30 NOV, 2023
Sweta Gupta
The Montraux Christmas Market on the banks of Lake Geneva, with over 50 stalls, is magical. Don't miss the highlight – a flying Santa Claus. Open daily from November 23 to December 24, 2023.
Video: Instagram/parallels_meridians
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a must-visit with 200+ rides, a 70-metre-high big wheel, and the UK's largest outdoor skating rink. This is open from Nov 17 to Jan 1, 2024.
Video: Instagram/hydeparkwinterwonderland
The Striezelmarkt in Dresden is one of the world's oldest Christmas markets, started as a one-day event in 1434. The 589th edition opens from November 29 to December 24.
Photo: striezelmarkt.dresden.de
Photo: christkindlmarkt.at
Vienna's enchanting Wiener Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz offers Austrian sausages and gingerbread cookies. This festive event runs from November 10 to December 26.
One of Europe's oldest markets, it dates back to 1570, and has transformed over the years. The market with narrow alleys and squares, opens on November 24 and is on till December 24.
Photo: Instagram/strasbourgcapitaledenoel
Enjoy a light and sound show, ice skating, and fairground rides. Explore 200 chalets offering glühwein, Belgian beers, and waffles. This market starts from November 24 to December 31.
Photo: Facebook
Dating back to 1786, it has grown from a one-day event to a three-week fair celebrating Santa Llucia's feast day on December 13. Fira de Santa Llucia runs from November 24 to December 23.
Photo: en.firadesantallucia.cat
This runs from Nov 19 to Dec 31, and includes the Lucia procession on December 13 with over 100 girls carrying candles. There are fireworks on December 25-26 and New Year's Eve.
Photo: Instagram/tivolicph
The most traditional Christmas market is at Skansen on Djurgarden island, the world's oldest open-air museum. It opens on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 24 to December 17.
Photo: Twitter/@courseofhistory
Stretching across Rynek Glowny, this is one of Europe's largest, set against the backdrop of St Mary’s Basilica and the Renaissance Cloth Hall. It runs from Nov 24 to Jan 1, 2024.
Photo: Instagram/krakowchristmas.com