Bucket List Christmas Destinations
For a few years now, Dave and I have talked about planning a holiday trip to Europe to experience it’s world-renowned Christmas markets! For a few reasons (the pandemic being one), we haven’t managed it yet, but while I sit here in Los Angeles lusting for snow and wishing for the days when we can finally make this dream a reality, I’ll share with you my Top 10 Bucket List Destinations for what I imagine would make the most magical holiday experience! ✨
Top 10 Bucket-List Winter Destinations:
1. NYC
New York, NY is (in my personal opinion) the greatest city in the world. But it’s never better than at Christmastime, when in seems like the entire city is blanketed in beautiful decorations and Christmas cheer. From the festive Christmas markets, to ice skating, to gorgeous window decorations - NYC at Christmastime is a sight to behold! If you go, be sure to check out the Christmas markets at Bryant Park and Columbus Circle, The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, then head across the street to take pictures in front of the giant Christmas ornaments in the fountain in front of the Exxon Building. For ice skating - the Wollman Rink in Central Park is iconic. And of course you’ve got to check out the tree at Rockefeller Plaza, Santaland at Macy’s, and the window displays at Saks, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman. If you’re feeling extra bougie, spring to stay at The Plaza Hotel for at least one night - that’s where Home Alone 2 was famously filmed!
2. Austria
Vienna, Austria is known to be home to what may be the most spectacular Christmas markets in Europe. The Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz is the city's largest, featuring over 150 vendors, ice skating, and concerts in front of City Hall. Austria’s tourism site promises “Along the Ringstrasse, visitors can expect a brilliant Christmas feeling. A large archway with Advent candles, Christmas tree balls and countless lights welcomes its guests. Furthermore, the Christmas tree awaits you on the Rathausplatz and the Christmas world in the Rathauspark with the popular ‘Herzerlbaum.’”
Outside of Vienna, two other popular cities for great Christmas markets in Austria are Salzburg and Innsbruck. Not far from Salzburg, St. Nicola’s Church in Oberndorf is the birthplace of the famous Christmas carol, Silent Night. The carol was first sung at the church on Christmas Eve, 1818.
3. Germany
Berlin is one of my favorite cities - modern and bustling but with tons of artsy charm, so I would love to visit the Christmas markets there. The biggest one takes place in the Old Town of Spandau.
Other German destinations for Christmas markets include:
Bremen (set in the Hanseatic city's UNESCO-listed town hall square)
Dresden (whose Striezelmarkt is hailed as the oldest in Germany - since 1434, and is the perfect place to try a slice of Stollen (or Striezel), the traditional German sweet bread from which the Striezelmarkt takes its name)
Erfurt (whose Weihnachtsmarkt takes place against the backdrop of two magnificent Gothic churches in the heart of one of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns)
Nuremberg (whose Christkindlesmarkt is Germany’s most famous and also one of its most traditional — dating back to at least the 17th century)
Munich (during the Krampus Run, you can meet the terrifying German Saint Nicholas at the Marienplatz Christmas Market)
Frankfurt (one of the largest and oldest markets in Germany is at the Paulsplatz Römerberg Square)
Cologne (the most popular and best-known is in front of the famous Cologne Cathedral)
4. France
Strasbourg's annual Christmas market - the Christkindelsmärik (or Marché de Noël) is one of the largest and oldest in Europe - dating back to 1570. It boasts over 300 wooden chalets spread throughout the city's cobbled streets, medieval half-timbered houses, and picturesque canals - all decorated in glittering lights.
Other French Christmas Market Destinations (all in the same Alsace region as Strausbourg): Colmar (a medieval city home to five different Christmas markets, where the walkable city center makes it easy to meander from one end to the other, taking in the romantic churches, picturesque canals, and half-timbered buildings of its well-preserved Old Town - all illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights), and Kaysersberg (a smaller Christmas market known to be one of the most charming and authentic in the region; perfect for travelers looking to escape the crowds and shop from local craftsmen).
5. Czech Republic
Prague is known to be a beautiful city at any time of year, but at Christmastime has a reputation of extra charm. The largest and most popular Christmas market takes place at the Old Town Square - and is rumored to still have a feeling of warmth snd intimacy that many other large European markets have seemed to outgrow - serving mulled wine, sugar-coated roasted nuts, sweet-smelling trdelnik (pastry), and bratwursts.
6. Hungary
In Budapest, the biggest Christmas market takes place in Vörösmarty Square and boasts delicious specialties, unique handicrafts, and music in a beautiful city setting.
7. Switzerland
With the picture-perfect scenery, centuries old traditions, and plenty of snow, Switzerland seems like one of the best places to spend Christmas. The Swiss Alps have a romantic, fairytale appeal. They are an obvious destination for skiers and snowboarders, but horse-drawn sleighs are also a common sight in some Alpine resorts, and many villages hold Christmas markets.
Grindelwald, in the Jungfrau region, is a fine example of an alpine Switzerland Christmas village with plenty of fun things to do including sledging and snow-shoeing. While snow isn’t guaranteed in the cities as it is in the mountains, Bern, Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, and Basel all have large Christmas markets guaranteed to bring you Christmas cheer, snow or no snow.
Basel’s Christmas market is Switzerland’s oldest (and is widely regarded as the best Christmas market in Switzerland) featuring a Christas tree decorated with Johann Wanner’s famous ornaments.
The picturesque Swiss town of Stein am Rhein - about an hour from Zurich - boasts one of the loveliest Christmas markets in the country, thanks to its backdrop of well-preserved medieval half-timbered houses, painted facades, and cobblestone streets.
8. Finland
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, snow during the holiday season is practically guaranteed in Finland, especially in northern Lapland - home to reindeer, magical evergreen forests, and Santa! A destination extremely popular with children is Rovaniemi - the official home of Santa Claus and Santa Claus Village. Thousands of visitors flock to the village each year to meet Santa and visit the North Pole Post Office. The Village also has a number of shops and you can enjoy reindeer rides and excursions to the forest of the elves.
If you enjoy less conventional excursions, in Saariselkä, Lapland, you can sleep under the Northern Lights (best seen August through April) in a glass igloo at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The resort also features the world's largest smoke sauna, ice swimming, a Santa village at Christmastime, and an ice bar.
If you forgot to pack your snowshoes, the capital Helsinki hosts Finland's most popular Christmas market - Tuomaan Markkiat, featuring over 100 stalls selling locally crafted gifts, ornaments and traditional treats.
9. Estonia
If you’re looking for an authentic, traditional destination, I recommend looking to Estonia. Estonia claims that Tallinn, their capital city, was the site of the very first decorated Christmas tree. Of course that claim is impossible to verify (and Latvia’s Riga claims the same) but with the tradition dating back to 1441, their claim has legs! What makes Estonia a special Christmas destination is it’s unique blend of Christian and Pagan tradition, as, being one of Europe’s snowiest countries, it was late to “Christianization.” Talin’s annual Jõuluturg located in the historic town hall square, is said to be one of the coziest Christmas markets in Europe and a great way to participate in Estonia’s unique Yuletide celebrations.
10. Latvia
Now, according to Latvians, they claim that Riga was the site of the world’s first decorated Christmas tree, and they keep the legend alive with an illuminated tree standing in the town square’s Old Town Christmas Market.
Just like Estonia, Latvia offers a unique blend of Christian and pagan tradition. In addition to mulled wine, gingerbread, and roasted nuts, look out for the special Latvian traditions of dragging the Yule log and miming to keep away bad spirits.
