Explore beautiful Christmas markets across Europe
The special time for pumpkin spice lattes and Irish Coffees is on the way. Finally, it is time to visit Christmas markets again to soak up all that Christmas spirit and festive cheerfulness.
There is a huge amount of choices, which are only 3 hours from Ireland, if you are planning to get abroad and jump on a plane for the occasion. If you are looking for the traditional Christmas market to visit this year, then listen up, as I have a few favourites I would like to share with you.
1) Prague
Prague is not only known for its beautiful city centre, hilltop castle and the Charles bridge
Vast variety of choices and here are my most favourite picks with traditional handcrafted goods and delicious foods and drinks
Only 2.5hrs flight time away is Prague. Its main market is based in the old town square, where you can stroll between the stands of Czech traditional goods, handcrafted decorations and not to forget the various types of stands with food and hot beverages. You have tons of options to shop for presents for our loved ones. You should try one of their famous funnel cakes and hot beverages, like the mulled wine and hot mead. Besides the beautiful stands, Prague also has so much more to offer around the festive season like the Prague castle or you could visit their museums.
2) Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s fun fair park Tivoli transforms into a winter wonderland over Christmas
Get into the festive mood and soak up the Christmas spirit by exploring the stalls and the city surroundings.
Tivoli is not just one of the oldest amusement parks in Copenhagen, it also hosts a yearly Christmas market. Smack in the middle of Copenhagen city centre you can find Tivoli, well known for the fun fair park with all its amusement park rides, enjoyed by young and old. During Christmas it transforms into a winter wonderland where you can enjoy the perfect Nordic Christmas atmosphere. Around 60 stalls will offer your heart delights on traditional food and beverages, as well as various goods. Centre of the attraction will be the sparking Christmas tree in the middle of Tivoli lake, with 70,000 Christmas baubles decorating the garden and more than 1,000 trees decorated completely in lights.
3) Munich
Not just Oktoberfest and Beer – Munich showcases its artistic side at Tollwood
Explore and experience theatre to music entertainment
Tollwood winter festival will take place in Munich where spectators can watch international theatre acts and visit one of the over 200 stalls showcasing handcrafted goods and organic foods from all over the world. Over 90% of the acts range from theatre, music to kids’ entertainment, which are all completely free! Just visit the Theresienwiese, which is known to also host the world-famous Oktoberfest, and easily reachable by public transport. Besides the market you can also visit all the beautiful sightseeing places or walk through the English Garten and soak up some of the city’s charm.
4) Vienna
Vienna’s town hall turned into a huge advent calendar illuminated by thousands of Christmas lights
Stroll through the city’s numerous Christmas markets scattered around the city centre
Vienna is known to be a very romantic city and hosts several Christmas markets around the city centre, some are literally a stone throw from each other. Main attraction is the Christmas market in front of the Viennese town hall becoming Austria’s biggest Advent calendar every year, by opening one of their windows each day and displaying art. Between festive Christmas decorations and music, you can enjoy the season and indulge in the opulent variety of traditional Austrian desserts and hot beverages, which you can purchase at the stands. If you want to warm up, you can just relax in one of the famous Viennese Cafés with a hot coffee or tea.
These would be my favourite picks, to get me into the Christmas spirit. Small tip to ensure that the trip goes smoothly, plan ahead and ensure you have travel insurance with the right cover for you. To find out more on what travel insurance you’ll need, check out our travel insurance page.
