One of the most popular trips in winter is to the Christmas market. Everyone is excited to see the fairy tale atmosphere. In this article, I’ll try to write down everything you need to know if you’re going to the magical Christmas markets for the first time. You’ll find many Christmas market tips, including things to be aware of or avoid, packing tips, the most beautiful Christmas markets, eating, drinking and saving information, and much more.

Tbilisi Christmas Markets and Traditions

European Christmas Markets and 2024 Dates

Christmas Markets Tips for First-Timers

I’m sharing my top tips to make your dream trip a hassle-free one.

• Book accommodation early

In order to get the best value for money hotel options for your trip to the Christmas markets, I recommend booking as early as possible. If you leave planning late, you will struggle, especially in some popular small towns and places. It is better to book in late summer or early fall. To increase your options, consider not only hotels but also airbnb houses.

• Always carry cash with you

I strongly recommend carrying cash with you at the Christmas markets. Although cards are very common in the markets in some big cities, in most places you have to pay in cash in the local currency. Cards are more common in places selling souvenirs and decorative items, but places selling food usually do not accept cards. When buying drinks like Gluhwein, you may also have to pay a deposit for the mug and pay in cash. If you don’t have local currency with you, it is usually more convenient to withdraw money from ATMs than from exchange offices. You don’t have to carry large amounts of cash, you can make balanced purchases with both cash and card. By the way, I would like to remind you to watch your bags in crowds.

• Learn the exact dates and times of the Christmas Markets

Christmas markets usually open at the end of November and close on December 24, the day before Christmas. Many people think that the Christmas markets are open until New Year’s Eve and that they can see them in their New Year’s plans. Some markets are open until the beginning of January, but be sure to check the dates where you are going. Some smaller markets are only open on weekends or on specific dates. Markets usually open after 11am and most of them close around 8pm, with some larger markets staying open later in the evening. Be sure to check the hours too.

• Pack for really cold weather

Christmas markets are held in the open air, so you will spend most of your day outside. Christmas time is one of the harshest times of winter in Europe. Especially in the cities where the most beautiful markets are set up, it can be really cold. You probably want to wear something nice to look good in the photos, but the weather conditions may not be suitable. The best thing to do is to dress in layers, thermal underwear, clothes of your choice on upper layers and coats that protect from the cold should be preferred on top. Obviously, you need a scarf, hat, gloves and an umbrella for rainy weather. You should also make sure your shoes are waterproof and comfortable enough for long walks, and don’t forget thermal socks.

• Avoid peak hours when popular markets are overcrowded

During Christmas time, tourists from all over the world visit the Christmas markets, and especially some very popular markets can be incredibly crowded. Weekends and evenings are the most crowded times. If you don’t want to deal with serious crowds and long queues, try to visit the most popular markets during the daytime and on weekdays if possible. The magic of the illuminations in the evening is of course quite special, but you can do the shopping and dining early and enjoy the evening hours later.

• Be prepared to pay entrance fees to some markets

Most markets in Europe don’t have an entrance fee and you can visit them for free since they are mostly located in squares and streets. However, some of the Christmas markets inside palaces, parks or castles may have an entrance fee of €2-3, and some are even more expensive, so you may need to consider it as an expense item. For example, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in London, the Christmas Market in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, the Christmas Market with light show in Berlin’s Tierpark, etc. have entrance fees.

• Know that there are many markets in big cities

Many cities have more than one market. Every city has a market, usually in the main square, which is very popular and has many visitors, but smaller markets are sometimes more enjoyable. So don’t miss them. Before you go, I suggest you do some research on the internet and take notes on which markets are organized in which city. It would be better to find these from local official sites rather than blogs. When you search for “the city you are going to” and “Christmas markets”, if there is an official site, it will come up at the top, from there you can learn the correct times and dates, where they are set up, and their content. For example, some markets have Santa Claus passing through the sky with his reindeer at certain times, or similar shows and special events.

• Stroll around the markets before you shop

There are many stalls in the markets and many places selling similar products. Different stalls in each market may charge different prices for the same product. If you have time, instead of buying the products you like immediately, I recommend shopping after visiting all the markets. It is better to leave the decision for later, not only for the prices but also for the possibility of finding much better products. This applies not only to shopping but also to eating and drinking. Sometimes you might grab the first thing you see, then see something much better with a full stomach and be upset, I wanted to warn you because I have experienced this a lot.

• The best food and drinks you must try at the Christmas markets

My favorite thing about Christmas markets is the food and drink. Each country and region has its own unique foods, but I want to talk about my favorite Christmas market dishes that you will see often. Wurst (German sausage), Flammlachs (salmon cooked on fire), Raclette brot (bread with melted Raklet cheese), Langos (giant pastry from Hungary), Tarte Flambée or Flammkuchen (thin dough topped like pizza from the Alsace region) and plenty of potato are among the first local tastes I can think of that you should try. For dessert, you will mostly find pancakes, gingerbread cookies, roasted nuts with sugar and apple candies.

The most popular drink is gluhwein, or vin chaud in French. It is the name given to the mulled red wine you will often find in Christmas markets, of course, it contains some spices besides wine. Apart from wine, alcoholic and non-alcoholic punch, hot chocolate and of course beer are quite common. At most Christmas markets, you can keep the mugs you get when you order a drink. At such stalls, they automatically charge you a deposit of around €3 when you buy the drink. If you return the mug, you get your money back. Each city has a different mug design and some have several different designs. If you like a mug, you can take it home with you instead of getting a refund. 🙂

• Europe’s best Christmas markets

I did not have the opportunity to visit all the Christmas markets in Europe. But let me try to mention the most beautiful ones based on the ones I have visited. First of all, I can say that Germany is one of the countries that do this job the best. The markets in almost all cities and even towns are beautiful. The Alsace region of France is one of the places where you can experience the most fairytale Christmas markets. Not only the markets but also the houses in this region are beautifully decorated. You feel like you are in a fairy tale. Apart from these, Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities, Zagreb and Basel are also unexpectedly beautiful. This year, if nothing goes wrong, I will experience the Polish markets, I have read good reviews about them too.

Finally, let me write for those who ask if it is possible to visit the Christmas Markets with children. You definitely can and they can have the most fun. Because the carousels, swings, ferris wheels and fun shows in the markets are just for them. All you need to do is to dress the kids in layers like cabbage so that they do not get cold.

I’ve tried to cover everything that first-timers are curious about and I hope my guide to the Christmas Markets is useful. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

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