Explore 10 of the best European Christmas markets

Get in the festive spirit with our list of Europe’s 10 best Christmas markets!

Birmingham’s huge Frankfurt Christmas Market is the world’s largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria. Everything you love about a German Christmas market is on hand - glühwein (mulled wine), schnitzels, bratwurst – as well as over eighty stalls selling traditional and hand-made gifts. Accompanying the market, a programme of live music and carols takes over the city’s Victoria Square, adding that extra bit of Christmas cheer to proceedings.

Poznań’s Christmas market - also known as Poznań Bethlehem - takes over the city’s Old Market Square and Plac Wolności each year from mid-November onwards. As well as the usual attractions, what makes it unique is the International Ice Sculpture Festival. Held in Poznań every December, this festival sees international artists make shining, glass-like ice sculptures in the main square.

A cold winter morning in Oslo calls for a steaming beverage and kanelsnurrer (cinnamon twist). Make your way to the Spikersuppa Julemarked (Christmas Market), and revel in the festive stalls and ice skating here. In December folk museums such as the Norse Folkemuseum arrange special concerts, crafts and gingerbread house workshops alongside traditional markets.

Christmas markets spring up all over Rome in December, with the most famous one hosted at the Piazza Navona daily from 10am until 1am. Those staying in the city on Christmas Day can make their way to the Vatican to see the Pope give his Christmas blessing on Piazza San Pietro.

Every year for centuries, Vienna has transformed into a winter wonderland with lights twinkling in the frosty nights and open-air Christmas markets popping up all over the city. 

As you wander through the maze of stalls, the smell of roasted chestnuts, glühwein, punsch and lebkuchen (a moulded gingerbread) drift through the air, tempting you to try the Christmas fare.

Berlin fights the winter gloom with festive Christmas Markets. There’s no central one to visit - in fact there’s over seventy of them to explore - some indoors, some outdoors, some with rides, some intimate, some spectacular. However, they all offer glühwein, snacks and an assortment of gifts and entertainment.

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