The Top 6 European Christmas Markets
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… wouldn’t you say so? And what better time to discover somewhere new and enjoy a European Christmas market in the process! The UK has really upped their game when it comes to traditional Christmas markets, but there is nothing like going to where it all began. Today I’ve rounded up my pick of the top 6 Christmas markets in Europe, in a hope to encourage you to visit one.
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1. Amsterdam
I’m starting with one of my favourite cities in the world, Amsterdam. Only a short 45-minute flight from Manchester (or a ferry ride away if you fancy it) is the beautiful Dutch capital. Amsterdam is magical all year round, but even more so over the festive period. There are around 5 markets that span the streets and squares including a light show, ice rink and a winter paradise, and there are definitely things to do with the little ones too!
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2. Prague
I was lucky enough to visit Prague last year and loved that even after Christmas, the markets are still on until early January. Prague is one of those cities that feels festive at the best of times, but our visit was made even more so by the presence of the markets. The food and drink options are extensive, and it is a much cheaper option when flying to Europe.
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3. Cologne
Cologne was one of my favourite places I visited in 2018, and probably my favourite German city. If one country knows how to do Christmas well, it’s definitely Germany, and the Cologne markets are definitely one to visit. Flights to the city are relatively cheap from Manchester, and you have the luxury of knowing it won’t cost you a lot when you’re there either!
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4. Paris
I couldn’t write this post and not mention the city of love, beautiful Paris. Paris has been on my ‘go back to’ list since I visited in summer 2017 (heatwave season) and I think that Christmas would be the perfect time to go. It’s a city that spans so far that there are markets all over the place, and you won’t have to wander far to find something festive to do.
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5. Bruges
If there is one thing that comes to mind when I think about Christmas, it’s definitely chocolate! And what better place to visit than the birthplace of Belgian chocolatey goodness. I visited Bruges in the spring and it wowed me with how beautiful it was and how much there is to do. You can’t fly there directly, but flights to Brussels take less than 1.5 hours and the train is only an hour on top of that.
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6. Basel
If you read my last post, you’ll know that I visited Basel last month with my two travel buddies, and we had a great time. Although we visited the week before the markets started, there was still a few dotted about here and there (and probably explained why the flights were so cheap!) The Basel markets have been voted the best in Europe, and are also the biggest in Switzerland – definitely a reason to visit!
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