There’s nothing we love more than Christmas. Really – I’m not just saying that. We’re those people that put up our tree on November 1st, and have a long list of Christmas activities that we fill our winter nights with. One of the only things that I love more than Christmas, is Christmas in EUROPE. It’s a fairytale come to life – magical little villages, bursting with decor, the air smelling of mulled wine and treats. We’ve gotten to spend a few winters now touring some of Europe’s Christmas Markets, and we wanted to share our top picks.
1.Colmar, France
If you can only pick one Christmas Market in Europe to go to, make it Colmar. We’ve been to Colmar several times, and it’s one of our favorite places in Europe for several reasons. For starters, it’s a short day trip away from Paris. Secondly, it’s bursting with fairytale charm, especially at Christmas, where the small city boasts FIVE different Christmas markets for you to explore. What really makes Colmar special is the fact that the buildings are all decorated for the season, which is even more special at night when they turn on the lights.
2. Rothenburg, Germany
Rothenburg feels like you’ve stepped into the artwork of Pinnochio. The market twists and turns forever, and has some of our favorite food and beverages that we tried at any market. The whole town is so cute that it makes being there even more magical.
3. Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg has been voted the best Christmas Market in Europe a few years in a row, and it doesn’t surprise me as to why. It’s huge and fully decorated, including a towering tree in the main market.
4. London, England
Hyde Park Winter Wonder can be a little kitschy, but it’s also a long of fun and has the added bonus of being in London at Christmas, which is one of the most magical places to spend the holiday season.
5. Salzburg, Austria
The market in Salzburg is in the shadow of a castle, which is pretty cool. We highly recommend seeing this market on a weekday, as the small space gets very crowded on a weekend.
