5 Great European Christmas Markets Worth Traveling For

For millions of Christmas lovers annually, visits to European Christmas markets are at the top of their holiday vacation lists. Early each autumn, social media starts to fill with influencers offering their recommendations for the best markets to visit, spilling the secrets of who has the best glühwein mugs or gingerbread biscuits. Some enthusiasts plan entire vacations around visiting as many markets as possible. From Dresden to Dubrovnik, these oases of warmth and light are thronged with cheerful locals and tourists alike, sampling delicious holiday snacks and picking up special gifts for their family and friends.

The tradition of the European Christmas market has its roots in Germany and Austria during the late Middle Ages, so many of the thousands of markets across Europe will carry more than a hint of that heritage in their cozy wooden huts and vats of warming glühwein. However, the European continent is no monolith: many other countries have their own long-held traditions and put their own special twists on the year’s most glittering season.

Classic markets like the ones in Dresden, Vienna, Aachen, and Strasbourg are always worth a visit. But for those looking for something a little different, we’ve gathered together a list of some perhaps underrated Christmas markets across Europe that deserve to move up to the top of any holiday traveler’s must-see lists.

1. Bolzano, Italy

South Tyrol’s capital city has nestled its sparkling market amongst the colorful 19th-century buildings of the Piazza Walther in Bolzano’s old town. It is actually a collection of markets: the central Christmas market takes up the main area of the old town square, but you’ll also find, depending on the time you go, the children’s market, the charity market, and a special arts and crafts market, among others.

Visitors can shop for artisanal cheeses, local crafts, excellent pastries, and more during the Mercatino, which runs from late November to early January. Since Bolzano is also the gateway to the Dolomites, those who have had their fill of holiday cheer can escape for a skiing holiday to some of Europe’s most beautiful slopes.

And, of course, Bolzano is also home to the Archaeological Museum of South Tyrol, where the 5,000-year-old Copper Age ice mummy Ötzi lies preserved, one of the best and oldest examples of a human mummy on the European continent. While not exactly a Christmas-themed activity, Ötzi still shouldn’t be missed when you’re in the area.

Sitting high above the German town of Bad Bentheim is the early medieval castle of Burg Bentheim. Possibly built in the 11th century, the castle is a popular destination and even a wedding venue year-round, thanks to its lovely gardens, soaring Pulvurturm, and exquisite stained glasswork.

Winter, however, is when Burg Bentheim really begins to shine. Each November and December, the castle is draped in twinkling fairy lights and festooned with garlands for the annual Burg Bentheim Christmas Market. In the courtyard, little wooden huts are built to house a number of vendors with their holiday wares for sale, and the scents of fresh waffles and glühwein fill the crisp winter air. Thousands of visitors walk through the castle gates annually to enjoy the market and explore the castle itself, where they are rewarded with musical performances and educational exhibits.

Plan your visit to Bad Bentheim for the right winter weekend and you’ll also get to enjoy the city’s own Christmas market, for double the holiday festive fun.

3. Røros, Norway

Charming Røros, a former copper mining town in the central Norwegian county of Trondelag, is worth a visit any time of year. Thanks to its historic timber houses and the stunning Røros Church, the entire town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. To walk through Røros is to feel as though you’re living in an illustrated fairytale, so it is not surprising that it was part of the visual inspiration for Disney’s Frozen.

Come the icy, dark months of winter, Røros is transformed into a snow-covered wonderland, with residents in Nordic handknits traversing the streets using traditional kick-sleds called sparken (which guests are encouraged to rent!). The peak of the city’s cozy winter charm is its Christmas market, beloved throughout the entire country.

The second weekend of Advent sees the customary wooden huts erected in the streets surrounding Røros Kirke, where traditional foods and handcrafts will be sold. Pick up a mug of gløgg and browse through the shops, admire musical and theatrical performances from the locals, and once you find your energy starting to flag, get tucked up in a horse-drawn carriage for a cozy ride through the streets of Norway’s most Christmasy town.

15 minutes from Maastricht by train, you’ll find the small city of Valkenburg. Like Røros, Valkenburg is a mining town, though the product here was the carbonate mineral known as marl, rather than copper.

Marl was vital in the construction of Kasteel Valkenburg, which was first erected in the 12th century. The marl used to build the castle came from beneath the hill it was built on, creating a network of tunnels that were originally used as a defensive feature — people and goods could be smuggled through the tunnels, either for escapes or to enable surprise ambushes.

Today, the tunnels beneath Kasteel Valkenburg are known as the “velvet cave.” Bedecked with stunning murals painted in the intervening centuries, the cave is a fascinating place to visit any time of the year, but come December, it is lit up with lanterns and transformed into a unique subterranean Christmas market. Guests can shop for interesting gifts, enjoy festive snacks during their time in the velvet cave, and walk away with memories of a fantastically different Christmas market experience.

Wrap up your subterranean holiday festivities by heading topside and climbing the hill to summit Kasteel Valkenburg. Not only is it an important part of Dutch history but at the top, you’ll be treated to stunning sprawling views of the surrounding forest lands and Valkenburg’s lovely old town center. Truly not an experience to miss.

5. Óbidos, Portugal

Medieval Óbidos in southern Portugal is one of the country’s best-preserved examples of a fortified city. One of UNESCO’s “Cities of Literature,” it is also known as a book lover’s paradise, with multiple bookshops established in antique buildings, a book hotel in a former convent, and literary festivals a few times a year.

Given the bookish bent of the village, it should come as no surprise that every December, Óbidos transforms herself into a candy-coated fairytale Christmas utopia. Known as the Óbidos Vila Natal, the festival sees the city’s medieval castle draped in icy strings of lights, an ice skating rink is poured at the base of the ramparts, and of course, the market itself is set up with dozens of stalls full of local wares and food.

Óbidos prides itself on being the Christmas village of Portugal, so you can trust that when you visit the Vila Natal, you’ll leave filled to the brim with Christmas cheer.

Check the weather before your visit and be prepared to bundle up very warmly. Destinations like Røros can reach sub-zero temperatures, and even cities in Italy and Portugal experience deep cold snaps in December. Frostbite isn’t festive — stay warm and dry.

Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots with rubber soles. Some of these markets are located in very hilly cities with cobblestone streets. You want to avoid foot fatigue and slipping as much as possible.

Keep some cash—no bills larger than €50—on hand. Some market stalls may not be equipped with card readers, and it may be a long walk to the nearest ATM.

Above all, enjoy your visits to the most charming winter wonderland markets in Europe!