Table of contents:
- Intro 🎅
- Vienna, Austria 🎁
- Oslo, Norway 🕯️
- Zurich, Switzerland 👼
- Helsinki, Finland ❄️
- Copenhagen, Denmark ⛄
- Brussels, Belgium 🎄
- Rennes, France 🌟
- Nantes, France 🦌
- Dresden, Germany ☃️
- Stockholm, Sweden 🤶
- Bonus: Poland, Netherlands, Ireland and London 🧦
- Informative video 🛷
Intro
Europa in December transforms into a winter wonderland, where every corner sparkles with festive lights, the scent of mulled wine fills the air, and magical Christmas markets take center stage. From snowy Nordic capitals to charming cities in the heart of Europa, each destination has unique traditions, flavors, and activities that make it a must-visit during the holiday season.
Here’s a guide to the best Christmas markets, activities, culinary delights, and accommodations in these wonderful and snowy destinations. Shout-out to Scotland and Wales for a very Harry Potter Christmas in Europe!
Vienna, Austria
Best Christmas Markets:
Vienna’s Christmas markets are legendary, with the Vienna Christmas World at Rathausplatz being the most iconic. Featuring over 150 stalls, an ice-skating rink, and a majestic Christmas tree, it’s a sight to behold. Don’t miss the Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market to have a good time and buy some handcrafted goods. Also, the Prague Christmas Market is a beautiful option (check out this website: https://www.pragueexperience.com/events/christmas-markets.asp)!
Activities to Do:
Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow-covered streets, attend a classical music concert at the Vienna State Opera, or marvel at the festive decorations in the historic Kärntner Strasse shopping district. The city’s museums, such as the Belvedere and Kunsthistorisches Museum, also host special holiday exhibitions. This destination definitely needs to be on your Christmas in Europa bucket list.
Krampus Austria
Additionally, the Krampus Festival is an unforgettable sight and sound during the Christmas season. Especially in the Alpine regions of Austria, which make this distinctive tradition both colorful and creepy at once! It includes parades in which men and women wear Krampus costumes, depicting the fanged and horned creature who stands opposed to St. Nicholas, exchanging gifts for coal.
The events are characterized by participants wearing giant-headed masks, costumes with fur, and pelts of some animals dangling from them to create noise and sound as they march through the streets. The festival has an exciting and unforgettable atmosphere guided by blazing torches, loud cowbells, and collectible festive crowds. It is a special part of Austria’s and European folklore. Be careful! You must behave so as not to be taken away by the Krampus. Indeed, Christmas legends are also essential to understanding the Christmas spirit in these countries.
The Christmas Devil: Krampus (a traditional Alpine companion for St. Nicholas) was a pagan winter god that predated Christianity. Krampus was gradually incorporated into Christian customs as a sidekick of St. Nicholas, who visits children on the morning of December 5.
Krampus punishes the naughty children, sometimes with a playful threat to cart them off in his sack. This duality infuses a sense of morality and discipline into the holiday season, making for a one-of-a-kind dark turn to Austria’s otherwise merry Christmas period. Also, visit South Tyrol in Italy if you want to have an amazing/creepy Krampus experience!
What to Eat:
Try some Lebkuchen (gingerbread), roasted chestnuts, and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel). Pair your treats with a warm mug of Glühwein (mulled wine) or a decadent hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Craving for some chocolate? Check out our chocolate tour in Mexico City.
Where to Stay:
For a luxurious stay, book a room at the Hotel Sacher Vienna, famous for its Sacher Torte. For a cozy, budget-friendly option, the Pension Suzanne offers a warm, home-like ambiance near the city center.
Oslo, Norway
Best Christmas Markets:
The Christmas Market at Spikersuppa is the heart of Oslo’s festivities, complete with a Ferris wheel, ice skating, and traditional Sami tents offering Nordic delicacies. Ekebergparken Sculpture Park also hosts a smaller market with handmade crafts and local food.
Activities to Do:
Explore the stunning Vigeland Sculpture Park, dusted in snow, or visit the Norwegian Folk Museum, which comes alive with traditional Christmas decorations and activities. Don’t miss a ride on the Oslo Fjord, where festive cruises offer panoramic views of the icy waters.
What to Eat:
Try Lutefisk, a traditional dried fish dish, or Ribbe, a succulent pork rib dinner. Pair these with Gløgg, Norway’s spiced mulled wine, and enjoy a dessert of Kransekake, a towering almond cake.
Where to Stay:
Stay at the Thief Hotel, a modern luxury hotel with stunning fjord views. For a more rustic experience, the Lysebu Hotel offers a cozy, cabin-like atmosphere on Oslo’s outskirts.
Zurich, Switzerland
Best Christmas Markets:
Do you want to truly experience Christmas in Europe? Then, Zurich is one of your best options. Zurich’s Christkindlimarkt at the Main Train Station is one of Europe’s largest indoor Christmas markets, featuring a dazzling Swarovski crystal tree. The Wienachtsdorf market at Sechseläutenplatz offers artisan crafts, delicious street food, and a lively skating rink.
Activities to Do:
Take a stroll along Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s premier shopping street, lit up with Christmas lights. Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Zurich, or visit the Lindenhof district for breathtaking views of the snow-covered city.
What to Eat:
Swiss Christmas is incomplete without Raclette and Fondue, warm, melted cheeses served with bread and pickles. For dessert, try Basler Läckerli, spiced gingerbread, or Zimtsternen, cinnamon star cookies.
Where to Stay:
The luxurious Baur au Lac Hotel offers impeccable service and views of Lake Zurich. For mid-range options, the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich is perfectly located near the festive action.
Helsinki, Finland
Best Christmas Markets:
The Helsinki Christmas Market in Senate Square is the city’s crown jewel, offering over 100 stalls with Nordic crafts and delicacies. Vanha Ylioppilastalo is another market worth visiting, featuring high-quality handmade gifts and gourmet food.
Activities to Do:
Visit Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, transformed into a snowy fortress. Take a sauna experience, a Finnish Christmas tradition, or admire the festive light displays at Esplanadi Park.
What to Eat:
Enjoy Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies), flaky pastries filled with rice or potatoes. Pair these with Glogi, the Finnish take on mulled wine, and try sweet treats like Piparkakku (gingerbread cookies).
Where to Stay:
For luxury, the Hotel Kamp blends historic charm with modern elegance. Budget travelers will love the cozy and eco-friendly Hotel F6, located close to the Christmas market.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Best Christmas Markets:
Another of our best options for a perfect Christmas in Europe experience. The Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market is a fairytale that comes alive with twinkling lights, festive rides, and Nordic stalls. Højbro Plads in the city center offers a more intimate market experience with local Danish treats.
Activities to Do:
Explore Nyhavn, the picturesque harbor, or visit the historic Rosenborg Castle, adorned for the holidays. For a unique experience, take a canal cruise to see the city’s festive lights from the water.
What to Eat:
Feast on Æbleskiver, spherical pancakes served with jam and powdered sugar, or Flæskesteg, roasted pork with crispy crackling. Wash it down with Juleøl, Denmark’s seasonal Christmas beer.
Where to Stay:
The Hotel D’Angleterre is renowned for its extravagant Christmas decorations and luxury service. For a boutique option, try the Andersen Boutique Hotel, located in the trendy Vesterbro district.
Brussels, Belgium
Best Christmas Markets:
Winter Wonders in Brussels is one of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets, with over 200 stalls, a Ferris wheel, and a stunning sound-and-light show at Grand Place. Nearby, the Place Sainte-Catherine hosts artisanal vendors and festive activities.
Activities to Do:
Admire the architecture of Grand Place, visit the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, or skate under the lights at the market. For chocolate lovers, take a holiday-themed chocolate-making workshop.
What to Eat:
Sample Belgian waffles, crispy on the outside and soft inside, and Speculoos, spiced cookies. Don’t miss the Jenever, Belgium’s famous juniper-flavored liquor, served warm during Christmas.
Where to Stay:
Stay at Hotel Amigo, a luxury hotel steps away from Grand Place. For something quirky, 9Hotel Central offers modern amenities in a charming, historic setting.
Rennes, France
Best Christmas Markets:
Rennes hosts a charming Christmas Market at Place Hoche, offering handcrafted gifts, regional specialties, and cultural performances. Nearby, the Place de la Mairie boasts an ice rink and carousel. Shout-out to the capital of Christmas in France: Strasbourg!
Activities to Do:
Take a guided tour of the medieval Parlement de Bretagne, adorned with holiday decorations. Explore the festive streets of Rue Saint-Michel, known as “rue de la soif” for its lively atmosphere.
What to Eat:
Galette-Saucisse is a savory buckwheat pancake with sausage. Warm it up with Cidre Breton, a spiced cider. For dessert, enjoy Kouign-Amann, a buttery, caramelized pastry.
Where to Stay:
For elegance, choose the Balthazar Hotel & Spa, a boutique hotel in the city center. For a cozier stay, Hotel De Nemours offers stylish rooms at a reasonable price.
Nantes, France
Best Christmas Markets:
The Christmas Market at Place Royale features wooden chalets offering artisanal gifts and festive foods. Cours Saint-Pierr et Sant-Andre is another must-visit, with a focus on eco-friendly crafts.
Activities to Do:
Discover the enchanting Machines de l’Île, where giant mechanical creatures like the Great Elephant roam. Take a boat ride along the Loire River or visit the historic Château des Ducs de Bretagne, beautifully lit for the season. A destination very similar to this one is in Malaga, Spain. There, you can find some of the best Christmas traditions in Spain, which are full of good food, lights, music, and unique and magical moments.
What to Eat:
Treat yourself to Beurre Blanc, a buttery white sauce served with fish, and Fouace, a regional sweet bread. Pair these with Muscat de Nantes, a sweet local wine.
Where to Stay:
The Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes, set in a former courthouse, offers a unique blend of history and luxury. For an intimate stay, the Hotel La Pérouse provides modern amenities and is in proximity to major attractions.
Dresden, Germany
Best Christmas Markets:
Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world, known for its traditional crafts and the famous Stollen Festival. The Medieval Christmas Market at Stallhof offers a unique historical ambiance.
Activities to Do:
Visit the stunning Frauenkirche church, explore the Baroque Zwinger Palace, or enjoy a boat cruise along the Elbe River. For families, the Dresden Zoo offers festive winter activities.
What to Eat:
Dresdner Stollen is a rich fruitcake with powdered sugar and bratwurst from street vendors. For drinks, try Feuerzangenbowle, a flaming mulled wine specialty.
Where to Stay:
The Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski offers unmatched luxury in a historic setting. For a more affordable option, the Innside Dresden has a modern design and great views.
Stockholm, Sweden
Best Christmas Markets:
Personally, one of my favorite destinations when it comes to the top places to spend a magical and wonderful Christmas in Europe. The Gamla Stan Christmas Market in Stockholm’s Old Town is the oldest in Sweden, dating back to the 16th century.
Here, you’ll find charming red stalls selling everything from handmade ornaments to traditional Swedish sweets. For a more modern twist, head to Skansen Christmas Market, set in the open-air museum, where you can explore Swedish traditions alongside the festive stalls.
Activities to Do:
Take a stroll through Gamla Stan (the Old Town) and admire its cobblestone streets adorned with twinkling lights. Visit the Royal Palace and its Christmas exhibitions, or enjoy a cozy fika at one of Stockholm’s many cafes. For a unique experience, try ice skating at Kungsträdgården or take a ferry to one of the archipelago islands for a serene winter escape.
What to Eat:
Get ready to taste traditional Swedish Christmas treats like Pepparkakor (gingerbread cookies) and Lussekatter (saffron buns). For a heartier meal, try Julbord, a festive buffet featuring cured salmon, herring, meatballs, and Christmas ham. Wash it all down with a warm glass of Glögg, Sweden’s spiced mulled wine.
Where to Stay:
For a luxurious stay, book a room at the Grand Hôtel Stockholm, offering stunning views of the waterfront and a festive atmosphere. For a more budget-friendly option, the Hotel Rival in trendy Södermalm provides modern comforts and easy access to the city’s Christmas attractions.
Bonus: Poland, Netherlands, Ireland and London
Christmas Traditions Poland
One of Europe’s most sincere Christmas experiences is in Poland, a country with plenty of rich religious and folk traditions. Advent is the beginning of the holiday season, and it results in Wigilia, or Christmas Eve, which is considered to be the most important day.
The meal with the family starts on Christmas Eve when the first star appears, which represents the Star of Bethlehem. This is a meatless feast with 12 dishes (representing the apostles). It is a traditional practice to share a thin wafer called opłatek before dinner, which involves offering blessings and forgiving each other. Pasterka is a midnight mass for everyone wanting to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Polish Christmas food is something out of this world. You can try barszcz (beet soup with dumplings), pierogi (dumplings filled with cabbage or mushrooms), and Karp (carp) as the star dish. Sweet delicacies consist of makowiec (poppy seed rolls) and kutia (a sweet wheat dish).
Caroling and nativity plays featured in many traditional customs, some including their folk costumes and storytelling. Poland’s heritage and culture make it a perfect place for the holidays, and its beautiful Christmas markets are filled with handcrafted ornaments and local delicacies.
Christmas Traditions Netherlands
Christmas in Europe is special, but even more special in the Netherlands, where ages-long traditions are based on folklore and family togetherness. The festivities usually start on 5 December with Sinterklaasavond (St. Nicholas’ eve), when Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain accompanied by his helpers, the Pieten.
Small gifts and sweets are left for the children, such as shoes filled with hay and carrots for Sinterklaas’ horse. Christmas Day is an intimate celebration with your family, traditional carols, and a hearty amount of food. Homes and public squares are adorned with Christmas trees and twinkling lights.
Of course, food is also a big feature of Dutch Christmas with treats such as kerststol (fruit bread stuffed with marzipan) and oliebollen (a type of fried dough balls). Gourmetten is also a family favorite: a type of fondue in which groups prepare bite-size pieces of meat, fish, and vegetables on an electric grill at their table.
It combines old folklore and new in a culture that emphasizes community and family warmth at this time of the year. With many offers, ice skating along frozen canals, midnight mass, and spell-binding Christmas markets give you a taste of a magical Christmas in Europe.
Christmas Traditions in Ireland
With traditions rooted in Catholic and Celtic heritage, Christmas here in Ireland is a beloved time of year. The festivities start with lighting candles in the windows that represent receiving Mary and Joseph, a custom from a long time ago.
Caroling is commonplace, and several towns have live nativity scenes. On December 26, St. Stephen’s Day is celebrated with the “Wren Boys,” locals donning colorful costumes. Of course, the Christmas Eve Midnight mass is also an important church event to which families and communities gather.
Irish Christmas traditions revolve around food, with a feast that usually consists of roast turkey and ham and side dishes such as stuffing and potatoes. Locals love sweet treats, from Christmas pudding to mince pies and barmbrack (a fruitcake).
The Irish people love a good story, and the warmth of their culture shines on this holiday, as Christmas is about gathering, singing, and sharing folklore. You can indulge in festive markets, listen to traditional Irish music at pubs, or even wade into the freezing waters for a Christmas Day swim. Yes, despite the cryotherapy-level cold water!
Christmas in London
London at Christmas is especially enchanting as the city lights up for Christmas and sparkles like a winter wonderland. Iconic landmarks like Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden are adorned with twinkling lights and grand Christmas trees, while Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland attracts travelers with its ice skating rinks, circus shows, and charming market stalls.
Carol concerts in historic venues like St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are a cherished tradition, offering an atmospheric blend of music and holiday spirit. The Christmas Day tradition of the Queen’s (now King’s) Speech is another hallmark of British holiday culture, bringing families together to watch the royal message.
Food plays a starring role in London’s Christmas celebrations, with a traditional meal featuring roast turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables, and pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon). Dessert is often Christmas pudding or mince pies served with brandy butter. In keeping with British humor and tradition, Christmas crackers are pulled at the table, revealing small gifts, paper crowns, and jokes.
Londoners also enjoy festive pantomimes, a theatrical tradition filled with humor and audience participation. The combination of cultural richness, folklore, and modern flair makes London a quintessential destination for celebrating Christmas in Europe. Saying this, what are you waiting for to spend the best Christmas in Europe? There are plenty of options; share in the comments where you are traveling this holiday season!
Spanish 
English