I’ve spent years traveling around Europe and helping hundreds of travellers plan their amazing Christmas holiday trips. While there are many cities that put on a great show during Christmas time, Prague still takes the crown of the best Christmas destinations in Europe.
Maybe I’m biased. Go Real Travel was founded in Prague, and it’s the city I know best. But Christmas is also one of those times when Prague really lives up to the image people have of an old European city.
Gothic towers rise above illuminated squares, trams rumble through decorated streets, while you can escape the cold in a Czech pub that may have been serving beer for centuries.
One of the things I like most about Christmas trips in Europe is how easily you can combine several cities and countries, experiencing a variety of holiday traditions along the way. Prague may have one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, but combining it with other Christmas destinations makes it even better.
If I had to create one perfect Europe christmas market trip, I already know which cities I would include: Prague, Český Krumlov, and Salzburg. This combination gives you a bit of everything: the Christmas atmosphere in Prague, snowy, cosy Salzburg, and the unmatched local charm of Česky Krumlov.
This trio might be our favorite, but here are all the best Christmas destinations in Europe, what makes them so special, and how to combine them in one perfect Christmas vacation for your family.
Why Prague Is at the Top of Best Christmas Destinations in Europe
The historic center of Prague is filled with Gothic towers, Baroque churches, cobbled streets, hidden courtyards, and buildings that have accumulated centuries of history. Add Christmas lights, decorated trees, and the smell of svařené víno, Czech mulled wine, and the city feels made for the holiday season.
Svařené víno, often simply called svařák by Czechs, is one of my favorite parts of Christmas in Prague. You’ll find it steaming at market stalls around the city, usually made with red wine and delicious spices. Grab a cup and wander through the Old Town after sunset. It’s a simple thing, but for me it has become part of what Christmas in Prague is all about.
The Old Town Square is naturally the center of attention. Its Christmas market sits beneath the towers of the Church of Our Lady before Týn, with Prague’s enormous Christmas tree rising above the stalls. It’s particularly beautiful during the night when you can see why Prague is often named one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe.
But Old Town Square is far from Prague’s only Christmas market. Smaller markets pop up around the city, and many actually prefer them to the main one in the center.
Two of my favorites are Náměstí Míru and Kampa. Náměstí Míru has a much more local feel, with its market spread out beneath the twin towers of the neo-Gothic Church of St. Ludmila. Kampa is smaller and more local, tucked beside the Vltava beneath Charles Bridge in one of the best parts of Prague.
I’d certainly visit Old Town Square—it’s spectacular and something you should see at least once. But don’t make it your only Christmas market. Part of the fun is coming across the smaller markets as you explore different neighborhoods. Grab a svařák, see what’s cooking at the food stalls, and enjoy a side of Christmas in Prague that feels a little less like a major attraction and more like a part of local life.
And don’t be afraid to wander away from the most famous sights. Prague is a city that rewards taking the wrong street occasionally.
The Best Trips to Christmas Markets in Europe
Prague may have one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, but combining it with other popular destinations makes your holiday even better.
What makes the Prague, Český Krumlov, and Salzburg route special is how different each stop feels.
Start your Christmas trip to Europe in Prague, where Christmas markets fill grand medieval squares and smaller neighborhoods, with still plenty to see beyond the markets. Explore Prague Castle, cross Charles Bridge, wander through Malá Strana, stop for a Czech beer, and then find a market once the lights come on.
From there, head south to Český Krumlov. This little town in southern Bohemia is almost the opposite of Prague. Instead of a major European capital, you get a compact medieval town wrapped around a bend in the Vltava River, with a huge castle looking down from above.
At Christmas, the smaller scale is part of the appeal. Cesky Krumlov is a place where you can truly slow down, wander the old streets, have a delicious dinner in a cosy restaurant, and enjoy having nowhere to be.
Then continue across the border to Salzburg, where my favorite Christmas drink changes from svařák to Glühwein!
Glühwein is Austria’s version of hot mulled wine, and you’ll find it throughout Salzburg’s Christmas markets. One Austrian twist I particularly enjoy is ordering it mit Schuss—with a spirit added. Depending on the stall, that might mean rum or fruit schnapps, giving an already warming drink a little extra kick on a cold December evening.
Salzburg offers a perfect ending to your Christmas trip to Europe. The historic center is filled with Baroque architecture and Christmas markets, while the Alps rise around the city. Music is everywhere, and the surrounding region has particularly deep connections to Christmas: “Silent Night” was first performed there on Christmas Eve 1818.
The Prague, Český Krumlov, Salzburg itinerary is perfect because it isn’t simply three versions of the same Christmas market city. You experience a great European capital, a small medieval Czech town, and an iconic Austrian city surrounded by the Alps.
Give yourself several nights in Prague, slow down for Český Krumlov, and then have a grand finale in Salzburg. In a relatively short journey, you’ll experience three of the best Christmas destinations in Europe, each with very different traditions.
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Best Christmas Destinations in Europe: Expert’s Choice
Beyond this great route, there are many other amazing spots worth considering when planning Christmas market trips in Europe:
Vienna: Christmas on a Grand Scale
Although Prague is my favorite, Vienna provides the grandest Christmas experience.
The Austrian capital doesn’t have just one Christmas market. Markets appear all across the city, so you have a variety of experiences as you explore Vienna’s historic neighborhoods.
The large market in front of the Rathaus is known as one of the prettiest Christmas markets in Europe, but smaller markets often provide a more local experience. Schönbrunn combines Christmas stalls with one of Europe’s great imperial palaces, while Spittelberg brings the festivities into narrow streets and courtyards.
Besides the Christmas markets, there’s plenty that makes Vienna one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe. Visit the grand Hofburg or Schönbrunn Palace, stop for coffee and cake in a traditional Viennese café, or attend a classical concert unique to the holiday season.
Nuremberg: The Classic German Christmas Experience
If your vision of a European Christmas market includes wooden stalls, gingerbread, sausages, and steaming mugs of Glühwein, Nuremberg might be what you’re imagining.
Its Christkindlesmarkt is one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, set in the historic center around the Hauptmarkt.
Food is an important part of the experience. Look for the city’s famous Nuremberg sausages and Nürnberger Lebkuchen, the local gingerbread associated with the city for centuries.
Nuremberg’s medieval old town and castle also give you plenty to explore away from the Christmas markets.
Strasbourg: Christmas in Alsace
Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, and it certainly has the history to support the claim as it frequently tops lists for the prettiest Christmas market in Europe.
Its Christmas market dates back centuries, and today the celebrations spread throughout much of the historic center.
The surroundings are a major part of the appeal. Strasbourg mixes French and German influences with canals, half-timbered houses, narrow lanes, and the enormous Strasbourg Cathedral rising above the old city.
It’s also a great jumping-off point for smaller towns in Alsace. Colmar and the villages along the Alsace Wine Route provide some of Europe’s most picturesque Christmas settings, making Strasbourg a must-visit on the list of best Christmas destinations in Europe.
Budapest: Christmas on the Danube
Budapest offers a slightly different take on a Central European Christmas trip.
Its main Christmas markets occupy central squares around Vörösmarty tér and St. Stephen’s Basilica, where Hungarian foods and sweets are offered alongside the familiar Christmas drinks, gifts, and decorations.
Winter also gives you a particularly good excuse to experience one of Budapest’s defining attractions: thermal baths, making Budapest one of the best places to visit in Europe in December.
Spend the morning visiting the Buda Castle, warm up in steaming thermal water during the afternoon, and head to a Christmas market once the lights are on.
Dresden: A Different Side of Christmas in Germany
Dresden is particularly interesting if you’re already visiting Prague.
Its Striezelmarkt is one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets, and the city has strong traditions surrounding Christmas crafts and food. Dresden is particularly famous for Christstollen, the fruit-filled Christmas bread closely associated with the city.
It’s also worth visiting beyond the market. Dresden’s historic center includes landmarks such as the Frauenkirche and Zwinger, while its location makes it easy to combine with Prague and other Central European Christmas cities.
Krakow: Christmas in Poland
Krakow’s enormous medieval Market Square provides a natural stage for Christmas, making it one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.
St. Mary’s Basilica towers above the square, while the Renaissance Cloth Hall occupies its center. During the Christmas season, market stalls introduce visitors to Polish foods, sweets, handicrafts, and holiday traditions.
Plan Your Own Christmas Trip to Europe
Choosing among the best Christmas destinations in Europe really depends on your travel style.
- Vienna is hard to beat for imperial palaces, classical music, and grand coffeehouses.
- Nuremberg offers quintessential German gingerbread and traditional wooden stalls.
- Strasbourg delivers storybook half-timbered villages in Alsace.
- Budapest pairs lively holiday markets with steaming thermal baths.
So why does Prague remain my personal choice? Because Prague gets the balance right. The Christmas markets add something special without becoming the whole reason to visit. You get the festive lights, mulled wine, and market stalls, but you also get Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, cozy neighborhood pubs, and more than a thousand years of history.
At Go Real Travel, we organize private and personalized trips through Europe for you, combining the freedom of traveling on your own with the planning and support of an expert guide.
Whether you want to start with a route like Prague, Český Krumlov, and Salzburg and make it your own, or build a completely different Christmas itinerary with the places you consider the best Christmas destinations in Europe, we’re here to help.
After all, the best Christmas trip in Europe isn’t necessarily the one with the best markets, it’s the one that gives you a reason to remember everything between them.
If you’re looking for an ideal Christmas trip to Europe for your family, explore one of our customizable Christmas holiday itineraries or create a completely personalized trip from scratch using our Trip Planner!
Simply click ‘Plan My Trip’ or Contact Us if you would like to get immediate assistance with planning!
We wish you and your family a lovely holiday season!
Martin, Founder at Go Real Travel
FAQ: Planning a Europe Christmas Market Trip
How to travel between destinations in Europe?
Rail travel works particularly well for a Christmas trip in Europe. You arrive in the center of most cities and get to watch the landscape change between destinations. But don’t force every journey onto a train just because you’re in Europe. Some routes are much easier with a transfer or shuttle, particularly when smaller destinations such as Český Krumlov are involved.
When to visit Europe during Christmas holidays?
The weeks leading up to Christmas are ideal to visit the best Christmas destinations in Europe. The markets are lively, cities are fully decorated, and you’re experiencing the buildup to Christmas rather than arriving after some celebrations have already finished.
Do European Christmas markets stay open after Christmas?
While most Christmas markets in Europe stay open until the beginning of January, to many travelers’ surprise, some Christmas markets in Europe close even before Christmas Day. If Christmas markets are the highlight of your trip, check the dates for the specific year before booking your flights and hotels.
How long should your Christmas trip to Europe be?
For most travelers, we recommend seven to ten days if you want to combine two or three of the best Christmas destinations in Europe. That gives you enough time to actually experience the cities beyond the markets.
What should you pack for Christmas in Europe?
Prepare for cold weather, but don’t assume you will see some snow, as the weather in December can be quite unpredictable but also way more comfortable than February.
Comfortable shoes are particularly important. You’ll spend plenty of time walking on cobblestones and walking around Christmas markets. Layers work well because you’ll constantly move between colder streets and warm museums, restaurants, cafés, trains, and shops.
And leave some room in your suitcase. Christmas ornaments have a habit of coming home with you.