Best Christmas Markets - Germany & Austria

What a Christmas Market really is

A Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) is a Central European tradition that dates to the 14th century, a pop-up market in the town square, open every evening from late November to 24 December.

Every market has glühwein (mulled wine), bratwurst, lebkuchen (gingerbread), carved wood, and handmade ornaments. But the atmosphere in each city is entirely its own.

The order of cities we use

Our Christmas Markets trip is designed as 7 nights across 4 cities, beginning in Munich, down to Salzburg, up to Vienna, finishing in Nuremberg.

1. Nuremberg - the original

The Christkindlesmarkt has run since 1628, the oldest and most famous Christmas Market in Germany. Held in the Hauptmarkt square beneath the Frauenkirche. 2,500,000 lights. Everything sold is handmade by rule (no plastic).

The hotel we use: Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg, a five-minute walk from the market.

2. Salzburg - the prettiest

The Christkindlmarkt sits at Domplatz and Residenzplatz, its backdrop is Mozart's Baroque cathedrals. The market opens in mid-November.

Hotel: Hotel Sacher Salzburg on the Salzach River, eight minutes' walk to the market.

3. Vienna - the most elegant

Vienna has many markets, but the one we recommend is the Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz in front of City Hall, the lights wrap the entire Rathaus. The other market we take guests to is Spittelberg in Neubau, smaller, art-driven, with the best handmade gifts.

Hotel: Hotel Sacher Wien or Park Hyatt Vienna.

4. Strasbourg (France) - Wanvela's secret

We add Strasbourg as an option on some departures, known as the "Capitale de Noël" since 1570. Eleven market sites scattered across the city with more than 300 stalls. A medieval town in Alsace, on the German border, French mixed with German, gingerbread and glühwein arguably better than anywhere in Germany.

"Walking through Nuremberg at 11 pm, amber light, the smell of cinnamon, snow drifting. My son held my hand in silence the whole way back to the hotel." - K. Mint, December 2024

The best month to go

The markets are open 27 November – 24 December every year. Wanvela works in the 2–18 December window, avoiding the first week (still too warm, no snow) and the final week (too crowded, hotel rates spike).

Wanvela tips

• Arrive at 4:30 pm before nightfall, the light is at its best and the crowds haven't peaked.
• The best glühwein we've tried: Heinrich Beck's stall in Nuremberg.
• What to buy: Käthe Wohlfahrt nutcracker (Rothenburg), Augarten porcelain (Vienna), Schiffer woodcraft (Erzgebirge).
• What to skip: Berlin Christmas Markets, large but overly commercial.

The 2026 program

See Christmas Markets 2026, last-minute availability, or read all winter 2026 departures.