Little wooden stalls filled with gifts and baubles, the sweet smell of spices rising through the chilly air… sounds like one of the most popular European holiday traditions, a Christmas market! But these markets aren’t merely found across the pond. Like Christmas trees, they’ve spread in popularity from Germany to the rest of Europe and, eventually, to the USA!
Whether you call it a Christkindlmarkt (Christ child market), a Striezelmarkt (fruitcake market), a Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market), or something else, these markets are popular with tourists and locals alike.
Here are some of the biggest and most famous Christmas markets in both Europe and the USA. Have you been to any of these?
Note that these are by no means the only great holiday markets in the world: even Santa Claus and his team of flying reindeer couldn’t visit them all in one holiday season!
Europe
The Oldest: Dresden, Germany—Nov. 27–Dec. 24
This one goes back a long way. Like, way, way back. The Dresden Striezelmarkt has been operating for 590 years, making it the longest-running in the world. While this isn’t necessarily one of the biggest holiday markets in the world, or even in Germany, its history and quaint traditions make it stand out. Consider one unique tradition in Dresden: the Plaumentoffel. These little figurines, made to look like chimney sweeps, are formed out of prunes, of all things. Plus, as the name suggests, the local Striezel or Stollen, a kind of yeast fruitcake, is very popular here.
Capital of Christmas: Strasbourg, France—Nov. 27–Dec. 27
This iconic market has been around since 1570 and is just part of a city filled with festive decorations and activities, making Strasbourg known as the Capital of Christmas. With over 300 stalls located in 12 different parts of the city center, there’s something for everyone here. While you’re here, sample some of the famous bredele—small Alsatian cookies cut into festive shapes!
This year’s celebrations have a literary theme, classic holiday stories tying in neatly with Strasbourg’s recent designation as the UNESCO World Book Capital!
Variety is the Spice of Life: Cologne, Germany— Nov. 18–Jan. 1 (varying)
With multiple Christmas markets clustered around downtown Cologne, each with its own character, it’s no wonder that this city is often a top destination for holiday travelers! Its most famous is the Weihnachtmarkt am Dom, located right in front of the city’s gorgeous cathedral and featuring cheery, Instagrammable red-roofed stalls. But there’s also the picturesquely named Fairytale Market, Market of Angels, the Nikolaus Village, and more!
One of the chief attractions here is the Glühwein, a hot mulled wine that’s a holiday staple in Germany. You’ll also find hot waffles shaped like the cathedral itself!
Most Beautiful Backdrop: Vienna, Austria— Nov. 15–Dec. 26 (varying)
Vienna is another city that plays host to multiple Christmas markets. Palaces, cathedrals, and charming town squares stand out in the background of every shot, lending the markets a special grandeur. The Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz (the Christmas market in front of the town hall), is probably the biggest, with over 90 market stalls, ice skating, a Ferris wheel, and even a specially designated “kissing place.”
In addition to the traditional Glühwein, you can find many varieties of festive punch (or “Punsch”) here, including Feuerzangenbowle, which is served with a flaming sugar cube!
Bright at Night: Prague, Czech Republic— Nov. 30–Jan. 6
Less than 5 minutes apart, you’ll find two beautiful Christmas markets in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with several smaller ones scattered around town! The city is gorgeously illuminated for the holiday season, and to add to the festive atmosphere, visitors to the markets can enjoy live carol singing!
One local specialty is called trdelník, or chimney cake! This tube-shaped pastry is made by wrapping the dough around a stick and cooking it over the coals of a fire. You can eat it on its own or with fillings like ice cream!
A Tale of Two Markets: Budapest, Hungary—Nov. 16– Jan. 1
Two crown jewels stand out in Budapest each holiday season: The Budapest Christmas Market by St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Christmas Fair at Vorosmarty Square. The centerpiece of the market by the Basilica is a large ice-skating rink, ringed by over 100 stalls. Visitors can even see a light show projected on the Basilica! The Vorosmarty Square fair is the city’s oldest and offers the most variety in handcrafted gifts, with over 120 stalls.
Grilled hot meats like sausages are popular comfort foods at Hungarian markets, but you may also want to try langos—that’s deep-fried dough with sour cream and cheese!
A Lakeside Gem: Geneva, Switzerland—Nov. 21–Dec. 24
Location, location, location: Geneva’s charming Noël au Quai is located right by the gorgeous Lake Geneva. If you’ve never seen the glossy surface of a lake reflecting the lights of a bustling winter market, you’re missing out.
Foodies will love the wide variety of food and drink stalls, with over 30 to choose from! If hot cheese warms your heart, don’t miss the chance to try authentic Swiss fondue or raclette—that’s melted cheese scraped onto bread, potatoes, or veggies!
USA
The Big Apple: New York, New York—Oct. 25–Jan. 5 (varying)
Three of the country’s biggest Christmas markets are all located in one city… but is that any surprise when the city is New York?
The densely packed Union Square holiday market is the largest and most traditional in the city, featuring over 185 little booths selling handmade gifts. Bryant Park’s Winter Village has little “jewel-box” inspired boutiques instead of traditional booths and features more food vendors, as well as an ice rink and a small carousel! The Columbus Circle holiday market is like a smaller version of the Union Square offering, with an especially charming location at an entrance to Central Park. Probably the most famous edible offerings at New York’s market are the huge variety of luxurious artisanal hot chocolates!
A Holiday Thrill: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Nov. 23–Dec. 24
The iconic Christmas Village in Philadelphia has a unique claim to fame: it played host to the thrilling finale of the superhero film Shazam! You probably won’t see superheroes fighting monsters when you visit, but you’ll likely still be thrilled by the large Ferris wheel overlooking the market. It even has a double-decker carousel! Over 120 adorable wooden stalls take over the famous LOVE Park in Center City, PA.
December 14–15 is German American Weekend, featuring traditional dances and games! Speaking of German-American, this village is a great place to sample traditional German delicacies, especially their highly-praised Bratwurst!
Little Town, Big Holiday Spirit: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—Nov. 15–Dec. 22
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem… Pennsylvania! Although less than two hours outside Philadelphia, this other Pennsylvanian holiday experience couldn’t be more different. The Christkindlmarkt, as it’s called, completely embraces European-inspired homespun charm. It’s also one of the few heated markets on this list, held under four giant tents. The nearly 200 booths include both handmade gifts by local artisans and imported items from Germany.
One popular German-inspired booth for a festive treat is Heidi’s Strudel, featuring sweet flaky strudel and roasted almonds!
Step Into the Old World: Chicago, Illinois—Nov. 22–Dec. 24
The Christkindlmarket in Chicago bills itself as “the most authentic traditional holiday market of its kind outside of Europe!” While it may not be the biggest on this list, with around 55 vendors around Daley Plaza, it’s certainly one of the most popularly visited with over one million guests each year! Its beautifully decorated wooden booths are illuminated by Christmas lights and its boot-shaped souvenir mugs are an especially popular souvenir!
While you can try many authentic German specialties here, one of their most popular food vendors sells pierogies, beloved by the city’s proud Polish-American population!
A Showstopping Centerpiece: Baltimore, Maryland—Nov. 23–Dec. 24
When you think of pyramids, you probably think about Ancient Egypt. But Germany has its own tradition of large wooden pyramids as part of Christmas decorations. A 30- foot tall one serves as the centerpiece of the German Christmas Village in Baltimore, housing a Glühwein stand and over 3,000 twinkling lights! This festive Christmas village on the Inner Harbor has over 60 artisan booths and food vendors, but there’s still a quaintness to it that visitors find endearing.
Belgian fries are an especially popular snack at this market. They come heaped in paper cones and can be topped with alpine cheese, bacon, and several choices of fancy dips including the traditional European (herbed mayo) and the local Baltimorean favorite (Old Bay ketchup).
Victorian Charm: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair (San Francisco, CA)— Nov. 23–Dec. 22
If you’re getting tired of hearing about German-inspired wooden booths and piping hot festive drinks, here’s something completely different. It’s not just a market, it’s a step back in time to Victorian London, a Dickens-themed Christmas extravaganza! You’ll find live theatre productions and strolling performers, staff richly attired in period costumes, traditional English pubs, a miniature steam train, dance parties, and of course, plenty of options for shopping and dining!
This year is the fair’s 40th anniversary! Treats and eats range from pub grub to traditional street food like roasted chestnuts to a full English afternoon tea! Who could say “Bah, humbug!” to that?
If you don’t feel like doing your holiday shopping in person this year, you can give the gift of language learning! Cricket eLearning offers online classes in more than 10 languages! Use the code BLOG10 for 10% off of prepaid packages for kids and adults!
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