There is nothing that I love more than a good holiday market. Not only are holiday markets a great place to buy unique and hand-crafted items, but they are also a good place to go to try different foods from around the world!
Last year, I wrote a basic guide to the Outdoor Holiday Markets in New York City. This year as part of the Jetsetter Roundup Series, travel bloggers from around the world have provided me with their suggestions of holiday markets to visit around the world.
Check out this great list of holiday markets from around the world and happy holidays!
Christmas Village in Philadelphia
Christmas Village in Philadelphia – Photo Credit: Opeyemi (Flickr, CC by 2.0)
Every year, the Christmas Village in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania transforms the famous LOVE Park into a traditional German Christmas Market. At the Christmas Village you can find traditional sweet and savory European foods as well as artisanal foods from local vendors. Additionally, you can buy drinks, holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry, and arts and crafts. Check out this wonderful guide to the Christmas Village in Philadelphia by the 2 Food Trippers.
Practical Information
- Website: Christmas Village in Philadelphia
- Address: LOVE Park,1500 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Dates: Thanksgiving through the last Sunday in December
Christkindlesmarkt Chicago
Photo Credit: Beth (TravelsinTranslation.com)
Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is not only the largest open-air holiday market in the United States, but is is also the most authentic German market. Modeled after the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, the Christkindlmarket in Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Chicago. Check out this great guide to the Chicago Christkindlmarket by Beth of Travels of in Translation.
Practical Information
- Website: Christkindlmarket Chicago
- Address: 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
- Dates: November 20 – December 24, 2015
Vancouver Christmas Market
Vancouver Christmas Market – Photo Credit: Michelle Lee (Flickr, Creative Commons by NC-ND-2.0)
The Vancouver Christmas Market is an authentic German Christmas Market that provides a wide variety of cultural activities, food, gifts, and entertainment. The market is a lot of fun for the entire family and has over 50 vendors that will provide you with an amazing European Christmas Market experience. Check out this great guide to the Vancouver Christmas Market by Adelina of the blog Pack Me To.
Practical Information
- Website: Vancouver Christmas Market
- Address: 650 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2P1, Canada
- Dates: November 21 – December 24, 2015
Wiener Christkindlmarkt
Wiener Christkindlmarkt – Photo Credit: Cha già José (Flickr, Creative Commons by SA-2.0)
Every year from mid-November through the end of December the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria holds the annual Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Vienna Christmas Market). The traditions of Christmas markets in Vienna date back over 700 years, and today visitors to the Wiener Christkindlmarkt can purchase delicious sweets, mulled wines, handcrafted goods, and ornaments. Check out this cookie recipe and guide to the Wiener Christkindlmarkt by Kristen of Wandering Educators.
Practical Information
- Website: Wiener Christkindlmarkt
- Address: Rathaus, Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
- Dates: November 13 to December 26, 2015
Salzburger Christkindlmarkt
Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, Photo Credit: Salzburger Christkindlmarkt
Salzburg is one of my favorite small European cities, and is full of culture and beauty. Every winter dating back to the 15th century, the city of Salzburg has been holding their annual Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, which offers a range of food, floral arrangements, textiles, and crafts from over 90 vendors. On the website Passe Partout, Isabel shares not only her experience from the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, but she also shares some of her favorite European Yueltide Markets, including the Bolzano Christmas market in South Tyrol, Italy and the Southbank Centre Christmas Market in London, England.
Practical Information
- Website: Salzburger Christkindlmarkt
- Address: Residenzplatz, Residenzpl., 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Dates: Opens November 19, 2015
Kraków Christmas Market
Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy Kraków, Photo Credit: Pianoforte Agencja Artystyczna
Every year the center of the city of Kraków, Poland, transforms into Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy, a Polish Christmas market filled with eastern and western European delicacies, dwarfs (like the ones pictured above), and handcrafted goods. Katie from the blog Trouncing Around shares her experience at the Kraków Christmas Market and how the city of Kraków lights up during the winter.
Practical Information
- Website: Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy
- Address: Rynek, 30-062 Kraków, Poland
- Dates: November 20 – December 22, 2015
Christkindlmarket Alpine
Christmas in Helen Georgia, Photo Credit: ExploreGeorgia.org
For the past eight years the German-themed alpine village of Helen, Georgia has been holding an annual Christkindlmarket. The center of the city has a number of booths that offer specialty gift items, decorations, savory foods, and delicious treats. Sharon of Where is Sharon shares her experience traveling to Helen, Georgia for their Christkindlmarket.
Practical Information
- Website: Helen Chamber of Commerce
- Address: Downtown Marketplatz, Helen, Georgia, USA
- Dates: December 5-6 & December 12-12, 2015
Heimat der Heinzel
Christmas in Cologne, Photo Credit: Cologne Tourism
Every year in the city of Cologne, Germany, you can find a number of holiday markets including the city’s largest and most traditional market Weihnachtsmarkt Kölner Altstadt / Heimat der Heinzel. Throughout the city you can smell the aroma of freshly baked apples, buttery biscuits and mulled wine that fills the air. Check out this post by Nicole of I Luv 2 Globetrot as she shares her experience visiting the Christmas Markets in Cologne.
Are you going to be visiting Germany outside of the holiday season? Check out this post by Nadeen of The Sophisticated Life for reasons to visit Germany in 2015 and beyond!
Practical Information
- Website: Heimat der Heinzel
- Address:Cologne, Germany
- Dates: November 23 to December 23, 2015
Bochumer Weihnacht
Bochumer Weihnacht, Photo Credit: Bochumer Weihnacht
Christmas markets in Germany are a wonderful place to be when it is cold outside – especially when you get the chance to see Santa! The Bochumer Weihnacht in Germany’s Ruhr region has a number of delicious food offerings such as traditional Swabian bread, specially crafted artisan goods, and even a flying Santa Claus! Check out this article by Nicole of I Luv 2 Globetrot to see all that the Bochumer Weihnacht has to offer.
Practical Information
- Website:Bochumer Weihnacht
- Address:Bochum City, Dr.-Ruer-Platz, 44787 Bochum, Germany
- Dates: November 19 to December 23, 2015
I hope that I can get to visit some other Christmas markets around the world too Lynzy! 😀
Where do you live Jennifer? If you are in the US, there are a ton of holiday markets in different cities around the country 😀
I love holiday markets! I am looking forward to visiting the ones here in NYC again this year! 😀 Happy holidays!
I agree – the Christmas season is wonderful and everyone does seem to be a little bit nicer 😀
I also had not heard of some of these markets until other bloggers shared their suggestions with me – I cannot wait to get to some of these places myself!
I also would love to experience Christmas all over the world. I think next year I might try to make it to a German market! 😀
Hi Susie, you are very welcome and I hope to get to the Vancouver market myself one day! 😀
The ones in Salzburg and Cologne are my favorite. I would love to travel more during the Christmas season. What a wonderful time of year to see other cultures’ celebrations! If it was more safe, I would love to be in Israel for Hanukkah too. Our world is pretty amazing.
We do live in a pretty amazing world – I would love to get back to Salzburg to experience their winter market!
Oh wow I never knew there were Christmas markets in Chicago and Phily. I love Christmas time and I’m going to pin this for later for places I’d love to visit!
I also did know until recently Winter! I think I might head down to Philly for the market this year! 😀
Reading this post has definitely put me in the Christmas spirit! I have had Helen GA on my list for some time so this is the perfect time to go! I love all the German markets-one year I will get there!
Yeah Helen, GA sounds so cool right Nadeen! I would love to go! 😀
Tammilee-I attended your talk at Tbex in Fort Lauderdale. Thx for the “tips” 🙂
I always enjoy trying new foods. The thought of being able to try new foods as my wife is distracted by loads of handcrafted items has me wanting to go check out the Christmas Village. Hopefully this year we really will drive up north for Christmas and see some snow.
Haha yeah it sounds like you both will be able to do something you will enjoy 😀
Me too Jess! They are such a great place for picking up gifts 😀
I definitely love the Christkindlemarkt in Chicago, but after visiting 5 in Germany and 1 in France, I don’t think Chicago will ever be the same for me. Favorites were: Colmar, France and Rothenburg ob der Tauber & Nüremburg, Germany. Something about Germany at the holidays is just magical.
Wow Kirsten! I have yet to get to the German/French markets but now you have given me some great suggestions on markets to check out – thanks!