The best Christmas markets in Europe for a first trip are Vienna’s Rathausplatz market (open Nov. 13 to Dec. 26, 2026), Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt and Strasbourg (both Nov. 27 to Dec. 24), Cologne’s cathedral market (Nov. 16 to Dec. 23) and Prague’s Old Town Square (Nov. 28 to Jan. 6). (Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz: opening hours) (Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt) Most German and French markets close on Christmas Eve, so plan your trip for the first three weeks of December.
See the Munich market tour at GoWithGuide ($345+)
We earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Dates checked on Nov. 13, 2026.
Christmas markets are one of the biggest reasons Americans fly to Europe in winter. U.S. searches for “christmas markets in europe” reached 90,500 in December 2025. (Google search volume data for terms) The catch: each market keeps its own calendar, and a few close before Christmas Day. Here are the dates that matter.
2026 Christmas market dates at a glance
| Market | City | 2026 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz | Vienna, Austria | Nov. 13–Dec. 26 | Daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Dec. 24 until 6:30 p.m. |
| Cathedral market (Markt der Herzen) | Cologne, Germany | Nov. 16–Dec. 23 (closed Nov. 22) | Sun–Wed 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thu–Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m. (Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom) |
| Christkindlesmarkt | Nuremberg, Germany | Nov. 27–Dec. 24 | Daily 10 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Christkindelsmärik | Strasbourg, France | Nov. 27–Dec. 24 | Not published yet (Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas) |
| Old Town Square market | Prague, Czech Republic | Nov. 28–Jan. 6, 2027 | Not published yet (Old Town Square Christmas Market) |
| Christkindlmarkt and city markets | Munich, Germany | Late November to Christmas Eve | See our Munich Christmas market guide |
Dates come from each market’s official site. We list hours only where the organizer publishes them.
Which market is best for you?
Vienna: the longest season and the easiest start
Vienna’s main market in front of City Hall opens first and closes last among the big ones: Nov. 13 to Dec. 26, 2026, every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It stays open on Dec. 25 and 26, which almost no German market does. The “Ice Dream” skating rink next to it runs until Jan. 6, 2027, and closes on New Year’s Eve.
Our advice: if you can only travel the week of Christmas, Vienna is the safest choice. Pair a market evening with a daytime walk through the old town. GoWithGuide lists a private 2.5-hour Highlights of Vienna’s Old Town tour from $300 per group, and a 3-hour Imperial Vienna tour at the same price. (Vienna tours) Neither is a market tour, so plan the stalls for after dark.
See the Vienna old town tour ($300+ per group)
Nuremberg: the classic German market
Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is the one many Americans picture: wooden stalls, gingerbread and mulled wine on the main square. It opens with a ceremony on Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m. and runs to Dec. 24, daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekends get crowded. Our advice: go on a weekday morning for photos and come back after dark for the lights.
Cologne: best for a short add-on
Cologne’s cathedral market sits on Roncalliplatz, right below the cathedral, and opens early this year: Nov. 16 to Dec. 23. It’s closed on Sunday, Nov. 22, a German day of remembrance. It’s open until 10 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Cologne’s main station is next to the cathedral, so it works well as a stop on a rail trip through Germany.
Munich: several markets in one city
Munich’s markets are spread out, from the main Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz to smaller themed markets in other neighborhoods. That’s where a guide earns the fee. GoWithGuide’s private Munich Christmas Markets Tour covers seven markets in 4 hours, starting at 5 p.m., from $345 per group of up to 6 people. (Munich Christmas Markets Tour) We compare four Munich tours in our Munich Christmas market tours guide.
Check Munich tour dates at GoWithGuide
Strasbourg: the French favorite
Strasbourg is the pick if you want a French market with an Alsatian, half-German flavor. The 2026 edition runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 24. The city hadn’t posted daily hours when we checked, so look again before you go. The city sits on the border with Germany, so it pairs well with a German itinerary.
Prague: open into January
Prague’s Old Town Square market runs from Nov. 28, 2026, to Jan. 6, 2027, so it’s one of the few big markets you can still visit after Christmas. For an evening walk with stories about the old town, GoWithGuide lists Prague After Dark, a private 2-hour tour from $140 per group. (Prague tours)
See Prague After Dark ($140+ per group)
How to plan a Christmas market trip
- Pick your week first. Between Nov. 28 and Dec. 23, every market in this guide is open. After Dec. 24, only Vienna (to Dec. 26) and Prague (to Jan. 6) are still running.
- Go at night, but not only at night. Stalls are prettiest after dark and most crowded then too. A weekday daytime visit is calmer for shopping.
- Book private guides early. Guides book by date. On GoWithGuide, you get a full refund if you cancel at least 8 days before the tour, 50% with 3 to 7 days’ notice, and nothing in the last 2 days. (Cancellation Policy)
- Prices are per group. A $300 tour split among four people is $75 each. Food, drinks and transit are usually extra.
- Dress for standing still. You’ll spend hours outdoors in near-freezing air. Our guide to dressing for cold weather explains layering.
- Pack light and legal. If you bring a power bank for photos and maps, it goes in your carry-on: see our power bank airline rules.
Other holiday cities
Not set on markets? We also cover Paris at Christmas, Rome at Christmas and New York at Christmas, each with private tours and practical tips.
Checklist
- Choose a week between Nov. 28 and Dec. 23 to catch every market open.
- Check each market’s official site again before you fly.
- Book private guides at least 8 days ahead to keep the full refund.
- Plan Dec. 25–26 in Vienna or Prague if you travel over Christmas.
- Pack warm layers and keep batteries in your carry-on.
Sources & method
Who this guide is for
This guide is for U.S. travelers planning a December trip to Europe who want to know which Christmas markets are worth the flight, when each one is open this year, and how to see them without wasting a night.
How we researched this
- This is a research-based guide, not a hands-on product test.
- Every measurement and safety figure is attributed to the source it comes from. Where we give our own advice, we say so.
- We don’t rank or recommend specific products in this guide.
Sources
- Wiener Christkindlmarkt — Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz: opening hours (accessed Nov 13, 2026). Open Nov. 13–Dec. 26, 2026, daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Dec. 24 until 6:30 p.m.; ice rink to Jan. 6, 2027.
- Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom — Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom (accessed Nov 13, 2026). Nov. 16–Dec. 23, 2026 on Roncalliplatz; closed Nov. 22; hours by weekday.
- City of Nuremberg — Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (accessed Nov 13, 2026). Nov. 27–Dec. 24, 2026; opening ceremony Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m.; daily 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
- City of Strasbourg — Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas (accessed Nov 13, 2026). 2026 edition runs Nov. 27–Dec. 24.
- Prague City Tourism — Old Town Square Christmas Market (accessed Nov 13, 2026). Nov. 28, 2026–Jan. 6, 2027 on Old Town Square.
- GoWithGuide — Munich Christmas Markets Tour (accessed Nov 12, 2026). 4 hours, from $345 per group, up to 6 people.
- GoWithGuide — Vienna tours (accessed Nov 13, 2026). Highlights of Vienna's Old Town (2.5 hours, from $300 per group) and Imperial Vienna (3 hours, from $300 per group).
- GoWithGuide — Prague tours (accessed Nov 13, 2026). Prague After Dark (2 hours, from $140 per group) and First day in Prague (3 hours, from $195 per group).
- GoWithGuide — Cancellation Policy (accessed Nov 12, 2026). Full refund with 8+ days' notice, 50% with 3–7 days, none in the last 2 days.
- Google Keyword Planner — Google search volume data for terms: “christmas markets in europe”, “christmas markets in germany”, “christmas in vienna”, “christmas in prague” (U.S., accessed Nov 12, 2026).
Review history
- Published Nov 13, 2026.