Christmas Markets & Festivals in Europe
Mulled wine in a medieval square, a decorated river ship on the Danube, Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle. Europe’s festive season, by river, by coach, or on your own by car and train.
A short season worth planning for
Europe’s Christmas markets run for a few weeks from late November, and the trips built around them run for those weeks only. Some river cruises sail in December and nothing else, and the escorted market tours have a handful of departures each year.
There are three ways to do it: a river cruise that stops at a market town every day, an escorted coach tour, or an independent trip by car and train on your own dates.
Book in the spring or summer if you can. The December dates go first.
This is one of my favorite seasons to plan for. Whichever way you go, I’ll check the market dates for every city on your route before anything is booked, so you arrive while the lights are up.
KatieMarkets on These Trips
Strasbourg
France · Alpine Christmas Markets
France’s oldest Christmas market, in the city where France and Germany meet.
Munich
Germany · car & train, Alpine markets
The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, a Christmas village in the Residenz courtyard, and the Tollwood winter festival.
Salzburg
Austria · car & train, Alpine markets
Markets on Domplatz and Residenzplatz, and a smaller one in the courtyard of the fortress above the city.
Vienna
Austria · car & train, holiday journey, river cruise
The big market at the Rathausplatz with its ice rink, plus Spittelberg, Karlsplatz and Schönbrunn.
Prague
Czechia · car & train, holiday journey
The market on Old Town Square below the astronomical clock, and a quieter one at Náměstí Míru.
Budapest
Hungary · holiday journey, river cruise
The markets on Vörösmarty Square and in front of St Stephen’s Basilica.
Find Your Christmas Trip
Katie’s Pickfor 1st timers8 daysFestive Season on the Romantic Rhine
Amsterdam to Basel at the start of the season: Cologne, the Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and the Black Forest, with carols and hot chocolate aboard.
Ask me about this cruise
12 daysFestive Season on the Douro, with Madeira
Porto, the Douro vineyards, Castelo Rodrigo and Salamanca as the Christmas lights go up, then three nights in Funchal on Madeira.
Ask me about this cruise
7 daysBaltic Christmas Markets Escape
Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn in market season. The shorter version of the Helsinki trip.
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Katie’s Pickfor repeat visitors10 daysBest of the Christmas Markets by Car & Train
Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague in market season.
See the day by day
Katie’s Pick8 daysA Holiday Journey Through Budapest, Vienna & Prague
Three imperial capitals by train, with a guide to the markets in each.
See the day by day
Katie’s Pickfor 1st timers9 daysAlpine Christmas Markets
An easy-paced escorted tour ending at France’s oldest Christmas market.
See the day by day
6 daysChristmastime from Vienna to Budapest
A Danube cruise on a decorated ship, with a market at every stop.
See the day by day
9 daysBaltic Christmas Markets with Helsinki
A Christmas market in Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and Helsinki.
See the day by day
6 daysFestive Polar Escape
Reindeer, Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland.
See the full itinerary
10 daysGermany Uncovered: Oktoberfest & the Rhine
A table in an Oktoberfest tent, breweries in Bamberg and Düsseldorf, and a Rhine Gorge cruise.
Ask me about this trip“Traveling through Europe is like stepping into a living museum of art, architecture, and diverse cultures.”
The Itineraries, Day by Day
Best of the Christmas Markets by Car & Train
Germany, Austria & Czechia
- The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz
- A market in the courtyard of Salzburg’s fortress
- The train from Vienna to Prague
Five of the best-known market cities in one trip: Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague. The car covers the Alpine stretch, with Neuschwanstein and Melk Abbey along the way, and you hand it back in Vienna before the train to Prague.
See the stop by stop
- 2 nightsMunichThe Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, the Residenz Christmas village, the market at the Chinese Tower and the Tollwood winter festival.
- 1 nightInnsbruckCollect the car and drive into Austria, with Neuschwanstein or Mittenwald as an optional stop. The market below the Golden Roof and along Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
- 2 nightsSalzburgThe markets on Domplatz and Residenzplatz, the courtyard market up at Hohensalzburg fortress, and Hellbrunn.
- 2 nightsViennaThrough the Salzkammergut and past Melk Abbey. Drop the car. The Rathausplatz market and its ice rink, Schönbrunn and Karlsplatz.
- 2 nightsPragueBy train from Vienna. The Old Town Square market, Charles Bridge, the castle and the market at Náměstí Míru.
What’s included
- Nine nights with breakfast, in 3-star-plus or 4-star hotels
- The rental car for the driving days, including the one-way fee to Vienna
- The Vienna to Prague train
This is winter driving, so I’ll talk it through with you first. US drivers need an International Driving Permit for Austria. There are also eight-day and Budapest versions.
A Holiday Journey Through Budapest, Vienna & Prague
Hungary, Austria & Czechia
- A guided market evening in every city
- A Prague food tour of goulash and Czech beer
- Mulled wine on Old Town Square
Three imperial capitals linked by train, with a guide to take you around the markets in each one. Prague gets three nights, and the private tours there include a food walk and a market evening with mulled wine.
See the stop by stop
- 2 nightsBudapestA city tour taking in the Chain Bridge, the Castle District, Gellért Hill, the Central Market Hall and Heroes’ Square. The Christmas markets on Vörösmarty Square and at St Stephen’s.
- 2 nightsViennaBy train. A private evening walk under the lights, a morning at Schönbrunn and the Belvedere for Klimt, and an evening tour of four local markets including Spittelberg.
- 3 nightsPragueBy train. A private Old Town food tour with goulash, dumplings and Czech beer, a full-day walk with a guide, a Christmas-market tour with mulled wine, and Prague Castle by its quieter entrances.
What’s included
- Seven nights, and the trains between all three cities
- Private airport transfers
- All the tours listed, private and shared
Flights are not included. This is a sample shape, so nights and tours can change.
Alpine Christmas Markets
Germany, Austria, France & Switzerland
- Strasbourg, France’s oldest Christmas market
- Dinner at Swarovski Crystal Worlds
- The Freiburg market in the Black Forest
An escorted market trip at an easy pace, from Munich to Zurich by way of Salzburg, Innsbruck, the Black Forest and Strasbourg, home to France’s oldest Christmas market. Your tour director handles everything in between.
See the route
- GermanyMunich and ChiemseeThe Munich Christmas market and the city, then out to Lake Chiemsee.
- AustriaSalzburg and InnsbruckThe Salzburg market in Mozart’s city, then Innsbruck, with dinner at Swarovski Crystal Worlds.
- GermanyLake Constance and the Black ForestLindau on Lake Constance, then a base in the Black Forest and the Freiburg market.
- France and SwitzerlandStrasbourg to ZurichStrasbourg’s market, the oldest in France, and on to Zurich.
What’s included
- Eight breakfasts and five dinners
- A tour director and coach throughout
Departures run for only a few weeks each year, so these fill early.
Christmastime from Vienna to Budapest
Austria, Slovakia & Hungary
- A ship decorated for the season
- A Christmas market at every stop
- Melk Abbey above the Wachau Valley
A short Danube cruise on a ship decorated for the season, with a market at every stop. Unpack once and the markets come to you: Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, with Melk Abbey in between.
See the route
- ViennaMarkets and the Imperial PalaceVienna’s markets, the Imperial Palace, the Opera House and St Stephen’s.
- MelkThe Wachau ValleyThe Benedictine abbey above the Danube, and the Wachau Valley.
- BratislavaThe Old TownCobbled lanes, Gothic St Martin’s Cathedral and the markets.
- BudapestSightseeing and one more marketA guided tour of the city and free time at its Christmas market.
Baltic Christmas Markets with Helsinki
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland
- A market in all four capitals
- Medieval old towns in Riga and Tallinn
- A ferry across the Gulf of Finland
Four capitals and a Christmas market in every one. The Baltic old towns are smaller and quieter than the Central European market cities, and the trip ends with a ferry across to Helsinki.
See the stop by stop
- 2 nightsVilniusA guided tour and the city’s Christmas market.
- 2 nightsRigaA guided walk through the old town and its market.
- 2 nightsTallinnA guided tour, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the market.
- 2 nightsHelsinkiBy ferry across the Gulf of Finland. A guided tour and the last market of the trip.
Questions About Christmas Market Trips
When are the Christmas markets open?
Most open in late November and run through December, and the trips on this page are timed around that window. Opening and closing dates vary from city to city and year to year, so I check them for every stop on your route before booking.
How early should I book?
As early as you can. The December river cruises and escorted market tours have only a few departures each season, and hotels in the main market cities fill up on weekends. Booking in the spring or summer gives you the best choice of dates.
River cruise, coach tour, or on my own?
A river cruise means unpacking once and waking up at a new market town. An escorted tour covers more ground and handles every detail. An independent trip by car and train lets you choose your dates and linger where you like. I’m happy to compare two of them side by side for you.
Is it safe to drive in Europe in December?
The self-drive trip uses a car only for the Alpine stretch, and the roads it uses are main routes. It is still winter driving, so I’ll only suggest it if you’re comfortable in snow. US drivers also need an International Driving Permit for Austria. If you’d rather not drive at all, the Budapest, Vienna and Prague trip is entirely by train.
What should I pack?
Layers, a warm waterproof coat, gloves, a hat and comfortable boots with grip, because you’ll be standing outside on cobblestones in the evenings. Leave some room in your suitcase for ornaments and gifts.
What does it cost to work with you?
For custom trips, my planning fee starts at $50 per person for a single city, and starts at $100 per person per city for a multi-city trip. Other trips vary, and I’ll tell you the exact fee before we start. My How It Works guide walks you through exactly how I plan your trip, step by step.
Let’s Plan Your Christmas in Europe
Tell me which markets are on your wish list and when you can travel. I’ll take it from there.
