The 2026 edition

Europe’s Christmas markets, ranked

We scored 194 Christmas market cities in 30 countries on the same five things, from the setting to the price of a mug of mulled wine. Here’s who came out on top.

No. 1

9.1/ 10

Strasbourg

France

Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik has been running since 1570, and its ten distinct markets, from the cathedral-side spectacle to the quiet Petite France stalls, set the standard for European Christmas markets. Weekend crowds can be brutal.

Atmosphere10

Stalls10

Food and drink8

Value9

Getting there6

No. 2

8.7/ 10

Nuremberg

Germany

The gold standard of German Christmas markets, where a 9000-litre Feuerzangenbowle and the Christkind’s prologue from the Frauenkirche balcony set a benchmark that rivals Strasbourg’s oldest-market prestige.

Atmosphere9

Stalls9

Food and drink8

Value8

Getting there9

No. 3

8.6/ 10

Vienna

Austria

Ten distinct markets across a walkable city, from the grand Rathausplatz to the intimate Spittelberg, make Vienna the most complete Christmas market destination in Europe. The crowds are the price.

Atmosphere9

Stalls9

Food and drink8

Value8

Getting there8

No. 1 for 2026 Strasbourg, 9.1 out of 10

The 2026 awards

Who won what

One headline winner, the top city in every country with at least three cities scored, and awards for the things people actually travel for. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland count together as the UK. Each city can take one category award, so they spread across the map.

Europe’s best Christmas market 2026

Strasbourg

9.1 out of 10, No. 1 of 194. Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik has been running since 1570, and its ten distinct markets, from the cathedral-side spectacle to the quiet Petite France stalls, set the standard for European Christmas markets. Weekend crowds can be brutal.

Best in each country

Best in Germany

Nuremberg

8.7 out of 10Runner-up Dresden 8.4 · 58 cities scored

Best in France

Strasbourg

9.1 out of 10Runner-up Colmar 8.1 · 25 cities scored

Best in Austria

Vienna

8.6 out of 10Runner-up Salzburg 7.9 · 18 cities scored

Best in the UK

Bath

7.5 out of 10Runner-up Edinburgh 7.4 · 17 cities scored

Best in Italy

Bolzano

7.9 out of 10Runner-up Merano 7.5 · 14 cities scored

Best in Switzerland

Basel

7.8 out of 10Runner-up Montreux 7.5 · 10 cities scored

Best in Poland

Wrocław

7.9 out of 10Runner-up Gdańsk 7.8 · 8 cities scored

Best in the Czech Republic

Prague

7.8 out of 10Runner-up Brno 7.7 · 6 cities scored

Best in the Netherlands

Maastricht

6.7 out of 10Runner-up Haarlem 6.7 · 5 cities scored

Best in Romania

Sibiu

7.5 out of 10Runner-up Timișoara 7.1 · 5 cities scored

Best in Belgium

Brussels

7.4 out of 10Runner-up Bruges 7.2 · 4 cities scored

Best in Croatia

Zagreb

7.5 out of 10Runner-up Opatija 5.9 · 3 cities scored

Category awards

Best atmosphere

Ravenna Gorge

10/10 for atmosphereGermany

Best stalls

Dresden

9/10 for stallsGermany

Best food and drink

Budapest

8/10 for food and drinkHungary

Best value

Augsburg

9/10 for valueGermany

Easiest to reach

Leipzig

9/10 for getting thereGermany

Most elbow room

Bamberg

9/10 for elbow roomGermany

Best small-town market

Kaysersberg

7.6 out of 10, the top small marketFrance

Best on Christmas Day

Colmar

8.1 out of 10, main market open on 25 DecemberFrance

Best-kept secret

Montbéliard

7.9 out of 10, No. 11, but only 10 UK searches a monthFrance

Longest season

Cologne

59 days, 13 November to 10 JanuaryGermany

All 194 cities

The full ranking

Sort by any of the five measures or pick a country. Cities with a full guide link to it, and we’ve been to every one of those in person.

CountrySort by Only cities with a guide

194 of 194 cities

Rank	City	Index	Atmos.StallsFoodValueGetting there	Elbow room
1	StrasbourgFrance · Full guideBest overall	9.1	Atmosphere10 Stalls10 Food and drink8 Value9 Getting there6	6/10
2	NurembergGermany · Full guideBest first German Christmas market	8.7	Atmosphere9 Stalls9 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there9	5/10
3	ViennaAustria · Full guideBest for scale	8.6	Atmosphere9 Stalls9 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there8	6/10
4	DresdenGermany · Full guideBest for eight markets and giant pyramids	8.4	Atmosphere9 Stalls9 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
5	BudapestHungary · Full guideBest two markets ten minutes apart	8.3	Atmosphere9 Stalls8 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there8	6/10
6	ColmarFrance · Full guideBest for a whole town in lights	8.1	Atmosphere9 Stalls8 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there7	3/10
7	LeipzigGermany · Full guideBest for music lovers	8.1	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there9	5/10
8	RegensburgGermany · Full guideBest four-market crawl in Bavaria	8.0	Atmosphere9 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
=9	SalzburgAustria · Full guideBest for a market inside a fortress	7.9	Atmosphere9 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
=9	WrocławPoland · Full guideBest in Poland for the market itself	7.9	Atmosphere9 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
11	MontbéliardFranceBest for handmade gifts and local folklore	7.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there7	4/10
12	BolzanoItalyBest for South Tyrolean wine and beer	7.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=13	BaselSwitzerlandBest for Glühwein with a Rhine view	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	5/10
=13	DüsseldorfGermany · Full guideBest for Rhine views and champagne stalls	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	7/10
=13	GdańskPoland · Full guideBest for families in Poland	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	5/10
=13	GrazAustria · Full guideBest for a walkable market crawl	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	7/10
=13	LübeckGermanyBest for crafts in a medieval hospital	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	5/10
=13	StuttgartGermanyBest for decorated stall roofs	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	4/10
=19	BremenGermany · Full guideBest for a riverside medieval evening	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	5/10
=19	FrankfurtGermany · Full guideBest first stop off the plane	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	5/10
=21	MulhouseFranceBest for a Christmas fabric souvenir	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there8	6/10
=21	PragueCzech Republic · Full guideBest for Gothic squares and Czech classics	7.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there8	4/10
23	BratislavaSlovakia · Full guideBest easy add-on to Vienna	7.7	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there7	6/10
24	BerlinGermany · Full guideBest for markets into January	7.7	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
25	AugsburgGermanyBest for the town hall angel show	7.7	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there8	6/10
26	BrnoCzech Republic · Full guideBest for Christmas on a budget	7.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there8	6/10
27	EsslingenGermany · Full guideBest medieval market by torchlight	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there6	4/10
28	KaysersbergFrance · Full guideBest village market for real crafts	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there6	5/10
=29	AnnecyFranceBest for an Alpine lakeside market	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=29	ErfurtGermanyBest for a cathedral-steps backdrop	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=29	MetzFranceBest for spreading out across five squares	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
32	HamburgGermany · Full guideBest for variety and late hours	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value6 Getting there9	5/10
33	OlomoucCzech RepublicBest for a budget punch trail	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there7	7/10
=34	FreiburgGermany · Full guideBest for a Black Forest base	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	5/10
=34	MainzGermanyBest for a Frankfurt Airport stopover	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	5/10
=34	TrierGermanyBest for Moselle winemakers’ Glühwein	7.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	5/10
=37	CologneGermany · Full guideBest for a cathedral backdrop	7.5	Atmosphere9 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=37	InnsbruckAustria · Full guideBest for an Alpine setting	7.5	Atmosphere9 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
=39	BathEnglandBest for Georgian streets and local makers	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there8	4/10
=39	SibiuRomaniaBest for crafts under the Council Tower	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there8	5/10
41	Annaberg-BuchholzGermanyBest for Erzgebirge woodcraft and miners’ parades	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there5	6/10
42	MeranoItalyBest for a riverside evening stroll	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
43	MontreuxSwitzerlandBest for families and a flying Santa	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value6 Getting there8	4/10
44	ToruńPolandBest for gingerbread on a Gothic square	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there6	5/10
=45	ArrasFranceBest Flemish square backdrop	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	3/10
=45	KrakówPoland · Full guideBest backdrop in Poland	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	5/10
47	ZagrebCroatiaBest for sarma, štrukli and fritule	7.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink8 Value8 Getting there8	6/10
48	Rüdesheim am RheinGermanyBest for wine-town lanes and world crafts	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there6	4/10
=49	AachenGermanyBest stop between Brussels and Cologne	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=49	EdinburghScotland · Full guideBest for a market under a castle	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=49	KonstanzGermanyBest for a lakeside market by train	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=49	MünsterGermanyBest for hopping six markets on foot	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=49	WürzburgGermanyBest for an Advent-weekend artists’ market	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=54	BrusselsBelgiumBest for a Grand-Place light show	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there9	4/10
=54	MunichGermany · Full guideBest for market density	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there9	6/10
56	HeidelbergGermanyBest for skating below the castle	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value9 Getting there7	5/10
57	BambergGermany · Full guideBest for a town, not a market	7.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there7	9/10
58	BernSwitzerlandBest for one-off crafts by the Minster	7.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls8 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
59	HanoverGermanyBest for hopping between themed villages	7.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls8 Food and drink6 Value8 Getting there9	6/10
60	EinsiedelnSwitzerlandBest for a Baroque abbey backdrop	7.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink8 Value6 Getting there6	5/10
=61	PassauGermanyBest for nativity scenes and organ music	7.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
=61	TurkuFinlandBest for juried crafts on a weekend	7.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
=63	BressanoneItalyBest for soup by the fire pit	7.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there7	4/10
=63	ObernaiFranceBest for white mulled wine	7.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
65	St. GallenSwitzerlandBest for star lights over the Abbey	7.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	7/10
66	KasselGermanyBest for families raised on Grimm	7.3	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there7	5/10
67	LinzAustriaBest for market-hopping on a budget	7.3	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	7/10
68	DortmundGermany · Full guideBest big market on a budget	7.3	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value9 Getting there9	5/10
69	Ravenna GorgeGermany · Full guideBest-looking market in Germany	7.2	Atmosphere10 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there4	6/10
70	Rothenburg ob der TauberGermany · Full guideBest for sleeping inside the walls	7.2	Atmosphere9 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there5	4/10
71	HelsinkiFinlandBest for gifts straight from Finnish makers	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value5 Getting there9	5/10
=72	MadridSpainBest for building your own nativity scene	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=72	UlmGermanyBest for Christmas below the Minster spire	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
74	RiquewihrFrance · Full guideBest for a weekday wine-village trip	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink8 Value7 Getting there6	3/10
=75	BrugesBelgiumBest for a market below the Belfry	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=75	LjubljanaSloveniaBest for riverside mulled wine after dark	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=75	LüneburgGermanyBest for a day trip from Hamburg	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=75	NancyFranceBest for a Saint Nicolas parade weekend	7.2	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
79	KoblenzGermanyBest for winemakers’ Glühwein across seven squares	7.2	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there7	6/10
=80	EssenGermanyBest for international food and big lights	7.2	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	5/10
=80	ReimsFrance · Full guideBest day trip from Paris	7.2	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	6/10
82	Baden-BadenGermanyBest for an elegant spa-town evening	7.1	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there6	6/10
83	LudwigsburgGermanyBest for an easy hop from Stuttgart	7.1	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	4/10
84	SélestatFranceBest for Christmas tree history buffs	7.1	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	7/10
=85	AmiensFranceBest for a cathedral light show	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=85	GhentBelgiumBest for late nights and pop-up bars	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=85	LucerneSwitzerlandBest for a lake-and-old-town weekend	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=85	PoznańPolandBest for watching ice carvers at work	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=85	TrentoItalyBest for tortel di patate and Parampampoli	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
90	ZurichSwitzerlandBest for a market inside the station	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there9	6/10
91	WarsawPoland · Full guideBest for Christmas week itself	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value8 Getting there8	6/10
92	TimișoaraRomaniaBest for cheap eats across four squares	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value9 Getting there7	6/10
93	GenevaSwitzerlandBest for pairing with the Escalade festival	7.1	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there9	6/10
=94	Bad WimpfenGermanyBest for Advent below imperial palace towers	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there6	5/10
=94	MichelstadtGermanyBest for carved figures and timber frames	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there6	4/10
=94	QuedlinburgGermanyBest for peeking into hidden courtyards	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there6	4/10
=97	BerchtesgadenGermanyBest for Alpine woodcraft under the Watzmann	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	6/10
=97	BrașovRomaniaBest for Transylvanian food below Tâmpa hill	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	5/10
=97	EguisheimFranceBest for a wine-village trip from Colmar	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	4/10
=97	GörlitzGermanyBest for a two-country Advent stroll	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	6/10
=97	RibeauvilléFranceBest for a medieval Christmas weekend	7.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	3/10
102	WeimarGermanyBest for skating beside Goethe and Schiller	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
103	MilanItalyBest for timing a trip around Sant’Ambrogio	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there8	5/10
104	ManchesterEnglandBest for a big-city market crawl	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there9	5/10
105	LausanneSwitzerlandBest for a hilly city-centre market crawl	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value8 Getting there8	6/10
106	LilleFrance · Full guideBest for a Eurostar day trip	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there9	3/10
=107	BregenzAustriaBest for a Christmas ship to Lindau	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value9 Getting there8	6/10
=107	PlzeňCzech RepublicBest for beer lovers on a budget	7.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value9 Getting there8	6/10
109	WinchesterEnglandBest for a cathedral close day trip	6.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value5 Getting there8	5/10
110	TallinnEstoniaBest for a medieval old town setting	6.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value5 Getting there8	4/10
=111	GengenbachGermanyBest for a giant Advent calendar	6.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
=111	LindauGermanyBest for harbour stalls with Alpine views	6.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
=111	SteyrAustriaBest for Christmas post from Christkindl	6.9	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
114	ParisFrance · Full guideBest for lights, windows and markets	6.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value5 Getting there9	5/10
=115	BonnGermanyBest for stepping straight off the train	6.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=115	WiesbadenGermanyBest for giant illuminated lily portals	6.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
117	Luxembourg CityLuxembourgBest for a free-transport market hop	6.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
118	SeiffenGermanyBest for nutcrackers straight from the workshop	6.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there4	4/10
=119	GoslarGermanyBest for Glühwein under lit fir trees	6.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there6	5/10
=119	WernigerodeGermanyBest for half-timbering under Herrnhut stars	6.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there6	6/10
121	YorkEnglandBest for stalls steps from the Shambles	6.8	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there8	4/10
122	KarlsruheGermanyBest for watching Santa fly overhead	6.8	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
123	LyonFranceBest for Fête des Lumières timing	6.8	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there8	6/10
=124	DebrecenHungaryBest for a Great Church backdrop	6.8	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
=124	VipitenoItalyBest for carillon concerts under a tower	6.8	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	3/10
126	NewcastleEnglandBest for local Geordie traders	6.8	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there9	4/10
127	KlagenfurtAustriaBest for Carinthian choirs in a courtyard	6.8	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value8 Getting there8	7/10
128	ToulouseFranceBest for aligot on a grand square	6.8	Atmosphere6 Stalls7 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
129	RattenbergAustriaBest for candlelight instead of fairy lights	6.7	Atmosphere9 Stalls4 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	4/10
130	MariazellAustriaBest for pilgrims, choirs and Lebkuchen	6.7	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there5	6/10
131	CopenhagenDenmarkBest for a theme-park Christmas by night	6.7	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value3 Getting there9	5/10
132	VilniusLithuaniaBest for a design-minded Baltic weekend	6.7	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value5 Getting there8	7/10
133	PotsdamGermanyBest for a side trip from Berlin	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there7	5/10
=134	BrunicoItalyBest for goulash in a bread bowl	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	7/10
=134	Levico TermeItalyBest for a market in a park	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	4/10
136	MaastrichtNetherlandsBest for a basilica-backed winter fair	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there8	5/10
137	OsloNorwayBest for a folk-museum Christmas weekend	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value5 Getting there9	5/10
=138	BelfastNorthern IrelandBest for global food beside City Hall	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=138	HaarlemNetherlandsBest for a big three-day shopping blitz	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
=138	MarseilleFranceBest for collecting Provençal santons	6.7	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
141	MontepulcianoItalyBest for a Tuscan hill-town weekend	6.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there4	5/10
=142	AarhusDenmarkBest for Christmas history with kids	6.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value4 Getting there7	6/10
=142	GothenburgSwedenBest for a theme-park light show	6.6	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value4 Getting there7	6/10
=144	AostaItalyBest for woodturners and blacksmiths at work	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there5	6/10
=144	ArcoItalyBest for pairing with Lake Garda	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there5	6/10
146	Cluj-NapocaRomaniaBest for concerts beside a Gothic church	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there7	5/10
=147	ChesterEnglandBest for Thursday-night parades	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
=147	RouenFranceBest for a Gothic cathedral backdrop	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
=147	SpeyerGermanyBest for a market that outlasts Christmas	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
150	BergenNorwayBest for a gingerbread-town detour	6.6	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there9	5/10
151	CardiffWalesBest for handmade Welsh gifts	6.6	Atmosphere6 Stalls7 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=152	KatowicePolandBest for Silesian dishes like wodzionka	6.6	Atmosphere6 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=152	LeedsEnglandBest for street food from Leeds independents	6.6	Atmosphere6 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
154	St. Wolfgang im SalzkammergutAustriaBest for hopping lake villages by boat	6.5	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there5	3/10
155	CraiovaRomaniaBest for a big family light show	6.5	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink7 Value6 Getting there6	4/10
=156	AntwerpBelgiumBest for skating round the Rubens statue	6.5	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there8	6/10
=156	FlorenceItalyBest for a Weihnachtsmarkt at Santa Croce	6.5	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there8	5/10
158	TurckheimFranceBest for an easy Colmar side trip	6.5	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	6/10
159	ValkenburgNetherlandsBest for shopping underground	6.4	Atmosphere8 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value4 Getting there7	3/10
=160	ExeterEnglandBest for a cathedral-green market	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there7	4/10
=160	LuganoSwitzerlandBest for an Italian-Swiss lakeside Christmas	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there7	7/10
=160	SchwerinGermanyBest for skating by the lake	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there7	6/10
163	Bad IschlAustriaBest for handmade gifts from local makers	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there6	7/10
164	LiberecCzech RepublicBest for a family Christmas train ride	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value8 Getting there6	8/10
=165	DordrechtNetherlandsBest for lit harbours and a sing-along	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=165	VillachAustriaBest for a Krampuslauf by rail	6.4	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
167	SzczecinPolandBest for a three-square market stroll	6.4	Atmosphere6 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
168	DinkelsbühlGermanyBest for a medieval courtyard market	6.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there4	7/10
169	DeventerNetherlandsBest for Victorian street theatre	6.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value4 Getting there8	3/10
170	Český KrumlovCzech RepublicBest for castle-town Advent traditions	6.3	Atmosphere8 Stalls4 Food and drink6 Value8 Getting there5	6/10
=171	KitzbühelAustriaBest for a ski-town Advent stroll	6.3	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	7/10
=171	Velden am WörtherseeAustriaBest for a floating Advent wreath	6.3	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	4/10
=173	RostockGermanyBest for budget Glühwein and fairground rides	6.3	Atmosphere6 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
=173	RoveretoItalyBest for light shows and nativity scenes	6.3	Atmosphere6 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	7/10
175	GovoneItalyBest for a Roero wine-country day trip	6.2	Atmosphere7 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there5	4/10
176	Krems an der DonauAustriaBest for a relaxed Wachau wine-town evening	6.2	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink7 Value7 Getting there7	8/10
177	BordeauxFranceBest for space on a huge esplanade	6.1	Atmosphere6 Stalls6 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there7	6/10
=178	MalmöSwedenBest for a Copenhagen side trip	6.1	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	6/10
=178	NiceFranceBest for a market among palm trees	6.1	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	5/10
=178	NottinghamEnglandBest for skating above the stalls	6.1	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	4/10
181	BirminghamEnglandBest for a station-side German market	6.1	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there9	4/10
182	HallstattAustria · Full guideBest for a one-day lakeside market	6.0	Atmosphere8 Stalls4 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there5	3/10
183	ÓbidosPortugalBest for a family trip from Lisbon	6.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink7 Value4 Getting there6	5/10
184	TrikalaGreeceBest for a free-entry Christmas theme park	6.0	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there4	3/10
185	LiverpoolEnglandBest for skating by St George’s Hall	6.0	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value6 Getting there8	6/10
186	GmundenAustriaBest for a lake-and-castle weekend	5.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value5 Getting there6	8/10
187	OpatijaCroatiaBest for a seaside Advent break	5.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls4 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there5	7/10
188	SplitCroatiaBest for Advent concerts by the sea	5.9	Atmosphere7 Stalls3 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there8	7/10
189	BelgradeSerbiaBest for a waterfront rink and concerts	5.8	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink7 Value5 Getting there6	5/10
190	LondonEnglandBest for a Christmas funfair night out	5.7	Atmosphere6 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value4 Getting there8	4/10
191	BristolEnglandBest for indie makers’ fairs	5.7	Atmosphere5 Stalls5 Food and drink6 Value7 Getting there7	5/10
192	DublinIrelandBest for skating and panto with kids	5.4	Atmosphere5 Stalls5 Food and drink5 Value6 Getting there7	6/10
193	TartuEstoniaBest for free skating on the square	5.2	Atmosphere6 Stalls3 Food and drink4 Value8 Getting there6	8/10
194	GlasgowScotlandBest for a Glasgow Green funfair	5.2	Atmosphere5 Stalls4 Food and drink5 Value6 Getting there8	6/10
No city matches that. Try another spelling or country.

Country by country

How each country did

Every country in the Index, with how many cities we scored there and the one that came out on top.

Country	Cities scored	Top city	Score	Country average
Germany	58	Nuremberg	8.7	7.3
France	25	Strasbourg	9.1	7.2
Austria	18	Vienna	8.6	6.8
Italy	14	Bolzano	7.9	6.8
England	13	Bath	7.5	6.5
Switzerland	10	Basel	7.8	7.2
Poland	8	Wrocław	7.9	7.2
Czech Republic	6	Prague	7.8	7.1
Romania	5	Sibiu	7.5	6.9
Netherlands	5	Maastricht	6.7	6.5
Belgium	4	Brussels	7.4	7.0
Croatia	3	Zagreb	7.5	6.4
Hungary	2	Budapest	8.3	7.6
Scotland	2	Edinburgh	7.4	6.3
Finland	2	Turku	7.3	7.2
Estonia	2	Tallinn	6.9	6.0
Denmark	2	Copenhagen	6.7	6.6
Norway	2	Oslo	6.7	6.6
Sweden	2	Gothenburg	6.6	6.4
Slovakia	1	Bratislava	7.7	7.7
Slovenia	1	Ljubljana	7.2	7.2
Spain	1	Madrid	7.2	7.2
Luxembourg	1	Luxembourg City	6.9	6.9
Lithuania	1	Vilnius	6.7	6.7
Northern Ireland	1	Belfast	6.7	6.7
Wales	1	Cardiff	6.6	6.6
Greece	1	Trikala	6.0	6.0
Portugal	1	Óbidos	6.0	6.0
Serbia	1	Belgrade	5.8	5.8
Ireland	1	Dublin	5.4	5.4

How the scores work

Five measures, one number

Every city gets a score from 1 to 10 on each measure, and these weights turn the five into one number out of 10.

30%

Atmosphere

The setting, the lights, the music and traditions, and how it feels after dark.

25%

Stalls

How many there are, and how much is handmade or regional rather than imported.

20%

Food and drink

Regional specialities and whether the food is a reason to go on its own.

15%

Value

Entry fees, the price of the classics and the mug deposit, against normal prices in that country.

10%

Getting there

The walk from the station, the airport link and how close the markets are to each other.

Ties go to atmosphere. If two cities end up on the same score, the one with the better atmosphere ranks higher.

Elbow room is scored, but it isn’t counted. A market shouldn’t lose points for being loved, so the crowd score is there to tell you when to go, not whether to go.

Nobody pays to be on it. Organisers and tourist boards can send corrections to dates and prices, never to scores. The full rubric is on the methodology page.

For journalists and organisers

Use the Index

You’re welcome to quote any score or award. Please link to this page so your readers can see the full ranking and how each score was made.

Won an award? Put your badge on your site. Pick the award, copy the code and paste it where the badge should go.

Award

<a href="https://christmaswanders.com/christmas-market-index/"><img src="https://christmaswanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/index-2026-europes-best.png" alt="ChristmasWanders Index 2026, Europe’s best Christmas market, Strasbourg" width="160" height="160"></a>

Press contact

For the data behind any score, a comment on the results or high-resolution badges, email hello@christmaswanders.com.

Scores checked in October 2026. Every city with a full guide on the site has been visited in person. Dates come from the organisers and stay marked as estimates until they’re confirmed.