spirit stays as lively and pleasant as ever.
1. Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmenmarkt in Germany is one of the most beautiful markets in the world. It looks gorgeous on Christmas day, which attracts visitors and offers them a unique, enchanting atmosphere. The exquisite decoration and festive ambience make it a must-visit place for everyone. Visitors can also buy handmade goods, wooden toys, and gifts for their loved ones. To make your Christmas day more memorable, Gendarmenmarkt is the right choice to visit with your friends and family.
Location: Central Mitte District, Berlin
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2. Toronto Christmas Market
The best holiday destination among the best Christmas markets worldwide, Toronto Christmas Market is known for its decorations and beautiful festive ambience, attracting visitors worldwide. The best thing about this market is that food and drinks are the kings of it. Wine and hot chocolates keep visitors warm during the winter season. Various kinds of handmade Canadian crafts and the beautiful ambience make it a must-visit place for everyone with their loved ones.
Location: Distillery District, Canada
3. Frankfurt Christmas Market
It is one of the oldest and most Beautiful Markets in Germany. Frankfurt Christmas Market offers festive joy and a fantastic decoration ambience, where people come to enjoy the evening with their loved ones. This market offers over 200 stalls, which offer a mix of various handmade crafts you can take home. You can also enjoy performances and concerts that will make your Christmas memorable. So, plan a visit to the Frankfurt Christmas market with your friends and family.
Location: St. Paul Square
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4. Edinburgh’s Christmas Market
The best holiday destination for everyone looking for a memorable Christmas. Edinburgh’s Christmas Market, set in the heart of the city offers you a decorative and joyful ambience. You can also participate in activities like ice skating, live shows, and entertainment, making it a must-visit holiday destination for your friends and loved ones. You can buy gifts and decorations for your home from the wooden stalls in the market filled with unique flavours.
Location: Princess Street Gardens, Edinburgh
5. Old Town Square Christmas Market
The Old Town Square Christmas Market in Prague is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the world. It offers a fantastic atmosphere to enjoy the evening with your partner. The twinkling lights and the joyous decorations give you a memorable experience for the rest of your life. The stalls offer many handmade gifts you can take home or give to your loved ones. Explore the magical destination with your loved ones this Christmas.
Location: Old Town Square
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6. Dresden Striezelmarkt
Dresden Christmas Market is one of the best Christmas markets in Germany, and every year, people from different parts of the world flock here to enjoy visiting this market. Several stalls are lined up to sell special festive features, and along with this, there are many bakeries with local bakers who make a variety of delicious traditional festive delicacies. The German Fruitcake served here is a bestseller loved by everyone. This is Germany’s oldest market and occurs annually in the Baroque city. Several interesting events, delicious snacking options like cakes, sugary dough balls and glazed apples, along with numerous choices of commodities, make this market one of the best Christmas markets around the world.
Location: Altmarkt, Dresden, Germany
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7. Strasbourg Christmas Market
Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the oldest and the most visited Christmas markets worldwide. It is held yearly in the mesmerizing French city at the majestic cathedral centre and never fails to impress any visitor. The whole Strasbourg city is illuminated with decorative lights that feast for the eyes. This Christmas market is based on Alsatian traditions and started in 1570. This market hosts more than 500 exciting events that can be enjoyed while munching on the delicious pastries, spicy bread, and sweets that are offered here.
Location: Place Broglie, Strasbourg, France
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8. Zagreb Christmas Market
The Zagreb Christmas market is held in the capital city of Croatia, and it is regarded as one of the best Christmas markets worldwide. This market is spread over the streets around the Jelacic Square and offers various interesting attractions, including the live carving of ice sculptures, an ice rink, pop-up bars, several music stages, street food stalls and much more. The market also features “Fuliranje” which a space dedicated to doing anything one’s heart desires. The highlight of this market is the Jolly Christmas Tram, which takes the kids cruising along the city’s main streets with Santa and his little elves.
Location: Jelacic Square, Zagreb, Croatia
9. Budapest Christmas Market
The Budapest Christmas market is counted among Europe’s top 15 Christmas markets and takes place annually in the city’s centre, Vorosmarty Square. It is the most spectacular Christmas market in the world and is worth a visit. The central town transforms into a mesmerizing wonderland with quaint cottages spread across the street and over 100 wooden stalls. During Christmas Eve, the delicious aroma of cinnamon, wine, honey biscuits and roasted chestnuts fills up the city air. Visitors also taste this place’s traditional delicacies like stuffed cabbage and pork knuckle.
Location: Vorosmarty Ter, Budapest, Hungary
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10. Copenhagen Christmas Market
This Christmas market is held in the Nordic style at the Tivoli Gardens. The park’s pathways are filled with several street stalls offering unique commodities. The stalls sell a variety of decorations, artefacts and even hot drinks to keep the visitors warm during this cold month. One can get a chance to experience true Nordic-style Christmas through the many wooden houses, ornamental glasses, magic bells, and snow-covered Christmas trees featured by this Christmas market. One even gets a chance to meet Santa’s reindeer. This market is held alongside a large Alpine village, which also features exciting activities like skiing, sledging, etc., which the visitors can explore.
Location: Vesterbrogade 3, Copenhagen, Denmark
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11. Christkindlmarket
The German American Services run this Christmas market in Chicago, U.S.A. It brings the German traditions and cultures, making it one of the best Christmas markets in the world outside Europe. It started in 1996 and has become a popular attraction among tourists and locals in December. One can experience the European way of celebrating Christmas in this market by digging into the traditional German bratwurst, enjoying the fruity gluhwein and sipping on the authentic beer steins. In addition to all this, the stalls here sell a variety of German artefacts like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks and much more. The must-try delicacies here include stollen, crispy waffles and potato pancakes.
Location: 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL, USA
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12. Stockholm Christmas Market
This is one of Sweden’s most famous Christmas markets, which takes place every year in Old Town. The area around the Stortorget Square is surrounded by red stalls which sell a variety of lip-smacking Swedish delicacies, including eel, smoked sausages, elk meat, dry cured reindeer, and Nordic glogg, which can be enjoyed while sipping on their authentic mulled wine. A must-try for every visitor with a sweet tooth is the traditional ginger biscuit, locally known as pepparkakor; these are freshly baked and sold in this market. While in this market, one can even consider buying many unique ornamental art pieces and other beautiful handicrafts to take back home as a souvenir or gift for their loved ones after their European vacation.
Location: Stortorget, Gamla stan, Stockholm
13. Bath Christmas Market
One of England’s largest and best Christmas markets in 2024 is held in Bath, attracting thousands of visitors every year. This Christmas market marks as a magical and spectacular winter experience as it features more than hundreds of wooden chalets which are spread across the several winding streets of the city. This market maintains its individuality by strictly maintaining the traditional British theme. Here, one can buy exciting artisan products, try out the hearty, flavoursome soups and enjoy eating the freshly made pancakes and the Scottish Caledonian steak burgers. The finest mulled wine, produced using locally sourced ingredients, must be tried here. Bath Christmas Market also offers ample ice-skating opportunities as well.
Location: Abbey Churchyard, Bath, England
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14. Hong Kong Christmas Market
One of the most magnificent Christmas market experiences can be enjoyed by visiting Winterfest, held in Hong Kong every year during Christmas Eve. The Western and Eastern Christmas traditions blend uniquely in this market. This market is hosted at the Open Piazza, which offers magnificent views of the magnificently decorated skyscrapers and other Christmas decorative illuminations. The must-try traditional Christmas dish in this market is Congee, a bowl of rice seasoned with flavoursome chicken broth. One should consider extending their stay at this place till New Year’s Eve as well, as this place features spectacular fireworks while welcoming the new year.
Location: Open Piazza, 10 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
15. Brussels’ Plaisirs d’Hiver
This is one of the most impressive and best Christmas markets in Europe 2024, which is held along the streets which lead to the Place Sainte Catherine from the Grand Palace. This Christmas market accommodates more than 200 stalls selling various exciting commodities. The market also features a 200-foot-long ice rink, which every visitor can enjoy. The Ferris Wheel here is illuminated with around 18,000 shimmering lights, a visual treat. Food lovers can try out the differently flavoured doughnuts that are freshly made and sold in many of the stalls in the market. The visitors also witnessed the grand fir tree, which stood 22 meters tall. The highlight of this market is the Christmas parade, which is held on Christmas Eve and lights up the streets with joyful music and lighting.
Location: Place Sainte Catherine, Brussels, Belgium
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These top ten Christmas markets worldwide are worth visiting at least once. Contact TravelTriangle to plan an international holiday to any of these places during the Christmas festival, and you can experience an exquisite holiday with your friends and family.
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Which country has the best Christmas markets?
Germany is known as the king of Christmas Markets.
What is the largest Christmas market in the world?
The Vienna Christmas World is the largest Christmas market in the world with a fantastic ambience.
Is Prague or Berlin better for Christmas markets?
There is no doubt that Prague and Berlin have the excellent Christmas market in the world.
Where is the most beautiful Christmas market in Europe?
Yes, it snows during Christmas in Toronto which makes it look like a white winter fairyland. The weather during Christmas in Toronto is cold, snowy, and windy.
What should I wear in Toronto in December?
Toronto in December is as cold as it can get. With the weather being bitterly cold and windy, it is better to wear layers of warm clothes, leggings, gloves, caps, waterproof boots, earmuffs, woollen socks, and everything cosy and warm.
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