Christmas markets in Europe have been a magical custom for hundreds of years – the primary markets started within the German-speaking components of Europe approach again within the Middle Ages. And, in recent times, you’ve got in all probability seen the twinkling lights and steaming mugs of mulled wine of European Christmas markets invading your social media feeds beginning every November.
If all of the hype has made you assume that perhaps you’d prefer to plan your personal Christmas market journey, I’m first right here to validate your emotions – the Christmas markets in Europe ARE certainly unbelievable, and I might extremely advocate a visit!
But if you happen to’ve performed any cursory analysis into planning such a visit, then perhaps you realized how overwhelming it may be. Not solely are there actually 1000’s of Christmas markets throughout dozens of nations in Europe every year, however there are additionally a number of methods to go to all of them!
You can ebook a Christmas market river cruise, plan a practice journey, or take a Christmas market highway journey. Each possibility is interesting for various causes – so how do you select??
Well fortunately for you, I’ve truly performed each a Christmas market river cruise AND a self-planned Christmas market highway journey, and have additionally visited some markets by practice (and have usually traveled round Europe rather a lot by practice). So I’m uniquely positioned to check and distinction all of your choices to hopefully provide help to resolve which one is perhaps the perfect match for you.
(There’s truthfully not a WRONG method to go to Christmas markets, whether or not you simply go to one main metropolis with a lot of markets, or plan a 14-day highway journey at breakneck pace to see as many locations as you presumably can. But you undoubtedly need to do no matter matches your private journey model greatest.)
What makes Christmas markets so particular?
So, why do folks lose their minds over European Christmas markets? Are they actually that good?
The Christkindlmarkt (Christ youngster market) or Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Eve market) is a convention that’s a whole bunch of years previous; there have been particular winter markets talked about in Europe approach again within the 1300s!
The markets have a good time the Christmas season throughout Advent, starting 4 weeks earlier than Christmas, and normally lasting up till Christmas Eve. They’re recognized at the moment for festive stands promoting regional treats and crafts, and for exuding all types of Christmas-y cheer.
If you hate Christmas, crowds, or being out after darkish, then Christmas markets may not be for you. But, for most individuals, they’re actually enjoyable and magical! I’ve now been to dozens of Christmas markets throughout Germany, France, and Switzerland. And even after so many visits, I nonetheless discover them simply as charming as ever.
But let’s speak in regards to the alternative ways to plan a Christmas market journey.
Christmas markets by river cruise
My first journey to see Christmas markets in Europe was through a cruise on the Rhine River with Viking River Cruises one December. Most river cruise traces in Europe provide Christmas market cruises, that are much like their common itineraries with the exception that they happen through the Christmas market season and normally enable passengers some additional time to discover the markets.
On my cruise, we visited 8 completely different cities of various sizes with festive vacation markets. Some of the smaller cities simply had one market, whereas the bigger cities all had a number of – which meant that we had the possibility to go to greater than a dozen completely different Christmas markets in only one week.
I fell in love with Christmas markets on that journey, and beginning singing the praises of the Christmas market river cruise to anybody who would hear.
Pros of a Christmas market river cruise
So why did I really like and advocate that Christmas market cruise a lot?
1. No itinerary planning required
The good factor a couple of river cruise is that you just mainly ebook all the pieces abruptly in a single package deal. There’s no itinerary planning concerned in any respect past selecting which cruise you need to go on. You do not must analysis a route, ebook resorts, plan out meals, or get tickets for museums or sights prematurely. You simply ebook your cruise and a few flights, and present up!
For anybody overwhelmed by all of the Christmas market choices on the market (or simply overwhelmed by journey planning on the whole), this removes essentially the most nerve-racking components.
And as soon as your cruise begins, you do not have to fret about any logistics on the bottom, both, as that is all taken care of for you by the proficient crew in your cruise.
2. Visit a lot of market cities in a single journey
River cruise traces that provide Christmas market itineraries sail routes that may have you ever visiting many various locations with markets. So you may be assured a lot of choices to go to Christmas markets, each in larger cities and smaller cities.
If you want selection in your travels, it is a good possibility! There had been some days on my cruise the place we visited one city within the morning and a second one within the afternoon.
3. Almost all the pieces is included
The good factor a couple of river cruise is that nearly all the pieces in included. From your room to all of your meals to not less than one guided tour in every port, it is all included within the worth you pay on your cruise. You additionally get beer and wine with meals, and free wifi on many cruises.
Some cruise traces even provide the possibility to incorporate issues like crew ideas and journey insurance coverage if you ebook, that means you actually solely have to fret about your procuring funds when you’re onboard your ship.
4. You solely must unpack as soon as
This would possibly truly be the highest promoting level for many individuals. But occurring any form of cruise mainly means staying in a floating lodge that travels with you. So despite the fact that you is perhaps altering cities ceaselessly (perhaps even twice per day!), you solely must unpack as soon as.
Being capable of settle right into a room and never stress about packing all the pieces up each 1-2 nights feels so luxurious.
5. Ships aren’t enormous
And for anybody turned off by the concept of huge ocean cruises with 1000’s of passengers on a ship with you, relaxation assured that river cruises aren’t that. The common river cruise ship in Europe holds fewer than 200 passengers (160-190 is fairly normal), lacks issues like casinos and theaters, and usually has very relaxed vibes.
RELATED: Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises: What’s It Really Like?
Cons of a Christmas market river cruise
And now on to the issues a couple of Christmas market cruise that you just may not love.
1. Lack of flexibility
With any packaged, pre-planned journey, you are giving up some flexibility. Yes, on a river cruise you continue to get to select from numerous completely different excursions every day (or select to simply discover a metropolis by yourself), however you may’t change your general itinerary.
You cannot cease in an additional city you see on the map on a whim, keep away from a wet morning, or resolve to spend longer in an space you actually like when your itinerary is strictly set like it’s on a cruise.
2. You do not have a say in WHEN you make port calls
Going together with the shortage of flexibility in a visit like this, you can also’t select what time of day you go to cities on a river cruise. For instance, some locations are greatest visited early within the morning, and a few smaller markets are prettiest at evening as soon as all of the stalls shine with twinkle lights and paper stars.
But until it is a bigger metropolis the place you are staying all day, you might not have a alternative if you go to sure locations. (Though in my expertise you may have a number of alternatives to go to Christmas markets within the evenings/after darkish, so don’t be concerned an excessive amount of about this one.)
3. You could not dock *in* city
There are particular areas the place river cruise ships can dock in every metropolis and city, however they normally aren’t proper within the metropolis heart besides within the smallest cities. This means if you wish to exit and do some exploring by yourself, you would possibly have to stroll a methods, work out public transport, and even name a taxi.
4. Smaller cities will be crowded
Lastly, maybe the largest draw back of seeing Christmas markets on a cruise is that a lot of the river cruise corporations function very related itineraries and schedules on the most important rivers of Europe. You will not essentially discover a lot of different cruise ship passengers in larger cities like Cologne or Vienna – however you undoubtedly WILL discover them in smaller cities when a number of cruise ships dock on the similar time.
For instance, the small city of Rüdesheim am Rhein is a well-liked cease for Rhine River cruises, and it has a really charming Christmas market unfold all through its small metropolis heart. When you have got a whole bunch of individuals from a number of ships packed into this small space all on the similar time, nonetheless, it could really feel very crowded to the purpose of it being disagreeable.
NOTE: I’m not planning to cowl organized bus excursions to see Christmas markets, as they roughly have most of the similar professionals and cons as river cruises, with the exception that you will doubtless change resorts a number of occasions alongside the way in which. If you are debating between a river cruise and a bus tour, I personally would go the cruise route!
Christmas market practice journey
Let’s discuss one of many land choices you have got for visiting Christmas markets by way of Europe subsequent. First up is a self-guided journey to markets through practice. You have numerous alternative right here, as all the most important cities all through Europe – and even a lot of the smaller cities – are well-connected by practice.
I LOVE practice journey round Europe. It’s way more environmentally-friendly than flying or driving (or cruising, for that matter), and is mostly snug and pretty reasonably priced.
Plus, there’s one thing additional romantic about visiting Christmas markets by practice, is not there?
Pros of a Christmas market journey by practice
1. More management over your itinerary
You have way more management over your itinerary if you’re absolutely planning it your self. When you intend a visit by practice, you may resolve which cities you go to and the way lengthy you keep in every, together with selecting your resorts and different actions (although, truthfully, throughout market season you may doubtless be spending most of your free time exploring Christmas markets and consuming all of the festive meals!).
2. You can go to the markets you need, if you need
Want to go to fashionable cities early within the morning earlier than the tour teams arrive? No downside. Only need to discover Christmas markets as soon as they get additional atmospheric after darkish? You can try this! You usually have way more flexibility in your itinerary if you plan it like this.
3. Train journey in Europe is enjoyable and environment friendly
For a Christmas market journey, likelihood is you’ll doubtless be specializing in Germany, maybe dipping into different close by nations, too. The practice system in Germany may be very environment friendly and easy, and most cities and cities have practice stations to make touring this fashion simple.
Both excessive pace and regional trains are snug and clear, and practice stations are pretty simple to navigate (don’t be concerned if you happen to solely converse English; indicators are sometimes in two languages and usually simple to observe).
I really like touring by practice, as you may sit again and simply benefit from the countryside passing by out the window.
Cons of a Christmas market journey by practice
And now on to the potential downsides of a Christmas market journey by practice.
1. You have to ebook all the pieces prematurely
When you are touring this fashion – and particularly across the busy vacation season – you undoubtedly have to plan each facet of your journey prematurely. This means reserving trains (and typically seat assignments, too), resorts, and even some eating places prematurely.
The extra fashionable the Christmas markets turn out to be, the extra necessary it’s to make your plans as far prematurely as attainable. Hotels in the most well-liked cities do undoubtedly ebook up weeks or typically even months prematurely through the vacation season.
2. You have to plan round practice schedules/connections
When you are planning a visit by practice, your schedule will probably be beholden a bit to coach schedules and connections. This will not be troublesome in any respect if you happen to largely plan to go to bigger cities (for instance, trains between Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich are plentiful and frequent), however might take a little bit of inventive planning if you wish to go to numerous smaller cities.
You’ll want to concentrate not solely to basic practice schedules, but in addition journey lengths and connection occasions, and be sure you’re permitting your self sufficient time in every place to warrant a journey. This is not overly troublesome, however you do not have a lot flexibility if there are rare trains to the place you need to go.
3. Train delays/cancellations can and do occur
Even although nationwide practice providers like Deutsche Bahn in Germany are normally pretty dependable, that does not imply that you will by no means run into practice delays or cancellations. Take it from me that they will and do occur!
Weather may cause practice points (final Christmas I acquired caught in Munich after a freak blizzard dumped 17 inches of snow on town in lower than 24 hours and fully shut it down), and practice strikes are additionally turning into an increasing number of frequent nowadays throughout Europe (on that very same journey final yr, a practice strike shut down all DB trains for a day throughout Germany, forcing a pal and I to alter our plans on the final minute).
Sometimes you may get superior warnings about issues like strikes, however some delays and cancellations can come out of nowhere. Be positive to have a great journey insurance coverage coverage on your journey, and be mentally ready to cope with last-minute transit modifications. (Though I’d say usually this is not that frequent; December 2023 was an outlier!)
4. You’ll must cope with your personal baggage
This one might not be one thing you’d consider instantly, however touring by practice will imply not solely maneuvering your baggage on the trains themselves, but in addition schlepping it round practice stations and the cities you are visiting.
Pack mild when you may – when you’ve got a bag small/mild sufficient to elevate over your head into the bags rack above your seat, your life will probably be rather a lot simpler on journey days.
Christmas market highway journey
Lastly, let’s discuss renting a automobile and visiting Christmas markets by yourself. This possibility provides you essentially the most freedom, although I do know driving in international nations doesn’t attraction to everybody.
I did a 2-week Christmas market highway journey in 2023 with my pal Tamara, visiting dozens of Christmas markets all through southwestern Germany and France, and I liked it a lot!
Pros of a Christmas market highway journey
1. You have whole management over your itinerary
There are not any limitations in your itinerary if you hire a automobile and drive your self round to completely different Christmas markets. You do not must depend on a set cruise itinerary or any practice schedules, and might actually construct your very best itinerary and go precisely the place you need to go.
Don’t like castles and previous church buildings? Skip them. Want to detour to go to some wineries? Go for it! Decide to keep away from the large cities altogether and solely search out smaller cities? No downside. With your personal automobile, you may simply do all of these issues.
Need to hire a automobile in Europe? It’s normally fairly reasonably priced, even round Christmas. I exploit Auto Europe for automobile leases on this a part of the world. Do be aware that driving in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and several other different nations in Europe requires US drivers to acquire an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is an official translation of your US driver’s license. You can get an IDP shortly and simply from any American Automobile Association (AAA) workplace. (You do not want one for Germany or France.)
2. You can go to the markets you need, if you need
Much like with a practice journey, a Christmas market highway journey lets you go to cities and Christmas markets everytime you need. You can sightsee through the day and gorge on market meals at evening, or spend a complete day market-hopping in larger cities. You will not have any time constraints if you do not need them.
3. More flexibility to alter plans
You nonetheless have to plan your journey prematurely, however having a automobile undoubtedly lends itself to a little bit of spontaneity. You can change up components of your itinerary (to an extent) to observe higher climate, for instance, or perhaps resolve to cease in a small city you end up driving by way of. Or you may go away a Christmas market or complete city early if you happen to’re simply not having fun with it.
On my very own highway journey, for instance, we added additional stops in a pair smaller cities within the Alsace area of France as a result of we had the time and our personal automobile to get us there. One of them, Obernai, ended up being pleasant and having my absolute favourite mulled wine of the entire journey. Conversely, we left one other city (Riquewihr) shortly due to how overcrowded it felt.
4. It can truly be extra reasonably priced
This might not be the case each time (and it clearly is determined by what kind of resorts you are staying in), however a highway journey can truly be essentially the most reasonably priced of the choices listed right here. When automobile leases can value lower than $500 for 2 weeks, it is typically much more reasonably priced than taking trains in every single place.
Cons of a Christmas market highway journey
1. The quantity of alternative will be overwhelming!
When your choices are huge open, I understand it may be tremendous overwhelming to plan a visit like this by yourself! There are SO many choices in terms of incredible Christmas markets in Europe – however fortunately which means you may’t actually go incorrect.
My recommendation could be to give attention to one area or smaller nation, select a pair bigger cities to base your self round, or maybe plan a visit round one particular particular market.
For instance, alone Christmas market journey, my pal Tamara needed to go to markets in France like Strasbourg and Colmar, and I had my coronary heart set on going to the Ravenna Gorge market close to Freiburg and the medieval market in Esslingen – so we deliberate our journey to give attention to southwestern Germany and a tiny little bit of France.
2. You have to ebook all the pieces prematurely
Just like with a practice journey, you will want to plan your complete highway journey itinerary prematurely. While your precise day-to-day actions generally is a little much less regimented, you may have to ebook issues like your rental automobile and resorts nicely prematurely of your journey.
3. Parking will be tough in some cities
The greatest problem to a Christmas market highway journey is discovering a spot to park your rental automobile. This is one other factor you’ll want to analysis and presumably plan prematurely.
Some historic metropolis facilities in Europe are car-free, so you might have to get a particular allow to drive by way of them to your lodge (we had to do that in Strasbourg, although our lodge helped with it). You may also have to pre-book parking spots the place you are staying, or not less than do a little bit of analysis on the place you may park in a single day.
Most of the time we had no points, however just a few days we ended up a bit frazzled over parking conditions. My greatest tip is to attempt to ebook resorts which have their very own non-public parking for friends every time you may (it isn’t a given in Europe; you truly must seek for resorts that provide parking!).
What a couple of mixed practice + automobile journey?
You can completely do a little bit of a mixture of highway journey and practice journey. On my very own highway journey, we largely drove in every single place, however we did take the practice to Colmar from Strasbourg as an alternative of driving, and we additionally visited each Ludwigsburg and Esslingen by practice from Stuttgart.
If you base your self in larger cities for a pair nights at a time, it is typically simpler to take trains to close by cities. In smaller cities, you may normally stroll to the Christmas markets from the central practice station.
The greatest method to go to Christmas markets
So which approach is the *greatest* method to expertise Christmas markets in Europe? Is it through river cruise, practice journey, or highway journey?
Well, truthfully, that is not one thing I can inform you! I’ve visited Christmas markets all 3 methods, and have liked all of them! I like how simple touring on a Christmas market river cruise is, however equally like the liberty of practice journey or a highway journey.
I believe the “best” approach might be going to be completely different for everybody, relying in your journey model and the way snug you might be touring independently round Europe. Don’t need to drive or work out practice schedules? Then go the river cruise route! Don’t need to journey in a tour group and quit flexibility? Then plan a Christmas market highway journey!
Whatever you select, I promise will probably be wonderful.
How do you assume YOU wish to discover Christmas markets round Europe?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by way of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!