Nov23to 29 Dec
Christmas Market
Colmar Christmas Markets
Colmar, France
Six markets threaded through Colmar's half-timbered old town, with Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim close by.
Checked 3 OctChristmas Markets
Every market we cover, sorted by opening date. Dates change year to year — always check the official site before you book.
97 markets
Nov23to 29 Dec
Nov23to 22 Dec
Christmas Market
Frankfurt Christmas Market
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
More than 230 stalls spread from the half-timbered Römerberg to the banks of the Main.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov23to 23 Dec
Provisional dates
Christmas Market
Hamburg Rathausmarkt Christmas Market
Hamburg, Germany
Roncalli's historic Christmas market in front of Hamburg's city hall, with a flying Santa overhead. 2026 dates reported, awaiting official confirmation.
Nov23to 31 Dec
Provisional dates
Christmas Market
WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt
Berlin, Germany
Berlin's most elegant Christmas market, between the French and German cathedrals. 2026 dates reported, awaiting official confirmation.
Nov24to 23 Dec
Christmas Market
Leipzig Christmas Market
Leipzig, Germany
Over 300 stalls in seven areas of the old town — a market that traces its history back to 1458.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov25to 24 Dec
Christmas Market
Dresden Striezelmarkt
Dresden, Germany
First held in 1434, which makes it Germany’s oldest — and it still bakes the definitive Stollen.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov25to 23 Dec
Christmas Market
Stuttgart Christmas Market
Stuttgart, Germany
Around 250 stalls across four squares, first recorded in 1692 — and famous for its decorated stall roofs.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov26to 23 Dec
Christmas Market
Basel Christmas Market
Basel, Switzerland
Two markets in Basel's old town, Barfüsserplatz and the square in front of the Minster, a few minutes' walk apart.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov26to 13 Dec
Christmas Market
Bath Christmas Market
Bath, United Kingdom
Georgian streets, honey-coloured stone, and wooden chalets threaded through the lanes around the Abbey.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov26to 28 Nov
Christmas Market
St Edmundsbury Cathedral Christmas Market
Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom
Three days, fifty-plus Suffolk makers, and a market held inside the cathedral itself.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov27to 3 Jan
Christmas Market
Brussels Winter Wonders
Brussels, Belgium
Two kilometres of chalets, plus a sound-and-light show on the Grand-Place.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov27to 28 Nov
Provisional dates
Christmas Market
Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre
Ludlow, United Kingdom
Crafts, food and medieval spectacle inside the walls of Ludlow Castle — dates reported, awaiting the castle's confirmation.
Nov27to 24 Dec
Christmas Market
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
Nuremberg, Germany
The most famous Christmas market in the world, and the one every other market is measured against.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov27to 13 Dec
Christmas Market
Rochester Christmas Market & Dickensian Festival
Rochester, United Kingdom
Over 120 stalls in the castle gardens across three weekends — and on the middle one, the whole town goes Victorian.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov28to 7 Jan
Christmas Festival
Advent in Zagreb
Zagreb, Croatia
A city-wide Advent festival through Zagreb's Upper and Lower Towns — running past Christmas to 7 January.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov28Sat
In 40 days
Light Switch-On
Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On
Derby, United Kingdom
Derby switches on its lights and launches Festive Derby on the last Saturday of November.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov28Sat
In 40 days
Light Switch-On
Oakengates Christmas Lights Switch-On
Oakengates, United Kingdom
An afternoon of Santa, choirs, funfair rides and stalls in Oakengates, with the lights coming on at six.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov28to 6 Jan
Christmas Market
Prague Old Town Square Market
Prague, Czech Republic
Possibly the most photogenic setting of any market in Europe.
Checked 22 Sep
Nov28Sat
In 40 days
Light Switch-On
Shifnal Christmas Lights Switch-On
Shifnal, United Kingdom
A refreshed switch-on for 2026, with more music, children's activities and Santa's sleigh — reported for the last Saturday of November.
Nov28Sat
In 40 days
Light Switch-On
Thatcham Christmas Lights Switch-On & Market
Thatcham, United Kingdom
New for 2026: Thatcham's switch-on and Christmas market combined into a single festive Saturday.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov28to 27 Dec
Christmas Market
Vilnius Christmas Market
Vilnius, Lithuania
Wooden huts on Cathedral Square around one of Europe's most talked-about Christmas trees.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov28to 29 Nov
Christmas Shopping
Windsor Christmas Fair
Windsor, United Kingdom
A weekend fair of around 150 makers, designers and food producers at the racecourse — for serious present-buying.
Checked 26 Sep
Dec3to 6 Dec
Christmas Market
Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre
Worcester, United Kingdom
Four days, nearly 200 stalls, and the historic streets of Worcester given over to a Victorian Christmas.
Checked 26 Sep
Dec4to 6 Dec
Christmas Festival
Durham Christmas Festival
Durham, United Kingdom
A three-day festival rather than a month-long market — and all the better for it, packed into the peninsula below the cathedral.
Checked 27 Aug