 NurembergOur pickKinderweihnacht (Hans-Sachs-Platz) | A separate children’s Christmas market with rides and visits from the Christkind.Hotels in Nuremberg → | 27 Nov – 24 Dec | 8.7 |
 ViennaOur pickWiener Christkindlmarkt (Rathauspark) | A kids’ Christmas world with a reindeer train, a children’s hut, a carousel and their own ice area.Hotels in Vienna → | 6 Nov – 6 Jan | 8.6 |
| The Striezelkinderfest on 20 December, plus a children’s programme through the season.Hotels in Dresden → | 25 Nov – 6 Jan | 8.4 |
 BudapestVörösmarty Classic Xmas; Advent Óbudán | A free children’s railway on Vörösmarty tér, and Mikulás meets children in Óbuda’s Gingerbread House.Hotels in Budapest → | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | 8.3 |
 ColmarChildren's Market at Petite Venise | A whole market designed for children, with Santa’s letterbox.Hotels in Colmar → | 23 Nov – 29 Dec | 8.1 |
 LeipzigAugustusplatz family area and Märchenwald | A fairy-tale forest, a reading workshop and rides.Hotels in Leipzig → | 24 Nov – 23 Dec | 8.1 |
| A Kindertag, a whole children’s day, is in the 2026 programme.Hotels in Regensburg → | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | 8.0 |
 BolzanoWaltherplatz and the Berloffa park | A carousel on Waltherplatz, a free daily children's programme of magic, puppets and workshops in the Berloffa park, and a €4 tourist train for children.Hotels in Bolzano → | 26 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.9 |
 MontbéliardAtelier des Petits Lutins, Tante Airie and Père Noël, the rink | Free workshops for ages 3 to 10, Tante Airie handing out papillotes every day and Père Noël from Tuesday to Sunday, Père Noël's house and post office, and a family rink.Hotels in Montbéliard → | 21 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.9 |
| A family market with a petting zoo, a Christmas post office and a Krampus day.Hotels in Salzburg → | 19 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.9 |
 WrocławChildren's zone (Plac Solny) | A children’s zone with the Magic Playland obstacle course.Hotels in Wrocław → | 20 Nov – 7 Jan | 7.9 |
 BaselMärchenwald (Münsterplatz) | A fairy-tale forest for children on the minster square.Hotels in Basel → | 26 Nov – 3 Jan | 7.8 |
| Children’s afternoons where kids write their letters to Santa.Hotels in Bremen → | 23 Nov – 23 Dec | 7.8 |
| A fairy-tale-themed market with a kids’ carousel, and a Kindersonntag on the first Sunday of Advent.Hotels in Düsseldorf → | 19 Nov – 30 Dec | 7.8 |
| A dedicated children’s market with crafts, a carousel and a kids’ wheel.Hotels in Frankfurt → | 23 Nov – 22 Dec | 7.8 |
 GrazKinderadvent (Kapistran-Pieller-Platz) | A small children’s market with a carousel and its own programme, next to the Franciscan quarter market.Hotels in Graz → | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.8 |
 LübeckWichtelwunderland; Märchenwald an der Marienkirche | An elf village with free mini golf and workshops, and a fairy-tale wood with a children's railway and carousel.Hotels in Lübeck → | 23 Nov – 30 Dec | 7.8 |
| Storytelling at the Musée Historique, treasure hunts and craft workshops during the market, in a town with the Famille Plus label.Hotels in Mulhouse → | 20 Nov – 27 Dec | 7.8 |
 PragueOld Town Square Christmas Market (Staroměstské náměstí) | In 2025 the market ran children's Christmas workshops at weekends. The 2026 programme isn't out yet.Hotels in Prague → | 20 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.8 |
 StuttgartOur pickKinder-Märchenland (Schlossplatz) | A children’s area with a mini steam railway, a mini wheel, a carousel and gingerbread decorating.Hotels in Stuttgart → | 25 Nov – 23 Dec | 7.8 |
 AugsburgKinderweihnachtsmarkt at Moritzplatz, Märchenstraße, Himmlisches Postamt, Christmas Garden | A separate children's market with a Christmas carousel, a witch's house and its own programme, a 10-window fairy-tale trail with a riddle card, and a post office for letters.Hotels in Augsburg → | 23 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.7 |
 BerlinLucia Weihnachtsmarkt (Kulturbrauerei) | Children’s theatre in the Alte Kantine. Give the Gendarmenmarkt a miss with kids, as it has nothing for them.Hotels in Berlin → | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | 7.7 |
 BrnoVánoce na Zelném trhu | A children’s village on Zelný trh.Hotels in Brno → | 13 Nov – 31 Dec | 7.7 |
 AnnecyPère Noël on the Ancienne Grenette, the rink, Advent stories at the Bonlieu library | Father Christmas in his lit-up house on the Place de l'Ancienne Grenette for photos, the ice rink, and Advent calendar stories at the médiathèque.Hotels in Annecy → | 26 Nov – 3 Jan | 7.6 |
 ErfurtDomplatz and the Märchenwald | An organic bakery where children roll and decorate biscuits with no booking, fairy-tale houses with a storyteller, a carousel and a letterbox for the Weihnachtsmann.Hotels in Erfurt → | 24 Nov – 22 Dec | 7.6 |
| Baking sessions for kids at the Kinderbackstube.Hotels in Freiburg → | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | 7.6 |
| Santa’s Home and Villa Kunterbunt for children, and snow on the hour.Hotels in Hamburg → | 23 Nov – 1 Jan | 7.6 |
| A St Nicholas village with daily Nikolaus visits, the most child-focused of Cologne’s markets.Hotels in Cologne → | 13 Nov – 10 Jan | 7.5 |
| Billed as the family market, with a carousel, ponies and a puppet theatre.Hotels in Innsbruck → | 13 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.5 |
 MontreuxSanta's House at Rochers-de-Naye | Santa’s mountain house at Rochers-de-Naye, reached by cog railway. You book a time slot.Hotels in Montreux → | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.5 |
 AachenAachener Weihnachtsmarkt | St Nicholas visits, a marionette theatre and a family workshop, all in the 2026 programme.Hotels in Aachen → | 20 Nov – 23 Dec | 7.4 |
 EdinburghSanta's Stories (Edinburgh's Christmas) | Ticketed Santa storytelling, plus the Family Ice Experience ice-sculpture walk on George Street. There's no skating rink in 2026.Hotels in Edinburgh → | 14 Nov – 3 Jan | 7.4 |
 HeidelbergUniversitätsplatz carousel, Winterwäldchen children's railway, Bismarckplatz carousel | A 100-year-old jumping-horse carousel, plus a children's railway and a wheelchair carousel in 2025.Hotels in Heidelberg → | 23 Nov – 1 Jan | 7.4 |
 MunichMünchner Christkindlmarkt: Himmelswerkstatt | The Himmelswerkstatt, a children’s craft workshop run by the main market.Hotels in Munich → | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.4 |
 DortmundWeihnachtsdorf (Weihnachtsstadt) | A daily kids’ programme with puppet theatre, biscuit baking and a magic show.Hotels in Dortmund → | 19 Nov – 30 Dec | 7.3 |
| A free horse carousel in the middle of the market below the cathedral.Hotels in Helsinki → | 27 Nov – 22 Dec | 7.2 |
 ReimsAtelier du Père Noël (Porte de Mars) | Santa’s chalet and a free little train at the end of the main market.Hotels in Reims → | 25 Nov – 27 Dec | 7.2 |
| Children's carousels, the Bähnle train, a children's Ferris wheel, candle dipping and a storytelling theatre in a yurt.Hotels in Ulm → | 19 Nov – 10 Jan | 7.2 |
| A children's train, a historic carousel, a mini Ferris wheel, a supervised children's Christmas bakery and a letterbox for wishes.Hotels in Baden-Baden → | 26 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.1 |
| A children’s village and a kids’ yurt with crafts and concerts.Hotels in Geneva → | 19 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.1 |
| A whole children’s area, with crafts, painting, a carousel, a kids’ bar and a teddy workshop.Hotels in Zurich → | 19 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.1 |
| The council pitches this site at younger visitors, with mini fairground games, free entertainment and Kids Skate Free on Tuesdays from 16:00 to 18:00 until 18 Dec.Hotels in Manchester → | 6 Nov – 3 Jan | 7.0 |
 MilanVillaggio delle Meraviglie and the Duomo market | Santa's house until 25 December, free elf shows, rides and the Befana on 6 January at the Villaggio, and a Casa di Babbo Natale at the Duomo market.Hotels in Milan → | 20 Nov – 10 Jan | 7.0 |
| A whole children's market, 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with workshops, shows, a giant slide and a flying reindeer carousel, plus carousels on Place d'Armes and Place de Paris.Hotels in Luxembourg City → | 20 Nov – 3 Jan | 6.9 |
 ParisMarché de Noël de La Défense (just outside the city limits) | Santa and Mrs Claus, an elves' workshop, carousels and free creative workshops for children.Hotels in Paris → | 12 Nov – 4 Jan | 6.9 |
| Santa's little house on the square and old-fashioned carousels round the tree.Hotels in Tallinn → | 20 Nov – 6 Jan | 6.9 |
 LyonPère Noël chalet and face painting at Place Carnot | Père Noël at his chalet on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with photos and a calèche, plus free face painting on set dates.Hotels in Lyon → | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 6.8 |
| Santa Stories (from £10.50 a child), Mrs Claus’ Bakery, Rockin’ Reindeer shows, a carousel and the Ferris wheel, 21 Nov to 24 Dec.Hotels in Newcastle → | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | 6.8 |
| Tivoli's rides, Santa's house and light shows over the lake, from 13 Nov to 3 Jan.Hotels in Copenhagen → | 6 Nov – 3 Jan | 6.7 |
| A luna park at the foot of the basilica, a carousel for the smallest children, a Fun House and Santa visits through December.Hotels in Maastricht → | 27 Nov – 27 Dec | 6.7 |
 OsloNorsk Folkemuseum fair and Spikersuppa | Under-18s get into the Folkemuseum fair free, and the rink at Spikersuppa is free too.Hotels in Oslo → | 7 Nov – 3 Jan | 6.7 |
| Seventy-five old houses dressed for 400 years of Danish Christmas, and under-18s go free.Hotels in Aarhus → | 13 Nov – 31 Dec | 6.6 |
 BergenPepperkakebyen, byROMMET | A whole town of gingerbread built by kindergartens and schools, and children under 16 get in free on weekdays.Hotels in Bergen → | 20 Nov – 22 Dec | 6.6 |
| Santa's village, rides and Kaninlandet inside Liseberg, and children under 110 cm get in free.Hotels in Gothenburg → | 14 Nov – 30 Dec | 6.6 |
 LeedsBoth Christmas sites | Penguin Club skating for under-9s, the Golden Gallopers and rides on Cookridge Street, a funhouse, an Elf on the Shelf trail and Santa at City Square.Hotels in Leeds → | 19 Nov – 31 Dec | 6.6 |
 CraiovaȚara lui Moș Crăciun, Elves' Labyrinth, sleigh show | A children's area by the National Theatre, the Elves' Labyrinth, a train running through the tree and a free nightly sleigh show.Hotels in Craiova → | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | 6.5 |
 LondonHyde Park Winter Wonderland | The Santa Land package, family rides and a Family Fun Day on 3 Jan 2027, plus hourly snowfall in Covent Garden.Hotels in London → | 31 Oct – 4 Jan | 6.5 |
 ExeterExeter's Winter Wonderland and Princesshay, not the cathedral market itself | The funfair, Santa's grotto and light trail at Winter Wonderland, plus Santa Sundays at Princesshay from 29 November. The cathedral market itself has no rides.Hotels in Exeter → | 13 Nov – 13 Dec | 6.4 |
 PeterboroughFather Christmas in the Library (Peterborough Cathedral) | Father Christmas in the cathedral library with a gift, from £15 a child, 21 Nov to 24 Dec 2026, and under-16s get into the craft fair free.Hotels in Peterborough → | 20 Nov – 22 Nov | 6.4 |
 StockholmSkansen's Christmas market, Mariefred | Skansen is free for under-16s, with the animals and a ring dance round the tree, and Santa reaches Mariefred by steam train on 29 November.Hotels in Stockholm → | 21 Nov – 23 Dec | 6.4 |
 ValkenburgWinterGlow; Kerst in MergelRijk; Landal Christmas Parade | WinterGlow has a children's carousel and Santa's House, MergelRijk a miniature Christmas story, and the parade brings Santa and Bollo.Hotels in Valkenburg → | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | 6.4 |
| A children's rink with penguin skate aids, a toboggan, a carousel and a helter skelter.Hotels in Nottingham → | 12 Nov – 31 Dec | 6.1 |
 AmsterdamHet Amsterdamse Winterparadijs and the Museumplein rink | A kids' rink, mini Ferris wheel and children's shows in the RAI winter fair ticket, and a skating rink by the market.Hotels in Amsterdam → | 3 Dec – 27 Dec | 5.9 |
 BristolBroadmead and both harbour fairgrounds | A wheel, a Christmas tree ride and daily snow on Broadmead, carousels at the harbour, and Santa at Cabot Circus until 24 December.Hotels in Bristol → | 6 Nov – 23 Dec | 5.7 |
 DublinTwinkleTown Smithfield Square, TwinkleTown St Patrick's Park | Santo Panto with a gift, children's rides at both TwinkleTown sites and sensory skating sessions.Hotels in Dublin → | 20 Nov – 31 Dec | 5.4 |
| Santa’s Grotto (£16.75 a child), the Very Merry Circus in the Big Top (£12.50), family rides and the rink.Hotels in Glasgow → | 6 Nov – 3 Jan | 5.2 |
 RotterdamWinter Wonderland (Ahoy) and the Markthal Kersthal | Daily kids' shows, an elves' village and a snow slide at Ahoy, with under-3s free, and Santa in the Markthal at weekends.Hotels in Rotterdam → | 5 Dec – 30 Dec | 5.0 |
| Meet Santa free at his office on the Arctic Circle, or go underground to SantaPark's Elf School.Hotels in Rovaniemi → | 30 Nov – 3 Jan | 5.0 |
