Remarkable Christmas Markets Worth Visiting

For two weeks each year, the squares and streets of Bath transform into the city Christmas market—a festival of food, entertainment, gifts, and holiday decorations.

Christmas in Colmar is a dream. When you take a city that already looks like a gingerbread town and then deck it with wreaths, ornaments, and snow-covered trees, it’s hard to think of anything that feels more appropriate for the holiday season.

In the winter, it feels like the entire old town of Luxembourg City becomes a Christmas market.

A towering 1000-year-old cathedral, millions of lights, the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread—these are the things that make the Aachen Christmas market.

Dancing fairy lights, the scent of sweet treats, and children laughing as they learn to skate—these are the hallmarks of the winter season in the Netherlands and just a few of the things that make visiting the Amsterdam Christmas markets so much fun.

Christmas markets in Vienna, Austria, are among the very best in Europe. Against the backdrop of majestic palaces and churches or even set in city parks, they showcase the lights, culinary treats, and artistic treasures of the holiday season.

The sounds of families ice skating, the scents of sizzling sausage, and the glow of a cascade of lights help make the Budapest Christmas markets …

Decked out in twinkling lights, sprinkled with Christmas trees, and punctuated with delicious food and beverages to keep you warm, visiting the Belgian Christmas markets is a perfect way to celebrate the season.

The buttery vanilla scent of waffles, the warmth of velvety hot chocolate, Christmas trees lit up against the night sky—the Bruges Christmas market brings together the best of the holiday season.

The Christmas markets in Brussels attract 2.5 million visitors each year. They start at Grand Place and meander for over a mile, the whole area merging into one giant celebration.