20 Best Christmas Markets in Europe and the US 2026

The best Christmas markets in 2026 are Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, Dresden’s Striezelmarkt, Strasbourg, Vienna and Prague in Europe, and Chicago’s Christkindlmarket and Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt in the US. Nuremberg opens on November 27, Prague runs from November 28 into January, and Chicago’s Daley Plaza market opens on November 20. Most European markets close on or just before Christmas Eve, so late November and early December are the best time to go. Below are 20 markets worth traveling for, with dates, what each is best for, and experiences to pair with the trip.

Key Takeaways

• The big German, French and Austrian markets open in the last week of November and mostly close on December 23 or 24.
• Prague and several capital-city markets run into early January, which suits a trip between Christmas and New Year.
• In the US, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket opens November 20, and Bethlehem’s runs on set days from November 13.
• Weekday evenings are far quieter than Saturdays at every major market.
• A market trip pairs well with an experience in the same city: a food tour, a river cruise or a concert.

When Christmas Markets Open

Most traditional European markets follow the Advent calendar. The first Sunday of Advent falls on November 29, so many German markets open in the days just before it, with Nuremberg opening on Friday, November 27. The majority close on December 23 or 24.

A handful keep going after Christmas. Prague’s Old Town Square market is scheduled to run until January 6, 2027, and markets in Tallinn, Bruges and Edinburgh traditionally stay open into the New Year period.

American markets are more varied. Chicago’s runs daily from November 20 to December 24, while Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt opens only on set days each week. Dates for some markets are still confirmed late in the year, so check each market’s official website before booking travel.

Christmas Market Dates at a Glance

Market	City	Dates	Best for
Christkindlesmarkt	Nuremberg, Germany	November 27 to December 24	The classic German market
Striezelmarkt	Dresden, Germany	Opens November 25	History and stollen
Cathedral Christmas Market	Cologne, Germany	Opens November 23	A dramatic cathedral setting
Christkindelsmärik	Strasbourg, France	November 27 to December 27	The self-styled Capital of Christmas
Colmar Christmas Markets	Colmar, France	Typically late November to late December	Fairytale old town
Wiener Christkindlmarkt	Vienna, Austria	Opens around November 14	Elegance and music
Christkindlmarkt	Salzburg, Austria	Typically late November to December 26	An alpine backdrop
Old Town Square Market	Prague, Czechia	November 28 to January 6, 2027	A trip after Christmas
Vörösmarty Square Market	Budapest, Hungary	Typically mid-November to late December	Food and thermal baths
Town Hall Square Market	Tallinn, Estonia	Typically late November to early January	A medieval old town
Winter Glow	Bruges, Belgium	Typically late November to early January	Canals and chocolate
Edinburgh’s Christmas	Edinburgh, UK	Typically mid-November to early January	Castle views
Christkindlmarket	Chicago, Illinois	November 20 to December 24	The best German-style market in the US
Christkindlmarkt	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	Set days from November 13	Christmas City atmosphere
Union Square Holiday Market	New York City	Typically mid-November to December 24	Gifts from local makers
Denver Christkindlmarket	Denver, Colorado	Typically mid-November to December 23	A mountain-city market
Christmas Village	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Typically late November to December 24	City Hall setting
Christmas Village	Baltimore, Maryland	Typically late November to December 24	Inner Harbor views
Downtown Holiday Market	Washington, DC	Typically late November to December 23	Artisans near the museums
Great Dickens Christmas Fair	Daly City, California	Weekends from late November	Victorian costume fair

Dates marked “typically” follow each market’s usual pattern and had not been confirmed at the time of writing.

The 20 Best Christmas Markets to Visit in 2026

In Europe

1. Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, Germany. The archetypal German Christmas market, opened each year by the Christkind from the balcony of the Frauenkirche, with gingerbread, Nuremberg sausages and around 180 wooden stalls in the old town square. Pair the trip with our Germany experience gifts.
2. Dresden Striezelmarkt, Germany. One of the oldest documented Christmas markets in Germany, famous for its stollen and a giant wooden pyramid. Book a guided walk through the rebuilt old town from our tours and sightseeing range.
3. Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, Germany. Stalls set directly beneath the twin spires of the cathedral, with several other themed markets a short walk away. The European escape collection covers a short break in the region.
4. Strasbourg, France. Strasbourg markets itself as the Capital of Christmas, with markets spread across the historic center and some of the most elaborate street decorations in Europe. See our France experience gifts for more to do in the country.
5. Colmar, France. A fairytale Alsatian town where half-timbered houses and canals make every market look like a postcard. Alsace is wine country, so add a visit from our wine and gourmet tastings.
6. Vienna, Austria. Vienna’s markets are the most elegant in Europe, from the Rathausplatz in front of City Hall to the stalls outside Schönbrunn Palace, often with live classical music. Our Vienna experience gifts include concerts and coffee house tours.
7. Salzburg, Austria. A compact market in the cathedral square with the fortress above and the mountains behind, and Mozart’s birthplace a few streets away. Browse Austria experience gifts for the rest of the trip.
8. Prague, Czechia. A huge tree, a medieval astronomical clock and stalls that stay open into January, which makes Prague the best choice for a trip between Christmas and New Year. Our Prague experience gifts include river dinner cruises and beer tastings.
9. Budapest, Hungary. The Vörösmarty Square market is known for its food, from chimney cakes to mulled wine, and the city’s thermal baths are the perfect way to warm up afterward. See Hungary experience gifts.
10. Tallinn, Estonia. A medieval old town square that feels like a film set, and one of two Baltic cities that claim Europe’s first public Christmas tree. Tallinn is one of the capitals covered by our 100 capitals collection.
11. Bruges, Belgium. The Winter Glow season brings light installations and an ice rink to a city of canals and chocolate shops. Our Belgium experience gifts cover chocolate workshops and canal tours.
12. Edinburgh, United Kingdom. A market in the gardens below the castle, plus a big wheel and an ice rink, running right up to the famous Hogmanay celebrations. See United Kingdom experience gifts.

In the United States

13. Christkindlmarket, Chicago, Illinois. Modeled on Nuremberg and celebrating its 30th year at Daley Plaza, with glühwein in collectible mugs, bratwurst and German ornaments. Sister markets run at Wrigleyville and in Aurora. Our Chicago experience gifts include architecture cruises and food tours.
14. Christkindlmarkt, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In its 34th year, this market in the self-styled Christmas City opens on set days: Fridays to Sundays in November from the 13th, then Thursdays to Sundays in December until the 20th. See Pennsylvania experience gifts.
15. Union Square Holiday Market, New York City. Around 150 booths of local makers, a short walk from the Bryant Park Winter Village and its ice rink. Pair it with our New York City experiences.
16. Denver Christkindlmarket, Colorado. A German-style market in the heart of the city, with the Rocky Mountains a day trip away. Browse Denver experience gifts.
17. Christmas Village, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A German-inspired market around City Hall and LOVE Park, with a nightly light show on the City Hall facade. Our Philadelphia experience gifts cover the rest of the visit.
18. Christmas Village, Baltimore, Maryland. A market on the Inner Harbor with heated tents and German food. See Baltimore experience gifts.
19. Downtown Holiday Market, Washington, DC. More than a hundred artisans on F Street, steps from the Smithsonian museums. Our Washington DC experiences include monument tours.
20. Great Dickens Christmas Fair, Daly City, California. A ticketed Victorian London recreation with costumed characters, music halls and pubs, just south of San Francisco. See San Francisco experience gifts.

Tips for Visiting Christmas Markets

Go on a weekday evening. Saturdays at Nuremberg, Strasbourg and Vienna can be shoulder to shoulder, while a Tuesday evening is calm and still fully lit.

Book accommodation early. Hotels in Strasbourg, Nuremberg and Colmar fill up months ahead for Advent weekends.

Keep your mug or return it. Most German and Austrian markets charge a small deposit on drinks mugs, refunded when you hand the mug back.

Dress for standing still. You will spend hours outdoors without moving much, so warm boots and layers matter more than they do for a walking day.

Combine markets by train. Alsace is easy to cover in one trip, with Strasbourg and Colmar about half an hour apart.

Turn a Market Trip Into a Christmas Gift

A Christmas market trip makes a memorable gift on its own, and it is even better with something planned in the city. The getaway gifts range covers the hotel side, and food tours and tastings or cruises and sailing fill the days between market visits. For the traveler who would rather choose the destination, our travel experience gifts cover 150,000+ experiences across 100+ countries.

An eVoucher is delivered by email within minutes, and the voucher has no expiry date, so a gift given this Christmas can fund next year’s market trip. Exchanges between experiences are free. See how Tinggly works for the details, or browse the Merry Christmas box and the wider Christmas experience gifts range.

Every experience gift box is backed by a 4.3/5 Trustpilot rating from more than 1,276 reviews (June 2026), a 1% for the Planet membership, and tree planting with every gift through the Veritree partnership.

FAQs

Which city has the best Christmas markets?

Nuremberg is the classic answer for a traditional German market, while Strasbourg and Vienna are the strongest choices for atmosphere and decoration. For a trip after December 25, Prague is best, because its main market runs into January.

What are the top 10 Christmas markets in the world?

Most rankings include Nuremberg, Dresden and Cologne in Germany, Strasbourg and Colmar in France, Vienna and Salzburg in Austria, Prague, Tallinn and Budapest. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is the most common US entry.

What’s the best Christmas market in the US?

Chicago’s Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza is the most famous, modeled on Nuremberg and running from November 20 to December 24. Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt in Pennsylvania is the favorite for small-town charm.

What are the top 10 best Christmas markets in Europe?

Nuremberg, Dresden, Cologne, Strasbourg, Colmar, Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Budapest and Tallinn appear on most lists, with Bruges and Edinburgh close behind.

When do Christmas markets open in 2026?

Most major European markets open in the last week of November, with Nuremberg and Strasbourg opening on November 27. Vienna’s Rathausplatz market opens earlier, around mid-November, and Chicago’s Christkindlmarket opens on November 20.

Which Christmas markets stay open after Christmas?

Prague’s Old Town Square market is scheduled to run until January 6, 2027, and markets in Tallinn, Bruges and Edinburgh traditionally continue into early January. Most German markets close on December 23 or 24.

What is the best time of day to visit a Christmas market?

Weekday evenings, just after dark. The lights are on, the crowds are smaller than at weekends, and the atmosphere is at its best.

Are Christmas markets free to enter?

Most are, including the major German, Austrian and French markets and Chicago’s Christkindlmarket. A few events, such as the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, sell tickets, so check before you go.