Are you torn between visiting Europe and celebrating the holidays? Well, read on, dear travelers. We have the best way for you to do both. Check out our list of the top Christmas markets in Europe.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, England

It happens in London’s famous Hyde Park from November 21st through January 5th. The event includes more than 100 attractions and rides, and shows. Highlights include a visit into the popular Magical Ice Kingdom, skating on the largest outdoor ice rink in the UK, seeing the memorable views from the Giant Observation Wheel, enjoying festive cocktails at Bar Ice and Ice Sculpting Workshops.

There’s even the popular Santa Land. It is reported to be the city’s largest Christmas market. Dine at one of the numerous cafes or restaurants. Admission is free.

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Old Town Square Christmas Market, Czech Republic

This Christmas market is held in the Old Town Square in Prague. It’s open from December 1 through January 6. The Old Town Square Christmas Market is also the largest one in Prague.

See the market’s centerpiece, the Prague Christmas Tree, towering in front of the well-known Church of Tyn. Here you can browse the numerous stalls and sample delicious food too. Be sure to try the tasty Pražská Šunka, a big, pit-roasted ham, langoš, a special Hungarian flatbread topped with cheese, garlic, cheese, and even ketchup; as well as an assortment of cakes and sweets like trdelník, a favored hot sugar-coated pastry.

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Plaza Mayor Christmas Market, Spain

The Plaza Mayor Christmas Market is held in Madrid during the months of November and December. The specific dates vary from year to year. Here both tourists and locals gather to discover different holiday traditions. There are more than 100 stands where you can peruse and purchase Christmas decorations, gag gifts, musical instruments, toys and more. It’s a wonderful, annual event to celebrate the traditions of the season.

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Edinburgh’s Christmas Market, Scotland

This market is (of course) held in East Princes St Gardens in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It opens on November 16th and runs through January 4th. There’s plenty to do for everyone.

One of the highlights here is the classic Santa Land which includes the fun Christmas Tree Maze, the exciting Candy Cane Bungees, and the adventurous Helter Skelter slide. There’s even an adrenaline-boosting rollercoaster. Adults can visit the Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar. Located on the Mound, it serves hot toddies and a great variety of traditional Scottish whisky cocktails.

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The York Christmas Festival, England

The York Christmas Festival occurs in Yorkshire. It runs from November 14 through December 22. In 2017 York was even voted the “Most Festive City” in the UK. That’s due in part to the medieval charm that York is said to add to the season.

The very air is filled with the seasonal scents of spiced mulled wine and different delicious dishes. Get there on opening night and you can the first official lighting of the festival. Get a bite to eat at the popular Shambles Food Court and have a drink at Thor’s Tipi too.

Fira de Santa Llúcia, Spain

Feel the festive spirit of the season free of the cold in Barcelona. Open through December, you can stroll the decorated streets and tall fir trees in both Plaça de Sant Jaume and Portal de l’Angel. Fira de Santa Llúcia is the main Christmas fair and it’s more than 225 years old.

The fair is ensconced below the impressive Gothic Cathedral and the many stalls there offer numerous seasonal goods and handmade items. If you get homesick for some winter chill, you can stop in at the well-known Ice Bar. It features a sub-zero chamber complete with awesome ice sculptures. Even the drinking glasses are made out of ice!

Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt, Austria

Located in Rathausplatz, Vienna, this festive event begins on November 15 and runs through December 26. It’s Vienna’s most famous Christmas market. Get an eyeful of the huge Rathaus Christmas tree in the center of the market.

If you’re hankering for a few festive foods, you can sample cream-filled pastries, different kinds of pretzels, big donuts, roast chestnuts, and the traditional Victorian-style lollipops. The Christkindlmarkt is open every day but you really should visit at night when the assorted smells and colorful lights truly will give you the real Christmas market experience.

The Winter Wonders Festival, Belgium

The world-famous Winter Wonders Festival is held in Brussels. It runs from November 29 through January 5th.  Brussels, like other major metropolises, hosts more than one Christmas market. Veteran visitors suggest attending the one at the Grand-Place.

Those in the know say this place is the very “heart of the Winter Wonders Festival” and is marked by a gigantic Christmas tree. One of the highlights is the sound and light show that goes on every half hour. There’s even a big Ferris wheel that provides incredible views of the city. Don’t forget the waffles either!

Wonderland Parque Eduardo VII, Portugal

All across Lisbon, there are several Christmas markets. One of the largest is the Wonderland Parque Eduardo VII. It runs from December 1st through New Year’s Day. The main Christmas tree is found at Praça do Comércio.

You will also find vendor stalls where you can purchase handcrafted goods, an outdoor ice-skating rink and a tall Ferris wheel too. You can also see a light show and a motion picture shown directly on the nearby buildings. Visit the Christmas village in Obidos an hour’s drive north of the city. There’s something for everyone.

Advent Feast at the Basilica, Hungary

Visit Budapest between November 23 and January 6 and experience the Advent Feast at the Basilica. Located in front of the city’s most well-known cathedral, this open-air market has stalls offering visitors festive items and (of course) genuine Hungarian food too. Sample some chimney cake known as flódni for dessert. Be sure to be there at dark for the famous 3D light show right on the front of the famous St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

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