If you’re hoping to visit Europe for Christmas markets but have no idea where to start, this post is going to run you through some sample 1 week itineraries that are all a) doable with public transport and b) begin in cities with an international airport…

Because I get it! Planning for a Christmas market trip is stressful, and I’m personally all too familiar with first world problems like: how can you maximize magic with minimal money? How can you taste test treats without tons of time? And how can you abstain from using too much alliteration in your blog post intros?

Well, I’m hoping this post will at least answer those first two questions, with detailed itineraries based on first hand experience after nearly a decade of frolicking Europe’s top markets.

NOTE: I am focusing on itineraries that I have personally done and can recommend so there’s a huge focus on Germany and its neighbouring countries because I used to live in Munich, but I’ve included some other ideas as well based on trips I almost did, or trips I want to save for the future. These itineraries are also VERY ambitious for one week, so I’d recommend tailoring them to your desired pace – most can easily be stretched into ten days or more, but I hope these ideas offer a helpful starting point.

Now, with all that out of the way, let’s get the bauble rolling.

The first itinerary I’m sharing with you is one I’ll call the… 

The Alsace Advent Tour

If it’s sheer magic factor you’re looking for, then a Christmas trip around the Alsace region of France is exactly what you need in your life. 

In this scenic slice of Northeastern France, half-timbered villages in pastel shades, outrageously adorable decor and markets, plus plenty of delicious local wine combine to make an unforgettable festive experience.

This European Christmas Market itinerary is ideal for… those wanting THE most fairytaley, storybookey Christmas market trip that they’ve probably seen countless times on social media, and don’t mind braving crowds to get them.

In brief, here’s how to spend one week exploring Christmas markets in Alsace:

• Day 1: Fly into Strasbourg, Overnight in Strasbourg
• Day 2: Explore Strasbourg’s Christmas Markets and/or a Day Trip to Obernai’s Christmas Market (30 min by train), Overnight in Strasbourg
• Day 3: Take the train to Colmar (30 min), Overnight in Colmar
• Day 4: Explore Colmar’s Christmas Markets and/or a Day Trip (Eguisheim, Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr or Ribeauvillé are all accessible)
• Day 5: Day or Overnight Trip to Nearby Markets in Eguisheim, Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr or Ribeauvillé
• Day 6: Take the Train to Mulhouse, Overnight in Mulhouse
• Day 7: Departure

Day 1:

To begin this itinerary, I would fly into Strasbourg and stay there for two nights.

There are eight main Christmas markets to explore in Strasbourg so that should definitely keep you busy! I’d recommend you start with going to see the amazing Strasbourg Cathedral which yes has its own Christmas market of course... though honestly I don’t find the shopping here to be overly amazing, so this would be a vin chaud (mulled wine) first and foremost.

They do have lots of mulled wine flavours beyond the regular one, so definitely worth trying something a little different.

From here, you can easily walk to many of Strasbourg’s other Christmas markets. If you’re interested in the full scoop, you can check out my full Christmas in Strasbourg post, but I really enjoyed going to Place Gutenberg, which was home to an international guest Christmas market that had a different guest country every year, Lebanon being the guest when I went in 2019. 

I can also recommend the Small Producers of Alsace Christmas Market where they focus on products 100% made in Alsace, which is great if you want a local souvenir. Many of them are food products as well so great for buying gifts.

Day 2:

Now for Day 2, you can stay in Strasbourg if you want – there’s definitely enough to see there, but if you have time, I’d recommend taking the 30 minute train to Obernai to see their Christmas markets. It’s a small town, so it’s very easy to see all the markets in just a few hours, plus they are SO cozy and adorable. Definitely a more low key vibe than Strasbourg and really worth seeing, even if it’s just for the day!

You can then head back to Strasbourg and tick a few more of the markets there off your list. If the timing works out, I can really recommend going to the Alsatian Delicacies Market along the river for sunset. This market has a special focus on local wines and craft beers, so it’s a great place for a drink while the sun comes down. 

Day 3:

Now for Day 3, it’s time to hop on the train to Colmar, which only takes about 30 minutes. We’ll be staying two nights here, so we’ll dedicate our first Colmar day to seeing the six main markets scattered around the city.

There’s really no particular order I’d recommend doing these, but I would say to save the Gourmet Christmas Market for lunch because it’s where they get professional chefs in to make special festive dishes. The options there are super unique and delicious. 

Day 4:

The next day, you can stay in Colmar to explore more markets but I’d recommend you day trip to some of the adorable little villages nearby. Eguisheim, Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr or Ribeauvillé are all accessible picks… but do note some are only open on weekends! 

To reach them easily, you can take one of the Christmas Shuttles from Colmar, though the only one that runs every day is the one to Eguisheim. Be sure to book the shuttle here in advance to avoid disappointment.

Day 5:

Now on Day 5, I’d recommend you visit another one of the nearby villages I mentioned for their markets, because again, they’re really cute and worth seeing. 

If you don’t mind moving your stuff around, I do think staying overnight in one of these small villages can be a really lovely experience. We stayed in Eguisheim in one of those fairytale half timbered houses (this one) and it was amazing. Being able to see these small villages before and after the day trippers arrive is really such a treat and well worth doing. 

If you’d rather not hop around too much, then I’d take the train over to Mulhouse which is only about 30 minutes away and stay there for two nights. 

Mulhouse to me is a super underrated Christmas market destination because it has something I’ve not seen in any other market… a special Christmas fabric that they change annually with a new pattern that is then used all throughout the city’s Christmas market decor. All to pay homage to the city’s textile industry! Super fun.

The city’s Christmas market stalls are mainly found in and around Place de la Réunion, so concentrate your efforts there and maybe take a whirl on the ferris wheel.

Day 6:

Mulhouse is small though, so if you feel like you’ve covered enough ground on your first day there, for Day 6, you can take the train to Basel, Switzerland which is only 20 minutes away. In fact, the cities are so close that they share an airport!

The Christmas markets in Basel are really lovely (the main ones are in Münsterplatz and Barfüsserplatz), and the city itself is beautiful as well. I’ll be discussing Basel’s offerings more in-depth in the Swissmas Bliss itinerary, so feel free to scroll down to that for more ideas.

Of course, you could also opt to stay two nights in Basel rather than Mulhouse, but accommodation is much cheaper in Mulhouse because it’s France rather than pricey Switzerland, so I’d say Mulhouse is overall better value.

Day 7:

Departure – time to head back to your departure airport, ticking off some final must-sees along the way. I’ve left the final day as a flex day for each itinerary just to make sure you have enough time to get to the airport, but if you have more time to play with, then feel free to lengthen your time in some of the other stops, or possibly add on another day trip!

The Festive Frankfurt and Friends Itinerary 

Next: let’s talk about a Christmas market itinerary that starts in Frankfurt! This is often a VERY popular request due to how many international flights stop there, and while Frankfurt itself isn’t my favourite for Christmas markets, it is very well connected to other main cities and hubs, so you can still put together a very magical itinerary.

This European Christmas Market itinerary is ideal for… those flying to Frankfurt for its major international airport/affordable prices, and are keen to explore a mix of popular and more offbeat markets.

In brief, here’s how to spend one week exploring Christmas markets in and around Frankfurt:

• Day 1: Fly into Frankfurt, Overnight in Frankfurt
• Day 2: Frankfurt or Day Trip to Mainz (45 min by train)
• Day 3: Train to Stuttgart (45 min), Overnight in Stuttgart 
• Day 4: Explore Stuttgart or Day Trip (Ludwigsburg, Esslingen or Tübingen)
• Day 5: Train to Munich (2h), Optional Detour to Ulm, Overnight in Munich
• Day 6: Explore Munich or Day Trip
• Day 7: Departure

Day 1:

For this itinerary, I’m assuming you fly into Frankfurt (which is a smart move for flight deals). To start, I’d recommend you stay there for two nights. 

On Day One, I’d advise just staying in Frankfurt to explore the main Christmas markets around the city. The biggest one is at Römerberg which is pretty much the only place in Frankfurt you get that storybook feel because most of the city is quite modern.

A perk of that though are some unique modern markets like the rooftop one at the City Beach Rooftop which has great skyline views, so I would recommend going there for sunset. 

There’s also Frankfurt’s own pink Christmas market celebrating the city’s LGBTQ+ community, which has a super fun vibe in the evening.

Day 2:

On your second day, you can either explore more of Frankfurt, or if you’re looking for a cutesier more storybook Christmas market then I can definitely recommend you take the day trip down to Mainz which is about 45 minutes away by train. 

This city is really beautiful and it has several markets to explore, the main one being in Marktplatz with its glittering canopy of lights.

Day 3:

Now on Day 3, we’re going to take the train to Stuttgart which takes 2 hours, and we will be based there for two nights. Stuttgart as a city isn’t the prettiest, but it has excellent train connections and actually some really nice Christmas markets.

The City Hall for instance becomes a giant Advent Calendar and the stalls are really nicely decorated because they do a competition for best decorations every year. They also have a Nordic themed market and a few others (read my full Stuttgart Christmas market guide for more info).

So, spend your third day exploring all these main sights, and soaking in the festive ambiance.

Day 4:

Now, your fourth day will be all about visiting some of the adorable little markets in villages nearby.

Stuttgart is surrounded by cute places, so you have a tough choice ahead of you…

A must do for Christmas markets in my opinion is Esslingen. Just ten minutes on the train from Stuttgart and you’ll find yourself in this adorable half timbered town straight out of a snowglobe. During the festive season, they run two different Christmas markets, a regular traditional one and a medieval one that goes all out with theme commitment.

Another one of my favourites is Ludwigsburg, a Baroque town known for its palace and beautiful architecture. It’s only 10 minutes away by regional train with a really lovely market in its central square and also (quite randomly) the world’s largest piggy bank, as well as a beautiful palace.

Or, there’s also Tübingen which is about an hour away from Stuttgart by train. I personally think this town is SO underrated – with the most adorable pastel houses and picturesque views. The only trouble is their Christmas market is on really limited dates so be sure to check them in advance. They do also host a giant chocolate festival in the winter too so if your timing aligns with that, it’s worth checking out!

Tough decisions I know, which is why I said having more than a week would of course be ideal.

Day 5:

Now for the last two nights of the trip, we’re going to visit my beloved Munich. So hop on the train! With a fast one, it only takes 2 hours.

Along the way I should say if you’re up for a fun side quest, the train does stop in Ulm which is home to the tallest cathedral in the word, with a steeple that’s 161.5m. It’s only a 12 minute walk from the train station so if you want to see it, they also do a Christmas market in front, which might make it a nice lunch stop if you leave your luggage at a train station locker.

If that sounds like too much, then no worries – you can head straight to Munich and spend two nights there. I’ll be talking about Munich in the next itinerary, so just to avoid repeating myself too much, keep reading and you can apply those first two days of the next itinerary to round off your itinerary here.

This one is based on Bavaria so welcome to the…

Bauble-varia Advent Tour 

Now I am clearly SO biased because I used to live there, but Munich is honestly one of the best cities in the world for Christmas markets.

And while this really isn’t a secret among tourists, there ARE a lot of nice markets and cities in Bavaria that can be overlooked by visitors even though they’re… right there. So, this itinerary will combine the powerhouse Christmas cities of Munich and Nuremberg, with plenty of cute day trip ideas to help you get a well-rounded festive experience.

This European Christmas Market itinerary is ideal for… those who want a slower paced itinerary that covers the magical region of Bavaria in-depth.

Here’s how to spend a week exploring Christmas markets in and around Munich:

• Day 1: Fly into Munich, overnight in Munich
• Day 2: Munich, overnight in Munich
• Day 3: Munich or Day Trip (e.g. Salzburg, Augsburg, or Chiemsee for their island market), overnight in Munich
• Day 4: Train to Nuremberg (1.5h), overnight in Nuremberg
• Day 5: Nuremberg or Day Trip (e.g. Bamberg, Regensburg or Würzburg), overnight in Nuremberg
• Day 6: Nuremberg or Day Trip (e.g. Bamberg, Regensburg or Würzburg), overnight in Nuremberg
• Day 7: Departure

Day 1:

On the first day, I’d recommend exploring the classic tourist sights in Munich around the Altstadt, which is conveniently home to many of the more traditional Christmas markets in Munich. 

The Christmas Market in Marienplatz is a classic, so definitely check that one off first but there are way more to see in the area. From there, you can easily walk over to the Residenz Weihnachtsdorf which is in the courtyard of a former palace, lots of great food in here… and then ideally after dark, you can head over to the Medieval Market in Witteslbacherplatz, which is so unique and fun. You can even get drinks in goblets of fire, so very worth doing. 

Day 2:

Your second day, I would set aside for visiting some of the more alternative Christmas markets in Munich – you can check out my full Munich Christmas Market Guide for more ideas, but staying along the U3/U6 U-Bahn Line can actually be really handy for this. 

Here is a map from my friends at Bored in Munich that breaks down which markets you can find at each U-Bahn station.

Starting at Münchner Freiheit Ü-Bahn Station, there’s the Schwabinger Weihnachtsmarkt which is focused on local artists, so a great opportunity to score some handmade gifts that you know were made in the area.

From there, you’re one stop away from the Universität U-Bahn station. A short walk from there, you can reach the Chinese Tower Christmas Market which is a really atmospheric place to stop for lunch. 

Then you can hop back on the U-Bahn until Sendlinger Tor station, which has an okay-ish little market right there, but the better one to visit is the Pink Christmas Market in the Glockenbachviertel which celebrates the local LGBTQ community. Definitely come here after sunset to see it all lit up pink!

From here, you’re super close to a few of Munich’s top alternative spots – like the MS Utting and Bahnwärter Thiel which host little markets on certain dates.

If you’re short on time though, I would end the night at Winter Tollwood, which takes place on the grounds of Oktoberfest and is full of stalls and tents selling everything you can imagine, with an emphasis on fair trade, unique, handmade goods, and all organic food from around the world.

The vibe here is definitely more alternative and party-like than a typical Christmas Market, and they stay open pretty late, so it’s a very fun place to end the night.

Day 3:

On Day 3, you could continue exploring Munich or do a day trip if you want – there are loads. Salzburg is an easy one that’s about an hour and a half away. They have some really nice markets and of course it’s Sound of Music central, which inexplicably adds an extra festive touch for me. Augsburg is another popular pick.

I’ve also heard great things about the market on the island of Frauenchiemsee, which is actually the only island Christmas market in Germany. Do note though that it’s only open on two weekends. 

Day 4:

Now on your fourth day, we’re going to take the train to Nuremberg and spend three nights there as well.

Now, full transparency: Nuremberg is often considered one of THE great German Christmas Market destinations, but to be completely honest with you it’s not my favourite because it can get SO SO busy during peak periods and I found many of the stalls just sold mass produced goods manufactured abroad…

BUT I do recommend going to see it for this itinerary because the city itself is beautiful and it makes a great base for visiting other super nice cities in the region.

The main market here is at the Hauptmarkt, but there are also smaller markets including a Sister Cities Market where there’s stalls from Nuremberg’s many sister cities, and often the proceeds here go to local charities. 

Days 5 – 6:

You could of course spend all three days in Nuremberg because there’s quite a few interesting historical attractions in addition to their Christmas markets, but the main reason I recommend staying there is for its proximity to other great cities… so consider adding a day trip or two to your itinerary!

Bamberg is one of my personal favourites that’s an hour away – this underrated city is a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s home to some stunning medieval architecture… and some rather infamous smoked beer that is well worth a sip.

Regensburg is another option that’s an hour away – this is a gorgeous city with a real fairytale vibe, especially at the Romantic Christmas Market at Schloss Thurn und Taxis, which is one of my favourite Christmas markets to visit in Germany.

Würzburg is another nice option accessible by train, though I haven’t personally been. Let me know in the comments though if you can vouch for it!

Day 7:

Departure – time to head back to your departure airport, ticking off some final must-sees along the way. NOTE: Nuremberg does have a nice little airport too servicing many budget airlines, so it’s worth looking into flights from there for your departure if you’re heading onwards to another destination in Europe.

Now onto the next itinerary which includes Belgium and Germany so I’m calling it the…

Jingle Belgiumany Jaunt

With the quaint charm of smaller markets in Aachen and Monschau sandwiched by the grandeur of big city markets in Cologne and Brussels, this European Christmas Market itinerary is ideal for… those in search of an action-packed schedule that covers a range of destinations.

Here’s how to spend one week exploring Christmas markets in Germany and Belgium:

• Day 1: Fly into Cologne, overnight in Cologne
• Day 2: Cologne
• Day 3: Take the train to Aachen (1h), Overnight in Aachen
• Day 4: Day Trip to Monschau, Overnight in Aachen
• Day 5: Train to Brussels (2.5h), Overnight in Brussels
• Day 6: Explore Brussels or Day Trip (Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are all within an hour or so distance) 
• Day 7: Departure

Day 1:

So first you’re going to fly into Cologne, and spend two nights there. 

The Christmas markets in this city are truly amazing and some of my personal favourites. There are 6 themed markets that are open consistently throughout the season, along with some smaller ones. 

You can check out my full Cologne Christmas Market Guide for more ideas, but I’d recommend you start with the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market because the backdrop is truly epic.

This cathedral is hands down the most famous landmark in the city, and is a Gothic masterpiece that took 6 centuries to complete. Head inside, gawk away, then afterwards maybe grab your first mulled wine to enjoy with a view. Overall though, I would say the shopping and food vendors here aren’t great, and it is wildly busy so it’s a good place to tick off the list early. 

PS: I would generally recommend you do all your Christmas market shopping during the day because these markets get SO busy in the evening. 

Out of the main ones, I think the Harbour Christmas Market and Stadtgarten Christmas Market are both good ones to do during the day because shopping is more the focus at these ones.

On the other hand, ones I would save for the evening include the Heinzels Wintermärchen Market in the Old Town, and the Markt der Engel in the Neumarkt because these just come alive at night. 

All that said, at some point, do be sure to return to the Cathedral too to see it at night – it’s really special.

Day 2:

Now, on your second day, you could easily spend the whole day exploring more of Cologne and its markets.

If you’re feeling ambitious however, you could also do a day trip. There are loads of places you can get to easily by train. From Cologne, Bonn is 30 minutes away and quite pretty, with some nice markets in the center, plus one really small but cute medieval market just outside of the city in Siegburg. 

Düsseldorf is another possibility, the fastest trains can get you there in less than 30 minutes and there’s seven main markets there to explore if you want to diversify. You can easily explore them all on foot in a few hours, especially once you’re in the Old Town, but my personal favourite is the Engelchenmarkt (Angels Market).

Day 3:

Now, after two solid days exploring the markets in and around Cologne, it’s time to hop on the train to Aachen, where we’ll spend the next two nights.

Aachen is a city known for its cathedral, one of the world’s first ever UNESCO Heritage sites, with an epic chapel that is home to Charlemagne’s throne and remains, and some parts of the cathedral that are over 1000 years old.

They’re also famous for their Printen gingerbread cookies, making it a perfectly festive destination. 

Aachen is small, so seeing the main markets here is super easy – you’ll find pretty much all the stalls between the cathedral and the city hall, which are the two main sights anyway, so kind of just explore at your leisure and look out for their mascot who is indeed a giant Printen man.

Day 4:

From Aachen, a very easy day trip you can do by bus is to Monschau, which is one of the cutest villages in Germany and well worth checking out.

Not only is the backdrop impossibly picturesque, they also have some really cute Christmas market stalls and decorations all throughout!

Days 5 – 6:

Now for the last two nights of this itinerary, we’re going to head over to Brussels, the capital of Belgium for a final festive frolic.

Brussels is only about 1.5 hours from Aachen if you hop on a high speed train. And while I don’t think Brussels is necessarily the nicest city in Belgium, they do go all out for the festive season so it’s a great base for that and they also have an international airport to fly out if you wish. 

Now, you could definitely spend the entire two days exploring Brussels and its Christmas scene, with a city wide festival known as the Brussels Winter Wonders that includes various pop up markets, installations and a light show at Grand Place.

But Belgium is also a small country and it’s easy to day trip to a bunch of other cities from Brussels so definitely consider that as well – Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are all within a one hour train ride!

Day 7:

Departure – time to head back to your departure airport, ticking off some final must-sees along the way.

The Capital Christmas Crawl

The next itinerary on the list is called the Christmas Capital Crawl, because it includes two European capitals, Berlin and Prague as well as Dresden… which is the capital of my heart!

This European Christmas Market itinerary is ideal if… Your goal is to avoid repetitive Christmas market fatigue.

With over 60 different markets in Berlin alone, some truly stunning traditional markets in Dresden, and the unbeatable backdrops of Prague, this European Christmas Market itinerary is perfect for those wanting a bit of everything, combining the unique and alternative market selection in Berlin with the quintessential German Christmas market experience in Dresden, finishing off with a stop in the stunning city of Prague.

Here’s how to spend a week exploring Christmas markets with this itinerary:

• Day 1: Fly into Berlin, Overnight in Berlin
• Day 2: Explore Berlin, Overnight in Berlin
• Day 3: Take the train to Dresden (2h), Overnight in Dresden
• Day 4: Explore Dresden, Overnight in Dresden
• Day 5: Take the bus to Prague (2h), Overnight in Prague
• Day 6: Explore Prague, Overnight in Prague
• Day 7: Departure

Days 1 & 2:

So for this itinerary, here’s what I recommend: first you fly into Berlin and stay there for two nights. 

I’ll admit, this really isn’t a lot of time for Berlin, and I would recommend staying longer if you have the time, but two nights is the minimum I would do.

Now, do beware that there’s over 60 Christmas markets taking place in Berlin during the festive period, so it can be overwhelming to plan.

With only two days, I’d say you should prioritize the touristy sights you want to see, then pick Christmas markets near them, because Berlin is really spread out so you’ll need to bundle up your sights in order to travel around efficiently. Plus, to be honest, you will see much prettier traditional Christmas markets in Dresden, so the main appeal of Berlin is how many unique choices you have! 

All that said, for your first day, I’d recommend a combination of sightseeing and shopping at markets. 

In Mitte, the central part of Berlin, there are some markets I actually prefer to see during the day because the backdrops are nice! Examples of these include the Rotes Rathaus Christmas Market and the one at Alexanderplatz, which are pretty close together. 

Admittedly, the Alexanderplatz one doesn’t really sell much that’s worthwhile (mainly souvenirs). It is fun for some food and drink though, and to see the iconic Berlin TV Tower up close. 

Then in the evening, there are some main tourist spots that are nicely decorated for Christmas and worth checking out, like the Brandenburg Gate and Sony Centre.

And for a classic Christmas market experience, I do really like the one at Gendarmenmarkt, though beware that they charge a small entry fee, so be prepared! They usually have a great entertainment programme here, so I’d say staying here for the evening is a good bet. 

If you are spending time in West Berlin, a good pick for the daytime is the Kaiser Wilhelm Church Christmas Market which has a lot of nice local products.

Then from there, you’re close to Schloss Charlottenburg. So be sure to head there and enjoy the royal backdrops and fun atmosphere.

If you find the time, do try to visit the Nordic-themed Lucia Christmas Market at some point as well, it’s one of my favourites and is really cozy in the evening. 

That’s plenty to fill two days but do remember to check the official Visit Berlin website schedule to find any smaller nicher markets as well, because that’s where Berlin really shines.

Days 3 & 4:

Now on Day 3, we’re going to take the train to Dresden, which is about two hours… and we’ll be spending two nights there as well.

Dresden is a beautiful city that’s home to many impressive records, including the world’s tallest Christmas pyramid, the world’s largest walk-in candle arch and one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, the Striezelmarkt, celebrating its 590th anniversary this year.

Luckily, unlike Berlin, it’s a compact city so two days is a great amount of time to explore.

In addition to the historic Striezelmarkt, there’s also an impressive medieval market held in a royal courtyard, some nice markets around the iconic Frauenkirche, as well as some niche markets like an international one with food options from around the world. 

The Striezelmarkt, medieval market and Frauenkirche are all within walking distance of each other, so I’d recommend visiting them all in the day and night to get the full experience.

Oh, and a great local specialty to try here is Handbrot, which translates to Hand Bread and is basically just a bready pillow stuffed with cheese.

Overall, I think two days is perfect for discovering Dresden’s top sights and markets, though there are of course day trip options too for that second day if you feel restless. I’ve heard great things about Görlitz, which is about an hour and ten minutes away by train.

Days 5 & 6:

On Day 5, we’re heading to Prague, where we’ll be staying for two nights.

Honestly, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the Christmas markets in Prague themselves aren’t as spectacular as some others you’ll see in Europe, especially if you’re comparing them to Dresden.

… Buuut simply put, Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, so while you’re in the area, it’s worth coming here to see it.

The main Christmas market in Prague can be found in Old Town Square where the backdrop is admittedly stunning, but the stalls tend to sell more souvenir-like goods and some of the food stalls can be quite deceptive as well, selling meats by the 100g for instance to trick you into paying huge amounts… so definitely be careful!

Stalls can also be found near main tourist areas like Wenceslas Square and Republic Square but the best most popular venue is probably up at Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in the world.

Though if you want a cute local vibe, be sure to venture a bit farther out to the one at Náměstí Míru which I found had a much better selection of gifts.

Overall, I would treat the markets as a nice addition to your Prague visit rather than as the main star of the show, so be sure to check out my full things to do in Prague post for more ideas.

Day 7:

Departure – time to head back to your departure airport, ticking off some final must-sees along the way.

The Swissmas Bliss Itinerary

Now, while it’s not as well-known for Christmas markets as some of its neighbours, I’d say Switzerland does the festive season beautifully, and this itinerary is proof!

This European Christmas Market itinerary is ideal for… those who want a varied Christmas market itinerary while also enjoying some gorgeous natural landscapes.

• Day 1: Fly into Basel, Overnight in Basel
• Day 2: Explore Basel, Overnight in Basel
• Day 3: Train to Zurich (1h), Overnight in Zurich
• Day 4: Explore Zurich, Overnight in Zurich 
• Day 5: Train to Lucerne, Overnight in Lucerne
• Day 6: Train to Montreux or Lausanne, Overnight There
• Day 7: Departure

Day 1:

We’ll start this trip by flying into Basel which is (fun fact) one of only a few airports in the world to be jointly administered by different countries, so do beware that when you exit, there is a France exit and a Switzerland exit.

For this trip, we’ll be going through the Switzerland exit and spending two nights in Basel. What’s cool about Basel is when you stay overnight, you get a free thing called a Basel Card that gives you public transport for free and a bunch of other perks, so definitely grab one of those! Usually they’re provided upon check in.

Now, one highlight of Basel any time of year is the stunning red sandstone Town Hall, a 500 year old beauty decked in colourful frescoes. In front of this landmark, you’ll find Basel’s city market, which isn’t a festive market in itself, but has lots of nice stalls selling produce and food. 

While here, you definitely don’t want to miss going to the inner courtyard of the Town Hall which is not only beautiful, but also home to one of the city’s most adorable traditions, the Basel Wish Book, where people from all over the world write in their Advent wishes for the year.

Now, Basel is very compact, so I’d recommend spending your first day just exploring the Old Town, seeing the sights, then at 5pm, head to Theater Basel, where from Dec 1 – 24 they host an  Advent Calendar every year with performances of opera, ballet, and more. 

After that, I’d spend the evening meandering around Basel’s main Christmas markets, which are located in Münsterplatz and Barfüsserplatz.

In addition to these markets though there are also plenty of stalls to explore in the Old Town streets between these squares, along with a variety of different Christmas programs around the city.

Day 2:

For Day 2, you can stay in Basel or potentially head out on a day trip if you want to see some more places. Within an hour by train you could head to Freiburg in Germany, Mulhouse or Colmar in France and of course many other places in Switzerland. 

I do think there’s enough in Basel for two days but If your goal is to see as many markets as possible, that’s something to consider. 

Day 3:

On Day 3, we’re going to hop on the train to Zurich and spend two nights there. 

Zurich has five main Christmas markets scattered around the city and the magic starts right when you arrive at the train station, where there’s the Christkindlimarkt known for its 10m tall Christmas tree and over 100 stalls. I’d recommend a quick browse around here before heading to your accommodation and getting settled.

Then, I’d recommend spending the day in Old Town, where you can admire the cute architecture and also visit the Dörfli Weinachtsmarkt along with the many local shops in the area.

Then in the early evening, make sure you go to Werdmühleplatz where they have a singing Christmas tree that they fill up with choirs from around the country, theres’ performances every day at 5:30pm and 6:30pm, with a few extra performances from Friday to Sunday.

There’s a lot of shopping opportunities near here, all along the main shopping strip of Bahnhofstrasse, with a set of pretty illuminations and lights that locals refer to as Lucy. 

I’d recommend you end your evening at the the Zurich Viennese Village (Wienachtsdorf), which is by the opera house. This is probably the prettiest Christmas market in the city, with a great atmosphere.

Day 4:

Now, for day 4 you can keep it chill by staying in Zurich and seeing more sights and markets, or you can go out to explore some more markets nearby like the ones in Winterthur, Rapperswil-Jona or Ensiedeln.

But as always with smaller markets, make sure to double check opening hours and dates because often these aren’t open everyday.

Day 5 – 7:

For Day 5, I admit this part of the itinerary gets faster paced, so do modify it to your preference but there’s a method to my madness, I promise!!

For this portion of the trip, I recommend you take the train from Zurich to Lucerne which takes less than an hour.

Then, I would just spend the day in Lucerne, falling hopelessly in love.

This beautiful lakeside city is known for its unique Chapel Bridge, which is the oldest covered bridge in Europe, and it does also have a few Christmas markets of its own too, the main one being the Lucerne Christmas Market at Franziskanerplatz.

Most importantly though, if you spend the night in Lucerne, then you can take the most amazing train ride to our final stop in Montreux: the Golden Pass, which has historically been split into three legs:

• Lucerne to Interlaken
• Interlaken to Zweisimmen
• Zweisimmen to Montreux

A few years ago, they realized this was confusing and started rolling out a more direct express route and now the portion from Lucerne no longer is branded as ‘GoldenPass’.

BUT in any case, you can still DIY this journey from Lucerne… which is well worth it for the journey from Zweisimmen to Montreux, because on that leg, you can take the stunning GoldenPass Belle Epoque train in first class, which is hands down one of my favourite scenic train journeys in Switzerland.

This is what the first class cabins look like:

Granted, this option takes a while but if you’re a fan of beautiful train rides like me, I’d say it’s worth it.

Plus the lakeside Christmas market in Montreux is just SO dreamy and well worth seeing. As far as Christmas market settings go, this one is tough to beat.

Now, if you’re not too bothered about doing the scenic train ride then another possibility is taking the train direct from Lucerne to Lausanne which is just over 2 hours. You can then either stay in Lausanne or hop on the 20 minute train from there to Montreux. 

Now, the Christmas markets in Lausanne are nice, but they definitely have more of a modern vibe rather than a cozy traditional market feel, so if I had to choose between the two, it’s Montreux all the way. 

And from there you can also visit Chateau de Chillon, which is what Prince Eric’s castle in the little mermaid was based off of, and you’re only an hour ish away from Geneva’s international airport.

Again this is quite an ambitious itinerary and probably best if you have a bit more than a week to play with but I think it gives you a nice overview of Switzerland’s best Christmassy destinations. 

A Very British Christmas 

Lastly we have an itinerary that’s really best for people who are keen to see London at Christmas time, because I’ll be honest with you, in the grand landscape of European Christmas Markets, the ones in England aren’t really comparable. 

But London does the festive season like no other so here’s an itinerary for you!

• Day 1: Fly into London, Overnight in London
• Day 2: Explore London, Overnight in London
• Day 3: Explore London OR Day Trip to Oxford & Blenheim Palace or Hampton Court Palace, Overnight in London 
• Day 4: Explore London, Overnight in London 
• Day 5: Train to Bath or Birmingham, Overnight in Bath or Birmingham
• Day 6: Train to Bath or Birmingham, Overnight in Bath or Birmingham 
• Day 7: Departure

Days 1 – 3:

For this one, we’re going to spend four nights in London first.

It’s tough to do less than this in London because there’s just so much to see. If you need ideas on things to do, be sure to check out these guides…

• The Best Things to do in London
• London 3 Day Itinerary
• Christmas in London guide

I think where London really thrives is its festive decor, so no matter how you plan your itinerary, make sure you spend an evening doing the rounds exploring the main festive areas around Mayfair and Soho.

My pro tip for you though is to shop during the day and then go to see the lights at night after shops have closed. It is way less busy when there are no shops open!

You should also consider walking on streets parallel to the main ones too if the crowds get to be too much. For instance, Jermyn St is a nice alternative to the chaos of Oxford St. 

Another important London Christmas tip is to plan your London itinerary first around the main tourist sights you want to see, then seeing the Christmas markets around them because honestly the markets in London are just fine and not really worth going out of your way to explore.

Luckily they’re usually positioned near main tourist sights anyway, like by Tower Bridge along the Thames or in Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.

In any case, there is more than enough to fill your first three days in London so I would focus on fun things to do in the city first.

… Especially venturing out to other neighbourhoods too! Chelsea and Knightsbridge for instance usually go all out for the holidays.

Day 4:

Next, on Day 4, I would recommend more London time or a day trip of some kind. 

Oxford is a really great pick that’s less than an hour away by train.

This historic university town is full of dreamy stone facades as well as a little Christmas market of its own… but I would recommend it more for its proximity to Blenheim Palace, which is the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and somewhere that goes all out for Christmas, with a little Christmas market on the grounds and a fun festive light trail. 

But not only that, they decorate the interior according to a new theme every year, so it’s really worth checking out… it’s only a 20 minute drive from Oxford or about an hour if you take the bus and then walk.

Another potential day trip is Hampton Court Palace which is infamously the home of Henry VIiI, among others. The palace is not only super interesting history-wise though, they also have their own Christmas markets and skating rink on the grounds. You can get there from London in about an hour.

Days 5 – 7:

Now, for the second part of this itinerary I’m gonna give you two options just because it kind of depends on what the priority for your trip is.

Option A is then spending two nights in Bath. This is my personal preference because Bath is one of my favourite cities in England and their Christmas market is actually really nice with the iconic Bath Abbey in the background. They also prioritize local makers in their stalls too so the products you get are usually local and handmade. 

Option B is spending two nights in Birmingham. This might seem like a weird suggestion to anyone who is familiar with England but the reason is because Birmingham is actually home to the largest German style Christmas market outside of Central Europe, so if you want to get a German Christmas market feeling during your trip, Birmingham is probably the better choice. 

As far as recreating the German Christmas market experience, they do a good job, with many of the same stalls and food/drink options available… with a British twist though which is how I ended up drinking an ice cold beer in the November cold!

There’s also some unique attractions in the vicinity like the Black Country Living Museum which goes all out for Christmas, as well as Cadbury World.

Other One Week Christmas Market Itinerary Ideas

Of course, with SO many amazing Christmas markets in Europe, there are a million more potential itineraries… so here are a few more for your reference.

As I haven’t done each of these personally, I won’t go into as much detail as with the others, but hopefully these sample itineraries will give you a starting point for planning.

Jingle Bell-gian Bliss Itinerary: Ideal for many destinations in one small area.

• Day 1: Fly into Brussels, Overnight in Brussels
• Day 2: Brussels or Antwerp Day Trip, Overnight in Brussels
• Day 3: Train to Bruges (1h), Overnight in Bruges
• Day 4: Bruges, Overnight in Bruges
• Day 5: Train to Ghent (30 min), Overnight in Ghent
• Day 6: Ghent, Overnight in Ghent
• Day 7: Departure

Nordic Christmas: Ideal for Christmas markets with a cozy Nordic twist!

• Day 1: Fly into Copenhagen, Overnight in Copenhagen
• Day 2: Explore Copenhagen, Overnight in Copenhagen
• Day 3: Day trip to Kronborg Castle, Overnight in Copenhagen
• Day 4: Fly (1h 10 min) or take the train (5.5h) to Stockholm, Overnight in Stockholm
• Day 5: Stockholm, Overnight in Stockholm
• Day 6: Stockholm, Overnight in Stockholm
• Day 7: Departure

Austrian Advent Tour: Ideal for a mix of popular and more offbeat Christmas markets.

• Day 1: Fly into Salzburg, Overnight in Salzburg
• Day 2: Salzburg Day Trip (e.g. Munich, Hallstatt), Overnight in Salzburg
• Day 3: Train to Vienna (2h 50min), Overnight in Vienna
• Day 4: Vienna, Overnight in Vienna
• Day 5: Train to Graz (2.5h), Overnight in Graz
• Day 6: Graz, Overnight in Graz
• Day 7: Departure

Danube Capital Crawl

• Day 1: Fly into Vienna, Overnight in Vienna
• Day 2: Vienna, Overnight in Vienna,
• Day 3: Vienna or Day Trip, Overnight in Vienna
• Day 4: Bus or Train to Bratislava (1h), Overnight in Bratislava
• Day 5: Train to Budapest (2.5h), Overnight in Budapest
• Day 6: Budapest, Overnight in Budapest
• Day 7: Departure

I Hope You Enjoyed This List of Christmas Market Itineraries!

Feel free to share your own personal itineraries in the comments to help out your fellow travellers!