Festive Fairytales: Our Favorite European Cities for Christmas Markets
December markets have been popping up in town squares in Germany, Bohemia, and Austria since the 13th and 14th century, first as an opportunity to buy supplies for the long months ahead, and developing over the centuries into increasingly festive events, with lights, ice skating rinks, choirs, and local crafts - and who are we to argue with 800 years of history? There’s nothing that brightens the darkening days between Thanksgiving and Christmas like a trip, especially one that promises twinkling lights, hot wine, and lots of sweet treats. Read on for five of our favorite cities to get into the holiday spirit (and the hotels you’ve got to hit while you’re in town) - why not tuck a festive 2026 trip under this year's tree?
Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s Can’t-Miss Christmas Markets
Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt
The city’s largest and most famous market spreads across the grand square in front of City Hall, with centuries-old trees illuminated by animated light displays. Don’t miss the ice skating, which isn’t just on your average rink - frozen pathways weave through the park, connecting almost an acre of ice.
Stephansplatz Christmas Market
Located beside the towering spires of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, you’ll find a compact but atmospheric set of stalls perfect for a quick festive stop while exploring Vienna’s historic core.
Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market
Baroque Schönbrunn may have been the summer home of the Habsburgs, but it still looks just as fetching in the cold, when the square in front is dotted with Christmas trees and even plays host to a glowing ferris wheel.
Many histories of Christmas markets trace the origins back to 1296, when Duke Albrecht I authorized 14-day December fairs in medieval Vienna. Today, the city hosts more than 20 markets, generally running from mid-November until December 23rd or so, from the epic Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz in front of City Hall, to smaller local markets made of a few dozen stalls that you can happen upon as you turn a corner. No matter the size of the market, you’ll find glühwein (mulled white or red wine) and punsch (a fruit-based hot tipple, served with rum or without), vendors selling ornaments of every stripe, and brezel (soft pretzels, offered either salty or sweet) larger than your head.
If your fingers get a little chilly, Vienna offers world-class indoor pursuits as well. The Viennese are aesthetes, and it’s easy to spend hours admiring the Habsburgs’ spoils in the Kunsthistorisches Museum or the glittering Klimts in the Belvedere. The Vienna State Opera’s repertoire has nightly performances of classics from Beethoven, Puccini, and Strauss, and the Lipizzaners dance daily at the Spanish Riding School during morning open rehearsals and weekend 11AM performances. The shopping, both for international luxury brands and local artisans, is top-notch as well, so you can check the last few people off your list between slices of Sachertorte.
Where to Stay:
Mandarin Oriental, Vienna
In the works for over a decade, the brand-new Mandarin Oriental Vienna welcomed its first visitors on December 1, and Local Foreigner has already dropped in for a stay. Housed in an Art Nouveau building from the early 1900s, hallways are wide (in case you packed your hoop skirt), floor to ceiling windows let the city’s crystalline light pour in, and the four dining outlets under Atelier 7’s beautiful glass dome are already buzzing. There’s art everywhere, from the Klimtian mosaics that greet you on every floor, to the contemporary brushstrokes of Peter Jellitsch that arc across your key card, to the elegant curves and finishes of the building itself, which speak to the city’s history while still honoring Mandarin Oriental’s sleek aesthetic.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen’s Can’t-Miss Christmas Markets
Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market
Copenhagen’s most famous holiday attraction transforms Tivoli, by adding festive stalls and thousands of twinkling lights to the amusement rides and seasonal food.
Nyhavn Christmas Market
Set along the colorful harbor, this market is smaller but incredibly scenic. It’s perfect for a hot mug of gløgg by the water.
Christiania Christmas Market
Creative and unconventional, there’s no other market in Europe like this one. Expect handmade items, live music, and a bohemian vibe.
With mid-afternoon sunsets leading to long, cold, evenings, Copenhagen’s holiday season is a celebration of hygge. But when you bundle up to head outdoors, the centerpiece of the city is Tivoli Gardens, transformed into a sparkling Christmas wonderland with thousands of lights, festive rides, and charming market stalls selling Nordic ornaments, sweets, and seasonal treats. Beyond Tivoli, the city’s markets feel distinctly Danish, with emphasis on design and craftsmanship. Don’t miss a postcard-perfect stroll along Nyhavn, which you’ve seen in a million pictures taken in the summer time; when it’s cold, the colorful harbor houses glow with candles and garlands. Warm up with a cup of gløgg and æbleskiver, or visit royal sites like Rosenborg Castle, home to the Danish crown jewels. Copenhagen’s culinary scene also shines in winter, as many of the techniques that define the cuisine, like fermentation and smoking, were originally developed to stretch stores through the long, cold months.
Where to Stay:
Hotel d'Angleterre
Located on Copenhagen’s historic Kongens Nytorv, the D’Angleterre is a landmark of grand European tradition. Established in 1755 by a French hairstylist and a daughter of the Royal Chef, 270+ years on, this icon’s 92 rooms and suites offer plush furnishings, muted tones, and Danish design accents. It’s steps from Nyhavn and the Royal Danish Theatre, and serves as a cultural hub as much as a luxury retreat - the Christmas decorations on the facade are a centerpiece of the city’s festive spirit (there’s also a holiday market right outside the entrance.) Rich in history and recently restored, Hotel d'Angleterre remains one of Scandinavia’s most prestigious palaces.
Munich, Germany
Munich’s Can’t-Miss Christmas Markets
Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz
In front of the Neo-Gothic town hall, this should be every visitor’s first stop for a classic Bavarian experience with all the key elements: gingerbread, ornaments, and glühwein.
Medieval Christmas Market at Wittelsbacherplatz
This unique market recreates a medieval atmosphere with whole pigs roasting over open fires and the occasional be-cloaked visitor. Stalls focused on historic crafts set it apart from more quintessential offerings.
Residenz Christmas Village
Just steps from the larger market on Marienplatz, the region that donates the city’s huge Christmas tree each year gets the chance to showcase their local culture; this year, the tree and vendors hail from the Sud-Tyrol.
There are excellent Christmas markets in every city in Germany, but the capital of Bavaria turns out some especially festive versions. The sprawling Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz anchors the festivities, set against the dramatic Neo-Gothic façade of the Neues Rathaus. Stalls overflow with carved nutcrackers, beeswax candles, lebkuchen, and mugs of Glühwein shaped like Christmas stockings, but there are so many markets in the city that they blend into each other in a sort of constant unfolding of festive spirit.
Even beyond the markets, Münchners know how to do winter. The culinary scene is especially well-suited to the cold, with hearty portions of roasted meats served alongside every possible version of potato (and who doesn’t feel a bit toasty after a giant stein of dunkel?) Melodies from seasonal concerts and Advent performances drift from churches into the streets, and if you’re looking for a day trip, it’s hard to get more magical than an outing to fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, the real-life inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Where to Stay:
Mandarin Oriental, Munich
This classic 73-room hotel located just south of Maximillanstrasse (Munich’s Madison Avenue) maintains a boutique ambiance despite being part of a global brand and its location right in the middle of everything you’re looking for in Munich. Every detail is executed perfectly, and during the festive season, that includes the lobby Christmas tree, done in partnership with a new designer each year (this year, it’s Dolce and Gabbana). When you need a break from pork knuckle and spaetzle, the country’s only Matsuhisa is on the first floor. Another draw is the rooftop bar, which in the winter is transformed into a chalet pop-up, with igloo domes, fur-lined chairs, fondue, and expertly-selected local wines.
Salzburg’s Can’t-Miss Christmas Markets
Salzburg Christkindlmarkt (Domplatz & Residenzplatz)
Salzburg’s main market is one of Europe’s oldest, set beneath a canopy of white lights. Traditional music and alpine specialties define the experience.
Mirabellplatz Christmas Market
Make sure you pick up a bauernkrapfen, a yeasted fried dough that’s a Salzburg speciality, to go with your punsch at this local favorite.
Hellbrunn Palace Advent Market
700 pine trees are imported to the square in front of Hellbrunn Palace to create the magical setting for this market, which has extensive programming geared toward the younger generation.
Salzburg, Austria
Musically-inclined travelers will already have Salzburg on their radar, but if you’re a mush for Christmas carols specifically, this culture capital should be at the top of your list. After all, Silent Night was written in a village just outside the city, and its soaring melody echoes off buildings throughout town. Given its size, Salzburg’s Christmas charm is quieter and more soulful than larger capitals - this is a place for visitors who want to be surrounded not just by holiday spirit, but by alpine peaks, as the baroque architecture and the stunning natural landscapes work in harmony to create a festive scene that’s hard to top. The Christkindlmarkt, set in Cathedral Square beneath the fortress walls, is one of Austria’s oldest and most authentic markets, with traditional stalls selling woolen goods and local delicacies, while brass bands and choirs fill the air with Advent music, and Salzburg’s connection to Mozart adds a special layer to the season, with classical concerts and performances throughout the city.
Where to Stay:
Rosewood Schloss Fuschl
The castle that houses Rosewood Schloss Fuschl was once hunting lodge for the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, and while its lakeside location is stunning in the summer, when the waters freeze over, it becomes the definition of a winter wonderland. Salzburg and its charms are a 20-minute drive from the hotel, so you can head in for dinner, a concert, and a stroll through the markets after a day at the excellent spa. The hotel also has its own on-property Christmas market, so you’ll never be far from the holiday spirit.
Prague’s Can’t-Miss Christmas Markets
Old Town Square Christmas Market
Prague’s most famous market sits beneath the Astronomical Clock and a towering Christmas tree, surrounded by Gothic architecture. Expect classic treats like trdelník and mulled wine.
Wenceslas Square Christmas Market
Livelier and more modern than Old Town Square, this market is ideal for sampling festive food and lacing up your skates for a spin on the rink.
Kampa Island Christmas Market
Set beside the Vltava River with views of Charles Bridge, this low-key market is food-focused, with lots of meats sizzling away on open grills.
Prague, Czech Republic
Eminently walkable Prague is a storybook city, and at the holidays, it feels like a bite-sized Christmas truffle. The City of a Hundred Spires has atmosphere in spades - the Charles Bridge glows with lantern light (though you’ll want to come very early or very late to avoid serious crowds) and the sound of clinking glasses bounces off cobblestone streets. The heart of the city and the season is Old Town Square, where one of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas markets unfolds beneath the Astronomical Clock. Wooden chalets sell hand-painted ornaments, Bohemian crystal, wooden toys, and mugs of spiced wine, while a rotation of choirs perform traditional carols from an elevated stage. Beyond the markets, Prague invites wandering (provided you’re dressed warmly). Duck into historic cafés for hot chocolate and pastries, or make sure to enjoy the views from the water - a vodouch boat on the Vltava River and surrounding canals is a perfect way to escape the crowds and enjoy the city’s beauty.
Where to Stay:
Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Located in a former 14th century monastery, the Mandarin Oriental Prague combines the building’s medieval Czech design with the hotel’s trademark Asian aesthetic to create a space all its own. The individually designed guestrooms feature vaulted and arched ceilings, but contemporary details such as heated bathroom floors remind you of what century you’re really in. The spa is housed in a tranquil Renaissance chapel with a glass floor displaying Roman ruins below, and the monastery lounge is great for tea.
