Holiday Markets from Around the World You Don’t Want to Miss
Looking for holiday travel inspiration for your next winter trip? We’re listing out some of our favorite Christmas markets from around the world, from iconic destinations to more unique places to celebrate. If your idea of a perfect getaway includes twinkling lights, cozy markets, and ice skating, read on!
Tokyo Christmas Market in Hibiya Park
Tokyo, Japan
Explore Tokyo’s impressive Christmas market, strung with lights and set up in the bustling heart of the city. Wander Meiji Jingu Gaien Park while it’s strung with festive lights and lined with adorable shopping stalls, and make sure to stop and admire the towering wooden Christmas Pyramid (aka a traditional German Weihnachtspyramide). Catch a live musical performance at the main stage and sip on hot chocolate from one of the nearby vendors.
Viennese Christmas Market
Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s Christmas market in Rathausplatz square is a must-see! Considered one of the largest and most famous Christmas markets in Europe, Christkindlmarkt is a striking winter wonderland complete with colorful lights, sweet treats, and a ton of shopping booths. Stroll the market’s stalls and check some items of your Christmas list, skate through 3000 square meters of icy paths, listen to classical music, or watch as the iconic Heart Tree is lit up.
Winter Village at Bryant Park
New York City, United States
Have a quintessentially New York holiday experience at the Winter Village in Bryant Park. Browse the multitude of shops inside the glowing windowed buildings scattered through the park, where you’ll find plenty of food as well as art, jewelry, clothing, and other gifts from around the world. Skate around the ice rink beneath the boughs of a massive Christmas tree, or take a more laid-back approach and get cozy with a cocktail in the outdoor après-themed area nearby.
Weihnachtsmarkt Santa Croce
Florence, Italy
Florence’s biggest holiday market takes place in beautiful Piazza Santa Croce, and prides itself on being a traditional German Christmas market. Here you’ll find the typical wooden stalls decorated with strings of lights and colorful ornaments—the perfect place to find gifts for your loved ones. Make sure to grab a cup of mulled wine and sample a variety of international dishes, from bratwurst and pretzels, to Kürtőskalács (aka “chimney cakes”) and Dutch crepes.
Verbena Navideña in the Zócalo
Mexico City, Mexico
If you’re looking for something slightly different from the German-style Christmas markets, look no further than the Verbena Navideña in the heart of Mexico City. This festival has a deep history based in Catholic customs, traditionally known for selling Nativity scene figures (or nacimientos), as well as handcrafted ornaments, elaborate piñatas, and more. Stroll through the lively Zócalo and immerse yourself in these cherished local customs, from attending a concert at the main stage, to enjoying all the Mexican delicacies for sale!
Galway Christmas Market
Galway, Ireland
Ireland’s longest running Christmas market takes place in Galway, tucked into downtown’s Eyre Square and spilling garlands into the nearby streets. Weave between full-size gingerbread houses and peruse the goods being sold in classic wooden shopping stalls, then take in the view from atop the ferris wheel. Stop by the famous beer tent for a drink, or pop into one of the many cozy pubs downtown and admire the festive lights covering the city.
Feria de la Artesanía Creativa
Seville, Spain
A unique holiday market that should be on any art lover’s list is Seville’s Feria de la Artesanía Creativa—a holiday craft fair that’s know as one of the city’s most important seasonal markets. Specializing in handcrafted pieces made by the finest artisans from Andalusia, you’ll find a host of gorgeous items from ceramics and wooden toys, to jewelry and clothing. Hosted in the heart of the city, Plaza Nueva is filled with 50 stalls, all brimming with these traditional crafts and popular Spanish gifts.
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Vancouver Christmas Market
Vancouver, Canada
Every holiday season, the Jack Poole Plaza in Vancouver transforms into a cozy German village, with a giant wooden Christmas Pyramid sprouting from the middle. Soak in the holiday magic and walk through winding alleys of wooden artisan huts, browsing the authentic European goods from Schnitzel to custom leather accessories. Warm up in the Alpen Haus beer hall and try your hand at Christmas Karaoke, or go for a dizzying ride on a glittering carousel. And make sure to snap a picture walking through the 35-foot Christmas tree tunnel!
Norsk Folkemuseum Christmas Fair
Oslo, Norway
A can’t-miss holiday market for history buffs is the Norsk Folkemuseum Christmas Fair, which takes place in an open-air museum in Oslo and is one of Norway’s most popular Christmas events—for good reason! Visitors can explore over a hundred stalls filled with handmade gifts and baked goods, all while wandering through a historical retelling of Christmases past. Each structure in the museum is decorated using different Christmas customs from throughout the centuries, from a merchant’s residence in 1769 to a rural family home in 1959. Attend artisan workshops, watch a traditional folk dance performance, or try some Christmas porridge at Santa’s Yard.
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