South African Christmases are festive in their own way. It’s the height of the summer holidays, which usually means lazy afternoon braais, swimming, picnics and ice lollies – sprinkled in with some original Christmas traditions like Father Christmas hats and presents under a decorated tree.
But if you’re looking for a traditional cold Northern Hemisphere Christmas experience, nothing quite beats a visit to the annual Christmas markets. Held in the evenings in major European cities each December, these markets embody a festive tradition that is centuries old. They typically take place near town squares or along city rivers, where wooden stalls framed by twinkling lights sell hand-carved glass or wooden toys, while choirs singing carols amid the scent of mulled wine add to the atmosphere.
Choosing which European Christmas market to visit is a challenge: they take place in several cities and countries across the continent, and each has its own charm and flavour. If you want to visit a few markets, taking a river cruise is a seamless and intimate way to travel between them. Rather than fighting airport crowds and moving between different hotels, your accommodation is your transport and your travel is part of the experience. If you’re considering a river cruise, here’s our round up of the best European Christmas market destinations.
Germany: where Christmas was invented
Considered by many to be the home of the Christmas market tradition, Germany held its first recorded markets as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. Nuremberg, known as the Gingerbread Capital of the World, hosts the Christkindlesmarkt – the country’s largest Christmas market – in the central market square in the city’s Old Town, while Bamberg hosts four separate markets across its UNESCO-listed medieval centre. In Frankfurt’s Altstadt (Old Town), Christmas markets have been held since the 1390s and have the city’s rich history on full display.
A great way to experience several German Christmas markets is on Uniworld’s Classic Christmas Markets itinerary. Over eight days, you’ll move from Nuremberg through Bamberg, Rothenburg, Würzburg and Wertheim before reaching Frankfurt, giving you a cherry-picked itinerary of the best markets the country has to offer.
Austria: the Danube at its most festive
In Austria, Vienna is home to no less than 17 Christmas markets, each with its own character.
The Rathaus market is the grandest, but the Schönbrunn market, held on the forecourt of the Habsburg summer palace, and the quieter Belvedere market are also well worth a visit. Besides artisanal crafts, you can also taste the local cuisine favourites, from rum balls and nutmeg-spiced macarons to roasted chestnuts.
Further along the Danube corridor, Melk's magnificent 11th-century Benedictine Abbey, the charming streets of Krems and Linz's grand Baroque main square each add a new layer to Christmas markets in a country that has been celebrating these festive traditions for centuries.
Hungary: a unique culinary tradition
In Hungary, the country’s capital of Budapest also straddles the Danube, with Buda and the Buda Castle on its hilly western bank and grand Pest on the east, together creating a picture-perfect backdrop for your market exploration. The main market beneath the Chain Bridge, framed by two of the most dramatically illuminated buildings in Central Europe, is one of those travel experiences that you won’t soon forget.
Budapest’s markets have a character heavily influenced by their unique culinary traditions, including kürtőskalács (chimney cake), lángos (fried dough), forralt bor (mulled wine) and festive pastries like bejgli (walnut and poppy seed rolls).
Belgium: intimacy and craft
While Belgium’s Christmas markets are perhaps less well known than their German or Austrian counterparts, they’re no less worth a visit. In the city of Bruges, famous for its fairytale canals, two markets run from late November to early January in two main public squares: the central Market Square beneath the medieval Belfry tower and the smaller, tree-lined Simon Stevinplein just a short walk away. Savour Belgian waffles, chocolate and warming gluhwein while watching the canals reflecting market lights for a truly memorable way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Why the river is the way to travel
If you’re visiting Europe’s Christmas markets, river cruising is a relaxing way to truly soak up the magic of the season. Rather than rushing for early departures or fighting logistics between one country and the next, a river cruise gives you the same space to settle into even as your surroundings change and the river moves beneath you. Christmas is a season for slowing down and spending meaningful time with loved ones, and a river cruise through Europe with friends or family is the perfect way to do just this.
