European Christmas markets

Up until 2019 for many years we went to Budapest. Lots of Arisan stuff there, folk dancing and very traditional food and drink. Would love to go again this year but just in case of a covid resurgence we'll give it a miss this time. Also agree about Winchester, it isn't huge but the stalls have lovely quality stuff.

Wow, so many recommendations, which too choose? Will definitely look at everything mentioned, thank you

We found "home-made, quality artisan stuff" at Christmas market in Porto, Portugal. Same holiday, in Madrid? Mostly plastic tat at market.

We went to the Christmas markets in Krakow, they were not very crowded and sold lovely food.. Its a wonderful city. We were in Poland on 6th December St Nicholas Day and out hotel hung decorated stockings on our room door with chocolates inside and left a carafe of cherry.vodka in our room to enjoy.
We combined the trip with a visit to Auschwitz/Birkenau very bleak and harrowing but I was very glad I went.

Years since I went but Berlin’s were magical.

Sadly not many home-made, quality artisan stuff! Just the same cheap tat, socks and knickers, etc, than most 'normal' markets.

Not always - the Winchester one has loads of artisan stalls for jewellry, knits and food and drink, plus other stuff. I'm sure that there must be others.

As said, with the Pound so massively low now, holidays are going to be so much more expensive, and everything else one there.

I’m going with my daughter to visit the Christmas Markets in Austria in late November. We’ll be visiting Salzburg, Innsbruck and Munich - and staying in the same village her father and I honeymooned in many years ago. ?

Cabbie21

For those who do not travel abroad, there are some great Christmas markets in the UK too.

Sadly not many home-made, quality artisan stuff! Just the same cheap tat, socks and knickers, etc, than most 'normal' markets.

Mind you, don't like the Continental ones either- far too crowded and so so expensive. Will be much more so this year due to tanking Sterling.

Think some of my favourites were Cologne, Trier and Hamburg.

Aachen from the 18 th November - 23 rd December one of the best , it’s in the old town ( Altstadt) right next to the cathedral

For those who do not travel abroad, there are some great Christmas markets in the UK too.

We enjoyed the Christmas markets in Munich in 2019. We also visited the Nymphenburg Palace (birth place of mad King Ludwig) and one or two galleries..

Heidelberg is a lovely one.

Berlin has a number of Christmas markets of varying sizes and they're all good.

Already booked for the Markets on the Rhine. They begin late November and go on til Christmas Eve usually.
Really looking forward to it.

We love the one in Strasbourg, Nurnberg, Heidelberg, Vienna.

We wear trainers, jeans, thin thermals, down jackets, scarves.

Our grandchildren find these excursions fun also.

I'm going to watch this thread with interest for tips etc.
I have just booked a week in Vienna in December. Apparently there are lots of Christmas markets there in the city so you can choose different places each day. Also the cultural stuff like museums and churches and concerts. I kind of wanted the authentic Glühwein experience with pastries etc.
I was surprised the markets close at 9 pm, I thought they'd still be going until midnight, though I might be too shattered by dinner time anyway.
Tips on clothes would be good, also gifts to buy.