The build-up to Christmas has effectively and actually began: the Advent calendars and seasonal merchandise are showing within the grocery store, there’s a Christmassy chill within the air… and it’s time to plan a December tour to discover Europe’s atmospheric Christmas markets!
Why accept seeing only one, when you may go on a road-trip of one of the best that Europe has to supply?! Seize the chance of low-season costs to check out motorhome or campervan rental.
Of course, you can additionally take the automotive, or trains, from place to position and keep at a comfy chalet at a campsite. Whichever your mode of transport, the return of Christmas markets is an effective excuse to go to a couple of nice winter locations.
Read on to search out out about among the lesser-known and greatest Christmas markets in Europe and sensible data you would possibly want to go to them in a campervan.
Why make your Christmas market break right into a road-trip
When we consider road-trips, be it in a campervan or a automotive, our creativeness tends to take us alongside sunny roads and campsites within the mountains or close to the seashore. Yet a winter road-trip deliberate round Christmas markets is a superb thought too. Here’s why:
- Flexibility: with a house on wheels, you’ve gotten the liberty to remain for as lengthy or brief a time at every vacation spot as you want.
- Experience: journey by highway means that you can soak up a number of markets in the identical journey, and likewise uncover lovely winter landscapes alongside the best way, together with native traditions, meals and cultural sights in multiple nation.
- Savings: resorts within the Christmas and pre-Christmas interval will be fairly costly, so selecting to park your camper or lease a chalet at a campsite can cut back prices considerably.
Christmas markets in Italy
You could not discover these within the typical Top 10 Christmas Markets lists, however let’s start our journey into the magical world of Christmas markets in Italy, as a result of, in any case, it’s a nation of world-renowned culinary delights and romantic areas. Pannetone is in fact the culinary image of the festive season in Italy – however, from chestnuts to chocolate, there’s far more to style and take residence as Christmas presents that no person will need to regift!
Verona Christmas market
The “city of love” par excellence turns into much more romantic with the lights and decorations of the Christmas season. The Verona Christmas market, open from 18 November to 26 December, affords cute crafts, native meals and wine, workshops and actions for kids, one of many largest nativity exhibitions in Europe, music and far more.
Children should go to Father Christmas’s glittering home within the Cortile Vecchio, whereas adults would possibly contemplate lacing up their runners for the Christmas Run, a funrun with 5 or 10 km choices.
Leave your camper van outdoors town and head into the historic metropolis centre on the devoted shuttle bus, to discover stress-free. Make positive to select up a Market Passport on the vacationer data centre: when you go to each attraction in your passport, you’ll obtain a particular memento of your go to to Verona.
Bolzano Christmas markets
Open from 25 November to six January, the Bolzano Christmas market is a feast for younger and previous. Amidst cinnamon drinks and home made sweets, town lights up and fills with decorations and wood huts, Christmas carols and conventional delicacies.
There are numerous actions for kids, for instance an ice-skating rink in Piazza Municipio, a mini world of ice sculpture in Capuchin Park, and a carousel and little practice in Piazza Walther. Grown-ups, alternatively, can take pleasure in literature, on the ‘A Christmas of Books’ occasion, the place numerous (Italian and German-language) bestsellers can be offered.
Take benefit of your break and keep at a campsite within the surrounding valleys to discover not solely town’s markets, but additionally the encircling lakes and mountains, having fun with a couple of bracing winter walks, adopted by warming sizzling candies. We can advocate Camping Vidor Family & Wellness Resort, within the spectacular coronary heart of the Dolomites but lower than an hour from Bolzano. As effectively as campervan pitches, you’ll discover one, two and three-bedroom flats in typical Alpine homes and chalets.
You also can go to the Christmas markets of Trento and Levico Terme out of your base right here (they’re about an hour and half’s drive away) and even the one in Innsbruck, with loads of stops to benefit from the snowy mountains en route.
Trento and Levico Terme Christmas markets
Get two for the value of 1 with the markets of Levico Terme and Trento, staying a couple of nights at one of many campsites within the space that keep open in winter.
The Levico Terme market is held from 20 November to six January within the Secular Park of the Habsburgs. On the opening day, spectacular re-enactments of the Habsburg interval are held with parades and courtroom dances in costume. The market affords conventional flavours and household occasions like a small animal farm, Father Christmas and the Elves’ Village. In the centre of Levico, alternatively, you’ll see native crafters and sculptors in motion, reworking wood logs into characters, for town’s nativity scene.
If that’s not sufficient Christmas for you, hit the Trento market too. It’s open from 19 November to eight January in Piazza Fiera and Piazza Battisti. Combine the markets with exploration of the enchanting metropolis centre and get your fill of Christmas ambiance.
Aosta Christmas markets
The Aosta Valley is the proper place to benefit from the Christmas markets, with fairly mountain villages and enjoyable within the snow to occupy the remainder of your time. As a base, take a look at Camping Tunnel International, within the coronary heart of the mountains of the Aosta Valley, surrounded by 3000m peaks, but solely half an hour from Aosta city. As effectively as pitches, you may lease cosy little glamping pods, basic caravans or sensible cellular houses.
As for the markets: from 19 November to six January, the city of Aosta’s three important squares come to life, amidst evocative lights and wood chalets promoting typical native gastronomic and craft merchandise, corresponding to candles, ceramics, handmade wood objects, soaps, boiled wool and felt garments, and far more.
Christmas markets in Austria
Innsbruck Christmas market
One of probably the most atmospheric cities within the Austria is the Tyrol city of Innsbruck. It hosts a picturesque Christmas market specializing in folks artwork from 15 November to 23 December. In addition to the 70 stalls, accompanied by conventional trumpeter music from the Golden Roof, a viewing platform affords a view over the rooftops and the light-flooded sq..
The metropolis can also be residence to a wide range of different markets: the household market on Marktplatz, the panoramic market perched within the Hungerburg district, the artwork market on Wiltern Platz, and the smaller market within the quieter and extra genuine St. Nicholas district.
With the children, take a stroll down Kiebachgasse, remodeled for the event right into a fairytale alley with many characters making appearances on facades and gables. And when you’re at it, take the chance to additionally discover the previous city, Ambras Castle and take one of many funicular railways that overlook the mountain panorama all the best way to the Italian border!
Salzburg Christmas market
One of the oldest and most conventional in Austria, Salzburg’s Dom and Residenzplatz market attracts massive crowds yearly, with its romantic cathedral backdrop and native merchandise. For a panoramic view of town, you may as an alternative go to the Hohensalzburg Fortress Market, that includes choral music, native handicrafts, delicacies and 100 spectacular ‘Herrnhuter’ stars that gentle up the courtyard in a hanging method.
Take benefit of being on a road-trip to additionally go to different smaller markets in Austrian villages, benefit from the snowy landscapes and fairly villages. Choose a quiet campsite outdoors the cities.
Our lodging decide in Austria is Campingplatz HOC Hoben in Mallnitz in Carinthia. Situated at an altitude of over 1,200 metres, in the midst of the Hohe Tauern National Park, one of the crucial spectacular mountain climbing areas in Europe, this campsite has beautiful fashionable wood chalets with each consolation you would possibly want, in addition to campervan pitches. Make positive to plan a day or two right here on both facet of your market visits!
Christmas markets in Switzerland
Montreux Christmas market
Overlooking scenic Lake Geneva, the Montreux Christmas market is among the most uncommon and underrated we now have come throughout. As effectively as strolling alongside the lakeside, dotted with over 170 chalet-style stalls, seeking one of the best treats, Montreux has a bunch of fantastic occasions in retailer for you and your loved ones.
Take the children to the Elf Village, full of interactive workshops together with actions corresponding to candle making or chocolate adorning, earlier than boarding the little cogwheel practice (reservation required) that may take you to Santa’s Secret Grotto and Santa’s home itself.
Another market to not be missed in Montreux is the one held within the medieval fort of Chillon, which seems very just like the fort of Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid…. The fort is remodeled right into a veritable medieval citadel, with craftsmen, inns, minstrels and storytellers.
In Switzerland, we will recommend staying at Camping Lac des Brenets, which affords caravans and cellular houses to lease, when you’re sans campervan. It is within the lovely Jura space, about two hours’ drive from Montreux, alongside the shores of Lac Leman and Lac Neuchâtel. Make positive to go away additional time to cease off at pretty Lausanne and maybe for a lakeside stroll.
Another possibility is to decide on a campsite on the French facet of Lake Geneva, just some kilometres from Montreux, and even to go to this full of life lakeside village out of your base on the campsite within the Aosta Valley in Italy, described above (about 90 minutes’ drive).
Christmas markets in Germany
Munich Christmas market
You can simply mix a go to to the Austrian or Swiss markets listed above with Munich’s Christmas market. This market provides an uncommon twist to custom. Apart from the market par excellence at Marienplatz, don’t miss:
- the mini-Christmas Village contained in the Royal Palace
- the Tollwood Winter Festival, an alternate market devoted to road theatre, natural meals and environmental actions
- the Wittelsbacher Platz medieval market, the place you should purchase horns and drink from clay goblets
- the fairytale bazaar, for daydreaming and shopping for uncommon presents for the entire household
- admire the illuminated important sq. with its Christmas market stalls from above.
Christmas market in Cologne
Cologne takes its title of “Cathedral City” critically and places on an important present of festive decorations and leisure, all with the spectacular cathedral as a backdrop. There are a number of markets inside the metropolis, every dedicated to a distinct theme and providing each arts and crafts and culinary delights. There are additionally smaller neighbourhood markets outdoors the centre, within the numerous metropolis quarters or “Veedel” . Some showcase items from native companies, others solely promote culinary specialities, and so on.
While there, take a journey on the Rhine to benefit from the Christmas lights from the water, go to the Christmas Garden at Cologne Zoo, and ebook a circus or live performance efficiency. The Cologne Christmas markets 2022 run from 21 November to 23 December.
To benefit from the underrated German countryside in your journey too, you can keep at Hof Biggen, about an hour away, in a valley by Lake Biggesee with lovely views. If you’re not travelling in a camper, you may lease a caravan onsite.
Christmas markets in France
Christmas market in Colmar
Enchanting at any time of yr, when it clothes itself up in Christmas lights and decorations, Colmar turns into merely irresistible. Its 6 markets, brightening up the Old Town with colors and flavours, unfold like mini-villages, every with a distinct theme. Let’s check out probably the most uncommon ones:
- the Place de Dominicains market is devoted to the arts and crafts of Alsace. Here you’ll due to this fact discover works by grasp glassmakers, jewellers, painters and far more
- the Place Jeanne d’Arc market is all about typical Alsatian foods and drinks merchandise: from biscuits to conventional grappa, from cured meats to wine
- la Petite Venise (Little Venice), the kids’s market alongside the banks of the river, boasts an assortment of toys, workshops and drinks designed particularly for the little ones
- the Koïfhus lined market hosts the works of native artisans and craftswomen. Discover the creation course of behind the actions of potters, glassmakers, hatters, cabinetmakers, to call however a couple of.
Very close to Colmar, you may keep at Camping Verte Vallée year-round. You can select from an unlimited vary of on-site lodging choices together with cute eco-pods in numerous sizes, tipis, spacious safari tents, sensible cellular houses and caravans – in addition to in fact pitches for campervans.
Christmas market in Strasbourg
Strasbourg has one of many oldest Christmas markets in France, relationship from the Middle Ages. The first market (known as Christkindelsmärik: market of the infant Jesus in Alsatian) befell in 1570 in Place Broglie. It was the place to get your gingerbread, herbs, candles, and all the things else you wanted for Christmas. It nonetheless is, however at the moment you’ll find heaps extra typical meals and drinks and native and artisan merchandise too.
There are in truth 11 markets, all positioned on the Grande Île. You can stroll from one to the opposite in just some minutes. As effectively because the markets themselves, don’t miss:
- the Promenade aux étoiles illuminations: A route of greater than 600 stars highlighting the historic and architectural heritage of Strasbourg, throughout the Grande Ile. This route begins in Louise Weiss Square and ends on the Sainte-Madeleine Bridge.
- the crib on the cathedral: This 18-metre crib relationship from 1907 is enchanting. You can admire it in Strasbourg’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, at Place de la Cathédrale from the top of November till early January.
- the well-known tree and ice rink at Place Kléber: One of the primary squares in Strasbourg hosts the well-known 30m-high Big Fir Tree yearly and an ice rink.
Visiting the Alsace Christmas markets by camper van may be very straightforward, because of the well-equipped campsites within the space which can be open in winter. We advocate particularly staying at Camping de Strasbourg, in an distinctive location within the coronary heart of town’s Urban Nature Park. This campsite has lovely fashionable, wood cellular houses and cabins of various sizes, in addition to glamping tents and pitches.
Lyon Festival of Lights
Although it doesn’t actually fall into the normal Christmas markets class, Lyon’s pageant, which often takes place within the second week of December, is among the most eagerly-awaited festive season occasions in France. It’s a four-day pageant throughout which town is lit up by all types of various creations: lighting, video and graphic artists, designers, architects and road efficiency troupes all play their half. Read our full article concerning the Lyon Festival of Lights.
You may keep at Camping de Lyon, in an old-style wood caravan, cabin, glamping tent or pitch to your campervan, or at Camping des Barolles, with fashionable cellular houses and pitches. Both are lower than 10km from town centre.
Well, we hope to have intrigued you with our ideas for one of the best Christmas markets to go to by campervan and impressed you to plan a magical winter vacation within the nice outside! Rent a campervan, ebook one or two of the campsites and plan your route between them. Don’t overlook to share pictures and movies of your magical winter expertise with us on social media 🙂