Europe's most magical Christmas markets

Seven Christmas markets sit in the shadow of Cologne's UNESCO cathedral, anchored by the Cathedral Market (Dom) and the medieval Old Town market.

Late Nov – Dec 23

The Christkindlesmarkt is the world's most famous Christmas market, set in Nuremberg's medieval main square and dating back to the mid-1600s.

Late Nov – Dec 24

Regensburg's Romantic Christmas Market sits in the medieval Neupfarrplatz, in a UNESCO old town with the world's oldest sausage kitchen (since 1146).

Late Nov – Dec 23

Rüdesheim's Christmas Market of Nations lines the Drosselgasse with stalls from 25+ countries, in a Rhine-gorge wine town famous for Riesling.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Bamberg's Christmas market sits before the UNESCO old town's four-spired cathedral, in a medieval town famous for its smoked beer (Rauchbier).

Late Nov – Dec 23

Würzburg's Christmas market sits before the baroque Residenz (UNESCO) and the Marienberg fortress, in Franconian wine country.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Passau, where three rivers meet, hosts a small Christmas market in its cathedral square, home to the world's largest cathedral organ.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Speyer's Christmas market sits before its UNESCO Romanesque cathedral, in a 2,000-year-old imperial city on the Upper Rhine.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Mainz, Gutenberg's home, hosts a romantic Christmas market around its 1,000-year-old cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Koblenz sits at the Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle meets the Rhine, with a Christmas market and a cable car to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Miltenberg, the 'Pearl of the Main,' is a perfectly preserved half-timbered town whose tiny Christmas market fills the medieval Hauptplatz.

Advent weekends

Frankfurt's Römerberg Christmas market sits in the reconstructed medieval old town, framed by Germany's most famous skyline.

Late Nov – Dec 22

Cochem's Reichsburg Castle towers over a half-timbered Moselle wine town whose Advent market fills the medieval marketplace.

Advent weekends

Bernkastel-Kues' medieval Marktplatz, framed by half-timbered houses, hosts a romantic Advent market in the heart of Moselle Riesling country.

Advent weekends

Trier, founded by the Romans in 16 BC, hosts a Christmas market on its medieval Hauptmarkt beside a UNESCO Romanesque cathedral.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Vienna hosts three major Christmas markets: the vast Rathausplatz, the baroque Schönbrunn, and the cultural Belvedere — all framed by imperial architecture.

Mid-Nov – Dec 26

Salzburg's Christmas markets sit in baroque squares in Mozart's birthplace — and the 'Silent Night' chapel is a short trip away in Oberndorf.

Late Nov – Dec 26

Melk Abbey, the baroque masterpiece above the Wachau Valley, hosts Advent markets and overlooks the most beautiful stretch of the Danube.

Advent weekends

Strasbourg, the self-proclaimed 'Capital of Christmas,' hosts France's oldest market (since 1570) across its UNESCO old town.

Late Nov – Dec 30

Paris's Christmas markets along the Champs-Élysées and Tuileries, with the Eiffel Tower sparkling on the hour, anchor Seine sailings.

Mid-Nov – early Jan

Rouen, where Joan of Arc was martyred, hosts a Christmas market around its Gothic cathedral (painted 30+ times by Monet).

Late Nov – Dec 31

Honfleur's Vieux-Bassin harbor, painted by Boudin and Monet, hosts a small Advent market in one of Normandy's prettiest ports.

Advent weekends

Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, hosts a Christmas market on Place Carnot during the famous Fête des Lumières festival of lights.

Early Dec – late Dec

Avignon's Christmas market sits before the Palais des Papes (the popes' 14th-century palace), with Provençal santons and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Late Nov – Dec 31

Basel, the eastern anchor of Rhine sailings, hosts two of Switzerland's grandest Christmas markets in its medieval old town.

Late Nov – Dec 23

Amsterdam's Christmas markets and the Winter Festival along the illuminated canals are the western anchor of most Rhine sailings.

Early Dec – early Jan

Budapest's Vörösmarty Square market is the eastern anchor of most Danube Christmas sailings, set against the illuminated Parliament and Chain Bridge.

Mid-Nov – Jan 1

Bratislava's old town hosts three compact Christmas markets — Hlavné námestie, Hviezdoslavovo námestie, and the castle — between Vienna and Budapest.

Late Nov – Dec 22

Porto's Ribeira district, a UNESCO riverfront of tiled houses, hosts Portugal's coziest Christmas market among the port-wine lodges.

Early Dec – early Jan

Salamanca, a UNESCO university city of golden sandstone, hosts a Christmas market in its Plaza Mayor en route up the Douro from Porto.

Early Dec – early Jan

Breisach is the river port for Colmar, whose Petite Venise canals host five Christmas markets in a half-timbered Alsatian old town.

Late Nov – Dec 30