Holiday travel · November 20 – December 24, 2026
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for Christmas Markets Season
Europe's most magical Christmas markets, from Nuremberg and Strasbourg to Tallinn's medieval square, plus the best North American markets inspired by them.
Jump to hotels ↓Bavaria, Germany
Why Christmas Markets Season
Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is one of Germany's oldest and most famous.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg. Art Nouveau hotel near the old town walls.
Hotels in Nuremberg →
Austria
Why Christmas Markets Season
Vienna's markets at Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn and Spittelberg fill the city.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel. 19th-century palace on the Ringstrasse.
Explore Vienna →Grand Est, France
Why Christmas Markets Season
Strasbourg calls itself the 'Capital of Christmas', with a market dating to 1570.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île. Old-town hotel steps from the Christmas markets.
Hotels in Strasbourg →Saxony, Germany
Why Christmas Markets Season
Dresden's Striezelmarkt is one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets and the home of Christmas stollen.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden. Baroque palace opposite the Zwinger.
Hotels in Dresden →
Salzburg, Austria
Why Christmas Markets Season
Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt in Cathedral Square, near the birthplace of 'Silent Night'.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Hotel Sacher Salzburg. Riverside hotel facing the Old Town and fortress.
Explore Salzburg →
Czechia
Why Christmas Markets Season
Prague's Old Town Square market beneath the Gothic towers of Týn Church.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~38°F (3°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Hotel Prague. Riverside hotel with views of Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.
Explore Prague →North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Why Christmas Markets Season
Cologne's market beneath the cathedral is one of Germany's most visited.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Excelsior Hotel Ernst. Grand hotel facing Cologne Cathedral.
Hotels in Cologne →
Bavaria, Germany
Why Christmas Markets Season
Munich's Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz and the medieval market at Wittelsbacherplatz.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski München. Grand hotel on Maximilianstrasse with a rooftop pool.
Explore Munich →
Hungary
Why Christmas Markets Season
Budapest's markets at Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen's Basilica.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest. Art Nouveau palace facing the Chain Bridge.
Explore Budapest →
Capital Region, Denmark
Why Christmas Markets Season
Tivoli Gardens' Christmas season and the Nyhavn market.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Admiral Hotel Copenhagen. A five-star stay in Copenhagen, a strong base for Copenhagen.
Explore Copenhagen →
11Tallinn
Estonia
Why Christmas Markets Season
Tallinn's medieval Town Hall Square hosts one of Europe's most atmospheric markets.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~30°F (-1°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Hotel Telegraaf, Autograph Collection. Former telegraph station in the medieval old town.
Explore Tallinn →
12Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Why Christmas Markets Season
Zurich's indoor market in the main station and the 'singing Christmas tree'.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Baur au Lac. Family-owned since 1844, set in a lakeside park.
Explore Zurich →- 13
Basel
Basel-Stadt, Switzerland
Why Christmas Markets Season
Basel's markets on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois. Rhine-side hotel with roots dating to 1681.
Hotels in Basel → - 14
Brussels
Belgium
Why Christmas Markets Season
Brussels' Winter Wonders market and light show on the Grand-Place.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte Hotel. Steps from the Grand-Place.
Hotels in Brussels → - 15
Montreux
Vaud, Switzerland
Why Christmas Markets Season
Montreux Noël on the shores of Lake Geneva.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- romance
- culture
Where we'd stay: Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. Belle Époque palace on Lake Geneva.
Hotels in Montreux → Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Why Christmas Markets Season
Heidelberg's markets in the old town beneath the castle.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
Where we'd stay: Europäischer Hof Heidelberg. Family-run grand hotel near the old town.
Hotels in Heidelberg →
Scotland, United Kingdom
Why Christmas Markets Season
Edinburgh's Christmas market in East Princes Street Gardens.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold, damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian. Former railway hotel with views of Edinburgh Castle.
Explore Edinburgh →
Quebec, Canada
Why Christmas Markets Season
Quebec City's German Christmas Market in the old town.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~25°F (-4°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
- family
Where we'd stay: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Iconic castle hotel above the St. Lawrence in Old Quebec.
Explore Quebec City →
19Chicago
Illinois, United States
Why Christmas Markets Season
Chicago's Christkindlmarket, modeled on Nuremberg's, at Daley Plaza.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~34°F (1°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
- family
Where we'd stay: The Langham, Chicago. Riverfront hotel in a Mies van der Rohe-designed building.
Explore Chicago →
20London
England, United Kingdom
Why Christmas Markets Season
London's Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and the Southbank Centre Winter Market.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~46°F (8°C); damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Savoy. Thames-side landmark with an Art Deco ballroom and the American Bar.
Explore London →