Christmas Markets: Top 10 in Europe & UK to visit 2023

Popular Christmas Markets in Europe & the UK from Last Year

Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg is one of the best Christmas market destinations in Northern Germany. The iconic main market sits right beside City Hall and focuses on regional specialities as well as local traders! You'll find dozens of stalls here all seeing lots of handicrafts and handmade goods and the amazing Christmas food and drink that you'd expect like mulled wine and bratwurst, all set in front of the stunning backdrop of the City Hall. Keep a watch overheard at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm, as Santa is expected to fly across the sky right above the market! We've heard that there's also plenty of gingerbread to go around...Check out this Hamburg Christmas Market Breakhere!

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is such a wonderful city to visit and explore, especially in November and December with their wonderful Christmas markets! The city is home to one of the world's oldest theme parks, Tivoli Gardens, and at Christmas they have a special market with live shows, fireworks and plenty of entertainment to get you in the festive spirit. There are many other Christmas markets to visit in the area including in the Meatpacking District, where you'll find lovely gifts for family and friends, and delightful tasty treats for yourself!

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is where the world's first public Christmas tree once stood, and almost 600 years later, the Christmas market is still going strong in Raekoja plats. It's a location that's often overlooked by tourists, but we can guarantee you beautiful Christmas markets and stunning medieval architecture to explore. You'll find a whole range of stalls selling traditional goods like fur and keeping you topped up with the festive food! Tallinn's seasonal cuisine includes black pudding and sour cabbage, which you must try before you leave. It's particularly cold here during the winter and there's a good chance of a white blanket of snow, so make sure you wrap up warm and grab a hot chocolate or a mulled wine! Check out this Tallinn Christmas Market Breakhere!

Nottingham, UK

Magic is being brought back to Nottingham's city centre this Christmas, and each year their Christmas market just gets better and better! Nottingham hosts a collection of market stalls, rides and takeaway refreshment stalls. If you want to get a different view of the market, take a ride on the 32m high observation wheel! A great way to see everyone enjoying the festivities below and Christmas tree at 18m, and the perfect photo opportunities. Most of the much loved areas of the market will remain, but no alcohol will be sold at Nottingham Christmas market, so you'll have to warm yourself up with a nice hot chocolate! The huts and stalls will provide you with alternatives for your Christmas shopping, whether you need gifts, food or crafts. Check out this Nottingham Christmas Market Breakhere!

Edinburgh, UK

Scotland's historic capital with cobbled streets and a wonderful Christmas market is sure to get you into the festive spirit! You can find the market at East Princes Street Gardens where there will be a whole range of stalls selling you decorations, handicrafts and gifts for your loved ones as well as treating you to some of the best European food and drink, including Bratwurst, Gluhwein, pancakes, hog roasts and much more. There's also plenty of fun and entertainment for you and your little ones to get involved with like Santa's grotto, ice rink and fairground rides. If you fancy giving them a go, there's also lots of games to have a go at around the market. Check out this Edinburgh Christmas Market Break!

Vienna, Austria

You'll find some of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Europe in Austria's capital. The most famous and well known market is the traditional Vienna Magic of Advent market right in the City Hall square, with a beautiful backdrop, what's not to love? There are dozens of stalls for you to browse here where you're sure to find those special Christmas gifts, and keep yourself warm with treats like Gluhwein, Bratwurst, schnitzel and apple strudel! You will also find international choirs in the centre of the square singing class Christmas carols and giving you the ultimate festive experience like no other. Check out this Vienna Christmas Market Break!

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague's Christmas markets provide a truly magical and unique experience! The 'winter wonderland' awaits for you to immerse yourself in this festive experience with Christmas carols, tasty food and local drinks. They light up the city and are great for bringing locals and tourists together to celebrate an amazing event. Browse brightly coloured wooden huts to find the perfect gifts for loved ones from jewellery, wooden toys, candles, ornaments, dolls and much more! Whilst the decorations and souvenirs are nice, we're all about the food here, and there's lots to choose from. We're thinking of large hams (prazska sunka), tasty barbecued sausages (klobása), flatbread topped with garlic, cheese and ketchup (langos), meat and sweet dumplings, and pancakes! Check out this Prague Christmas Market Break!

Birmingham, UK

Birmingham's authentic German Christmas market is the best one outside of Germany, and the largest in the UK! The market offers a wide range of traditional goods and gifts for your loved ones, as well as a tempting selection of food and drink for you to enjoy as you browse the many stalls. Think pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts and roasted almonds and wash them down with gluhwein (mulled wine), weissbeer (wheat beer) or a luxurious hot chocolate! It's the perfect festive event for catching up with friends and family and enjoying the live music in the square together. If you want to get ahead on your Christmas shopping, you'll find lamps, hand-crafted leather items, toys, jewellery and decorations, so you're to find something special. Check out this Birmingham Christmas Market Break!

Manchester, UK

Manchester's famous Christmas markets have over 300 stalls to explore, so we don't blame you if you want to go more than once to fit it all in! Piccadilly Gardens is the central festive hub for Christmas in Manchester. Grab yourself a drink from one of the yuletide bars, browse and sample the food stalls including Dutch frites and Greek gyros and pick up some great gifts for your loved ones. Finish off your meal with a festive cocktail, local ale and warm cookie dough puddings. Make sure you stop by the stage to see and listen to the live music and DJs keeping the festive vibes flowing! Check out this Manchester Christmas Market Break!

London, UK

London features some of the best festive events over the Christmas period, and with a whole range of Christmas markets spread over the capital, now is the time to visit! The most popular is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park which is full of Bavarian style bars as well as lots of rides, games and entertainment for you to get involved with. The Southbank Christmas market is also one of the nicest as it's right beside the river and surrounded by twinkling lights, or just across the river from there, you've got Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square's Christmas markets where you'll find a whole host of stalls selling gifts and festive food and drink!