Christmas markets in Europe have been a magical custom for hundreds of years – the primary markets started within the German-speaking elements of Europe approach again within the Center Ages. And, lately, you’ve got in all probability seen the twinkling lights and steaming mugs of mulled wine of European Christmas markets invading your social media feeds beginning every November.
If all of the hype has made you assume that possibly you’d prefer to plan your individual Christmas market journey, I am first right here to validate your emotions – the Christmas markets in Europe ARE certainly unbelievable, and I’d extremely advocate a visit!
However for those who’ve completed any cursory analysis into planning such a visit, then possibly you realized how overwhelming it may be. Not solely are there actually hundreds of Christmas markets throughout dozens of nations in Europe every year, however there are additionally a number of methods to go to all of them!
You’ll be able to e-book a Christmas market river cruise, plan a practice journey, or take a Christmas market highway journey. Every possibility is interesting for various causes – so how do you select??
Nicely fortunately for you, I’ve really completed each a Christmas market river cruise AND a self-planned Christmas market highway journey, and have additionally visited some markets by practice (and have typically traveled round Europe lots by practice). So I am uniquely positioned to check and distinction all of your choices to hopefully allow you to resolve which one is perhaps the most effective match for you.
(There’s actually not a WRONG approach to go to Christmas markets, whether or not you simply go to one main metropolis with a lot of markets, or plan a 14-day highway journey at breakneck velocity to see as many locations as you presumably can. However you positively need to do no matter matches your private journey type greatest.)
What makes Christmas markets so particular?
So, why do folks lose their minds over European Christmas markets? Are they actually that good?
The Christkindlmarkt (Christ little one market) or Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Eve market) is a convention that’s tons of of years previous; there have been particular winter markets talked about in Europe approach again within the 1300s!
The markets have fun the Christmas season throughout Creation, starting 4 weeks earlier than Christmas, and normally lasting up till Christmas Eve. They’re recognized as we speak for festive stands promoting regional treats and crafts, and for exuding all kinds of Christmas-y cheer.
For those who hate Christmas, crowds, or being out after darkish, then Christmas markets may not be for you. However, for most individuals, they’re actually enjoyable and magical! I’ve now been to dozens of Christmas markets throughout Germany, France, and Switzerland. And even after so many visits, I nonetheless discover them simply as charming as ever.
However let’s discuss in regards to the alternative ways to plan a Christmas market journey.
Christmas markets by river cruise
My first journey to see Christmas markets in Europe was by way of a cruise on the Rhine River with Viking River Cruises one December. Most river cruise strains in Europe provide Christmas market cruises, that are just like their common itineraries with the exception that they happen in the course of the Christmas market season and normally permit passengers some further time to discover the markets.
On my cruise, we visited 8 completely different cities of various sizes with festive vacation markets. A few of the smaller cities simply had one market, whereas the bigger cities all had a number of – which meant that we had the possibility to go to greater than a dozen completely different Christmas markets in only one week.
I fell in love with Christmas markets on that journey, and beginning singing the praises of the Christmas market river cruise to anybody who would hear.
Execs of a Christmas market river cruise
So why did I like and advocate that Christmas market cruise a lot?
1. No itinerary planning required
The good factor a few river cruise is that you just principally e-book all the things abruptly in a single package deal. There is no itinerary planning concerned in any respect past selecting which cruise you need to go on. You do not have to analysis a route, e-book lodges, plan out meals, or get tickets for museums or sights upfront. You simply e-book your cruise and a few flights, and present up!
For anybody overwhelmed by all of the Christmas market choices on the market (or simply overwhelmed by journey planning usually), this removes essentially the most disturbing elements.
And as soon as your cruise begins, you do not have to fret about any logistics on the bottom, both, as that is all taken care of for you by the gifted crew in your cruise.
2. Go to a lot of market cities in a single journey
River cruise strains that provide Christmas market itineraries sail routes that may have you ever visiting many alternative locations with markets. So you will be assured a lot of choices to go to Christmas markets, each in greater cities and smaller cities.
For those who like selection in your travels, it is a good possibility! There have been some days on my cruise the place we visited one city within the morning and a second one within the afternoon.
3. Nearly all the things is included
The good factor a few river cruise is that just about all the things in included. Out of your room to all of your meals to at the very least one guided tour in every port, it is all included within the value you pay on your cruise. You additionally get beer and wine with meals, and free wifi on many cruises.
Some cruise strains even provide the possibility to incorporate issues like crew ideas and journey insurance coverage whenever you e-book, that means you actually solely have to fret about your purchasing finances when you’re onboard your ship.
4. You solely need to unpack as soon as
This would possibly really be the highest promoting level for many individuals. However occurring any kind of cruise principally means staying in a floating resort that travels with you. So though you is perhaps altering cities incessantly (possibly even twice per day!), you solely need to unpack as soon as.
Having the ability to settle right into a room and never stress about packing all the things up each 1-2 nights feels so luxurious.
5. Ships aren’t large
And for anybody turned off by the concept of massive ocean cruises with hundreds of passengers on a ship with you, relaxation assured that river cruises aren’t that. The typical river cruise ship in Europe holds fewer than 200 passengers (160-190 is fairly customary), lacks issues like casinos and theaters, and usually has very relaxed vibes.
RELATED: Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises: What’s It Really Like?
Cons of a Christmas market river cruise
And now on to the issues a few Christmas market cruise that you just may not love.
1. Lack of flexibility
With any packaged, pre-planned journey, you are giving up some flexibility. Sure, on a river cruise you continue to get to select from varied completely different excursions every day (or select to simply discover a metropolis by yourself), however you possibly can’t change your general itinerary.
You’ll be able to’t cease in an additional city you see on the map on a whim, keep away from a wet morning, or resolve to spend longer in an space you actually like when your itinerary is strictly set like it’s on a cruise.
2. You do not have a say in WHEN you make port calls
Going together with the shortage of flexibility in a visit like this, you can also’t select what time of day you go to cities on a river cruise. For instance, some locations are greatest visited early within the morning, and a few smaller markets are prettiest at night time as soon as all of the stalls shine with twinkle lights and paper stars.
However except it is a bigger metropolis the place you are staying all day, chances are you’ll not have a selection whenever you go to sure locations. (Although in my expertise you will have a number of alternatives to go to Christmas markets within the evenings/after darkish, so don’t be concerned an excessive amount of about this one.)
3. You could not dock *in* city
There are particular areas the place river cruise ships can dock in every metropolis and city, however they normally aren’t proper within the metropolis heart besides within the smallest cities. This implies if you wish to exit and do some exploring by yourself, you would possibly must stroll a methods, work out public transport, and even name a taxi.
4. Smaller cities could be crowded
Lastly, maybe the largest draw back of seeing Christmas markets on a cruise is that a lot of the river cruise corporations function very comparable itineraries and schedules on the most important rivers of Europe. You will not essentially discover a lot of different cruise ship passengers in greater cities like Cologne or Vienna – however you positively WILL discover them in smaller cities when a number of cruise ships dock on the similar time.
For instance, the small city of Rüdesheim am Rhein is a well-liked cease for Rhine River cruises, and it has a really charming Christmas market unfold all through its small metropolis heart. When you will have tons of of individuals from a number of ships packed into this small space all on the similar time, nevertheless, it will probably really feel very crowded to the purpose of it being disagreeable.
NOTE: I am not planning to cowl organized bus excursions to see Christmas markets, as they kind of have most of the similar execs and cons as river cruises, with the exception that you’re going to probably change lodges a number of occasions alongside the way in which. For those who’re debating between a river cruise and a bus tour, I personally would go the cruise route!
Christmas market practice journey
Let’s speak about one of many land choices you will have for visiting Christmas markets by means of Europe subsequent. First up is a self-guided journey to markets by way of practice. You have got lots of selection right here, as all the most important cities all through Europe – and even a lot of the smaller cities – are well-connected by practice.
I LOVE practice journey round Europe. It is far more environmentally-friendly than flying or driving (or cruising, for that matter), and is usually snug and pretty reasonably priced.
Plus, there’s one thing further romantic about visiting Christmas markets by practice, is not there?
Execs of a Christmas market journey by practice
1. Extra management over your itinerary
You have got far more management over your itinerary whenever you’re totally planning it your self. While you plan a visit by practice, you possibly can resolve which cities you go to and the way lengthy you keep in every, together with selecting your lodges and different actions (although, actually, throughout market season you will probably be spending most of your free time exploring Christmas markets and consuming all of the festive meals!).
2. You’ll be able to go to the markets you need, whenever you need
Need to go to standard cities early within the morning earlier than the tour teams arrive? No downside. Solely need to discover Christmas markets as soon as they get further atmospheric after darkish? You are able to do that! You typically have far more flexibility in your itinerary whenever you plan it like this.
3. Practice journey in Europe is enjoyable and environment friendly
For a Christmas market journey, chances are high you’ll probably be specializing in Germany, maybe dipping into different close by nations, too. The practice system in Germany may be very environment friendly and easy, and most cities and cities have practice stations to make touring this fashion straightforward.
Each excessive velocity and regional trains are snug and clear, and practice stations are pretty straightforward to navigate (don’t be concerned for those who solely converse English; indicators are sometimes in two languages and usually straightforward to observe).
I like touring by practice, as you possibly can sit again and simply benefit from the countryside passing by out the window.
Cons of a Christmas market journey by practice
And now on to the potential downsides of a Christmas market journey by practice.
1. It is advisable e-book all the things upfront
While you’re touring this fashion – and particularly across the busy vacation season – you positively must plan each facet of your journey upfront. This implies reserving trains (and generally seat assignments, too), lodges, and even some eating places upfront.
The extra standard the Christmas markets turn into, the extra essential it’s to make your plans as far upfront as potential. Inns in the most well-liked cities do positively e-book up weeks or generally even months upfront in the course of the vacation season.
2. It is advisable plan round practice schedules/connections
While you’re planning a visit by practice, your schedule might be beholden a bit to coach schedules and connections. This may not be troublesome in any respect for those who principally plan to go to bigger cities (for instance, trains between Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich are plentiful and frequent), however might take a little bit of artistic planning if you wish to go to lots of smaller cities.
You may want to concentrate not solely to basic practice schedules, but additionally journey lengths and connection occasions, and ensure you’re permitting your self sufficient time in every place to warrant a journey. This is not overly troublesome, however you do not have a lot flexibility if there are rare trains to the place you need to go.
3. Practice delays/cancellations can and do occur
Despite the fact that nationwide practice companies like Deutsche Bahn in Germany are normally pretty dependable, that does not imply that you’re going to by no means run into practice delays or cancellations. Take it from me that they will and do occur!
Climate may cause practice points (final Christmas I obtained caught in Munich after a freak blizzard dumped 17 inches of snow on town in lower than 24 hours and utterly shut it down), and practice strikes are additionally turning into increasingly more frequent as of late throughout Europe (on that very same journey final 12 months, a practice strike shut down all DB trains for a day throughout Germany, forcing a good friend and I to vary our plans on the final minute).
Generally you will get superior warnings about issues like strikes, however some delays and cancellations can come out of nowhere. Be sure you have a very good journey insurance coverage coverage on your journey, and be mentally ready to cope with last-minute transit adjustments. (Although I would say usually this is not that frequent; December 2023 was an outlier!)
4. You may need to cope with your individual baggage
This one will not be one thing you’d consider straight away, however touring by practice will imply not solely maneuvering your baggage on the trains themselves, but additionally schlepping it round practice stations and the cities you are visiting.
Pack mild when you possibly can – if in case you have a bag small/mild sufficient to raise over your head into the bags rack above your seat, your life might be lots simpler on journey days.
Christmas market highway journey
Lastly, let’s speak about renting a automotive and visiting Christmas markets by yourself. This feature provides you essentially the most freedom, although I do know driving in overseas nations doesn’t enchantment to everybody.
I did a 2-week Christmas market highway journey in 2023 with my friend Tamara, visiting dozens of Christmas markets all through southwestern Germany and France, and I liked it a lot!
Execs of a Christmas market highway journey
1. You have got complete management over your itinerary
There are not any limitations in your itinerary whenever you lease a automotive and drive your self round to completely different Christmas markets. You do not have to depend on a set cruise itinerary or any practice schedules, and might really construct your very best itinerary and go precisely the place you need to go.
Do not like castles and previous church buildings? Skip them. Need to detour to go to some wineries? Go for it! Determine to keep away from the large cities altogether and solely search out smaller cities? No downside. With your individual automotive, you possibly can simply do all of these issues.
Must lease a automotive in Europe? It is normally fairly reasonably priced, even round Christmas. I take advantage of Auto Europe for automotive leases on this a part of the world. Do word that driving in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and several other different nations in Europe requires US drivers to acquire an Worldwide Driving Allow (IDP), which is an official translation of your US driver’s license. You will get an IDP rapidly and simply from any American Vehicle Affiliation (AAA) workplace. (You do not want one for Germany or France.)
2. You’ll be able to go to the markets you need, whenever you need
Very similar to with a practice journey, a Christmas market highway journey means that you can go to cities and Christmas markets everytime you need. You’ll be able to sightsee in the course of the day and gorge on market meals at night time, or spend a whole day market-hopping in greater cities. You will not have any time constraints if you do not need them.
3. Extra flexibility to vary plans
You continue to must plan your journey upfront, however having a automotive positively lends itself to a little bit of spontaneity. You’ll be able to change up elements of your itinerary (to an extent) to observe higher climate, for instance, or possibly resolve to cease in a small city you end up driving by means of. Or you possibly can depart a Christmas market or whole city early for those who’re simply not having fun with it.
Alone highway journey, for instance, we added further stops in a pair smaller cities within the Alsace area of France as a result of we had the time and our personal automotive to get us there. Considered one of them, Obernai, ended up being pleasant and having my absolute favourite mulled wine of the entire journey. Conversely, we left one other city (Riquewihr) rapidly due to how overcrowded it felt.
4. It might probably really be extra reasonably priced
This will not be the case each time (and it clearly will depend on what kind of lodges you are staying in), however a highway journey can really be essentially the most reasonably priced of the choices listed right here. When automotive leases can value lower than $500 for 2 weeks, it is generally much more reasonably priced than taking trains in every single place.
Cons of a Christmas market highway journey
1. The quantity of selection could be overwhelming!
When your choices are extensive open, I notice it may be tremendous overwhelming to plan a visit like this by yourself! There are SO many options in the case of unbelievable Christmas markets in Europe – however fortunately which means you possibly can’t actually go fallacious.
My recommendation could be to deal with one area or smaller nation, select a pair bigger cities to base your self round, or maybe plan a visit round one particular particular market.
For instance, by myself Christmas market journey, my good friend Tamara wished to go to markets in France like Strasbourg and Colmar, and I had my coronary heart set on going to the Ravenna Gorge market close to Freiburg and the medieval market in Esslingen – so we deliberate our journey to deal with southwestern Germany and a tiny little bit of France.
2. It is advisable e-book all the things upfront
Similar to with a practice journey, you will have to plan your whole highway journey itinerary upfront. Whereas your precise day-to-day actions generally is a little much less regimented, you will must e-book issues like your rental automotive and lodges nicely upfront of your journey.
3. Parking could be tough in some cities
The largest problem to a Christmas market highway journey is discovering a spot to park your rental automotive. That is one other factor it would be best to analysis and presumably plan upfront.
Some historic metropolis facilities in Europe are car-free, so chances are you’ll must get a particular allow to drive by means of them to your resort (we had to do that in Strasbourg, although our resort helped with it). You may also must pre-book parking spots the place you are staying, or at the very least do a little bit of analysis on the place you possibly can park in a single day.
More often than not we had no points, however just a few days we ended up a bit frazzled over parking conditions. My largest tip is to attempt to e-book lodges which have their very own personal parking for company each time you possibly can (it isn’t a given in Europe; you really need to seek for lodges that provide parking!).
What a few mixed practice + automotive journey?
You’ll be able to completely do a little bit of a mixture of highway journey and practice journey. Alone highway journey, we principally drove in every single place, however we did take the practice to Colmar from Strasbourg as an alternative of driving, and we additionally visited each Ludwigsburg and Esslingen by practice from Stuttgart.
For those who base your self in greater cities for a pair nights at a time, it is generally simpler to take trains to close by cities. In smaller cities, you possibly can normally stroll to the Christmas markets from the central practice station.
The easiest way to go to Christmas markets
So which approach is the *greatest* approach to expertise Christmas markets in Europe? Is it by way of river cruise, practice journey, or highway journey?
Nicely, actually, that is not one thing I can inform you! I’ve visited Christmas markets all 3 methods, and have liked all of them! I like how straightforward touring on a Christmas market river cruise is, however equally like the liberty of practice journey or a highway journey.
I believe the “greatest” approach might be going to be completely different for everybody, relying in your journey type and the way snug you might be touring independently round Europe. Do not need to drive or work out practice schedules? Then go the river cruise route! Do not need to journey in a tour group and quit flexibility? Then plan a Christmas market highway journey!
No matter you select, I promise will probably be superb.
How do you assume YOU wish to discover Christmas markets round Europe?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!
