My Top 10 Tips When Visiting European Christmas Markets

For almost 20 years, during holiday times, I have roamed the Christmas markets of  Germany and many in France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and Austria. After years of sampling regional specialties and purchasing lovely local gifts, I’ve also learned visiting Christmas markets is a mini-history lesson on the city itself.

Discovering the holiday traditions and uniqueness of each city makes the visit and my purchases a more meaningful experience.

Harbor Christmas Market on a ship floating on the Rhine river, Cologne, Germany

When I visit a Christmas market, I usually spend the entire day in that city, traveling by train roundtrip from my home in Germany or where I am staying. Over the years I have developed a routine for planning a Christmas market visit from what to pack to how to shop.

Scenes from Christmas market in Maastricht, Holland

Of the local specialties offered at a Christmas market to buy or to eat, some are specific to Christmas. That’s a good thing to research before you go. You may not want to eat or buy what is on offer but most have an interesting history that is connected with the soul of the city. Knowing a bit about the soul of the city makes the visit a richer experience.

Local salami specialty at a Christmas market in Lausanne, Switzerland

Here are my top 10 tips for visiting and shopping at European Christmas markets:

ONE:

Do some research beforehand: If you don’t want to miss special appearances or performances like the Christkind at the Nurnberg market, make sure you check the website of the Christmas Market for performance times and plan your trip accordingly. Double-check the hours of the market or markets you want to visit as well.

Christmas Market at Place l’Ancienne Douane, Colmar, France

TWO:

Check the weather but be prepared for anything. Living in Germany for so many years, I learned to never leave the house without sunglasses, an umbrella, and an extra scarf. Often I’ve used all three in one day.

It is likely if you are just visiting a city for the market, you will be spending several hours there walking outside (comfortable shoes alert!).  Make sure you check the temperatures both upon your planned arrival and departure times and dress accordingly. Bring an extra scarf, glove liners, or heat packs if necessary as the temperature can change drastically. No one wants to go home early because despite consuming copious amounts of glüwein, you are still freezing.

Sword fighting demonstration at the Medieval Christmas market in Munich, Germany

THREE:

Bring a Backpack – I usually wear a cross-body bag with easy access to my mobile phone, money, tickets, and personal essentials like lipstick, portable phone charger, cables, and antibacterial wipes. If I bring it, I wear my DSLR camera around my neck. I also bring a lightweight large backpack containing two lightweight shopping bags with long handles so I can sling those over my shoulders if I run out of room in my backpack. I store my extra outer gear and umbrella in the backpack as well. I also throw in a few zip lock bags. These come in handy if you cant finish the treats you are sampling and want to save them for later.

If you decide to visit another attraction that does not allow backpacks, you can check the backpack and still have all your valuables in the crossbody bag.

Living light sculptures at the Tollwood Christmas market in Munich, Germany

FOUR:

Get maps. when you arrive at the train station, visit the tourist information booth. Most likely, there will be two maps, one of the city and one of the Christmas Markets. Often there are several Christmas markets within one city. There usually is a main one as well as several offshoots. Some are themed. Sometimes there is a Christmas market at the train station as well. Pick up both maps. The Christmas Market map is usually a lot less detailed than the standard city map. I’ve often found myself referring to both to get around.

Of course, you can use a navigation app on your phone. however, I like to use the maps to save my phone’s battery. I also get a better feel for the layout of the city with a physical map.

View of the Cologne Dom from a Christmas market in Cologne, Germany

Also, pick up a transportation map. Usually, you can walk to the main Christmas market from the station but double check at the info booth and ask how to get there by public transportation if the market is too far away to walk to. Make sure you ask HOW you purchase a transportation ticket. If you will be running all over the city, buy a day pass.

Christmas Market located under the arches of the Grand-Pont (Le Marché du Terroir et de la Vigne des Arches) in Lausanne, France

Note: Many public transportation systems in Europe are on the honor system. Meaning, you purchase a ticket and get on the bus, tram, train, etc. No one or nothing punches the ticket. However, there are transit police attired in uniforms and plainclothes riding these modes of transportation all day to perform random checks of riders. They will ask to see your ticket and check its validity. If you are caught “riding black” without a ticket, there are steep fines upwards of 60 Euro that often have to be paid on the spot (bye-bye shopping money.) The transit police will also throw you out of the vehicle. Fun times.

The fabulous Gay-friendly Pink Christmas market in Munich’s Glockenbachviertels, Germany

While you are at the train station, check the locations of the other attractions you want to visit to plan your day efficiently.

Make sure you have the times and platforms of the return train times, especially the final one before you leave the station so you have flexibility in deciding when to return.

Christmas Market in the Velvet Cave in Valkenburg, Holland

FIVE:

Shop carefully and creatively: Even my friends who swear they are not shoppers can’t resist picking up a few items. I find the best items to be unique to the place. Handmade or regionally, locally produced items make great souvenirs. Before buying an item, ask yourself  “Can I get this back home?”  If it is something you can easily find at a store at home, why bother having it take up room in your suitcase?  I’m all about the suitcase real estate. Check where the item is manufactured. If it says “China”, I usually put the item back unless I need it for a specific purpose.

Traditional Bavarian straw Christmas ornaments, Christmas market, Munich, Germany

I also like to buy handmade ornaments, preferably nonglass ones that are easily transportable. Ornaments are easy to pack, a great memory of your Christmas market visit, and make wonderful gifts. A bonus is they do not take up a lot of suitcase real estate.

Vintage Christmas ornaments for sale at a Christmas market in Cologne, Germany

SIX:

Tour the entire market first, then circle back to buy the items you’ve had your eye on. Many booths sell the same types of goods and you might find something similar you like better or at a lower price at another booth. The only exception is my “one left” policy. If there is only one unique item left, and I love it, I don’t pass it up in case I cannot find it somewhere else.

Käsespåtzle at Tollwood Christmas Market in Munich, Germany

SEVEN:

Visit other attractions – Research other points of interest you might like to visit in the city. Most of these I knock out in the morning when I arrive and then I move on to the Christmas markets. Or I take a break between daylight and evening visits by visiting a museum or church. You do not want to miss the markets at night when they are lit up becoming their most magical. So plan another circle back (perfect excuse for a glühwein) as evening descends. Prioritize the list into “must visit” and “would like to visit” while noting opening and closing hours. If you have time, you can always circle back to your “would like to” list.

Speaking of glühwein, for non-natives, the price may seem a bit outrageous. In reality, you are paying a deposit on the mug. When you turn in the mug you get almost half your money back. Or you can keep the mug. Many have the theme and place of the market decorated on them. You can wipe it clean, put it in your bag, and walk away. A great souvenir for under 3 Euro.

Christmas market in Strasbourg, France

EIGHT:

Bring Small Money – You will make better friends with the vendors if you do not routinely hand them large bills for them to change. Make sure you are carrying small denominations of the local currency. This can also speed up the process of paying if there are many people at the booth waiting to purchase goods.

Strip Tease tent at the Santa Pauli Christmas Market at St. Pauli, the Red Light District in Hamburg, Germany

NINE:

Ask vendors Before You take pictures of their goods: – This specifically applies to booths selling handmade items. I learned this the hard way at a marzipan stand at the Nuremberg Christmas market selling delightful creations like fruits, vegetables, and figures sculpted out of marzipan. I started excitedly snapping away until the vendor screamed at me. LOUDLY. I was stunned.

When vendors (especially older, not social media savvy ones) see people taking pictures, they are fearful of others stealing their ideas and making those items on their own to possibly sell them themselves. Now I always ask before I snap at these types of booths. If I am making a purchase, I ask to take pictures of the booth after I have paid. My way of buttering them up a bit beforehand.

Nutcrackers like these on display at a Christmas market in Hamburg, Germany are always a lovely gift.

TEN:

 
Don’t ignore the local stores: After your time spent at the Christmas market – if you have some to spare, visit some of the local stores. I focus on the ones that are not part of a chain, like local home goods stores. I have found some of my favorite unexpected holiday items and gifts in these places.

Christmas market entrance in Aachen, Germany depicting the city’s famous Printen spiced cookies

My Travels to European Christmas Markets:

Germany:
A Christmas Market with a Conscious – Tollwood in Munich, Germany
Aachen, Germany Christmas Market
Cologne, Germany Christmas Market
Freiburg, Germany Christmas Markets
Hamburg Has the Sexiest Christmas Market in Germany
Munich Christmas Market Roundup
Munich – Tollwood, A Christmas Market with a Conscious

France:
Colmar, France Christmas Market
Strasbourg, France Christmas Markets
Holland:
Maastricht, Holland Christmas Market
Valkenburg Holland Christmas Market in the Caves

Belgium:

Brussels, Belgium Christmas Markets

Switzerland:

Basel, Switzerland Christmas Market
Geneva Switzerland
Lausanne, Switzerland
Montreux, Switzerland

Musicians/Carolers at a Christmas market in Freiburg, Germany