Top 10 Christmas Markets in Europe
With so many Christmas market breaks in Europe to choose from, it's hard to select just ten but here is a list of our favourites.
Christmas Market Breaks in Europe: Recommended holiday rentals
Christmas Market Breaks in Europe: find your perfect rental from just £29 per night!
The Best European Christmas Markets
Christmas market breaks in Europe allow travellers to get into the festive mood with great local foods and drinks, fun activities like ice skating and, of course, a chance to meet the man of the hour himself. If you haven't chosen your market yet, here's the low down on the very best ones available within Europe.
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Prague
Get a little of that Tim Burton Christmas vibe with Prague's Gothic architecture, and keep warm at one of the many mulled wine stalls.
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Cologne
It's hard to match Germany when it comes to Christmas markets. Cologne offers treats and lights galore, as well as 100 different stage performances.
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Edinburgh
Take the kids on a trip to a Scottish Santa Land, complete with Christmas tree maze and a 108-foot-tall Ferris wheel.
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Brussels
Winter wonderland doesn't quite describe what's on offer here, with 200 wood chalets, a Ferris wheel, ice rinks, and an epic light show.
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Vienna
Lights are the name of the game in this Austrian Christmas market, with all the massive trees around city hall lit up and decorated.
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Wroclaw
Poland's hidden gem offers all the usual tasty treats matched with a three-story fairy tale castle.
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Salzburg
Known as the Christkindlmarkt, Salzburg's market features daily sing-alongs and traditional wind-instrument performances throughout the season.
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Budapest
Enjoy a modern take on Christmas lights with laser projections on the Basilica of this famous capital.
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Bath
Britain's most beatific market blends cobbled streets with more than 200 stalls and a fantastic story telling crypt!
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Berlin
With more than 80 different markets ranging from the traditional to the downright weird, you're sure to find something to your taste.
Best Places to Stay for Christmas Markets in Europe
Christmas Market Breaks in Europe: frequently asked questions
Christmas Market Breaks in Europe: what's the average price for holiday accommodation?
By using HomeToGo, you can find prices as low as £29 per night when it comes to holiday rentals for Christmas Market Breaks in Europe.
Where I can find holiday rentals for Christmas Market Breaks in Europe that's suitable for a family or large group?
Apartment rental in Europe can sleep 5 persons on average, with holiday rentals also available for larger and smaller groups.
What types of holiday accommodation are available for Christmas Market Breaks in Europe?
The most popular types of holiday rentals for Christmas Market Breaks in Europe are Apartment rental and House rentals.
© Getty Images / HomeToGo
Looking for festive cheer without the crowds? HomeToGo, the marketplace with the world’s largest selection of holiday rentals, has pinpointed 50 Christmas markets that are still flying under the radar.
Research from HomeToGo has confirmed that Brits are some of Europe's most avid festive fair-goers. In a 2023 survey, more than half of UK travellers (58%) said they are planning to visit a Christmas market this winter. This enthusiasm surpassed that of other European counterparts, with only 45% of Germans, 47% of the French, 54% of Spaniards, and 57% of Italians expressing a similar interest¹. Luckily, the results of HomeToGo's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets study show that Brits need not travel far to find some top options for their yuletide shopping, carol singing, and mulled wine sipping.
While Europe boasts some of the world's most iconic and expansive Christmas markets, for travellers seeking quieter, more snug experiences, HomeToGo has compiled a list of excellent off-the-beaten-track options. Looking only at destinations which do not appear on lists of the most-searched spots for the run up to Christmas in 2023, HomeToGo used exclusive search and price insights to identify and rank fifty locations with lovely lesser-known markets and lower accommodation costs.
Five UK destinations are featured in the list, with Canterbury soaring to fourth place and taking the title of the country's best hidden gem Christmas market. The cathedral city is kept company on the top 10 leaderboard by Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Chimay (Belgium), Svendborg (Denmark), Xàbia (Spain), Annaberg-Buchholz (Germany), Middelfart (Denmark), Eupen (Belgium), Esbjerg (Denmark), and Stralsund (Germany).
Travellers looking for quaint Christmas markets, appealing prices, and less hubbub can find sleigh-loads of inspiration in the full list below:
🎄 Europe's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets: The Top 50 List
|
Rank
|
Destination
|
Country
|
Search Score
|
Price Score
|
Total Score
|
Median PPN for a holiday rental
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santiago de Compostela, Galicia | Spain | 10.00 | 9.38 | 19.38 | £107.14 |
| 2 | Chimay, Walloon Region | Belgium | 9.34 | 8.33 | 17.67 | £166.38 |
| 3 | Svendborg, Region Syddanmark | Denmark | 8.10 | 9.24 | 17.34 | £114.98 |
| 4 | Canterbury, Kent | United Kingdom | 9.27 | 8.02 | 17.29 | £183.80 |
| 5 | Xàbia, Valencian Community | Spain | 8.22 | 9.06 | 17.28 | £125.44 |
| 6 | Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony | Germany | 7.45 | 9.69 | 17.14 | £89.72 |
| 7 | Middelfart, Region Syddanmark | Denmark | 7.66 | 9.41 | 17.07 | £105.40 |
| 8 | Eupen, Walloon Region | Belgium | 8.69 | 8.37 | 17.06 | £163.76 |
| 9 | Esbjerg, Region Syddanmark | Denmark | 8.01 | 9.03 | 17.04 | £126.74 |
| 10 | Stralsund, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Germany | 7.78 | 9.23 | 17.01 | £115.85 |
| 11 | Bamberg, Bavaria | Germany | 7.62 | 9.38 | 17.00 | £107.14 |
| 12 | Mechelen, Flanders | Belgium | 8.02 | 8.81 | 16.83 | £139.37 |
| 13 | Teruel, Aragon | Spain | 9.06 | 7.72 | 16.78 | £200.35 |
| 14 | Berchtesgaden, Bavaria | Germany | 7.75 | 8.99 | 16.74 | £128.92 |
| 15 | Aabenraa, Region Syddanmark | Denmark | 7.42 | 9.23 | 16.65 | £115.85 |
| 16 | Spiez, Canton of Bern | Switzerland | 8.25 | 8.34 | 16.59 | £165.50 |
| 17 | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | United Kingdom | 8.43 | 8.13 | 16.56 | £177.70 |
| 18 | Fribourg, Canton of Fribourg | Switzerland | 7.72 | 8.75 | 16.47 | £142.86 |
| 19 | Fuengirola, Andalusia | Spain | 6.43 | 10.00 | 16.43 | £72.30 |
| 20 | Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Germany | 7.26 | 9.12 | 16.38 | £121.95 |
| 21 | Winchester, Hampshire | United Kingdom | 8.33 | 7.97 | 16.30 | £186.41 |
| 22 | Stavelot, Walloon Region | Belgium | 9.25 | 6.97 | 16.22 | £243.03 |
| 23 | Elba, Tuscany | Italy | 6.81 | 9.26 | 16.07 | £114.11 |
| 24 | Dinant, Walloon Region | Belgium | 8.32 | 7.74 | 16.06 | £199.48 |
| 25 | Ascona, Ticino | Switzerland | 7.79 | 8.20 | 15.99 | £173.34 |
| 26 | Julianadorp, North Holland | Netherlands | 7.20 | 8.76 | 15.96 | £141.99 |
| 27 | Zandvoort, North Holland | Netherlands | 7.48 | 8.44 | 15.92 | £160.28 |
| 28= | Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire | United Kingdom | 7.92 | 7.71 | 15.63 | £201.22 |
| 28= | Sønderborg Municipality, Region Syddanmark | Denmark | 7.09 | 8.54 | 15.63 | £154.18 |
| 30 | Cadzand, Zeeland | Netherlands | 7.32 | 8.27 | 15.59 | £169.86 |
| 31 | Ovronnaz, Valais | Switzerland | 8.12 | 7.45 | 15.57 | £216.03 |
| 32 | Giethoorn, Overijssel | Netherlands | 7.13 | 8.42 | 15.55 | £161.15 |
| 33 | Dieppe, Normandy | France | 6.67 | 8.84 | 15.51 | £137.63 |
| 34 | Leysin, Vaud | Switzerland | 8.25 | 7.04 | 15.29 | £238.68 |
| 35 | Bath, Somerset | United Kingdom | 8.85 | 6.21 | 15.06 | £285.71 |
| 36 | Ouddorp, South Holland | Netherlands | 7.30 | 7.63 | 14.93 | £205.57 |
| 37 | Ibiza Town, Balearic Islands | Spain | 7.84 | 6.84 | 14.68 | £250.00 |
| 38 | Valloire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | France | 6.75 | 7.87 | 14.62 | £192.07 |
| 39 | Achen Lake, Tyrol | Austria | 7.16 | 7.07 | 14.23 | £236.93 |
| 40 | Les Deux Alpes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | France | 6.21 | 7.54 | 13.75 | £210.80 |
| 41 | Neustift im Stubaital, Tyrol | Austria | 6.03 | 7.49 | 13.52 | £213.41 |
| 42 | Asiago, Veneto | Italy | 5.00 | 8.38 | 13.38 | £163.33 |
| 43 | Val di Sole, Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol | Italy | 5.06 | 7.51 | 12.57 | £212.54 |
| 44 | Les Gets, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | France | 6.65 | 5.74 | 12.39 | £311.85 |
| 45 | Ponte di Legno, Lombardy | Italy | 5.44 | 6.63 | 12.07 | £262.19 |
| 46 | Avoriaz, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | France | 6.83 | 5.19 | 12.02 | £343.20 |
| 47 | Brixen im Thale, Tyrol | Austria | 6.81 | 5.09 | 11.90 | £348.43 |
| 48 | Kaltenbach, Tyrol | Austria | 6.74 | 5.06 | 11.80 | £350.17 |
| 49 | Kirchberg in Tirol, Tyrol | Austria | 6.20 | 5.00 | 11.20 | £353.66 |
| 50 | Corvara, Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol | Italy | 5.26 | 5.28 | 10.54 | £337.98 |
🎄 Europe's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets: Mapped
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🎄 Europe's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets: Top 4 in Focus
1. Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain
🎁 Search score: 10.00 / Median price per night for a holiday home: £107.14
While a Spanish metropolis might not be the first type of location that springs to mind for Christmas market trips, this destination brims with undeniable festive charm in December. Indulge in Galician culinary delights and browse lovingly crafted gifts under shimmering lights at the Christmas market. Take in the views while wandering the cobbled streets of the incredible Old Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a majestic cathedral which dates back to the 13th century.
2. Chimay in the Walloon Region, Belgium
🎁 Search score: 9.34 / Median price per night for a holiday home: £166.38
Chimay's Christmas market spreads festive cheer with 70 stalls. It boasts a particularly scenic setting, partly situated in the regal main courtyard of the city's castle, and invites visitors to sample regional delicacies such as la Poteauflette, oysters, and snails. Dishes are best enjoyed alongside Chimay beer, as created by the Trappist monks of the nearby Scourmont Abbey. For wintery activities outside of the festive fair, the Riezes ski runs, which offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, are a short drive away.
Santiago de Compostela in Spain
Canterbury in England (UK)
3. Svendborg in Region Syddanmark, Denmark
🎁 Search score: 8.10 / Median price per night for a holiday home: £114.98
Book a stay in the small city of Svendborg and visit the Christmas market hosted in the nearby Egeskov Castle. With over 110 stalls set up across the site's gardens and museums, this option is superlative in terms of both its scenic setting and options for festive shopping. Listen to the Christmas choir, warm up in the Café Jomfru Rigborg with some æbleskiver, and drink in the atmosphere at this well-preserved Renaissance water castle before heading back to the coastal cosiness of Svendborg.
4. Canterbury in Kent, England (UK)
🎁 Search score: 9.27 Median price per night for a holiday home: £183.80
From meet-and-greet breakfasts with Father Christmas to festive "Santa Paws" photography sessions for pets, there's something for every kind of visitor at the Christmas market in Canterbury - a beautiful medieval walled city in southeast England. Collect some Kent cider or a sweet treat to sip from the Speciality Hot Chocolate Bar, before strolling through more than 50 stalls while listening to live music. Stop by the Giving Tree, where one can donate gifts to children in need.
Methodology
To create this ranking, HomeToGo first used internal search data to collate a shortlist of smaller cities and towns in Europe meeting the following requirements:
- do not appear on the list of the 100 most-searched destinations for the countries in which they are situated for the run up to Christmas in 2023 (lists were based on searches carried out via all HomeToGo domains in between 1st January 2023 - 31st October 2023, with check-in dates between 15th November 2023 - 24th December 2023).
- have a recurring Christmas market.
- have a maximum population of 100,000.
For each destination in this shortlist, HomeToGo researched two data points using exclusive internal data: interest among winter travellers, and accommodation costs. After obtaining the raw data, each data point was assigned a representative numerical value between 5 and 10, with 5 representing the lowest data point and 10 representing the highest data point. The hypothetical "perfect score" would be 20 out of 20. The following equation was used in order to calculate this for every factor:
Score(i) = 5 · (x(i) - xmin ) / (xmax - xmin ) + 5
Price: Internal HomeToGo data was used to find the median price per night for a holiday rental in each destination between 15th November - 24th December 2023. The destination with the lowest median price per night for a holiday rental was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining counties were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected in November 2023. Prices are subject to change.
Searches: Internal HomeToGo data was used to find the volume of traveller searches for each destination with a check-in date between 15th November 2023 - 24th December 2023. The location with the lowest search volume was given a score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
¹ Based on research conducted by HomeToGo among a general population sample of respondents in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy (500 respondents per country). To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 or older. The survey was conducted on 13 August 2023.
All Christmas market information was accurate at the time of collection during October and November 2023, and was taken from the official websites of the respective tourism boards wherever possible. Please double-check the status of events prior to arranging travel.
HomeToGo assumes no liability for possible changes or discrepancies in the data.
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