Christmas Markets

The large majority of the markets, especially in the smaller towns, will be closed by the time you arrive. There will still be some open in larger venues, like Paris, but without a specific itinerary it's hard to make suggestions. Do remember that DEC 31 is considered a holiday in most places, and even public transport will be limited. Also, DEC 29th is a Sunday and another day with limited services and hours.

Here's a link that can help you do some planning as to what markets will be open during your travels:
https://www.brunnvalla.ch/christmasmarkets/france.html

We would like to see Christmas markets and request suggestions to make
an itinerary visiting different cities/countries either by train or
flight.

• Among the best Christmas Markets in Europe: https://welovebudapest.com/en/article/2023/12/07/advent-basilica-is-announced-europe-s-best-christmas-fair-for-the-4th-time/
• The Markets Look like this: https://youtu.be/A2aSB25SBdg?si=VXVPC2IhpfP_-qR1
• And the city looks like this: https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
• Anthony says if there were architecture porn, it would be Budapest: https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX
• Markets are open until 1 January (many markets in Europe stop on 24 December)
• Flights from Paris and to London start at about $75 non-stop (depends on how many bags)
• Public transportation runs on the holidays. But on holiday scehdule 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Which means less often, but all still running.
• BUDAPEST

I wouldn't get super excited about Christmas markets in London - they are a more recent phenomenon, and not a traditional thing. They do exist, but are not great compared with what you'll see in continental Europe.

The biggest/best known is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which will be open when you're there, and there are others, but if you're coming from Vienna, for example, I'd skip the London ones to avoid disappointment.

Thanks for the replies.

I read Strasbourg as Capital of Christmas market, so I guess it should be a “must see”?

Can add Vienna - for Christmas market and to see city.

What other places should I add on those 4 days? Or any other suggestions to make 4 day itinerary?

You need to check the list provided in the link KGC posted. The Strasbourg market will be closed by the time you get to Europe.

How firm is your need to be in London by noon on Dec 31? If you really have to be there by then, I'd want to travel to London on Dec 30. Things can go wrong, especially during the winter holiday season.

In the time you have, I wouldn't want to hop all over Europe; I'd head to one region. You already know you'll have to relocate twice, and you don't have much time.

Christmas markets are, on the whole, open BEFORE Christmas and not after. You might get a few that are open a few days after Christmas (27-30), usually selling of the last of their wares, but it is not the same. If you want a market trip, early to mid December is the way to go.

Eastern Europe is your best bet because some of those celebrate Christmas on Three Kings Day (Jan 6). The Baltics, Prague and Budapest would be where I would consider looking.

Eastern Europe is your best bet because some of those celebrate
Christmas on Three Kings Day (Jan 6). The Baltics, Prague and Budapest
would be where I would consider looking.

Here most of the markets stay open until the 1st or 7th of January. While I suspect inventory is low, I also wouldn’t characterize it as a fire sale. It could be characterized as soaking the tourist money for one extra week as the locals usually pack it in on the 24th (or at least here). The extension to the 7th if fairly new, the last few years.

I am not familiar with any Eastern European country that as a national policy or as a policy that represents most of the Christians in the country which “Celebrates Christmas” on January 6.

They may have a celebration for Three Kings Day, and it might even be large (but that is more likely in Spanish speaking cultures), but it isn’t a replacement for Christmas, especially in the very Roman Catholic Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. They do have a festival and a parade in Prague and Warsaw on the 6th. I attended on in Rome as well a few decades ago. So to the extent that Eastern Europe will still have the markets going when maybe places in the west (I am curious about Spain though), its not because they celebrate Christmas on another day.

Some of the Balkan states and a few others do have a different tradition for what is Christmas Day. These would include Georgia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece and three others. But it’s not that they are celebrating Christmas on another day than us, it’s that they use a different calendar in the Orthodox Church.

Of course I have been wrong before and despite a hurried attempt to check my recollections (and I have done two 7 January Christmas' in two different countries), I could still be wrong.

Here is the poop on our markets. These are the 2023/24 dates so you will need to adjust them to the corresponding day in 2024 (usually a Friday or a Saturday) And a walking tour of the markets in Pest https://maps.app.goo.gl/P3e9w6Jcg7Vy3ATz6

VOROSMARTY TÉR
17 November – 01 January
With 100+ stalls, the largest of the markets in Budapest.

FASHION STREET
DEÁK FERENC UTCA
17 November – 01 January

ERZSÉBET TÉR
17 November – 01 January

ST. STEPHEN’S BASILICA
17. November – 01. January
The second largest in Budapest and the one that has been awarded as the best in Europe on four separate occasions. https://dailynewshungary.com/congratulations-this-hungarian-christmas-fair-is-europes-most-beautiful/

VÁROSHÁZA / CITY HALL PARK
24 November – 7 January

MADÁCH TÉR
3 December – 22 December

I initially thought of seeing northern lights but looks like December is very cloudy. Now most of the Christmas markets clause by Christmas.

So need to figure out which city to go to May be 1-2 cities to see the city itself and Christmas market there.

If you want to see the northern lights there is a decent chance of being able to do that in December, but you need to go further north than Paris.

Christmas Markets in Berlin open between the years:
https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/between-the-years/

Direct flights to Tromsø in Norway for Northern Lights available.

I bet the Berlin markets are great. I am also suspecting that the markets in most big cities are running longer in recent years.

I agree with others, it’s best to see the Christmas markets before Christmas not after. I easily googled Strausborg and their market closes on 12/27.

Noooo, as long as they are up and the lights and the mood and the atmosphere ...... doesn't matter if it's before or after Christmas. It's the season when the theaters are alive and the views across the river become more dramatic and with an early sunset storefront windows become a stage proscenium for what happens inside.

Or at least here.

Thanks for all the replies.

Strasbourg market closes on December 27 the day I reach France. I can take train and reach Strasbourg by noon and come back to Paris at night.

Since Christmas markets in Germany close by the time I reach, I can go to Vienna on December 28 from Paris. Flights from CDG are expensive.

December 28 go to Vienna early morning flight. So have whole day.

December 29 day trip to Salzburg or stay in Vienna

December 30 go to Prague or stay in Vienna

December 31 Fly to London.

Train with sleeper car going from Paris to Vienna is not operational at present. May start in November. Otherwise I could taken that train from Strasbourg to Vienn instead of coming back to Paris.

The different options are as follows:
1 day Strasbourg
1 day Vienna
1 day Salzburg
1 day Prague

or
1 day Strasbourg
2 days Vienna
1 day Prague

or

1 day Strasbourg
2 days Vienna
1 day Salzburg

or
2 days Vienna
1 day Salzburg
1 day Prague

Any comments? Thanks

Any idea how would be Christmas market at Strasbourg on the last day - December 27. Will it be worth visiting it on the day or will be deserted and not much activity? Otherwise I will plan something else for that day.

Prague is much further away from Vienna.

Thinking of visiting Budapest for a day and then Vienna for 2 days.

Need to decide on Strasbourg for December 27.

As I understand it, you reach Paris 27 December and you want to be in London on the 31st.

28 Fly to ______________,

You have a half day wherever that is. Granted you could fly out of Paris on the same day your arrive, that would give you another partial day. Stil you are right at the minimum for one city plus, maybe, a day trip out of the city center.

If you choose Budapest I would say Szentendre as its 30 to 45 minutes each way on a commuter train that departs from the center of the tourist area. https://youtu.be/Jy5hD9oi9DA?si=P1AxR16FMz97aBuM Or even Vienna as its 2.5 hours, so figure center of tourist area to center of tourist area less than 4 hours.

But to be honest, here and in all of the cities you listed, you can spend the full time in and not scratch the surface. Here you have a wealth of Jewish History, Cold War History, Empire History, Food from farm food to world class, opera, musicals, ballet, classical, jazz … lots of jazz … tram rides, and the largest concentration of preWWII architecture of any city I have visited …. It just goes on for ever …. Anthony Bourdain describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is: https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX

29 you have a full day wherever you are

30 you have a full day wherever you are

31 Fly to London.

Personally I would say go to Budapest because it’s the most beautiful of any you listed and the best markets, which means holiday feel. But I am admittedly biased.

Really from a perspective of time doesn’t matter which you choose. The flight will be 1 to 2 hours regardless and your problem is not 1 hour one way or the other. A 90 minute flight is about the same time door to door as a 4 hour train ride so you have that option as well

At least in part because of your limited time, I would drill the forum for agendas and places to stay that make the most of your time. It’s not about rushing, its just about being smart when you arrive.

My second choice Strasbourg, Third Prague.

I would go to one European location that offers markets plus more (e.g. Budapest) and really enjoy that one area and then head to London (not at the last minute).
Look into the various light shows around the London area for Holiday cheer. For example: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas