Kick start your festive season with a trip to a Christmas Market, there’s something for everyone, from quirky and crafty, to whimsical and romantic in our Fit2Travel Guide.
The focus of Liseberg Amusement Park moves away from its terrifyingly high rollercoasters, and towards one of the classiest Christmas markets you’re ever likely to visit. You do have to pay to get into the market, but it’s worth it for this delightfully immersive Christmas experience.
You can stroll through the medieval market, catch a live show or stand and listen to the carol singers, while they add their own magic to the festivities. Liseberg really goes all out on entertainment and atmosphere, you won’t find a plastic tree here! They bring in fir trees by the truck load, along with artificial snow and undoubtedly millions of fairy lights.
The market itself is full to bursting point with both locally handmade trinkets and designer gifts, making this a unique shopping destination. Don’t forget to grab a hot chocolate and a bag of roasted almonds to help keep your strength up while you shop!
You’ll be spoilt for choice in Budapest for things to do, but there should be two markets that are on your must-see list: St Stephens Basilica, and the larger Vorosmarty Square. Both are magical in very different ways.
St Stephens Basilica is a beautiful building in its own right, but when you add twinkly lights it becomes simply awe-inspiring! This market is traditional with a very folksy twist you’ll love. You’ll find lots of dancing, singing and good cheer at this colourful market.
Vorosmarty Square is the larger of the two markets, and it’s packed full of pretty wooden stalls that are draped in twinkling lights and holly garlands. Vorosmarty has a slightly less touristy feel, leaning to nostalgic and traditional, a theme which is continued with the vast array of food and drink stalls on offer, a local favourite is the stuffed cabbage, which is worth a try, and tastes better than it probably sounds!
Prague is Christmas card perfect at this time of year, it’s imposing architecture is softened by fairy lights and festive cheer from November through to the New Year. There are lots of markets in Prague, but our two favourites are Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square.
The Christmas Market in Old Town Square has a lovely atmosphere, and boasts intricate nativity scenes and even a stable, for children to pet a donkey, goats and sheep! The shopping is varied with ceramics, jewellery and traditionally made lace all available for sale.
If you fancy a local tipple, put aside the mulled wine and have a grog – a mixture of lemon, sugar water and quite a lot of rum…
Wenceslas Square, famous for its market and the traditional carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’, written about the bohemian king who devoted his time to the poor by taking a perilous, barefooted, journey on St Stephens Day – 26th December.
If you can, get there for 5pm and the nightly light switch on, when the market really comes to life.
The Viennese Dream Christmas Market is overlooked by the City Hall, which could easily be mistaken for a Disney castle, in fact, the whole market has a truly magical feel!
If you’re travelling with little ones, this could be the market for you. The City Hall/Disney style castle is open for crafting workshops, including making cookies and candle making, as well as one of its two ice-rinks being specifically aimed at young visitors.
There’s plenty to keep adults busy too, with what’s regarded as a wonderfully unique market, with all sorts of traditional and somewhat wacky wares to buy and there’s virtually no repetition in stalls, which is so often found at larger Christmas Markets.
When you’ve shopped, till you’ve dropped, you could take a Reindeer Ride or try your hand at Curling and of course sample the local food and drink. If you’re thinking of trying Glühwein, the local mulled wine with added bourbon, it’s probably best to do so at the end of the evening, it’s a tad strong.
No Christmas Market Guide would be complete without a feature on Nuremberg Christkindlemarkt! It’s widely considered one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, and it’s certainly one of the best.
Because of its age, Nuremberg’s market is overflowing with traditional ceremony and a strong Bavarian culture. Take the time to visit with the Christkind, who is regarded in these parts to be the original gift-giver, during advent.
There is the almost constant hum of carols in the air here, the aroma of bratwurst roasting and the wonderful vibrancy of robustly decorated stalls with every type of Christmas bauble you could ever imagine. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a Christmas market especially for children with crafts to enjoy and maybe even a visit from the big man himself…
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