Best Christmas markets to visit around the world in 2022

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Christmas markets are a great place to soak up the real vibe of the gala festival. Whether you want to binge on some gingerbread or buy some souvenir or just go for a casual stroll, these markets ideally serve all your wishes and needs.

Here are some of the oldest and most popular Christmas markets across the globe that can well be placed in your bucket list for this festive season.

Piazza Duomo Market, Italy
As with most piazzas, Piazza Duomo is bordered by historic buildings with stunning architecture. Charming stalls and small huts set in long rows underneath the Gothic-style cathedral of Duomo make the marketplace of Milan a popular tourist attraction.

Christmas Market Haarlem, Netherlands
With over 300 stalls and live performances to enliven your soul, Haarlem’s traditional Christmas Market is one of the largest of its kinds in entire Netherlands. Melodious Christmas carols and aroma of cakes, waffles and other delicacies fill the city air.

Dresden Striezelmarkt, Germany
The annual attractions of Dresden Striezelmarkt are the 45 ft. tall Christmas tree and the ‘stollen’- a creamy fruitcake made of candied and dried fruits and with sugar icing. During the festive season, visitors can feast on glazed apples and mulled wine.

Krakow, Poland
The city’s huge main square, Rynek Glowny turns hoary with a thick coat of snow during December rendering a magical look to the place. Trawling the stalls for spiced nuts, boiled candies and local bric-a-brac really makes one’s Christmas Eve special.

Fira de Santa Llucia, Spain
Fira de Santa Llucia started as a one-day event in 1786 to commemorate the feast day of Santa Llucia on December 13. 300 stalls selling everything from Christmas decorations to handmade jewelry and musical instruments.

Bryant Park, New York
This European-style open-air market in Bryant Park is one of the most well-known Christmas markets in New York. The park’s 17,000 sq. ft. outdoor rink is New York’s only free ice skating rink (although there’s a charge to hire skates).

Birmingham Christmas Market, England
One can get the essence of an authentic Christmas market in Birmingham. It is the largest German Christmas Market outside Germany to Austria. Over 80 stalls sell everything from handmade toys to jewelry.

Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Austria
Wiener Christkindlmarkt offers you with reindeer rides, a giant Ferris wheel and a classic nativity scene to marvel at, Vienna’s magical spectacle encapsulates the festive spirit fantastically. Wiener Christkindlmarkt will held in front of City Hall, or Rathausplatz, is one of its oldest and most traditional events. Wiener Christkindlmarkt runs from November 19 to December 26 in 2022.

Basel Christmas Market, Switzerland
Basel Christmas Market is one of the biggest and arguably the best around in Europe. Separated into two different sections at Barfusserplatz and Munsterplatz, it’s made up of nearly 200 fabulously decorated stalls selling Christmas spices, decorations and candles. The tourist attractions include the Christmas fairytale forest at Munsterplatz with activities such as gingerbread and candle decorating, a star workshop and a festive train. Basel Christmas Market opens on November 24 and is scheduled to run until December 23.

Strasbourg Christmas Market, France
Strasbourg Christmas Market is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets in the world. Strasbourg Christmas Market began back in 1570, but it’s evolved considerably since then. This Christmas market has spread over more than 10 locations, including a section of the UNESCO world heritage site of Grande Île, the hugely popular market lights up the city with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights and festive ornaments.

Brussels Winter Wonders, Belgium
Brussels Winter Wonders is an annual extravaganza, which extends across the Bourse, Place de la Monnaie, Grand Place, Place Sainte Catherine and Marche aux Poissons, is one of Belgium’s biggest and most popular events. Brussels Winter Wonders will run from November 25 to January 1, 2023.

Fira de Santa Llucia, Barcelona
Dating back to 1786, Fira de Santa Llucia become the top-priority for the people of Bracelona because of the the feast day of Santa Llucia, which falls on December 13, to a three-week fair. Held right outside Barcelona Cathedral, the bustling market is separated into four different sections.

I Mercati Natale, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence
This traditional fair is transported from Heidelberg, Germany to Florence every year, it’s a very Italian affair in many ways thanks to the scenery and the many Italian treats, such as panforte, for sale. I Mercati Natale begins on November 19 and is set to close on December 18.

Christmas in Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark
Christmas in Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark offers international visitors with over 1,000 beautifully decorated Christmas trees adorning the beautiful grounds, and everything from fairground rides to a traditional Pixie Band for entertainment, it’s a winter experience like no other. The annual Lucia procession on December 13, where more than 100 girls process through the gardens carrying candles and singing to mark St. Lucia’s Day, is a particular highlight, along with the firework displays that take place between December 25 and 26, as well as New Year’s Eve.

Tallinn Christmas Market, Estonia
The Estonian capital’s annual affair is one of the more modern European Christmas markets.
Set inside Tallinn’s Town Hall Square, it’s packed full of stalls with traditional Estonian cuisine, artisan bread and handicrafts for sale. On the entertainment front, there are carousels, a winter grotto and a Santa who rolls up on a sleigh complete with reindeer. Tallinn Christmas Market 2022 is due to take place from November 25 to January 8, 2023.

Skansen’s Christmas Market, Stockholm
Skansen’s Christmas Market has set on the island of Djurgarden in the world’s oldest open-air museum, it’s a wonderful exhibit of Swedish culture with some added yuletide magic. The historical houses on display in the museum are decked out in colorful decorations for the occasion and all the tables inside are set up for Christmas dinner. The visitors can make their own decorations at Christmas workshops, take part in regular craft demonstrations or join in with the dancing games around the tree at Bollnäs Square, Skansen’s main site.

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