Europe's best Christmas markets

Image 1 of 4

Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market

Christmas markets are big business in this German city and whether you prefer the bustle of the popular hotspots or something more alternative, it has plenty to suit every taste. The lead event is the 150 or so booths set up around Cologne Cathedral every year. On offer are a variety of handcrafted gifts and regional culinary specialities, alongside a varied programme of music and entertainment.

Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market takes place from 21 November until 23 December; cologne.de

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Christmas in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen

Best visited as it starts to get dark (not that the city gets much daylight in the winter), Copenhagen's historic amusement park is transformed into a twinkling festive wonderland by evening. Alongside the 60 stalls, attractions include a Christmas light show and the Honey Cake Castle, where you can decorate your own honey cake hearts made using produce from Tivoli's own beehives.

Christmas in Tivoli Gardens takes place from 19 November until 31 December; tivoligardens.com

Viennese Christmas Market

In 1298, Albert I granted permission for Vienna to hold a December market, "Krippenmarkt", and it is a tradition the city still holds dear. Now there are more than 20 official Christmas markets, the grandest of which is undoubtedly the Viennese Christmas Market, set against the imposing backdrop of City Hall. If perusing the stalls gets a little chilly, there are children's workshops inside the building, where they can learn to make festive cookies and candles.

Viennese Christmas Market takes place from 11 November until 26 December; wienerweihnachtstraum.at

Bath Christmas Market

The streets of picturesque Bath are home to a magical market for the festive season. Rather than a carbon copy of its German counterparts, the market prides itself on its Britishness: around 85 per cent of the stallholders of the 170-plus chalets come from the surrounding area.

Bath Christmas Market takes place in the city centre from 24 November until 11 December; bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

Strasbourg Capital of Christmas

Strasbourg can trace this Christmas tradition to 1570, when the first Christkindelsmarik ("market of the infant Jesus") was held. Today, it has grown to become one of the largest of its kind in Europe, featuring almost 300 stalls spread out across 12 locations in the city, illuminated by dozens of kilometres of glowing lights and decorations. In addition to the expected foodie fare and gifts, each year it features a special area showcasing traditions specific to a guest country – 2016 welcomes Portugal.

Strasbourg Capital of Christmas takes place from 25 November until 31 December; noel.strasbourg.eu