Underrated Christmas Markets to Visit in Europe
Last Updated on Nov 9, 2024
Everyone loves Christmas Markets and these days there are probably thousands of them across Europe. No matter where you research your Christmas Markets trip you’ll stumble across the same places: Munich, Colmar, Strasburg, Brussels to name a few.
While these markets are fantastic and with beautiful decorations, because they’re popular they’re also insanely crowded. As a result, they’re often expensive because the accommodation is entirely booked up almost a year in advance.
My best tip for visiting Christmas Markets is to go as early in the season as you can. Last year we went during Thanksgiving week since the kids were off school anyway and it was fantastic. Most markets were already fully open, but hotels were cheaper as the Christmas crowds hadn’t arrived yet and naturally we paid much less for any flights.
For tips on how to make visiting Christmas Markets with toddlers (or any small kids) not only possible but also enjoyable check out our best tips in this post.
Less Popular Christmas Markets in Europe:
1. Vienna, Austria
Vienna is fantastic for Christmas Markets, because the city is lit up with decorative lights, so no matter what you decide to do, you will feel festive. The famous Christkindlmarkt on the central Rathausplatz square. It has regular stalls, but also a small carousel and a big ice skating spot. Kids loved it, because they sold balloons.
What personally surprised me is that unlike anywhere else in Vienna you will only get regular cups for your gluhwein. Some stalls will ask for a deposit on the cups, while others let you keep it as a souvenir.
The markets at Schoonbrun and in front of Kunsthistorisches museums are my personal favorite with good food and cute crafts to buy. In between the markets Vienna has plenty of permanent restaurants and attractions to keep everyone satisfied.
2. Paris, France
Paris is always a good idea, but it usually doesn’t come to mind first when it comes to Christmas Markets. The Christmas Village at Les Halles is one of the biggest ones in Paris, and also known as the most authentic one. It features sixty chalets that display seasonal crafts, decorations, and food. But, there are a dozen more in the Paris area.
Many markets open early, which is a huge bonus if you want to avoid crowds. Montmartre market proved to be best for foodies. Hotel de Ville is the most picturesque, but due to construction isn’t opening this year.
If you ask my kids, they’d tell you that their favorite one was La Magie de Noël market at Tuileries Gardens, because on top of crafts and food also offered rides and games to satisfy the little ones and even adults. It was more of a fair than the market, but we surely enjoyed cheesy food from Haute Savoie stalls while kids were riding carousels spraying snow on them. We hopped on a giant ferris wheel right when the Eiffel Tower was twinkling, which was magical.
If you’re visiting over the weekend, take a half-day trip to Vaux le Vicomte castle for their Christmas event. The castle gets beautifully decorated and
3. Gdansk, Poland
Christmas Markets are relatively new to Poland, but they’re beautiful and have a very local feeling. Krakow might seem like an obvious choice, as it’s already full of trinkers at the year-round indoor market called Sukiennice and neighboring Christmas store Calik, the most festive market isn’t actually there.
Gdanska offers everything from animations and performances, to immersing you in Christmas fairytales at the theatre stage with different events for different days of the week. There’s amazing food and decor, set along stunning architecture of Gdansk’s main square.
The market was also voted second in Europe’s Best Christmas Markets competition in 2023.
4. Northern Italy
Italy usually doesn’t top the list of the best Christmas Markets in Europe, because the markets are smaller, but this doesn’t mean that they aren’t great to visit. While cities like Rome or Venice are fantastic to see in December beca use there are no crowds. Many smaller towns have fantastic markets and they’re in the mountains which makes it even more magical.
Bolzano offers the perfect blend of Alpine and Mediterranean culture with 150 small decorated stalls you can admire. Verona has a few markets as well. Even Cortina d’Ampezzo has a beautiful market surrounded by the mountains.
5. Montreaux, Switzerland
Switzerland is a fantastic place to visit in the winter, even if you don’t ski. Where else you take a cablecar up the hill and sledding 5km trail from Wengen.
The country also offers a Christmas market with flying Santa in Montreaux, by Lake Geneva. Every afternoon starting from 5pm Santa Claus flies over the Montreux Noël lakeside promenade in his sleigh.
The market itself is great, but you can also see a Medieval castle nearby or take a seasonal train to Santa’s workshop. There’s also a park with miniature trains nearby that your kids will surely adore.
Any other lesser-known hidden gems Christmas markets would you add?
