Do NOT go to Christmas markets in Europe this year…. without reading this first!

When it comes to frolicking around Europe in a melty puddle of Yuletide joy, there are many common mistakes that first timers make… inevitably costing them time, money, and stress.

Luckily, you’re here, so that won’t be you! I hope you enjoy this list of mistakes and what-not-to-dos, curated after living in Germany for over five years, visiting a frightening number of Christmas markets along the way.

1. Only doing your research in English

This first one is a biggie, so listen up: make sure you aren’t exclusively doing your Christmas market research in English!

Just FYI: unless we’re talking about the biggest and most famous Christmas markets (that are known to attract tourists in droves), most Christmas markets in Europe actually have much better resources available online in the local language.

Not only are these more up to date, they’re also usually more thorough as well compared to the English pages (when they do exist).

So, a really great trick if you’re struggling to find good information is using Google Translate to search what you’re looking for and then browsing local language versions of event websites.

BONUS TIP: I love using Google Chrome as my web browser because it auto-translates easily!

2. Blindly trusting the dates you find online

Christmas market dates in Europe not only vary from market to market, but also change every year because they tend to be anchored around shifting dates like Advent weekends or around days of the week, e.g. ‘the last Friday of November’ for instance.

But because dates change every year, this means there are a lot of outdated pages online… or some that just change the year or predict dates without an official announcement or confirmation. 

So, be very careful when using third party sites while planning your trip. I always triple check and make sure the dates I’ve found come from an official source or cite an official source like the actual event website or the local tourism board. 

3. Assuming markets are open every day

Another thing: never assume that markets will be open every day, no matter what their dates say.

Often with Christmas market dates, they give the dates as a set block like November 29 – December 24… which ignores that there are some days that the market might be closed. 

In some smaller towns, the markets will only be open on weekends for instance… or will have quiet days like Monday and Tuesday off. So, make sure you always look at the specific opening hours page to find the days that the market is open, rather than assuming it’ll be open for that entire duration.

4. Assuming Christmas market dates are the same across one destination

People tend to talk about Christmas markets in each city like there’s just one. Like “oh, I’m going to the Berlin Christmas market!” when in reality, there’s actually over 60 different markets by various organizers that take place throughout the festive season in Berlin.

And while dates often have overlap, it’s important to note they can differ, so make sure you’re looking into dates for each specific market you want to go to, rather than assuming they’re the same across the board.

5. Only visiting the most famous markets you’ve heard of in big cities 

You should also be wary of visiting only the biggest most popular Christmas markets during your visit!

Especially in countries where Christmas market traditions are popular, like in Central Europe, almost every city, town and village will have their own Christmas markets, so be sure to diversify your itinerary a bit and also seek out smaller markets – often these are the best ones.

Bonus tip: I find that searching in the local language and perusing listings on regional tourism boards can be very helpful in finding some of these smaller markets. 

6. Visiting only on weekends or peak times 

You don’t need me (a random yapper on the Internet) to tell you that Christmas market season can be absurdly busy… and trust me: there is nothing magical about being wedged in sweaty, Goretex-laden crowds with zero room to shimmy.

And while crowds are inevitable at bigger, more popular Christmas markets, there ARE ways you can minimize crowds… and that is to avoid going at off-peak times, meaning weekdays and during the day.

Yes, the vibes are generally more atmospheric at night, but if you want to actually do any shopping, I’ll tend to do that during the day and save evenings for some mulled wine strolling or a quick bite.

7. Forgetting cash or card, depending on where you go 

Confusing tip, but let me clarify!

People often speak about Europe like it’s just one huge monolith, but there are important differences depending on the specific region you’re visiting, especially when it comes to payment options.

So, remember to research specifically for your trip’s destinations. 

For instance, generally speaking, cash is still king at traditional Central European Christmas markets like in Germany, Austria & France… though vendors are increasingly starting to take cards.

While in the Nordic countries and across the UK, some places actually don’t accept cash at all and are card only.

So yes, make no assumptions and do your research!

8. Getting duped into buying mass-produced goods 

Unfortunately at many of the popular Christmas market destinations, certainly at the main markets, you’ll see vendors who sell mass produced goods that are often of lower quality, rather than handmade artisanal gifts.

So if this is something that matters to you, then I have some tips.

First, instead of committing to buy something right away, do a few laps, preferably at different markets and you’ll be much better able to spot the mass produced stuff because you’ll see it over and over. 

Another good trick is to look for products that are specific to that region as well, and even specifically seeking out handmade markets. 

Many larger cities will have these specialty markets where vendors must specifically sell things they personally made, so that’s a good way to make sure you’re getting a handmade product. 

You can also look out for things like business cards and signs that specifically give the name of a producer or craftsperson – that’s usually a good sign too.

9. Forgetting to dress in layers 

On any Christmas market trip, there’s inevitably many fluctuations in body temperature, whether it’s going from the hotel to the market outside, going from a warm restaurant to the outdoor stalls, etc.

All to say, if you want to be comfortable, make sure you’re dressing layers that are easy to remove so you can adjust your temperature as needed, rather than one super warm sweater and nothing underneath. 

Generally, when I layer for Christmas markets I’ll do a thermal base layer top, a warmer sweater on top, sometimes a puffy down vest if it’s very cold, then a waterproof jacket.

10. Forgetting a tote bag 

If you plan on doing any kind of shopping at the Christmas markets in Europe, it always makes sense to have a reusable bag with you of some kind. 

Most vendors tend to just wrap up your purchases and won’t have big bags for you, so it’s good to bring your own. 

I love totes because they can hold a lot and you can easily throw your gloves or scarf in there too when you need to. 

11. Trying only generic foods, rather than local specialties

One of the most exciting things about visiting Christmas markets around Europe is seeing what each one does in terms of food.

While there are definitely recurring Christmas market foods like mulled wine and sausages, most of the time there will be special goodies that are unique to that region, so definitely branch out and research specifically for where you go, rather than just eating sausages everywhere you go…

Though that sounds like a pretty decent time to me as well.

12. Forgetting sanitizer and sanitizer wipes 

Another important FYI: Many classic Christmas market foods are hand held and sticky, whether because of sauce, wine, sugar, or whatever… so it’s always good to have some wipes on you, as well as some hand sanitizer so you can sanitize your hands before you dig in. 

Most markets will have napkins but that often doesn’t do the job too well for bigger messes.

13. Forgetting a water bottle 

You’ll definitely be walking a lot during your Christmas market trip, plus many Christmas market foods will leave you thirsty.

So, overall – it’s a smart idea to BYOW – bring your own water… especially because free water isn’t a super common thing that Christmas market stalls will hand out. 

14. Assuming the price of food and drink is what you’ll pay

If you find yourself paying more than the stated price on your food and drink, don’t panic.

Oftentimes, traditional Christmas markets will charge a deposit on your mugs and also plates and cutlery if they use them, and this comes on top of the price you see on the boards, often resulting in a higher price tag of a few euros when it comes time to pay.

Reminder: Generally, when you pay a deposit on anything, they will give you a token so that when you return the mug or plate, you give them the token as well to get your money back. This helps deter people from just swiping mugs around the market for profit.

15. Expecting a seat when you get food 

Like to sit while you slurp? Unfortunately, sit down eating areas are not very common at traditional Christmas markets, as many of the stalls are takeout only. 

More common are perching areas with standing tables where you’re expected to stand and eat, so just beware of that. 

Of course you can try to find a bench or somewhere to sit down… and some markets will have small seated areas too, but don’t count on it!

16. Not planning ahead

Finally, don’t forget that Christmas market season is peak season for many of the most popular destinations in Europe, so the earlier you book for hotels and things the better.

I Hope You Enjoyed This List of Christmas Market Mistakes to Avoid!

Let me know in the comments if you have any more you’d like to add.