With Christmas, Europe is preparing to brightest times of winter. Christmas markets are held to decorate the streets and accompany the celebrations as an old European tradition.
Whether or not the streets decorated with snows which is a beautiful symbol of the Christmas, we are entering one of our favorite times of the year. Soon the new year soul will begin to fill the most beautiful streets of cities, and the sparkling shop windows will be decorated with colorful decorations. While there is still a little more time before this festive spirit graces for the Istanbul streets, the Christmas markets are hold in Europe and become to give a lively soul to cities. Here are the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market, Berlin
Gendarmenmarkt is an historic Christmas market in Germany. Located between the magnificent towers of German and French churches, it is one of the most luxurious Christmas markets with its long history. One of the most famous foods of Gendarmenmarkt is Spätzle, which is a kind of pasta made with eggs. The famous fried bread Lángos, which is roasted chestnuts and cheese balls are also popular. Warm mead and Glühwein are drinks to warm you up in the cold weather. The concert hall opposite the market also offers public performances during Christmas.
“Berlin houses about 80 Christmas markets that are famous with many delicious foods like Gebrannte Mandeln, potato varieties, Stollen breads, Lebkuchen cookies are among the most famous flavors of the Christmas markets. And of course, Glühwein also must-try.”
Charlottenburg Christmas Market, Berlin
Located around the Charlottenburg Palace, which is built for Queen Sophie Charlotte of Prussia around 17th century, the Charlottenburg Christmas Market hosts more than 250 stalls. Food and souvenirs are sold in wooden stalls produced in sustainable way with natural materials. If you go to Charlottenburg to the Christmas market, also can take a tour the palace gardens and learn about the royal family’s Christmas traditions.
Budapest Christmas Market
Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square houses one of the biggest and oldest Christmas markets of the city. The market hosts more than 100 stall in which you can taste the local flavors of the city and fill your luggage with gifts reflecting Hungarian traditions. Langos, hot dogs, a kind of raki called Palinka and herbal Hungarian liqueur are among the flavors you must try in Hungarian Christmas markets. Furthermore, with Hungarian dancers dancing in their traditional costumes, concerts organized on the streets and traditions scattered all over the markets, the Christmas markets also offer an opportunity to meet Hungarian culture.
Basel Christmas Markets
Located on the border of France and Germany, the city is also home to Switzerland’s largest and most beautiful Christmas markets. Historic structure of the city lights up during the Christmas season and the Christmas markets at Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz are the most famous ones. When it comes to food, fried cheese is of course a Swiss classic, but potato pancakes and Basler Läckerli, a traditional spicy biscuit, are also must-try delicacies.
Paris Christmas Markets
What could be more romantic address than Paris at Christmas? And of course, the city also houses most beautiful Christmas markets such as Notre-Dame, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Champs-Élysées Christmas. The Christmas market in the Tuileries Garden attracts attention not only with its food stalls but also with scare houses, bumper cars and various toys… The Hôtel de Ville Christmas market is candidate to be one of the most classic Christmas markets with the Neo-Renaissance architecture of the hotel behind it. Just the idea of sipping mulled wine against the stunning architecture of this magnificent hotel is enough to make our heads spin.
Prag Christmas Markets
Reminiscent of the Middle Ages with its castles and fortresses, Prague is also famous for its Christmas markets. You might visit the Christmas markets hold on the streets where Kafka once walked, and try local drinks with rum, water, lemon and sugar. If you prefer to drink mulled wine, cinnamons scents fill that fills the city will be accompaniment. Old Town Square, Náměstí Republiky Christmas Market and Náměstí Míru Christmas Markets are among the most famous markets you can visit during Christmas.
The Merano Christmas Market (Italy)
Embracing its guests with Mediterranean warmth, Italy is also a warming address for Christmas. At the Christmas market set up on the streets of Merano, where the smell of gingerbread cookies fills the streets, you can leave yourself to the Italian melodies of street musicians while warming up with mulled wine accompanied by Sudtirol cakes and apple strudels. Traditional souvenirs made of fabrics, ceramics, wood and glass will be the sweetest Christmas souvenirs you’ll leave the city with.
Zagreb Christmas Market
When it comes to a Balkan country, the Christmas markets in Zagreb come out with spicy sausages, stuffed cabbage, chocolate-covered festive pies and the famous plum raki or local wine. More than 25 markets take place in the city over Christmas, each with its own theme, reflecting the traditions of this Central European city. You should not miss the events and concerts organized in the city during this festive period.
