.png)
When you picture a European vacation, images of sailing around the sunny coast of Croatia or sipping Sangria on a warm evening in Spain might spring to mind. Yet there's also so much to see and do during the winter months.
If you love the spirit and traditions of Christmas, there may be no better way to soak up the magic of the season than by visiting the Christmas markets of Central Europe.
It's the stuff of fairy tales: half-timbered houses adorned with twinkling lights, cathedrals draped in snow, charming wood chalets filled with handmade toys and treats, carolers spreading holiday cheer.
And the food! From German gingerbread to Danish aebleskiver, roasted chestnuts to hot mulled wine, the air is scented with delectable aromas. It's one of the most magical times to be in Europe.
To put you in the spirit, here are our favorite things to eat, drink and experience at some of Europe's best markets.
Munich
Home to over 20 Christmas markets, the city of Munich resembles a Christmas snowglobe during the festive season. From large to small, medieval to modern, the array of markets and their offerings promise something for every interest.
The twelve stalls at Kripperlmarkt, Germany's largest nativity market, carry all the mangers, figurines, and accessories for creating the perfect nativity scene. The selection of mangers and stables features handmade pieces in various styles, including designs passed down for generations.
Carvers and artisans from the region supply nativity figures donning traditional Bavarian costumes, angels, patron saints, and an assortment of nativity animals. All sorts of accessories, from shepherd's huts to electrical lanterns, round out the displays.
The Tollwood Winter Festival is a large, sustainable market where Germany's various ethnic groups share their diverse Christmas traditions. Music stages, art tents, and food stalls mix with the market's toy, candle, and woodcraft stalls.
Market-goers can sample Tollwood's organic, international cuisine and perhaps try the world-famous Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional German punch made by soaking a sugar loaf in rum, igniting it, and allowing the melted sugar to drip into mulled wine.
Salzburg
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City is alive with the sound of carols during its annual Christkindlmarkt, held in Cathedral Square. Choirs perform live around the market daily, and traditional wind music performances are held above the square on Thursday and Saturday evenings.
Snag a cinnamony baked apple or some roasted nuts and let yourself relax and soak up the magic of Christmas in the famous setting of The Sound of Music.
For a more intimate experience, check out the iconic Hohensalzburg Fortress's Advent Market. Over one hundred "Herrnhuter stars" light the structure's inner courtyard and the street outside in a warm atmospheric glow.
For over 20 years, visitors have enjoyed performances by small choirs and small ensembles of wind musicians as they shop and look out over the distant city below.
Vienna
Vienna's old-world grandeur shines when it's covered in a blanket of snowy splendor, nowhere more brilliantly than at its many Christmas markets.
The Viennese Dream Christmas Market takes place in front of the magnificent city hall. The busy market boasts 150 stalls, a rink for ice skating and curling, and reindeer rides. The adjacent park is also full of lights and holiday cheer, including the famous Tree of Hearts.
If you love arts and crafts, check out Christmas Village on the grounds of the old Vienna hospital. Popular with locals, the market features handmade wares from craftsmen and women from all over the country.
The market at Schönbrunn Palace is hard to beat in terms of elegance and style. Eighty stalls ring the palace's interior courtyard that sparkles with silver and gold lights. Browse the premium selection of goods from local glassblowers, candlemakers, potters, and woodcarvers.
While you're there, indulge in seasonal Viennese food like hot grilled sausages, steaming baked potatoes, Maroni (simmered chestnuts), dumplings, and crepes.
For a market big on atmosphere and outstanding local cuisine, visit the Spittelberg Market, tucked Vienna's historical 7th District. The cozy market is integrated into nearby shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars in one of the best neighborhoods to view Biedermeier architecture.
Budapest
The grandeur of Budapest is striking any time of year, especially during the winter holidays. The city glitters with holiday decorations, including the Christmas trams, which shimmer with 30,000 LED lights.
The city's biggest and brightest market is in Vorosmarty Square, in the heart of town. Christmas trees and quaint fairy lights illuminate walkways lined with hundreds of stalls. A range of Hungarian fare is available, including dodolle, a traditional potato dumpling, and langos, a deep-fried flatbread topped with your choice of sour cream, garlic butter, and cheese.
The Advent Feast at St. Stephens Square is a somewhat smaller, cozier market with Hungary's largest church, St. Stephen's Basilica, as a backdrop. A small ice rink and grand Christmas tree in the center of the square complete the beautiful setting.
Do you want to discover the magic of Europe's Christmas markets this winter? Contact me today to start planning.
Comments