11 Festive Holiday Markets Every Traveler Should Experience

The holiday season brings a range of traditions, not the least of which are the holiday villages and Christmas markets that pop up in cities and towns all over the world.

These open-air markets encapsulate all the best parts of the season — twinkling lights, gift shopping, towering Christmas trees, festive food, carolers and general merriment. Visiting a holiday market is a beloved tradition for millions of people who make the trek to these shopping outposts every season.

Though there are scores of holiday markets throughout the world, there are some quintessential locales that you have to see at some point in your life if you’re a fan of the merriment. Read on for the 11 holiday markets to add to your travel bucket list:

There’s no shortage of holiday cheer — or holiday markets, for that matter — in Strasbourg, France, which fondly refers to itself as the “capital of Christmas.” But the most-visited of the markets is Christkindelsmärik, in the square surrounding Strasbourg Cathedral. It runs through Christmas Eve and has a range of items for gifts, along with spaetzle (an egg noodle dish), hot wine, cookies and more. Take a stroll through the picturesque streets to find even more Christmas markets, a towering Christmas tree and bedecked historic buildings.

Seven festive Christmas markets dot town squares and quaint streets throughout Innsbruck, Austria, every holiday season. The markets’ opening and closing dates vary, but they generally run throughout the festive season from the end of November through Christmas or into the new year, depending on the market. In old-town Innsbruck, browse stalls selling ornaments, candles and handmade wool items, and stroll winding streets decorated with images from classic fairy tales. In the town’s market square, visitors can shop for handmade crafts while puppeteers and other entertainers keep children occupied. Mulled wine, meats, cheese and other traditional Austrian foods are available throughout the markets.

Toronto may not be top of mind when you think about holiday travel, but its Winter Village in the pedestrian-only Distillery District is reason enough to visit. At the market, shop Canadian classics like maple syrup and poutine, along with ornaments, jewelry, candles and more, all within the shadow of a towering Christmas tree and twinkling holiday lights. Beer gardens, hot chocolate stands and pop-up food stands add to the fun. Winter Village opens in mid-November and is open daily (except on Christmas Day) through early January. Tickets are required for entry during certain times of day, so be sure to plan your visit ahead of time.

At the holiday market in Wenceslas Square in Prague, you can embrace the traditions of a Czech Christmas. Sample classic sausages, gingerbread cookies and local beers while shopping among an array of goods from local makers. And just a five-minute walk from Wenceslas Square is another Christmas market at Old Town Square. It’s equally as festive, offering food, drinks and plenty of holiday shopping. The markets open at the end of November and run through early January.

In Trento, Italy, more than 70 wooden huts fill two town squares (Piazza Fiera and Piazza Mostra) as local folks sell holiday decor such as wooden Christmas trees and nativity scenes, along with jewelry, leather goods, clothing and more. And since no trip to Italy would be complete without food, there is fresh cheese, mulled wine, local beer, pizza and traditional potato cakes for sale too. The market is open from the end of November through early January.

Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is a centuries-old holiday tradition that draws 2 million visitors annually to the city’s Hauptmarkt central square. Browse ornaments, gifts and Christmas decor at more than 150 red-and-white striped stands. There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dining options, but the must-try food is decidedly Nuremberg bratwurst, which is best served in a bun. The market’s opening and closing dates vary by year, but expect the market to run from the end of November until Christmas Eve.

There’s a must-visit holiday village within Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Here, find traditional Danish holiday treats, such as pork roast sandwiches, marzipan and honey cakes, along with Christmas light shows, an ice skating rink, souvenir shopping and more. The festival runs from mid-November to early January.

It’s hard not to feel like you’re in a movie at the Viennese Christmas Market. Vienna’s majestic City Hall serves as the backdrop for the beloved holiday market, and just shy of 100 wooden stalls sell everything from toys and wooden decor to books and essential oils. There’s also traditional food and drinks (like Viennese pork-filled dumplings, cheese spaetzle, gingerbread and a German mulled wine. The market generally opens in mid-November and runs through Christmas week.

Tallinn, Estonia, has all the marks of a holiday fairy tale during the festive season — Santa Claus, reindeer, a colorful merry-go-round, bedecked Christmas tree, holiday performances and a town square full of wooden stalls selling items (clothing, winter accessories, ornaments and more) for holiday gifts. Food and drinks are available, too, including spiced hot wine, blood sausage, potatoes and more Estonian classics. The holiday market tends to run from the end of November to just after Christmas.

Germany knows how to do Christmas markets. Case in point: the holiday market at the Cologne Cathedral. Stroll through the square and find wooden stalls selling classic European market goods (holiday decor, handmade candles, woodworks, toys and more), in addition to food and drinks that Cologne is known for, including potato pancakes, black pudding, hot wine and waffles. The market is also known for its live performances, which range from kid-focused programming to live orchestra concerts. The market’s generally open from mid-November until a few days before Christmas.

If you’ve ever dreamed of eating raclette at a Swiss holiday market, a trip to Basel, Switzerland, is your wish fulfilled. The city on the Rhine River is home to a number of holiday markets (Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, to name a few) within a short distance of each other. In total, there are 150 wooden stalls selling holiday decor, gifts for loved ones and a range of food and drinks, including raclette, fondue, grilled sausages, a traditional Basel gingerbread and mulled wine. Basel’s markets are open from the end of November to a few days before Christmas.