With the holidays just around the corner, Christmas market slots are fast selling out. This year, a number of European Christmas markets are celebrating with a blend of traditional festivities and modern twists.
“There’s something undeniably magical about Christmas in Europe. As the nights grow longer and frost glistens on cobblestones, cities across the continent transform into wonderlands of festive cheer,” Lucy Halfhead, head of editorial at photo curation app Popsa, said.
“From the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine to the sound of choirs singing beneath Gothic cathedrals, Christmas markets have become an essential tradition, blending centuries of history with modern-day holiday spirit.”
Euronews Travel rounds up some of the best under-the-radar Christmas markets to visit this year, offering delightful surprises and authentic local delicacies sprinkled with plenty of holiday magic.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn’s traditional Christmas market is somewhat smaller than larger Western European ones, but offers unparalleled charm. It takes place in the Town Hall Square of the medieval Old Town from 21 November to 27 December every year.
This market is famous for supposedly displaying the first public Christmas tree in Europe, dating back to 1441. It is a tradition which is continued to this date, with a giant tree placed in the centre of the square.
Marvel at pastel-coloured merchant houses, looking like frosted gingerbread houses, or wander along the winding, lantern-lit cobblestone lanes for a nostalgic adventure. Huts around the square sell Estonian specialities such as hand-carved wooden toys, woollen mittens patterned with folk designs and wooden ornaments.
Tuck into traditional dishes such as piparkoogid (gingerbread) and verivorst (black pudding) or snag a cup of glögg (spiced mulled wine).
Children can hop on a carousel or visit Santa, while adults can enjoy choirs and folk dance performances.
For less-traditional Christmas market lovers, try the Tallinn Rooftop Market, located in the Telliskivi district. This market offers stunning skyline views, along with sauna pop-ups, design-led pods and igloos with Nordic cocktails for a more modern, festive experience.
Craiova, Romania
Craiova’s Christmas market may not remain a hidden gem for much longer, as it sees increasing numbers of visitors with every passing year. The market will operate from 14 November to 6 January next year.
Spread across four different city locations, it features different themed “Christmas worlds”, such as Santa’s Village, Beauty and the Beast, Galactic Christmas and Traditional Romanian Christmas. The locations include the Mihai Viteazul Square, the William Shakespeare Square, the Doljana Fountain area, and the Old Centre.
Visitors can enjoy a number of fun rides, including a Ferris wheel, as well as an ice rink and food stands. There are also stalls selling high-quality winter decorations and gifts.
Thousands of lights and a towering flying Santa’s sleigh add an extra-special touch of holiday magic to this market. Try a variety of authentic Romanian dishes such as sarmale (cabbage rolls), pickled vegetables, pork stews and chops, or opt for a sweet treat like a chimney cake.
Arezzo, Italy
Arezzo’s Christmas market is another underrated European gem, despite being a major holiday event for the region. The town, located in eastern Tuscany, already provides a romantic rural Italian charm, the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable Christmas.
The market is held in the medieval centre, the Piazza Grande, and is an Alpine-style market featuring both Austrian and German stalls. It has a staggering 640,000 lights, along with Santa’s house and a Ferris wheel with stunning views. However, it is far less known and frequented than its larger counterparts in Nuremberg or Vienna.
Enjoy a variety of local Tuscan specialities such as chestnuts and roasted meats, as well as Alpine cheeses. Visitors can indulge in German treats such as strudel, too, along with festive foods such as Feuerzangenbowle (a rum-soaked sugarloaf set on fire and dripped into the wine).
Browse stalls offering hand-painted decorations and wood carvings, or enjoy one of the many light shows and concerts. Catch your breath for a moment at the Alpine chalet, also located in the square.
The Arezzo Christmas market will be open from 15 November to 28 December this year.
Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava’s Christmas market, offering a true taste of small-scale European festivities, is still flying under the radar. Held primarily on the Main Square and Hviezdoslavono Square in the city’s Old Town, the market offers plenty of traditional foods and crafts and operates from 27 November to 6 January.
Try potato pancakes, roasted chestnuts or Slovakian langosh (a kind of flatbread), as well as Bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon). Wash it down with a generous cup of mulled wine.
Visitors can go ice-skating at Hviezdoslavovo Square, while browsing through stalls offering seasonal decorations and hand-crafted souvenirs. There is also a separate medieval-themed Christmas market held in the Bratislava Castle grounds, complete with a children’s carousel and unique medieval-style and artisanal stalls.
Berlin vegan Christmas market
Berlin is well-known for its range of Christmas markets, leaving holidaymakers spoilt for choice. However, the Berlin vegan Christmas market at Fehrbelliner Platz, currently in its second year, is still an underrated gem and one to watch.
It offers more than 60 stalls with a vast array of meat-free alternatives, such as vegan “pigs in blankets”, nut roasts, vegan sausages, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and vegan wellington with a vegetable filling or mushrooms.
Enjoy Glühwein (mulled wine) while browsing stalls offering different ethically produced and sourced candles, crafts and other gifts. There’s often a live DJ, creating more of a club-meets-Christmas vibe, especially for younger holidaymakers.
Visitors can participate in sustainable workshops as well, before heading to other popular Berlin Christmas markets such as those in Spandau or Gendarmenmarkt.
While the exact dates for this market have not been announced yet, it usually runs from late November through December and has already been confirmed for the 2025 season.