This Christmas in Europe itinerary features the best holiday markets in Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.

Under twinkling lights on a frosty winter’s night, the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread welcomes holiday travelers to old-timey Christmas markets all around Europe. Some of my favorite ones so far are in Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria, so I’ve crafted a European Christmas itinerary to incorporate these festive stops.

While the four countries are neighbors and share some similarities, you’ll also notice differences in cuisine and culture as you move from town to town. For a unique blend of experiences, this winter in Europe itinerary includes a mix of larger cities with dozens of Christkindlmarkts and smaller villages brimming with holiday fairytale vibes.

There are many different ways to arrange a Christmas market trip to Europe, and I’ve included a few itinerary options below for a 7 to 14-day vacation. I’ve done the two-week version myself and highly recommend it if you have enough time.

You could also add Paris, Brussels, Cologne, or Frankfurt at the beginning of the trip or Cesky Krumlov and Prague in Czechia at the end.

Keep reading for my Christmas in Europe itinerary and a guide to the markets you can see in each city.

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Europe Christmas Itinerary Options

One Week Christmas in Europe Itinerary

Day 1: Fly into Frankfurt or Munich, Germany; train or bus to Strasbourg, France
Day 2: Strasbourg markets and sightseeing
Day 3: Day trip to Colmar, France
Day 4: Day trip to Basel, Switzerland
Day 5: Train or bus to Nuremberg, Germany
Day 6: Day trip to Regensburg, Germany
Day 7: Nuremberg and return to Frankfurt or Munich

10 Day Winter Europe Itinerary

Day 1: Fly into Paris, France, or Frankfurt, Germany; bus or train to Strasbourg, France
Day 2: Strasbourg Christmas markets
Day 3: Day trip to Basel, Switzerland
Day 4: Day trip to Colmar, France
Day 5: Train or bus to Munich, Germany
Day 6: Munich Christmas markets
Day 7: Day trip to Regensburg, Germany
Day 8: Day trip to Nuremberg, Germany
Day 9: Day trip to Salzburg, Austria
Day 10: Return to Paris or Frankfurt or fly home from Munich

Two Week Winter Itinerary Europe

Day 1: Fly into Paris or Frankfurt, train or bus to Strasbourg, France
Day 2: Strasbourg, France
Day 3: Day trip to Colmar, France
Day 4: Day trip to Alsace villages (Eguisheim, Kayserberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauville)
Day 5: Day trip to Basel, Switzerland
Day 6: Train or bus to Munich, Germany
Day 7: Munich Christmas markets
Day 8: Day trip to Regensburg, Germany
Day 9: Day trip to Nuremberg, Germany
Day 10: Munich to Salzburg, Austria
Day 11: Salzburg to Vienna, Austria
Day 12: Vienna Christmas markets
Day 13: Vienna sightseeing
Day 14: Travel home from Vienna

Best European Christmas towns
in Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland

These are a few of my favorite towns to include on a Christmas in Europe itinerary. There are so many other amazing ones, too, but these towns in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are a great place to start for your first Christmas market trip to Europe.

Strasbourg, France

Little wooden market chalets topped with garland sit in the shadow of a towering Gothic cathedral in Strasbourg, the “Capital of Christmas.” The city is actually the capital of the Grand Est region of northeastern France near the German border, with a blend of the two cultures displayed in the architecture and food.

The Christkindelsmärik here is the oldest in France, dating to 1570. In modern days, more than 300 mini chalets stacked with holiday gifts, cookies, and large vats of mulled wine fill a dozen or so different squares and corners of the town.

Beyond the markets, the streets sparkle with lights and storefronts display elaborate scenes of teddy bears and oversized ornaments. It’s easy to stumble upon Christmas just wandering through the central Old Town, but make sure you visit the markets at Place de la Cathedrale, Place Kleber for a towering tree, and Place Broglie in front of the opera house.

Outside of the holiday activities, I also recommend visiting Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg to watch the astronomical clock show and climb the tower, the riverfront district of Quartier de La Petite France, and Jardin de la Place de la Republic to see the Palais du Rhin (and possibly some gorgeous yellow trees if they haven’t shed their leaves yet). You can also pop into museums dedicated to fine arts, decorative arts, and local history.

Strasbourg makes a great base on your first Christmas in Europe itinerary, especially for a short trip. It’s just a couple of hours from Paris or Frankfurt by train, and you can take day trips to German and Swiss towns nearby and several quaint villages in the Alsace cultural region of France.

Christmas Markets in Strasbourg

Chrìstkìndelsmärik at Place de la Cathedrale and Place du Chateau
Chrìstkìndelsmärik at Place Broglie
Place Kleber Christmas Market and the Great Christmas Tree
Christmas Market at Place du Temple Neuf
Christmas Market at Rue des Hallebardes
Alsatian Christmas Delicacies Market at Terrasse Rohan
Rue Gutenberg Christmas Market and Pere Noel mailbox (letters to Santa)
Christmas Market at Place du Marche-Aux-Poissons
Christmas Market at Place Saint-Thomas
Place Benjamin Zix Christmas Market in Strasbourg
Marche Off at Place Grimmeissen
Village d’Advent at Square Louise Weiss and Suzanne Lacore

Strasbourg Christmas markets and dates

Colmar, France

A fairytale village is the best way to picture Colmar, France. Colorful, half-timbered buildings line the cobblestone streets and the canal front Petite Venise district while the imposing, 14th-century churches peak above the skyline.

At Christmas, the town exudes charm, from the decked-out storefronts and festive market squares to the children’s choir that sings carols on boats in the canal in the evening (my favorite moment here, by the way). A Christmas Shuttle also operates from the Colmar rail station to the nearby villages of Eguisheim, Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Ribeauville.

Colmar is a 30-minute train ride south of Strasbourg, so it makes an easy day trip from the larger city during your Europe Christmas itinerary. This is also an ideal base for a Christmas in France trip to smaller Alsatian villages nearby.

Christmas Markets in Colmar

Artisan Arts Market at Place de Dominicains
Christmas Market at Place Jeanne d'Arc
Gourmet Market at Place de la Cathedrale
Christmas Market at Place de l’Ancienne Douane
Children’s Market in Petite Venise
Koifhus Indoor Craft Market

Colmar Christmas market locations and dates

Basel, Switzerland

With some of the prettiest Christmas markets in Switzerland, Basel makes an easy add-on to a France and Germany holiday trip. Located on the Rhine River, it borders both countries and is just a 45-minute train ride from Colmar.

There are two main Christmas markets in Basel, a large one surrounding the Barfusserplatz square and a smaller one with a cute kiddie zone next to the Basel Minster church. You can also climb to the top of the Gothic cathedral for a view of the river and the square sparkling in lights below. (Be aware that they do not allow anyone to walk up the tower alone, for very strange reasons).

While in Basel, you also must stop by the 500-year-old Rathaus (city hall) to see the large Christmas tree in the fresco-adorned courtyard and add your holiday wishes to the Basel Wish Book. A lot of people skip over Switzerland on a winter Europe itinerary to the Christmas markets, but I think it’s a great addition, especially if you’re already going to Strasbourg or Colmar.

Christmas Markets in Basel

Christmas Market at Barfusserplatz
Christmas Market at Munsterplatz

Basel Christmas market dates

Munich, Germany

Munich overflows with Christmas markets and special events in December. The capital of Germany’s Bavaria region is best known for its massive Oktoberfest in the fall and makes a logical base for a Christmas trip to Europe.

During the holiday season, the festival grounds, the center of Old Town, and neighborhoods scattered around the city transform into cozy Yuletide hubs filled with warm drinks, delicious bites, and a host of holiday collectibles, gifts, and decor. There are well over a dozen different Christmas markets in Munich.

If you’re only in the city for a couple of days, I recommend sticking to the Altstadt (Old Town) area for traditional markets surrounding the neo-Gothic town hall.

Münchner Christkindlmarkt in Marienplatz (the central square) is a must for Bavarian food and crafts. The market at the Kaiserhof of the Residenz is my favorite for the setting in a palace courtyard. And the Medieval Christmas Market in Wittelsbacher Platz is fun for something a little old-timey and different.

The Oktoberfest grounds also transform into the Tollwood Winter Festival, a buzzing holiday event with live music, a food plaza, a curling rink, and more.

Christmas Markets in Munich

Münchner Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz
Winter magic at Viktualienmarkt (food market)
Eiszauber skating rink at the Karlsplatz-Stachus
Christkindlmarkt at Sendlinger Tor Platz
Christmas Village in the Kaiserhof of the Residenz (city palace)
Munich Advent Spectacle and Medieval Christmas Market at Wittelsbacher Platz
Tollwood Winter Festival at the Oktoberfest fairgrounds
Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz
Haidhausen Christmas Market at Weissenburger Platz
Bogenhausen Christmas Magic Forest at Cosimabad
Christmas Market at the Chinese Tower at Englischer Garten
Schwabing Christmas markets at Münchner Freiheit
Märchen Bazar (fairytale bazaar) at Olympiapark
Neuhauser Christmas Market at Rotkreuzplatz
Blutenburg Christmas at Blutenburg Castle
Star Fleet on Alte Utting
Magical Christmas Market at the Werksviertel at Knödelplatz
The Moonlight Express Christmas Market at Bahnwärter Thiel

Munich Christmas market dates and locations

Nuremberg, Germany

Home to one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, Nuremberg twinkles with thousands of lights that transform the city’s main square into a fairytale setting for the holidays. The centerpiece of the festivities is the angelic Christkind figure, who symbolizes the spirit of the season in Nuremberg and opens the Christkindlesmarkt every year.

The large Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg fills the square in front of a 13th-century church. Dozens of wooden booths topped with red and white striped canopies and lined with garland sell intricately carved ornaments, spekulatius cookies, candied nuts, and rostbratwurst.

Nearby, a children’s market has a colorful carousel, a Ferris wheel, and activities for kiddos. There’s also the Sister Cities’ Market, where you can shop for international handmade crafts from Nuremberg’s partner communities around the world, including Antalya, Turkey; Cordoba, Spain; San Carlos, Nicaragua; and Kavala, Greece.

Nuremberg is one of the best German Christmas markets to add to your Europe in winter itinerary.

Christmas Markets in Nuremberg

Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt in the Hauptmarkt (main market)
Children’s Christmas Market on Hans-Sachs-Platz
Sister Cities Market at the Rathausplatz (town hall square)

Nuremberg Christmas market dates and locations

Regensburg, Germany

Home to a 13th-century cathedral and a 12th-century bridge across the Danube River, Regensburg’s medieval center is the ideal setting for classic Christmas markets. The main Regensburg Christkindlmarkt fills the square surrounding Neupfarrkirche (new parish church) with twinkling lights, live music, cute carousels, and the aroma of glühwein.

Elsewhere around town, you can stop by the Christmas tree at Altes Rathaus Regensburg (the old town hall), tour inside the St. Peter Cathedral, and wander around to holiday markets at the palace, Kohlenmark, Haidplatz, and across the river by St. Katharinenspital. I also recommend heading to the cafe on the top floor of the Galeria department store on Neupfarrplatz for a view of the main market from above.

Regensburg is about an hour and a half from Munich and an hour from Nuremberg by train. You can get here with the Bayern Ticket, a regional day ticket for unlimited rides in Bavaria for up to five people. Regensburg was one of my favorite stops on my first Europe Christmas itinerary and I highly recommend checking it out. It’s large enough to have a few fun markets, but not too big or overwhelming.

Christmas Markets in Regensburg

Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz
Advent Market at Katharinenspital
Romantic Christmas Market at Schloss St. Emmeram, Thurn, and Taxis
Lucrezia Market at Haidplatz and Kohlenmark

Regensburg Christmas market locations and dates

Salzburg, Austria

The jingling of bells in Salzburg can mean two different things — holiday cheer or the arrival of Krampus, the somewhat terrifying horned creature said to scare away the dark winter spirits. Throughout the season, dozens of costumed Krampuses pop up for parades and appearances at markets around the city.

On a sweeter note, the city is the birthplace of Mozart and the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was composed nearby, so music plays a big part in the seasonal festivities. Daily a capella choral concerts take place in front of the Salzburg Cathedral in late November and December, while brass bands, string quartets, and special Advent performances fill the rest of the calendar.

Some half dozen Christmas markets are scattered around the Altstadt (old town) and Neustadt (new town) on either side of the Salzach River. The main Christkindlmarkt fills the squares around the Salzburg Cathedral with an ice skating rink, towering Christmas tree, string lights, and stands full of holiday trimmings.

My favorite holiday spot is in the 11th-century Hohensalzberg Fortress on a hill above the city. Set up in the medieval castle courtyard, the Christmas market here feels cozy and homegrown. To get into the castle for free, mention at the ticket office that you’re there for the Advent market. There’s also a stunning view over the whole city from a terrace near the courtyard.

Christmas Markets in Salzburg

Christkindlmarkt at the Dom and Residenzplatz
Christmas market on Mirabellplatz
Advent at Salzburg Fortress
Stern Advent and Winter Market in Sternarkaden
Charitable Advent Market at Alter Markt
Hellbrunner Adventzauber at the Palace of Hellbrunn

Salzburg Christmas market dates and locations

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a magical city to visit any time of the year, full of palaces, museums, and music. During the holiday season, tons of Christmas markets pop up in landmark squares around the city.

One of the largest holiday markets in Europe is the Wiener Christkindlmarkt in front of City Hall, with an ice-skating track, carousel, Ferris wheel, and dozens of food and shopping stands. From there, you can stop by palace markets like the Christmas Village at Belvedere, the Culture and Christmas Market at Schönbrunn, and the lesser-known Advent Market at the Palais Liechtenstein.

The Vienna Christmas markets have incredible food — be sure to try the suppen im brotteig (soup bread bowl), kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), raclette (warm cheese served with bread), and waffles with all sorts of sweet toppings.

Since most of the markets here are next to attractions like art museums, historic churches, and palaces, it’s easy to mix sightseeing and tours with Christmas activities. My favorite things to do in Vienna include climbing to the top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral for a view of the city, listening to live music at Peterskirche, and exploring the extensive gardens at Schönbrunn Palace.

Here’s my favorite Vienna itinerary for a day in the city!

Christmas Markets in Vienna