Category Adventure Vacation Looking to have a real adventure? Check out our Adventure Travel Blogs Awards Check out TL365's Awards, recognizing our teams incredible abilities in Travel. Business Travel Business Travel is the life blood of your sales team - keep up to date on whats happening in the industry and impacting travelers Europe Travel Explore Europe with our host of inside tips, guidance and recommendations! Family Vacation Travel has a substantial impact on childhood development - get out there and help your kids experience the world beyond their home city! Jungle Safari There is nothing quite like seeing wildlife in the wild - if you are looking for the latest Safari experiences around the world, look no further! Luxury Honeymoon Your Honeymoon is a once in a lifetime experience, let us help you achieve your visions with a dream honeymoon! Luxury Hotels We explore Luxury Hotels around the world, and give you the inside info to make sure you get the most of your experiences! Uncategorized MORE NEWS Sign Up for Our Newsletter Your e-mail address is only used to send you our newsletter and information about the activities of TRAVEL LEADERS 365. You can always use the unsubscribe link included in the newsletter. December 11th, 2023 Europe’s best Christmas markets offer everything you want from a festive day out: carol singers, steaming mince pies and the scent of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or so sang Andy Williams in 1963, and every year since. Here’s our round up of Europe’s best Christmas markets to visit this winter. Edinburgh, ScotlandVoted Europe’s Best Christmas Market in 2021, Edinburgh’s Christmas market captivates visitors with its charm. Set in the shadows of the capital’s castle, this annual event transforms Princes Street Gardens into a magical winter wonderland. Wooden stalls adorned with twinkling lights offer an array of crafts, wild game burgers, mulled Irn-Bru and whisky. The scent of spiced wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air, while carollers serenade the crowd. A Christmas tree and an outdoor ice rink add to the festive atmosphere. The Mound, Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens17 November 2023 to 6 January 2024 Brussels, BelgiumBrussels’ Christmas market is a cherished tradition, enchanting visitors with its yuletide magic. Nestled in the heart of the Belgian capital, brass bands, choirs, and roaming entertainers transform Grand Place into a festive extravaganza. Adorned with sparkling lights, the market’s 220 chalets sell handknitted woollen socks, artisanal chocolates, and mulled wine. The centerpiece is a magnificent Christmas tree, which casts a glow over visitors indulging in steamed mussels, fondue and Belgian waffles.Grand Place and around24 November to 31 December 2023 Cologne, GermanyCologne is renowned for its Christmas markets. The aroma of gingerbread, roasted almonds and riebekuchen – grated potato and onion patties with applesauce – fills the air as the city’s squares transform into a twinkling wonderland. The biggest market, outside Cologne Cathedral, has 150 stalls beneath a swathe of fairy lights. Here, visitors can find snow globes, handcrafted Erzgebirge wooden toys and painted ceramics. Around Cologne Cathedral, Rudolfplatz, Alter Markt and Heumarkt23 November 2023 to 23 December 2023 Vienna, AustriaHistorical architecture illuminated with fairy lights and artisans showcasing wooden toys and handmade soaps make Vienna’s Christmas markets captivating. Each market possesses its own allure, from Rathaus’s sloping, winding ice rink to the youthful vibrancy of Christmas Village Campus University of Vienna. Wrap up warm and wander around their narrow alleyways, nibbling on freshly baked pretzels as you go.Belvedere Palace, Rathaus, Maria Theresien Square, Christmas Village Campus University of Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace, Spittelberg11 November 2023 to 4 January 2024 (most close by 26 December) Prague, Czech Republic Cobbled streets and old clock towers make Prague romantic all year round, especially so when it glitters with Christmas markets. Once you’ve said hello to the enchanting donkey, sheep and goats in Old Town Square, shop for traditional Czech crafts such as hand-blown frosted glass baubles and sample seasonal treats including pancakes, grog – rum, lemon and sugar – and svarak, a citrusy hot wine with a cinnamon scent. Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Prague Castle, Republic Square3 December 2023 to 6 January 2024 Whether you choose Edinburgh or Prague, Europe’s best Christmas markets are sure to enchant you. Contact our advisors for assistance booking your trip. Image credits: Edinburgh Christmas market by Ashley Angela Miller/Shutterstock; Christmas Market, Rathausplatz credit WienTourismusPaul Bauer; Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace credit WienTourismusChristian Stemper; Prague Christmas market ecstk22/Shutterstock. Back to Blog