Gløgg or glühwein, hot chestnuts and kuchen? Count us in. We love Christmas in Europe because we love Christmas markets. The holiday season starts early in the likes of Alsace, Austria, Germany and Nordic Europe, as yuletide venders set up and transform old town squares into festive hubs of good cheer. With countless to choose from, check out ten of our favourite Christmas markets on the continent.

Christmas market, Strasbourg – Photo credit

Nuremberg, Germany

Well over 1 million people visit Nuremberg over the holidays for what is surely one of the most eclectic and venerable markets in Europe.

Where to stay: Le Meridien Grand Hotel Nuremberg

Nuremberg City Guide

Dresden, Germany

The Free State of Saxony has a Christmas gem in the Dresden Striezelmarkt. The market lures a remarkable 2 million patrons, on average, every December.

Where to stay: Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden

Dresden City Guide

Augsburg, Germany

Bavaria celebrates Christmas with singular festive flair. The Christkindlesmarkts in Augsburg is a good place to start.

Augsburg City Guide

Where to stay: Steigenberger Drei Mohren Hotel Augsburg

Strasbourg, France

The fine capital of Alsace has held a Christkindelsmärik on UNESCO World Heritage Grande Île since 1570.

Where to stay: Cour Du Corbeau Hotel Strasbourg

Strasbourg City Guide

Bolzano, Italy

The capital of Bolzano-Bozen proves that pockets of Italy can Christmas market with the best of them. The South Tyrol is a winter sports haven blissfully free of big tourist crowds. For this reason alone, we heartily recommend the December market in lovely Bolzano.

Where to stay: Hotel Touring Santa Christina Valgardena

Bolzano City Guide

Salzburg, Austria

Celebrate Christmas in a UNESCO World Heritage city. Sublime Salzburg comes to life in December with a market at the foot of the Salzburger Dom.

Where to stay: Sacher Hotel Osterreichischer Hof Salzburg

Salzburg City Guide

Brugge, Belgium

Belgium, too, has a deep affinity for Christmas markets. We like to get all Colin Farrell In Bruges and mix it up on December 6, Saint-Nicolas style.

Where to stay: Kempinski Hotel Dukes Palace Brugge

Brugge City Guide

Aarhus, Denmark

Denmark loves Christmas. The Nordic nation-state has a rich caboodle of Christmas traditions, all of which visitors to the East Jutland city of Aarhus can witness in person at the market in the Ridehuset, or Equestrian Hall.

Where to stay: Best Western Hotel Ritz Aarhus

Aarhus City Guide

Copenhagen, Denmark

Double your pleasure in København with Christmas market stalls in Tivoli and Freetown Christiania.

Where to stay: Scandic Palace Hotel Copenhagen

Copenhagen City Guide

Gothenburg, Sweden

The urbane second city of Sweden hosts a swanky street market in December that easily rates as one of the best in Scandinavia.

Where to stay: Novotel Gothenburg Hotel

Gothenburg City Guide