I’ve just returned from an incredible week spent hopping around Europe visiting Christmas markets! On this trip I started in Manchester and then went to Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna. The whole trip was so easy, affordable, totally magical and simple to do in 4 days.
I can’t recommend this European Christmas market tour itinerary enough and, if you’ve got longer, then I’ve included some extra stops you could add on.
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- Should you join a European Christmas market tour or do it yourself?
- UK - Manchester Christmas Market
- Getting from Manchester to Budapest
- Hungary - Budapest Christmas Market
- Getting from Budapest to Bratislava
- Slovakia - Bratislava Christmas Market
- Getting from Bratislava to Vienna
- Austria - Vienna Christmas Market
- Getting from Vienna to Prague
- Czech Republic - Prague Christmas markets
- Getting from Prague to Berlin
- Germany - Berlin Christmas Markets
- Berlin to Cologne
- Germany - Cologne Christmas Markets
Should you join a European Christmas market tour or do it yourself?
If the purpose of your European Christmas market holiday is to meet other people and have fun in a group, then I’d recommend taking an organised tour.
If you’re happy to do it without a tour group then I’d like to reassure you that this is a very easy itinerary to follow, all the connections were very simple and it is much cheaper or more flexible in comparison to doing it as part of a group tour.
Here’s everywhere I visited and I’ve included an itinerary for the Christmas market tour below to show you how we logistically got around…
UK - Manchester Christmas Market
Best for: If you don’t want to leave the UK + early to open
What to buy/eat: Those delicate ornaments you wouldn’t want to buy and travel home with (leave them in your car in the UK!)
What else to do: Christmas light trail
Where to stay: Manchester Airport Crown Plaza
I’m going to recommend staying at a Manchester Airport hotel because you’ll be flying to Budapest the next day. If you’re driving, look for a package that includes your hotel and parking because you can often get amazing deals.
For my readers in the UK, you can’t beat Manchester’s Christmas markets. Some may say London’s are the best but I prefer Manchester.
There are said to be over 200 market stalls at Manchester’s Christmas markets and they begin opening on November 8th so it’s an early start to the season up north! The markets are spread across 9 locations around the city including King Street West, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens. Not only that but there’s an incredible Christmas light trail, an ice rink and a Christmas parade on Sunday 8th December.
Getting from Manchester to Budapest
We flew from Manchester to Budapest with Ryanair.
Hungary - Budapest Christmas Market
Best for: Nightlife
What to buy/eat: Langos
What else to do: Visit the ruin bars
Where to stay: ibis Budapest Castle Hill
Budapest has lots of Christmas markets and the city is beautiful with all the twinkly lights. But the real draw in Budapest is the brilliant nightlife. Once you’ve had your evening at the Christmas markets, head to one of the city’s famous ruin bars. A ruin bar is basically a bar in an abandoned building. Many of them aren’t actually abandoned anymore but they still have that vibe. They’re dark and dingy with lots of graffiti and they’re a maze of different rooms and corridors. Szimpla Bar is the most famous for tourists and you’ll get that ruin bar vibe without any danger!
Before you head to the bars I highly recommend trying the Langos at the Christmas markets. Langos is a Hungarian flat bread. It’s deep fried and it’s oh so delicious. It’s traditional to have it with sour cream and cheese on top but you can also get it filled with stew and other yummy things. I loved it so much I even had a Langos burger. One was a minted lamb burger with thinly sliced apple inside langos bread. Wow. What a game changer. It was so good.
While you’re in Budapest, make sure you head to one of the many thermal baths. We went to Széchenyi Bath and it was lovely. Also head up to Fisherman’s Bastion and the Castle for incredible views over the city.
Getting from Budapest to Bratislava
We took a bus from Budapest to Bratislava. It took about 2.5 hours and was very cheap, convenient and pleasant. I booked in advance through Omio.
Slovakia - Bratislava Christmas Market
Best for: Quaint charm
What to buy/eat: Loksa
What else to do: Visit other countries too!
Where to stay: ibis Bratislava Centrum
Bratislava was my favourite European Christmas market because it’s just so charming and quaint. Bratislava is a small city so it didn’t feel overwhelming when we were short on time. It was so pretty and I love the contrast between this small, quaint city and the others we visited during the Christmas market tour. The markets are scattered across the city with the biggest being next to the Old Town Hall. You can pay to go up to the tower and view the city and the beautiful markets below. I highly recommend going up just before sunset for the best views.
Getting from Bratislava to Vienna
We took a bus from Bratislava to Vienna. It took about 1.5 hours and was very cheap, convenient and pleasant. I booked in advance through Omio.
Austria - Vienna Christmas Market
Best for: Epic backdrops
What to buy/eat: Mugs full of punch
What else to do: Admire the city
Where to stay: Moxy Vienna Airport Hotel
We stayed at this airport hotel because we had a flight home the following day.
Vienna’s Christmas markets are the biggest and most spectacular I’ve ever seen. The city just goes on and on and on and there seems to be a cluster of market stalls next to every famous building.
There’s only one thing you really need to do in Vienna and that’s admire the incredible city. Those grand and imposing white buildings are simply spectacular.
Vienna is usually very cold so wrap up and warm and stay toasty with steaming mugs of punch, either alcoholic or non alcoholic, the choice is yours. Vienna is expensive but you can pick up a punch and a very cute mug for 10 euros. You can choose to take the mug home as a souvenir or hand it back and get your 5 euro deposit back. Personally, I like to take it home as a souvenir to drink hot chocolates from and remember my trip to Vienna!
We finished our trip in Vienna and, honestly, we were Christmas market’ed out by this point and we were ready to go home! While I did enjoy Vienna, it felt so much bigger and more commercialised than Bratislava so I didn't enjoy it quite as much.
But if you have the time and energy and wanted to go further then here’s a longer itinerary option. This is definitely something I would consider doing next year to continue the epic European Christmas market tour!
Getting from Vienna to Prague
You can take a train from Vienna to Prague. It takes about 4.5 hours and is very affordable!
Czech Republic - Prague Christmas markets
Best Christmas market in Europe for: fairytale charm
What to buy/eat: trdelník, a sweet, spiral-shaped pastry coated in sugar and cinnamon.
What else to do in Prague: Stroll across the Charles Bridge for breathtaking views of the city, visit the majestic Prague Castle, or explore the iconic Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. Take a boat cruise along the Vltava River.
Prague is renowned for its magical Christmas markets, which combine a fairy-tale setting with authentic Czech charm. The Old Town Square market, with its stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture as a backdrop, is particularly enchanting. The glowing Christmas tree, illuminated by thousands of lights, creates an unforgettable festive atmosphere. Smaller markets in Wenceslas Square and Prague Castle add variety, making the city a top destination for holiday cheer.
Getting from Prague to Berlin
You can take the train from Prague to Berlin and it takes 4 hours 15 minutes
Germany - Berlin Christmas Markets
Best for: Industrial chic Christmas markets
What to buy/eat: Spiced Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Stollen, a rich, fruit-filled Christmas bread
What else to do: Visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. Explore Museum Island, where world-class museums showcase everything from ancient art to modern history. Stroll through the snow-dusted Tiergarten Park or take a boat ride along the Spree River.
Berlin is a dynamic city with so many unique Christmas markets. The Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market is one of the most popular, celebrated for its elegant setting surrounded by historic architecture and a giant Christmas tree. The Winterwelt at Potsdamer Platz offers a wintry paradise with ice skating and sledding, while the Kulturbrauerei Market combines festive cheer with a touch of history.
Berlin to Cologne
You can take the train from Berlin to Cologne and it takes 4 hours 44
Germany - Cologne Christmas Markets
Best for: The biggest European Christmas market
What to buy/eat: Bratwurst!
What else to do: Visit the Koln Triangle
We all know the Germans do Christmas markets best and Cologne is the biggest and best of them all. It’s also one of the earliest to open so if you want to get into the Christmas spirit ASAP then Cologne is the place to go.
There are 7 markets across the city so you’re going to need an evening or two to appreciate them all! The Cathedral Christmas Market is the most famous thanks to the incredible backdrop of Cologne’s iconic Gothic cathedral. There are over 150 wooden stalls selling handcrafted gifts, ornaments, and seasonal delicacies. The Alter Markt in the Old Town has a charming and old-fashioned feel with a traditional carousel, puppet theaters, and child-friendly activities for a family-friendly and nostalgic feel.
While you’re in Cologne, make sure you go up the Koln Triangle. It’s a tower with an observation platform at 300m high! It’s beautiful to go up at sunset for an incredible view over the city. I've got a full blog post about how to spend 48 hours in Cologne.