Christmas markets: 12 top European destinations
There is nothing like Christmas markets to infuse the holiday season with a much-needed dose of lightheartedness. Is there any other context in which it is socially acceptable to stroll around with a mug of mulled wine in one hand and a potato pancake in the other, while squandering one's budget on handcrafted ornaments or taking selfies in front of a life-size Santa's sleigh? The answer, we can safely say, is no.
A visit to a Christmas market in Italy or another European country is an absolute must-have item on your December-related weekend getaway list. Here then, from Bolzano to Helsinki, are 12 destinations that will make even the most die-hard Ebenezer Scrooge love the spirit of Christmas.
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- Bolzano, Italy
Lullabies, embroidered Tyrolean tablecloths, hand-painted stained-glass lanterns and balls, music boxes, angels, wooden nativity scenes, gnomes, fairies and witches made of pannolenci or terracotta, but also the scent of cinnamon and spices, mountain wood and homemade cakes, mulled wine and festively decorated fir trees... It's the magic of Christmas, and in Bolzano where Advent is experienced in the most traditional and festive way possible: Walther Square lights up with lights and colors to welcome the Christkindlmarkt, a wonderful Christmas Market now in its 31st year.
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- Renon Plateau, Italy
The Trenatale del Renon is undoubtedly one of the most original Christmas markets in Europe. Set up at the station of Soprabolzano (reachable from Bolzano by cable car) and in the village of Collalbo, far from the hustle and bustle of the cities, the Trenatale del Renon will amaze you first of all with its train-shaped sheds, from which delicious scents of pandolce and mulled wine emanate, then with the variety and quality of its products, ranging from honey to local artifacts, including typical Tyrolean sweaters. An exclusive and sustainable market, to be enjoyed against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dolomites.
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- Govone and Asti, Italy
Located in the province of Cuneo, the small town of Govone is best known for its 18th-century castle, formerly owned by the House of Savoy and now home to municipal offices. During the Christmas season, the courtyard of this massive manor is transformed into an enchanted place, home to, among other things, the House of Santa Claus (present on site with an accompanying retinue of elves) and an exhibition tracing the history of Christmas celebrations in the town through the centuries. On the other hand, if you want to shop, in nearby Asti you will find more than 130 stands of artisans and food and wine producers from not only Piedmont, but also from various other Italian regions. A word of advice: in between shopping, go see the living nativity scene created by a hundred local volunteers.
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- Basel, Switzerland.
In the city's historic center, merchants and artisans display their wares inside 155 picturesque miniature chalets that are beautifully lit. It's a vaguely fairy-tale atmosphere you'll be happy to immerse yourself in even if you don't plan to shop. Not to mention that the local delicacies alone are worth a visit: warm spiced wine, waffles, läckerli (a type of peppered bread), raclette, grilled sausages...
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- Vienna, Austria
The "Wiener Chriskindlemarkt und Weihnachtstraum" Christmas market is perhaps the largest and best known in Vienna, but, inevitably, also the most crowded. A less crowded alternative is the Belvedere Castle Christmas Village, a destination more for Viennese than tourists. Here, against the backdrop of the sumptuous Baroque architecture of what was once the residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, you can find handcrafted jewelry, scented woods, ceramics, Tyrolean hats, Christmas decorations, potori horns (those used for drinking)... It is a truly extraordinary place.
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- Strasbourg, France
Known as the "capital of Christmas," Strasbourg is home to the oldest Christmas market in France (its origins date back to 1570). Those who travel to this picturesque Alsace city during the holiday season have the opportunity to visit as many as 13 quaint markets, all located in the historic center, within walking distance of each other. The original one is known as the Christkindelsmärik and is located in Place Broglie: here you can sip a mug of vin chaud as you wander among superbly decorated mini-chalets, with the bulk of the Gothic cathedral serving as a striking backdrop.
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- Heidelberg, Germany
"Christmas markets" and "Germany" are almost synonymous. After all, it is a phenomenon that originated here with Dresden's Striezelmarkt in 1434, and it has been estimated that there are more than 2,500 in the country. One of the most interesting is held in the fairy-tale fortress city of Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. Crisscrossed by the Neckar River, with the Odenwald forest in the background, the city boasts various historical and architectural sights, such as the Old Bridge and the prestigious 14th-century university, where Hegel and, more recently, Helmut Kohl studied. Heidelberg's Christmas market winds through the festively lit alleys of the old town, where the smell of roasted peanuts hovers in the air. Children in tow? Go ice skating at Karlsplatz or take a ride on the ancient carousel.
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- Tallinn, Estonia
Over the past six centuries, each year a Christmas tree has been erected in the center of Tallinn's historic Town Hall Square (this year's even reaches 15 meters in height). But the ancient Estonian capital overlooking the Baltic Sea also hosts a Christmas market that radiates festive atmosphere. Visit Santa Claus in his little house, stroll the stalls hunting for handcrafted decorations and warm woollen sweaters, or fill up on sauerkraut and sausages, then wash it all down with a special mulled wine (for those with a sweet tooth, there are also Estonian gingerbread cookies and cinnamon and cardamom pastries). And if you arrive in Tallinn on the weekend, don't miss the performance of traditional dances and the performance of folk musicians.
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- Edinburgh, Scotland
With the unmistakable silhouette of the Royal Castle in the background, Edinburgh's Christmas market lends a very special vibrancy and charm to the ancient streets of the city center. After gorging yourself on Scottish delicacies and stocking up on local handicrafts, climb up the gleaming Ferris wheel to admire the picturesque view from above, or embark on daredevil stunts on the magnificent ice-skating rink surrounded by 18th-century architecture.
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- Copenhagen, Denmark
Visiting Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen during the holiday season is like entering a fairy world. This theme park created 175 years ago is transformed into a Christmas market every year, with 60 stalls resplendent with spectacular decorations and wooden mini-chalets covered in real snow, all by the light of 70,000 Christmas balls hanging from more than 1,000 trees scattered throughout the gardens. From here, in just 10 minutes you can reach another market, Højbro Plads, with its 18,000 lights and authentic reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh.
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- Bath, United Kingdom
If you are looking for a rural, old-fashioned Christmas atmosphere, your destination is the Cotswolds, England's most romantic region, known for its bucolic landscapes. With its quaint villages, traditional carols performed in the streets and frequent dustings of snow, the Cotswolds evoke a Dickensian Christmas. The beautiful city of Bath, located on the edge of the region, celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Christmas market this year. With more than 150 stalls offering products such as pottery, handmade stockings and artisan cheeses, you'll have the chance to tick off various items on your Christmas gift list.
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- Helsinki, Finland
Finland, as is well known, is the country of Santa Claus, who, according to tradition, dwells with his tribe of elves and reindeer in the small town of Rovaniemi, Lapland, just below the Arctic Circle. However, even without going that far north, you can enjoy one of Europe's liveliest Christmas atmospheres in Finland's capital city itself, Helsinki. Its central Christmas market, in particular, has 100 stalls and booths offering handicrafts, Christmas ornaments, vegetables, fish and meat from hyper-local sources. End your stay with a visit to Alvar Aalto's signature masterpieces of Finnish modernism, such as the Finlandia House and the Academic Library.
Photo Credit: Vogue