European Christmas markets

Just a practical tip. Some of the lovely old town centres have cobbles (yes, thinking of you, Copenhagen) which are a killer if your shoes have thin soles ...

My Mum and I went to Cologne market about 20 years ago. We also went to Koblenz, which was smaller then.
It was a great trip!

I used to work in Cologne and, as GranJan60 said, there were 6 in the centre (one on a boat on the Rhein). Fabulous atmosphere, quality gifts and lovely food and gluewein. Oh also an ice rink at one of them. Christmas markets in Dusseldorf were also very good. Writing this really makes me want to go back.

Just checked the Frankfurt German market in Birmingham is confirmed to be here from November! It’s fabulous!

I second Urmston gran my daughter lived in Berlin during university and I will never forget the many Christmas markets , the cold dry weather and the steamed plum dumplings

Tks again for all your responses. I did have a long "short" list, but gradually whittling it down. Not made a firm decision yet as to where to go, but this thread has got me in the mood.

Bea0802

If you want to stay in the UK, try out Manchester. It's huge! and has everything. Definitely the best I've ever been to.

How long ago? Please say last year!?!

We did the original one in Manchester from year one to about 10 years ago then it grew into a massive pub experience with some really dreadful stalls dotted about the city's bottom end around deansgate etc. Very sad that the ott boozers from the offices take over everything! I don't go to see noisy pi**ed women and leery fellas vomiting everywhere! Crying shame ,maybe this year will be better after COVID woke us all up?

If you want to stay in the UK, try out Manchester. It's huge! and has everything. Definitely the best I've ever been to.

Have been to the Lincoln Christmas market, it was really nice, would recommend it.

Thread had me finding/wash gluhwein cups (two per city visit).

Germany: Rothenburg, Baden-Baden and all along the Rhein are nice (castles as well), as are Trier and Wittenberg (lovely museum).

The cups are a lovely way to remember.

There are plenty of Christmas markets in the United Kingdom. Surely it is better to spend your money here....

Being German, I've been to plenty and I loved Munich and Nuernberg. Can also recommend Vienna. They are all not too far from each other so maybe you can do even more than one. But of course, each city also boast many other sightseeing opportunities.

Another vote for the Frankfurt German market in Birmingham. Definitely worth a visit.

Cologne is brilliant - about 6 different ones in centre. German ones have good quality stuff and in Cologne there are lots of things to do before it gets dark (best time to visit for atmospherics). Get busy so preferably avoid weekends.

I think I’ll stay in the UK this year! Have always wanted to go to Christmas makers in Estonia, which I have heard are lovely, but it’s a bit too near a certain country for my liking. Next year, I might try Vienna as it’s a place I’d like to visit again. Such history too and the pastries…!

Lübeck has a wonderful old market square where I imagine the market would be held. Fabulous old Rathaus ( town hall). Great cafes especially if you like marzipan
( and I do). Happy to say I was born there. Really should go back.

If you want a smaller town I would suggest Lübeck or Husum.

Husum also has a permanent museum Weinachtsmuseum that only has Christmas things.

We liked the Winchester one when we went pre Covid. York was good to with lots of artisan things, but both had the tat stalls. Seems to be general everywhere.

I had a Christmas in Zagreb, the Capital of Croatia, some years ago. Award winning Christmas market, lots of stalls selling little Christmas decorations and local foods, I loved it. Last year they had a "Christmas Tree Forest" going on - lots of trees decorated differently, Links to a YouTube vid www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Znfk9Dqsw - someone on Heygo did a walk through last December, it was really good.

The year I went (2017) they had a huge outside ice skating rink - I say rink, a local park is transformed into a rink, where people can skate all the way around the perimeter of the park - with a live jazz band in the evenings. I think they do it every year but I'm not sure. There is a live Nativity held outside the Cathedral - I think that's every evening but it's worth doing some research. There's lots to look at in Zagreb too

British markets don't compare at all, in my opinion. I go for a look along the South Bank in London most years.

Sadly the £ won't go far this winter at overseas Christmas markets so I'm going to the one in Bath which I always enjoy as although there is a lot of imported mass market stuff for sale there are genuine hand made artisan goods. Bath is beautiful and has many excellent places to dine

Bath has a great Christmas market.
Bruges is very good there’s a ice rink in the centre of town and it’s drivable.

Have only been to german Christmas markets and they have all been very atmospheric with glue wein and choirs and some lovely hand made items and super food both to eat in pop up restaurants or to take away. The few British ones I have visited bear little comparison.

Went to Winchester market last year. I enjoyed looking around but I found it to be very expensive. Maybe that's how all Christmas markets are. Certainly couldn't afford to buy my Christmas presents there.

I really enjoyed the Munich Christmas market. The churches and galleries are all lovely and we had a stroll around the English Garden in the snow. They have loads of stalls, the handmade Christmas decorations are beautiful, although I did spend a lot of time at the eggnog and hot cider ones. It was only to warm myself up, well that was my excuse anyway.?