Remarkable Christmas Markets Worth Visiting

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.

Millions of gleaming lights, hundreds of vendors, and numerous city squares decorated with distinctive themes make the Cologne Christmas market one of the best markets in Europe.

Markets don’t get more unique than Valkenburg Christmas market in the Netherlands. Primarily set within two historic caves, this popular holiday attraction draws visitors from all over.

The history of the Christmas markets in Strasbourg, France, goes all the way back to the 12th century, so they’ve had a lot of time to perfect things to this degree…and it shows.