Christmas markets are a highlight of the festive period throughout Europe, with everything from handcrafted jewellery to delicious treats, baubles and wreaths to ice-skating, mulled wine, twinkling lights and traditional performances.
We often speak with guests who’ve never been to a Christmas market and want to make the very best of the opportunity to explore the biggest markets, or who’ve already experienced the best-known locations and want a more cultural experience somewhere new and authentic.
This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting a Christmas market, including the ideal times to travel when the chances of snow are at their highest, as well as when the markets will be packed and when they’ll be quieter and more relaxed.
Why Are Winter Christmas Market Holidays So Popular?
The appeal of Christmas markets isn’t solely the variety of original, unusual, and unique items on sale, although many visitors prioritise a festive getaway around the start of December when they can pick up amazing gifts they wouldn’t find anywhere at home.
It’s the amount of effort that goes into these settings that transform city squares and plazas into magical, festive wonderlands, full of sparkle, brightly lit trees, and rustic wooden huts that provide a picture-perfect backdrop and offer a brilliant start to the Christmas period.
Some of the many aspects of a Christmas market short break our guests remark on include:
- Rides and entertainment, with dancers, live music, costumes and carousels, elaborate grottos and even, in some locations, reindeer!
- Traditional displays, with nativity scenes, towering Christmas trees and fairy lights, often offset by a sprinkling of snow that looks just like a Christmas card.
- Incredible arrays of food, with gingerbread, spiced mulled wine, cakes, sausages and roast chestnuts that fill the air with tempting scents.
The larger Christmas markets, including those in Prague, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Riga, and Helsinki, are excellent family attractions, while the Tivoli Gardens market in Denmark offers fairground rides, light shows, and an ice rink alongside the market itself.
Practical Tips on Organising a Festive Christmas Market Break This Winter
Our advice will always depend on the ages and interests of your party, as well as what your dream holiday would look like. We offer options to combine Christmas markets with cultural city breaks to explore museums and galleries, or child-friendly packages with meet-and-greets with Santa Claus himself.
However, there are a few pieces of guidance we’d share with anyone intending to visit a Christmas market as part of their winter holiday plans.
Creating a Schedule and Checking Transport or Walking Distances
The norm is for markets to be located in central positions, often within a city square, but that doesn’t automatically mean they’ll be easily accessible from your chosen accommodation.
Our travel experts can, of course, provide personalised recommendations, but it’s important to check what transport options are available, or to verify whether you’ll be comfortable walking to and from your hotel and the market.
Most Christmas markets open around early to mid-November and run until Christmas Day, with some remaining open until January, closing either after the New Year or January 6th.
If you’re hoping to see the big opening ceremonies when the lights are turned on and Christmas trees are unveiled, it’s wise to check the specific calendars of any markets you’re considering to time your visit well.
Finding Authentic Craft Stalls and Vendors at Christmas Markets
The popularity of Christmas markets inevitably means some have become more commercial. If you’re looking for authenticity, it’s better to seek out stalls that specialise in one particular craft or item, as these are far more likely to include handmade, artisanal goods rather than a combination of various items.
For instance, you could find a stall selling woollen knitted clothing, a glass maker, a jeweller, a woodworker and a silversmith all within one market, each of whom produces exceptional quality gifts!
Packing for a Christmas Market Holiday
Christmas in Europe, especially in northern countries, can get very cold indeed, and it’s never fun to be wandering around a gorgeous market feeling damp and chilly. We suggest bringing comfortable shoes that you can walk in, ideally waterproof, and having plenty of layers to account for snow, ice, wind, and cold.
Most vendors won’t have bags, or might have eco-friendly paper bags, which means it’s a great idea to bring a few collapsible, compact bags which won’t fall apart if your visit coincides with seasonal snowfall!
We’d also advise you to try to take cash for smaller markets where vendors might not accept cards, and to have some change if possible, as you’ll need a few coins for deposits on mulled wine mugs and for public bathrooms that carry a small charge.
When to Plan Your Christmas Market Break
Depending on where you’re travelling, you’ll find that markets usually don’t open until the afternoon and close later in the evening, since the peak time is during dusk and onward when the lights are brightest and contrast with the darker evening skies.
Weekends tend to be the busiest, and if you’re less keen on crowds and queues, we suggest heading to the Christmas markets during the week or earlier in November, when there will normally be fewer people, yet you can still enjoy all the experiences we’ve described.
However, if you’re hoping to see snow, the better time to travel is typically around mid-winter and toward the end of the season when powdery, soft snowfall is most common.
Discover Full Christmas Market Itineraries
To learn more about Christmas markets, departure dates, accommodations, and inclusions, we’d direct you to our individual packages, which provide comprehensive details, including the ever-popular Prague Christmas Market, Luxury Christmas Market Short Break in Copenhagen, Tallinn Christmas Market, Riga Christmas Market, and Helsinki Christmas Market packages.
You’re also very welcome to get in touch with the Baltic Travel Company team, as we’ll always be happy to offer independent suggestions about the Christmas market breaks that match all your requirements!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 at 9:35 am; on the subject of Christmas.