Request a Call Back

Full Name: *

Company Name:

Email Address:

Telephone: *

Best time for us to call you *

Comments



Callback

Christmas Markets around Europe

19/11/2014

Christmas Markets are drawing the Crowds

What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by visiting one of the popular Christmas markets opening shortly across the European continent? The choice is huge and here is a small selection of the best destinations.

Christmas Market Cologne

France

Strasbourg

For an authentic Alsatian Christmas head on over to Strasbourg. You might say that Strasbourg is the capital of Christmas as it boasts the oldest Christmas Market in Europe - it has been a regular winter attraction since 1570. Try the spice bread, bretzels, confectionery, pastries and mulled wine on offer. There is a huge selection of tinsels, Christmas baubles and other decorations for you to decorate your Christmas tree. There are several Christmas markets here, the main market is situated close to Strasbourg's majestic cathedral, others can be found on Place du Château, Place d'Austerlitz and Place du Cordeaux.
From 28th November to 31st December

Lille

At this time of year,Lille comes to live with all sparkling and glowing. There is a dreamy, festive atmosphere and great for some Christmas shopping.There are more than 80 chalets on Place Rihour, where you can find beautiful gifts, nativity figurines, Christmas decorations and, of course, delicious food. Here, you can buy regional specialities as well as arts and crafts from Russia, Poland, and Québec, and even Native America.
From 19th November to 30th December

Germany

Germany is known for particularly romantic Christmas celebrations and there are a number of markets worth a visit:

Dresden

There are 11 Christmas markets in Dresden offering something for everyone. The Striezelmarkt is the most popular Christmas market in the eastern part of Germany and one of the oldest in Germany – this year for the 580th time. This market is particularly known for traditional foods and crafts from the Sachsen region. Stollen is the absolute best in Dresden.
From 27th November to 24th December.

Nuremberg

Think mulled wine, roasted almonds, add some authentic Nurnberger Bratwurst and gingerbread… hmmm. The world famous Christkindl Markt is one of the best and most traditional in Bavaria. It opens its doors on the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent with an appearance of the Christkind on the balcony of the Church of Our Lady.
From 28th November to 24th December

Cologne

Cologne will charm you with a touch of magic at Christmas time. Christmas music, arts and crafts, toys, Christmas decorations and the scent of the Christmas bakeries create a wonderful atmosphere. There are six markets and they open on the last Monday before Advent and attract millions of visitors from around the world.
From 24th November to 23rd December.

Belgium

Brussels

There is a festive atmosphere at the Winter Wonders event in Brussels as it takes you along the winding streets of Brussels’ historic town centre. Some 230 businesses and market stalls will entice you with their wares. There is a Ferris Wheel and an ice rink if you want to take a break from shopping. There is magic, art, gourmet food, music, lights and winter wonders.
28th November to 4th January

Austria

Vienna

Here, the Christmas Markets are a long-standing tradition. There are now over 20 official Advent Markets with a vast array of seasonal gifts and mouth-watering foods and drinks on sale. The traditional Vienna Magic of Advent turns the Rathausplats into a glittering fairytale land. There are stalls for traditional crafts at the Maria-Theresien Platz and there is an area to practise curling.
From 15th November to 24th December

Switzerland

Sankt Gallen

St Gallen is the picture postcard perfect place for the Christmas experience. It’s only an hour’s journey from Zurich but will charm you with a Baroque cathedral, surrounded by half-timbered merchants’ houses, with a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. Opening the Christmas event is marked by lighting thousands of lights on the tallest Christmas tree in Switzerland. Of course, the whole event is accompanied by carol singing. Streets and shops are decorated for the season and the streets are decorated beautifully and hundreds of stars glitter along the streets. For something sweet and authentic, try the biberli - ginger bread/marzipan bites which come in all different shapes with a variety of decorations. To warm up, you might want to visit a Beizli, little where you can purchase feuerzangenbowle, which is a firy wine and rum based punch. To accompany that, you can’t go wrong with raclette, which is melted Swiss cheese, with crusty bread.
27 November – 24 December

Spain

Barcelona

The Christmas market here has been going since at least 1786. The stalls can be found n front of the Cathedral where they sell Christmas trees, decorations and mistletoe… If you like to create a nativity scene for Christmas, this is the place to go for figurines, moss and cribs.
From 28 November to 23 December.

Italy

Bologna

"Buon Natale” as they say in Italy. The Christmas markets here add a real buzz to the heart of this ancient city. Spreading alongside the 12th-century San Pietro Cathedral is the Fiera di Natale; the smaller Antica Fiera di Santa Lucia centres on the cloister of the Santa Maria dei Servi church. This is a great place to buy glass Christmas decorations and Nativity scenes but the food here is excellent. Marzipan fruits and citrus peel dipped in dark chocolate, Torron, a nougat made with nuts and honey, popular all over Spain. Great for stocking fillers.
From 21 November 21– 7 January

Sweden

Stockholm
There have been Christmas markets on Stortorget Square in Stockholm for 500 years. The market can be found outside the Nobel Museum, near the Royal Palace. Here you can marvel at and buy crafts which are only made in Sweden, including jewellery, glass and pottery. Mulled wine here is called glögg (mulled wine); another speciality are pepparkakor, which are thin ginger biscuits. You are likely to have some snow here, which will add to the generally festive atmosphere. Do try some saffransbullar (saffron buns) reindeer sausages.
From 22 November – 23 December

This product is provided to Travel Insured by goodtogoinsurance.com who are appointed representatives of Ancile Insurance Group Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – no.471641 By clicking the box at the foot of this page, you will be taken to our dedicated travel insurance site provided by goodtogoinsurance.com where you will be able to get a travel insurance quotation and view full policy information. The quotation you will obtain is provided on a non advised basis which means that no advice is given or implied and you are solely responsible for deciding whether the policy is suitable for your needs. Contact us if in doubt or if you require advice.

This insurance would meet the demands and needs of someone who wishes to insure their trip away from their home for cancellation costs, medical expenses and other specific risks required for that trip according to their individual circumstances..


If you experience any problems when using the site, contact us on 0845 850 1066.

I have read and understood the above detail

click here to obtain an online quote

This product is provided to Travel Insured by Ancile Insurance Group Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - no.471641. By clicking the box at the foot of this page, you will be taken to our dedicated travel insurance site provided by Ancile Insurance Group Ltd where you will be able to get a travel insurance quotation and view full policy information. The quotation you will obtain is provided on a non advised basis which means that no advice is given or implied and you are solely responsible for deciding whether the policy is suitable for your needs. Contact us if in doubt or if you require advice.

This insurance would meet the demands and needs of someone who wishes to insure their trip away from their home for cancellation costs, medical expenses and other specific risks required for that trip according to their individual circumstances..

If you experience any problems when using the site, contact us on 0845 850 1066.

I have read and understood the above detail.

click here to obtain an online quote

This product is provided to Travel Insured by Ace European Group Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – no.202803. By clicking the box at the foot of this page, you will be taken to our dedicated business travel insurance site provided by Ace European Group Ltd where you will be able to get a travel insurance quotation and view full policy information. The quotation you will obtain is provided on a non advised basis which means that no advice is given or implied and you are solely responsible for deciding whether the policy is suitable for your needs. Contact us if in doubt or if you require advice.

This insurance would meet the demands and needs of a business which wishes to insure business trips away from the UK for cancellation costs, medical expenses and other specific risks required for that trip according to their individual circumstances..

If you experience any problems when using the site, contact
us on 0845 850 1066.

I have read and understood the above detail.

click here to obtain an online quote

Latest News

Travel Baggage Guide: Checked vs Carry-on.

With different airlines offering various options for carrying luggage, it is important to understand the pros and cons of both types of baggage.

Tips on becoming a more sustainable traveller

With travel, there are plenty of ways in which you can reduce your impact on the environment, whilst still being able to enjoy your holidays.

Five destinations for travelling on a budget 2023

A list of five budget destinations for travellers in 2023.

FAQs

Got a question? See our FAQs for our most often asked queries.

Cookies | Privacy | Terms of Business |  Modern Slavery Statement 2022

Green Insurance Group, Creed Associates, Collidge & Partners, Petherwicks and Travel Insured are trading names of Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers (UK Ltd) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reference Number 745618)

Registered in England & Wales with number 09850559

Registered office: 7th Floor, Corn Exchange, 55 Mark Lane, London, EC3R 7NE