5 of our Favorite Family-Friendly Christmas Markets in Europe
From Helsinki’s snow-capped churches to Warsaw’s light-festooned ice rinks, we’ve rounded up our top Christmas markets for their unique holiday spirit.
‘Tis the season for Christmas markets and all across Europe, cities and towns have started to flex their holiday spirit.
Artisanal wares, glowing lights and the smells of spiced wine and cookies fill the cobblestoned streets. These markets, usually set up in the central square of a town, become an integral part of the local economy for the whole month of advent. They offer a place to meet friends, a variety of fortifying food and drink, a source for thoughtful, handcrafted gifts. Most importantly, the markets transform a cold, dreary setting into a full-on winter wonderland for the whole family.
Each market represents its own region’s customs and specialties, making it difficult to choose the very best. Besides, their distinctiveness and commitment to local traditions make them an awesome constellation of second-city and off-the-radar travel destinations. But our favorites are the markets that create some of the most magical experiences for children while striving to leave the smallest mark on the environment.
Of course, if you don’t find yourself in Europe this season, let this serve as inspiration to venture out and find a holiday market closer to you.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
No one does Christmas quite like Germany, and – we may be biased – but Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt might just take the cake. Named for the star-spangled young woman who presides over the opening ceremony and represents the spirit of gift-giving, Nuremberg’s Christmas market is one of the oldest in Europe. In addition to the main grid of enchanting artisanal handicrafts and food stalls, many other countries have stands representing their own holiday traditions in the blocks surrounding the central square.
For the Kids
The children’s area, known as Kinderweihnacht, occupies its own city square where the music and lights of the double-decker carousel cast a cheerful spell over the whole scene. Children can participate in candle-making, cake-decorating, and many other activities, or catch a concert or ballet performance. Check the Sternenhaus website for programming.
What to Eat
Elisen-Lebkuchen, the special nut-flour cookies incorporating ingredients that passed through the city on the original spice trail, make a good snack or gift. For a savory treat, try the tasty little Nuremberger sausages served three to a roll, aka Drei im Weggla. To keep the paws warm, pick up a mug of mulled wine: Kinderpunsch for the kids or Glühwein for adults. And, for a cheeky shot of rum, ask for your wine “mit Schuss.”
What to Buy
Keep an eye out for the merry little crowd of Zwetschgenmännle, or prune men, perched on their birch daises. These comical figures made of dried plums and wire with walnut shell heads come in all shapes and outfits. First invented out of necessity by a wire drawer with limited resources, the prune men have become a fixture at the fair and a perfect example of the handmade products keeping local traditions alive. Other eye-catching collectibles made in the region include ceramic villages, candle-powered carousels, and a plethora of ornaments.
Sustainable Tip
The market relies on Germany’s Pfand system to keep trash to a minimum. With each wine or punch purchase, visitors pay a deposit on the mug their drink comes in. When the mug is empty, it can be brought back to any stall in exchange for a new full one, or you can get your deposit back. The third option is to keep the festive mug as a souvenir. You’ve already paid for it!
Tallinn, Estonia
During the darkest days of the year, the giant Christmas tree that lights up the central square of Tallinn brings welcome cheer. In fact, Tallinn’s Town Hall Square, where the market is still situated today, was the site of one of the first publicly displayed Christmas trees in recorded history back in 1441. The quaint, lantern-strung stalls radiate out from the massive tree carefully selected each year. This market runs all the way through the first week of January.
For the Kids
Children have plenty of merry-go-rounds and other rides to choose from, but Santa is the guest of honor at this market. A visit to Santa’s hut can involve musical performances by him and his elves, treats in exchange for carols, and kids can even stick their Christmas wish lists into his mailbox.
What to Eat
Don’t miss the Gingerbread House stall in Tallinn for cookies to eat, works of art to admire, and even dough to bring home for later. The mulled wine, called glögg in local parlance, comes in an array of flavors, including the traditional blueberry-blackberry and of course alcohol-free for the little ones. The food selection is a bit more elevated here, ranging from blood sausage and sauerkraut to duck legs and venison. Outside the market, look for a bowl of solyanka soup for an unusual warming zing.
What to Buy
Estonia is known for supporting regional artisans and creatives (link to the city guide). The most traditional gifts from the market include wooden toys and all things sheepskin, from plush hats to handknit gloves. Visitors can also sit and craft under the tutelage of local artisans.
Sustainable Tip
Not only is Tallinn known for its locally made handicrafts and for supporting the arts, but the city was also named the European Green Capital of 2023. With plenty of projects already underway to improve environmental, social, and economic sustainability – such as free public transportation for residents – it’s a very exciting time to visit Tallinn.
Strasbourg, France
Another OG Christmas market site dating back to the 16 th century, Strasbourg stakes its claim as “The Capital of Christmas.” The surrounding region of Alsace sits right at the border with Germany, creating a cultural and culinary mecca. The Christmas season might be the best time of year to stroll through the historic city center and take in the beauty of the half-timbered houses and Gothic cathedrals under the glow of a million magical lights.
For the Kids
The Strasbourg market is made up of little pockets of festivities spread throughout the old town. Place St. Thomas features a village just for children (Village des enfants), complete with crafting activities and the opportunity to meet Pere Noel, aka Father Christmas. Check out the carousel in Place de la Cathedrale as well. As with most markets, the streets fill up most on the weekends, so visiting during the week will ensure a more enchanting experience.
What to Eat
What’s not to eat?! Come hungry and make sure you have time to try all the Alsatian specialties from sausages, flammkuchen (local version of pizza), apple and cheese tart, bredle cookies, crepes, and waffles. Mulled wine is known here as vin chaud, and kids can choose from several hot beverages including hot chocolate and even hot orange juice with honey. Yum!
What to buy
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the shopping at the Strasbourg market, but if you want to stay traditional, look for the handmade pottery and embroidered linens that the region is known for. Marché OFF in Place Grimmeisen offers more eco-minded products and activities for conscious Christmas consumers.
Sustainable Tip
Take the train! Strasbourg sits in the heart of western Europe, making it easily accessible by rail from all directions. Our pals at Byway offer slow-travel and train routes designed specifically around Europe’s Christmas markets, including Strasbourg.
Warsaw, Poland
We’re adding Warsaw to our list of favorite Christmas markets across the continent because Poland is a neighbor to Ukraine and intimately involved in the current war effort, having taken in at least 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees. It’s important to remember that for many, life goes on and celebrating the holidays give so many displaced children a feeling of home, safety and love.
For the Kids
Head to the ice rink not far from Castle Square, with a Christmas tree that’s recogized as one of the most beautiful trees in Europe. In Praga on the other side of the Vistula River in front of the stadium, check out the traditional market stalls with alternative options like vegetarian pierogies and intricately decorative wooden doors.
What to Eat
Traditional Polish food like pierogies, fried fish, sweets, hearty soups and grilled meat plus plenty of goulash, dried fruit and chocolate are delicious. Of course for parents, the hot mulled wine you find all over Europe, but Poland also has a sweet fruit vodka to go along with it.
Helsinki, Finland
Every year starting in the beginning of December, people in Finland come together to celebrate pikkujoulu, or “little Christmas.” The early-Advent party lays more emphasis on goofy speeches, karaoke, and seasonal refreshments than on religious events. Perhaps this secular holiday spirit has something to do with how Tuomaan Makkinat – as the Helsinki Christmas Market is called in Finnish – has become such an international favorite. Informal, cheerful, and dedicated to sustainability – this is our kind of celebration.
For the Kids
The main attraction for kids at the Helsinki Christmas Market, as at many other markets, is the carousel. Fun fact: this one is powered by renewable energy. Outside the market, visit a sauna to experience an age-old Finnish tradition. Christmas saunas, originally enjoyed as a family activity on Christmas Eve, now provide much needed relaxation throughout the holiday season. We recommend the modernist Löyly at the end of the peninsula or popping into the Zen-inspired minimalist Kulttuurisauna.
What to Eat
Mulled wine goes by the name of glögi here – similar to Estonia’s glögg – and sets the festive scene with its warming properties and powerful aroma. Pay attention and you might catch notes of spruce or fir in among more traditional spices. If you’re snackish, try a lörtsy, a kind of flat, pop tart-like treat with either a sweet apple or a savory meat filling. For a heartier meal, head to a local market hall or restaurant to sample the delectable, fish-centric Finnish cuisine.
What to Buy
Handmade goods range from traditional wooden toys and decorations to funkier ceramics and textiles. Sleek Scandinavian design and eco-friendly materials abound. We also love that the Helsinki Christmas Market saves some stalls for rotating vendors so those visiting more than once can still find something fresh.
Sustainable Tip
Generally speaking, Finland is hyper-aware of its impact in the world. In particular, the vendors chosen for this year’s market provide sustainable alternatives to mass-produced gifts and decorations, with a special focus on social responsibility. Food comes in biodegradable containers, waste is kept to a minimum, and booths are heated using renewable energy. The market’s environmental impact is measured using the Finnish EcoCompass certificate.
Bonus Sustainable Tip
For an extra fun arrival or departure, take a ride on the low-emission liquid natural gas (LNG)-powered ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn: the Tallink Megastar.
