Christmas markets run on a short clock. Most open in mid to late November and many close by Christmas Eve, while the rooms near the best ones go first. Anyone who wants to plan a Christmas market trip this year has a few weeks to get it done well. Read on to discover Christmas market trips worth planning now, from old town classics to a few unexpected stops.
When should you book a Christmas market trip?
Two to three months ahead is the safe window, since rooms near the best-known markets sell out for Advent weekends well before the stalls open. If you’re reading this in late October, you’re already cutting it close for the busiest dates, so book a room now and pick one with free cancellation.
Many cities announce their exact dates late, so check each market’s official page before you pay for anything nonrefundable. Most of the markets built around Advent close on December 23 or 24. With December 25 falling on a Friday this year, December 19 and 20 is the last full weekend before the stalls come down.
Travelers start comparing market towns in early fall, so for anyone who shares trip tips online, those weeks are the best time to post a travel recommendation about Christmas markets.
Which Christmas market trips are worth planning now?
The usual shortlist is easy to find, so this one mixes old town classics with a few unexpected settings.
Strasbourg and Colmar, France
Strasbourg is often called the Capital of Christmas, and its Christkindelsmärik goes back to 1570. The market opens on Friday, November 27, and runs through Christmas Eve, when it traditionally closes.
Colmar is smaller and runs from November 23 to December 29, with several markets spread through its old town. A regional train links the two cities in about half an hour, so Alsace makes an easy base for either one.
Bolzano, Italy
Bolzano's market sits under the Dolomites. It opens on the evening of November 26, with full trading days from November 27 through January 6. Started in 1991, it bills itself as the oldest and largest in Italy. Merano and Brixen run their own markets in the same weeks, both a short train ride away, so a long weekend can cover three.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik gives you plenty to do between the stalls. The main markets sit at Ingólfstorg and Austurvöllur from late November until December 23, with an ice rink beside the stalls at Ingólfstorg. Schedules vary by market, and some run on weekends only, so check the official dates before booking.
These are worth building the trip around:
Hafnarfjörður's Christmas Village, a short bus ride south of the city and known for its elf folklore.
The 13 Yule Lads, who arrive one by one over the 13 nights before Christmas.
Jólabókaflóð, the Christmas Book Flood, a tradition where new books are exchanged and read on Christmas Eve.
A clear night and a chance at the northern lights, which are possible but never guaranteed.
Many businesses close or run reduced hours from December 24 to 26, so plan meals and activities around that.
Sibiu, Romania
Sibiu's Transylvanian Saxon heritage explains the German-style market in its Grand Square. It was Romania's first and has run since 2007. It's open from November 13 to January 3 and entry is free. From Bucharest it's a five-to-six-hour train ride.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn's market fills the medieval Town Hall Square from November 20 to January 6, and the city says a Christmas tree has stood on that spot since 1441. The old town is compact enough for a weekend, and the ferry harbor is about a 10-minute walk from the square, so Helsinki is an easy add-on.
Quebec City and Montreal, Canada
For travelers in North America, Quebec City's German Christmas Market comes without an Atlantic crossing. It runs from November 19 to December 23 across several sites in the walled Old Québec, mostly Thursday to Sunday with extra days just before Christmas, and entry is free.
Montreal's Great Christmas Market runs from November 13 to January 3, which suits a trip after the holiday rush.
Valkenburg, Netherlands
Valkenburg's market takes place underground, in old marlstone caves beneath the castle ruins. The two cave markets run from November 13 to December 30 and close on December 25. Timed tickets sell out, so book them online ahead of time.
Which Christmas markets stay open after Christmas?
Plenty of markets close on December 23 or 24, but several run into the new year, which helps if your dates fall between Christmas and Epiphany.
Bolzano and Tallinn run until January 6.
Sibiu and Montreal run until January 3.
Colmar runs until December 29
Valkenburg runs until December 30.
Where can you plan a Christmas market trip with help from a travel advisor?
Globe Thrivers is a travel platform that brings travelers, creators and travel advisors together in one place. Travelers can explore itineraries and destination ideas shared by creators, save the towns that catch their eye, and request planning or booking support from an advisor when a trip gets complicated.
For a Christmas market trip, that could mean a shortlist of saved destinations, a few itineraries to compare, and an advisor who can help line up dates and rooms before the best weekends are gone. Starting that conversation in the fall leaves you more choices than starting it in December.
