Dreaming of immersive decor, collections of wooden chalets in a town square, the smell of sugar in the air, and the feel of a steaming mug of glühwein between your hands–perhaps all enjoyed in a place overlooked by a castle?
If so, it’s time to put together a European Christmas market itinerary that you’ll never forget!
We absolutely adore visiting Christmas markets in Europe, and have been lucky enough to explore many of them over the years, from iconic destinations like Cologne to quirky options in Lisbon, and we’ve enjoyed every last one!
When it comes to celebrating Christmas in Europe in a short amount of time, though, there’s no doubt that some destinations stand out above the rest.
If you’re gearing up to visit European Christmas markets by train and wondering where to go, I’ll say this: there’s no such thing as the perfect Christmas in Europe itinerary, because there are literally thousands of incredible Christmas markets in Europe.
… But that being said, if our friends and family come to us and say, “I want to visit some of the best Christmas markets in Europe, fast, and see a few different countries”, this is the exact itinerary we recommend.
Here’s how to spend 10 festive days discovering gorgeous Christmas markets in Germany, France, and Austria!
We’ve structured this Christmas market itinerary as a loop beginning and ending in Munich.
Along the way, you’ll visit:
These are all places that we’ve personally loved celebrating Christmas in Europe, and they’re also all–with limited exception for a few alternate suggestions–easily accessible by train.
We’ve relied heavily on day trips to structure this itinerary, and we recommend spending the night in only 3 places: Munich, Cologne, and Strasbourg.
You’ll notice that this itinerary is faster-paced than most of our recommended itineraries on Our Escape Clause, and the reason why is simple: with your goal being to enjoy the festivities rather than maximise traditional sightseeing, it’s easier to move faster!
However, the simple rule of celebrating Christmas in Europe is that there are no rules.
If you want to simply spend a week in Munich or Cologne or Strasbourg and take day trips from one base, you’ll have an incredible time!
This itinerary is specifically designed as a (reasonably) efficient way to discover incredible European Christmas markets by train!
For that reason, all of the major cities mentioned are easily reachable in a half-day’s train ride or less from each other, and in some cases, the ride is only an hour or so.
When planning a European Christmas itinerary by train, we highly recommend booking train tickets in advance!
High-speed trains–like the ones you’ll frequently use to connect between major cities–can get pricey, especially as dates get closer.
We use and recommend Omio to plot train and bus routes around much of Europe, and to shop for tickets.
Omio is an aggregate that compares multiple train companies at once and compares routes and prices all in one place, and makes booking (and keeping track of your many train journeys) easy.
Shop train tickets to visit European Christmas markets today!
There is one part of this route that can be enhanced by renting a car, and that is in Alsace!
Some of the smallest (and cutest) market towns in the area, like Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, don’t have train stations.
To get around, you’ll either want to take the local bus, sign up for a Christmas shuttle (limited dates and competitive tickets), book a day trip like this, or rent a car for a day.
If you’d like to book a car, we recommend comparing prices and inclusions with Discover Cars.
Here’s our step-by-step recommended Christmas market itinerary!
I’ve done my best to keep these sections concise, but we have many more blog posts about celebrating Christmas in Europe and these places in general.
I’ll link to them throughout, but also include a section at the bottom of this blog post to help you find the ones I think are most helpful.
Stately Munich, as the capital of Bavaria, the home of some of the best Christmas markets in Europe, and its status as one of the best-connected European cities by both rail and air, is the perfect place to kick off your trip.
With 10+ Christmas markets to explore (don’t miss the Medieval Market!), get started right away with your first market of the trip.
We recommend heading to Marienplatz, with its iconic architecture (including but not limited to Altes Rathaus and Neues Rathaus), to get things started with Munich’s main Christmas market.
Consider enjoying a view of the market from above, too: you can easily do so by heading to the top of Neues Rathaus (there’s an elevator), or to the top of Peterskirche (306 steps to the top).
Many of the other top things to see in Munich, like Frauenkirche, Odeonplatz, and Hofgarten, are also lurking nearby.
On our most recent trip to Munich, we loved basing ourselves at Hotel Concorde!
The location, on a quiet street just a 7-minute walk from Marienplatz, was perfect, the room crisp and modern, the staff friendly, and the included breakfast great (we ate a lot of traditional sausages and pretzels for breakfast, among many other things).
For travelers on a budget, Hotel Kreis Residenz München gets great reviews, but note that you’ll be compromising significantly on location, so be prepared for a decent U-Bahn ride into the city center before kicking off your sightseeing!
Looking to splurge?
If so, then the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Munich is an incredible place to stay.
When you wake up on your first full day in Germany, odds are you’ll be ready to start exploring the city more in-depth!
Christmas markets aren’t generally at their best (or even necessarily open) in the mornings, so grab breakfast and enjoy a few other of the top things to do in Munich.
We recommend visiting the Munich Residenz (it’s stunning, I particularly love the Rococo rooms), checking out the surfers at Eisbachwelle (nope, the winter weather will not stop them), and strolling around the Englischer Garden.
If you’re up for a longer non-market-focused excursion, you might also visit the Nympenburg Palace!
And, when you’re ready, dive right into more of the best Christmas markets in Munich, pick one and head there… but you likely won’t need to seek any out in particular!
The Christmas market in the courtyard of the Munich Residenz is just one example among many of how you can stumble across Christmas markets while visiting other top things to see in the city.
If you want to head in a specific direction, the Christmas market at Sendlinger Tor (a city gate with roots in the 14th century) is small but beautiful, and a lovely contrast to the bustling Marienplatz.
Dating to 1628, Nuremberg’s Christmas market (or Christkindlesmarkt) is the oldest Advent market in Bavaria and also one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world, making it an incredible addition to your itinerary!
As the traditional origin of lebkuchen (gingerbread), it even has a claim to one of the season’s most iconic foods–and it is arguably better there than anywhere. I dream of authentic Bavarian lebkuchen regularly!
There are a few Christmas markets in Nuremberg today–a few of which you’ll pass by on the walk into town from the train station–but the primary market is held in the city’s main square, Hauptmarkt.
Nuremberg’s fame combined with its relatively small size means that the market can get very crowded, but we count it among our favorites regardless. It’s just that special.
We think Nuremberg is the perfect fit for this itinerary, but if you’d prefer a less-bustling Christmas market that’s also easy to reach from Munich, we love Bamberg, too, and talk about it more in this blog post.
Bamberg only has one Christmas market, but it’s gorgeous and has both delicious food and excellent shopping (I’m still dreaming about the handbread we ate there, and I bought an adorable carved hedgehog, too).
It’s also a gem of a small Bavarian city that makes a great day trip year-round.
Augsburg would be another lovely alternative to Nuremberg!
Nuremberg is just over an hour away from Munich on the high-speed ICE train, which uses dynamic ticket pricing and therefore is best booked in advance.
There are other, slower ways to get to Nuremberg from Munich, but we recommend prioritizing efficiency on this fast-paced itinerary, especially because ticket prices are very competitive when booked in advance.
Less than 2 hours by direct train away, visiting Salzburg, Austria from Munich is one of the easiest border-hopping day trips imaginable!
And Salzburg itself is well worth the journey: with more than 500 years of history behind its Christmas markets, a compact city center that’s a delight to explore on foot, and gorgeous views in every direction, it’s a feast for the senses.
Salzburg is one of the first cities that sent us head-over-heels in love with European Christmas markets, and it’s one of our favorite Christmas market cities to this day!
On your day trip, the markets themselves will be the star of the show.
The main Christkindlemarkt at Dom-and-Residenz-Square is phenomenal, and there are several others scattered about as well (including at Mirabell Square, close to one of many Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg).
Beyond the markets, consider paying a visit to the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress, checking out the views from the gardens near the Kapuzinerkloster Monastery, touring Mozart’s birthplace or residence, meandering through the Altstadt, and stepping inside the gorgeous Salzburg Cathedral.
If you feel like making a late night of it, you can even attend a Mozart concert in Mirabell Palace, which is easily one of the best things to do in Salzburg in winter!
With more than 40 trains a day running between Munich and Salzburg, taking a day trip to Salzburg is easy!
We do recommend booking train tickets in advance for the best prices (and to choose the fastest routes).
While there are no standard border checks between Germany and Austria (yay, Schengen Zone!), you still need to bring your passport with you.
We’ve only had our passports checked at an intra-Schengen border crossing once in all our years of traveling and living in Europe, but it can happen.
On day 5 of your Christmas market itinerary, it’s time to say goodbye to being based in Bavaria and head to a whole new destination in Germany!
While Cologne is a lovely place to visit year-round, with its soaring Gothic Cathedral, Kölsch beer, and colorful Fischmarkt, it’s generally not considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing cities in Germany, as it was heavily damaged during WWII.
… But at Christmas, Cologne transforms into a festive wonderland made up of what are arguably the most immersive and stunning Christmas markets in all of Germany, and therefore, perhaps, the world.
Cologne is heavily in the running for our favorite Christmas destination in Europe, and many of our friends agree!
While at least half your day will be eaten up by saying goodbye to Munich, traveling to Cologne by train, and checking into your new hotel, you’ll definitely want to spend your afternoon and evening at the markets!
We recommend starting with the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, which has a picture-perfect setting in addition to plenty to see.
Personally, I bought a beautiful hand-painted ornament made by a Ukrainian family in Cologne at this market that I cherish (and also some apple strudel, because of course).
The cathedral itself is a must-see, too, and if you climb all 533 steps of the South Tower, you’ll be rewarded with a birds-eye view of the market itself along the way.
High-speed trains from Munich to Cologne take under 5 hours on average, with the fastest routes running 4.5 hours and some taking 6 hours or more.
There are several direct trains, but also routes that change at Frankfurt, Stuttgart, or both, so we recommend reviewing the schedule carefully when booking!
Once you arrive in Cologne, the train station couldn’t be easier to navigate from: you can see the city’s massive cathedral through the windows of the station, as it’s practically next door.
When visiting the Cologne Christmas markets, we stayed at Breslauer Hof Am Dom and found it extremely convenient!
The room was comfortable and fairly basic–it’s not a luxury hotel–but the included breakfast was perfect to get our day started, and the hotel was quiet and felt tucked away despite being a short walk from both the train station and the top things to do in Cologne.
We would be happy to check in again!
For travelers looking to stay on more of a budget, the Art Rock Downtown Hotel gets solid reviews without compromising on walkability.
Looking to indulge in a bit of luxury? The beautiful, family-run Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom is the the shadow of the Cologne Cathedral, has a Michelin Star restaurant on-site, and gets excellent reviews!
Today is all about exploring the best of Cologne’s Christmas markets!
In addition to gorgeous decor, music (there’s a gigantic reindeer head that sings Jingle Bells involved at one point), and the usual delicious food and lovely shopping, you’ll also find an ice-skating course–calling it a rink is selling it short–and interactive activities (especially for kids).
We even saw a blacksmithing demonstration!
Heinzel’s Winter Fairytale is Cologne’s biggest market and an absolute must-visit, you’ll find many of the above things there, strewn across Alter Markt and Heumarkt.
We also adored the Angel Market (home of the aforementioned singing reindeer), and highly recommend a visit.
Looking for even more? Walk a bit further, and you’ll find the Christmas market at the Stadtgarten, or you can seek out the Harbor Market at the Chocolate Museum.
If you can tear yourself away from Cologne’s Christmas markets, which is admittedly difficult to do, you might also consider visiting the Schokoladenmuseum (Chocolate Museum), seeing views from the Köln Triangle (if you want to sample the modern side of the city), or checking out the Fishmarkt.
… But really, you’re probably going to want to spend all day at the markets!
If you like beer, though, be sure to duck into a Kölsch pub to try a local Kölsch beer before you leave town.
Specific to Cologne, Kölsch is served in tiny glasses and automatically refilled until you put your coaster over the top of the glass–call it a local tradition.
We enjoyed the full Kölsch experience (and a tasty meal) at Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom, but there are plenty of options around town.
After a quick goodbye to Cologne–and Germany–this morning, it’s time to board a train bound for France!
The Alsace region in Northeast France is famous for its wine, its colorful, fairytale villages (comparisons to Beauty and the Beast are rampant, though that story was set in Provence), and its Christmas markets.
Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region and also the self-proclaimed Capital of Christmas, is the perfect place to start your visit to the region!
The city has been passed back and forth between French and German rule several times over the centuries, and you can feel influences from each in Strasbourg’s architecture, food, culture, and language.
After checking into your hotel, we recommend heading to Place de la Cathédrale, both for its beautiful Christmas market and for the cathedral itself.
The market also happens to be the oldest Christmas market in France, and was first opened in 1570!
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg itself spent about 200 years as the tallest building in the world and is a soaring Gothic masterpiece.
Is this similar in some ways to the cathedral you just visited in Cologne? Yes. Is it worth climbing anyway? Also yes.
The streets surrounding the cathedral–and Strasbourg’s historic center in general–are famous for their elaborate Christmas decor in addition to just the markets.
Be sure to spend some time wandering around and admiring building facades!
Traveling to Strasbourg from Cologne by train only takes between 3 and 5 hours or so, but as there aren’t any direct trains, you’ll need to make at least one change.
We recommend looking closely to be sure to book a route that requires a maximum of 1-2 changes, as some of them require up to 4!
The routes with more changes aren’t necessarily any slower, but they’re certainly more of a hassle.
Once you arrive in Strasbourg, you may want to take a tram or bus closer to where you’re staying from the train station.
The station is very convenient (about a 20-minute walk from the cathedral), but not quite as convenient as Cologne’s!
Browse the train schedule and shop tickets for your trip to Strasbourg today!
On our most recent trip to Strasbourg, we stayed at Appartements Le 32 and found our unit very convenient!
Complete with a small kitchenette and located down a quiet street only a few minutes from the Strasbourg Cathedral, these apartments are the perfect base for exploring Christmas markets in Strasbourg.
The rooms were impeccably clean, the customer service responsive, and we’d be happy to stay again.
For travelers hoping to stay on a tighter budget, Hôtel Patricia is a well-reviewed option that is very convenient for exploring Strasbourg on foot.
Looking for a historic property with gorgeous views, the perfect location near Place Kléber, and luxurious touches? It’s hard to beat Maison Rose Hotel & Spa (we have this place saved for a future trip–we’d love to stay here one day!).
With many official Christmas markets scattered around Strasbourg’s historic center, as well as Christmas-market-like-events such as the Village of Sharing, it’s incredibly easy to simply wander around the city on foot and sample the most festive displays in the Capital of Christmas!
Place Broglie, Place du Château, and Place Kléber (don’t miss the gigantic Christmas tree here!) are great places to start, and you can find all of Strasbourg’s markets listed here.
If you’re a mulled wine fan, I highly recommend sampling the vin chaud blanc, or mulled white wine, while here.
It’s not as common across Europe as typical mulled red wine, but it’s delicious and popular in Strasbourg (and in Alsace in general).
Beyond enjoying the Christmas markets themselves, be sure to wander along the beautiful canals in the neighborhood of La Petite France and to enjoy a cozy meal in a traditional Alsatian winstub. A rösti served in Alsace is one of my top picks for a winter meal!
If you’d like to add a bit of traditional sightseeing to your day, a popular (and fun) option is to take a boat tour through Strasbourg’s canals.
A boat ride is a great way to warm up–the boats are covered–and to see a bit more of the city, including the European Parliament, which is set a bit further from the historic center than you’re likely to go on foot.
Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Strasbourg (at any time of year)!
As you approach the end of your Christmas in Europe itinerary, we recommend leaving Strasbourg behind and getting a broader taste of Alsace!
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