The magic of Christmas Markets in Europe and the UK

Tingles, twinkles and sprinkles

There’s something about the twinkling lights, the scent of cinnamon and the tingle of childhood memories that makes Christmas Markets feel very special places. Across Europe - and the UK - traditional festive markets and fairs in November and December bring the spirit of Christmas to life like nothing else, as wooden stalls decked out in yuletide colours and garlanded with fairy lights defy the onset of winter and warm the scene with the smell of mulled wine, spiced gingerbread and roasting chestnuts.

With a nip in the air, and maybe the first sprinkling of snow, it’s a magical time to simply browse or stock up on hand-crafted gifts and stocking-fillers for loved ones back home. 

Being away from home in the run-up to Christmas seems to heighten the mood and there are so many ways to enjoy the season this year, ahead of the big day itself. We’ve put together a selection of ways to enjoy 2017’s Christmas markets, from convenient coach tours which don’t involve flying, to short-but-sweet city breaks, to rail trips and cruises that take in a goody-bag of markets in different countries. The options vary in cost from just over a hundred to several thousand pounds – but who can put a price on the best Christmas ever?

Read, watch and hear about the best of the Christmas Markets

But first, find out what’s so special about the seasonal fairs in this article about the delightful Christmas Markets of Switzerland. And read about the character and attractions of particular Christmas Markets across Europe, from Amsterdam to Budapest, from Vienna to Koblenz, courtesy of Emerald Waterways.

Watch this short, atmospheric video from Viking Cruises

Or hear about the markets’ many attractions in this short radio clip
Marina Schumacher from Switzerland Travel Centre, tempted Jennie from the Silver Travel Radio Show with tales of magical Christmas Markets and the delights of Switzerland in winter.

If the soundplayer does not display properly, please click here to listen.

Seven ways to enjoy Christmas market heaven!

1. Rail tours from the UK to Europe’s Christmas markets

• Great Rail Journeys
  Escorted tours with professional Tour managers in a sociable environment - perfect for single travellers especially. Great range of Christmas Market tours by rail in Europe and the UK. 
  Sample trip:
  4 days from £595pp: By rail from London to the ‘Christmas Markets capital’ of Cologne, plus Wuppertal with its nostalgic ‘Kaiserwagen’.
  
  
• Railbookers
  Offers a huge range of rail tours to the Christmas Markets (and some with flights and trains).
  Sample trip:
  9 days from £799pp visiting 4 European capitals by rail – Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Berlin.
   
  
• Riviera Travel
  High quality escorted tours and river cruises offering unrivalled value for money; awarded ‘Recommended Provider’ status from ‘Which’.
  Sample trip:
  5 days from £549pp: Eurostar to Cologne then sailing the Rhine to Rudesheim, Frankfurt, Koblenz and back to Cologne for Eurostar ride back to UK (or flights at additional cost).
  
  
  
• Tailor Made Rail
  
  Take yourself by rail to Germany’s finest Christmas markets - Strasbourg, Berlin, Cologne or Nuremberg, or for something delightfully different, try Ghent.
  Sample trip:
  3 days from £399pp: By rail to Strasbourg with its half-timbered houses and stunning cathedral, plus one of Europe’s oldest markets.

2. Fly to Europe’s Christmas markets then take a train

• Switzerland Travel Centre
  Read about what the special appeal of Switzerland’s Christmas Markets.
  Sample trips:
  3 days from £545pp to Zurich Christmas markets including flights and cogwheel mountain train.
  

3. Fly to Europe then join a coach tour to the markets

• Collette
  Small group, personal touch tours.
  Sample trip:
  6 days from £774pp, Austria-based stay that visits Munich, Salzburg and the magical  Neuschwanstein Castle.
  

• Kirker
  High quality tours to the Christmas Markets in Copenhagen, Tallinn, Stockholm as well as Bruges, Lille, Krakow, Prague. 
  

• Trafalgar
  Join these lovingly-crafted, expertly guided coach tours at the airport.
  Sample trip:
  8 days, 12 cities including UNESCO world heritage sites and German Christmas Markets in their all their fairy-tale glory. From £1,395pp (excluding flights).
  

4. No-fly coach tours to Europe’s Christmas Markets

• Shearings Coach Holidays
  This trusted coach specialist offers a huge range of European Christmas Market tours with pick-up points across the UK.
  Sample trip:
  5 days from £284pp: the German Christmas Markets of Heidelburg, Speyer and Koblenz.
  

5. River Cruises to Europe’s Christmas Markets

• Ama Waterways
  Indulgent, all-inclusive top-end cruising to Christmas markets on the Rhine and Danube.
  Sample cruise:
  8 days from £1478pp sailing from Amsterdam to Basel through France, Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
  

• Avalon Waterways
  Elegant, modern and exceptionally comfortable ships offering 5-16 day sailings to the Christmas Markets of Europe with chauffeur pick-ups from home.
  Sample cruise:
  8 days from £1,968pp, Frankfurt to Prague with guided sightseeing in Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg and Prague, in the Czech Republic. 
  

• CroisiEurope
  Choose from a selection of Christmas Market sailings aboard stylish ships with an international mix of passengers.
  Sample trip:
  4 days from £339pp, overnighting on board in Strasbourg and touring Alsace, from its Wine Route to Colmar Christmas Market.
  

• Emerald Waterways
  Cutting-edge ‘Star-ships’, built to impress and delight, with drinks at mealtimes included. Read an overview about the Christmas markets of Europe’s big cities and their individual attractions.
  Sample cruise:
  8 days sailing from Nuremberg to Amsterdam via some of Germany’s most iconic Christkindlmarkts, from £2,345pp.
  

• Jules Verne
  A UK tour manager will escort a small group on board this music-themed Danube sailing.
  Sample cruise:
  5 days from £1,195pp on the Danube aboard the MS Vivaldi to Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava with a special music and sightseeing programme.
  

• Scenic
  Hand-crafted itineraries are offered aboard this fleet of contemporary, luxury ‘Space-Ships’.
  Sample cruise:
  8 days from £1,695pp along the Danube from Nuremberg to Vienna and Budapest in December 2018.
  

• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
  Enjoy the height of river cruising luxury in Old World style.
  Sample cruise:
  
  8 days sailing from Nuremberg to Frankfurt, enjoying the quintessential magic of Germany’s ‘Christmas country’.
  

• Viking Cruises
  Viking offers a fantastic range of Christmas Market sailings across Europe for those looking for 2018 departures.
  Sample cruise:
  8 days from £895, waltzing along the Danube from Budapest to Passau, in the run-up to Christmas 2018.
  

6. Ocean Cruises to Europe’s Christmas Markets

• Cruise & Maritime Voyages
  No-fly, traditional British-style cruises to the Christmas Markets of coastal France, the Netherlands and Germany with great deals on offer.
  Sample cruise:
  4 days from £369pp sailing from Tilbury for the Christmas Markets of Amsterdam and Bruges.
  

• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
  No-fly, small friendly ships – great for solo cruisers – sailing to north European Christmas markets with special discounts for Silver Travel members.
  Sample cruise:
  7 days from £449pp, Christmas Markets & the rivers of Germany sailing to Hamburg and Bremen aboard Black Watch.
  

• Saga Cruises
  No-fly small ship sailings from the over 50s travel expert.
  Sample cruise:
  6 days from £899pp aboard Saga Sapphire and savouring the spirit of Christmas in Bremen, Amsterdam and Bruges. 
  

7. UK Christmas Markets by coach

• Grand UK Holidays
  Take your choice of a huge choice of UK coach tours to enjoy the thrill of the UK’s finest Christmas markets without needing to think about currency exchange rates!
  Sample trip:
  5 days from £249pp - Bournemouth Turkey and Tinsel trip visiting Salisbury and Winchester’s atmospheric Christmas markets.
  

• Just Go! Holidays
  Super range of value-for-money British coach breaks for top UK Christmas Markets, from Salisbury to Skipton, with local pick-up points.
  Sample trip:
  3 Days from £119pp with all meals and hotel stay for Exeter’s Christmas Market, with the cathedral as its stunning backdrop.
  

• Shearings Coach Holidays
  Award-winning coach tours with a spectrum of Christmas Market city breaks across the UK, from Bath and Bournemouth to Whitby and Windermere.
  Sample trip:
  5 days from £177pp for Llandudno’s Christmas Fayre with its traditional Welsh handicrafts and festive goodies.
  

Please note that prices are based on two adults sharing and are correct at time of posting but are subject to change.

You may also find interesting:

• A Feast of Christmas Markets by Stuart Render