The holiday comes to us: 10 of the most beautiful Christmas fairs in Europe

1. Prague, Czech Republic

The capital's most famous fair is located on Old Town Square, next to the Town Hall. It is noisy and crowded, the country's main Christmas tree shines with lights, and concerts and theater performances take place in the evenings. The smells of roasted meat, sausages, traditional sweet pastries called trdelnik, mulled wine, grog and mead waft from the numerous food stalls, while souvenir stalls sell marionettes, Bohemian glassware, paintings and Christmas tree decorations. We recommend to pay attention to the latter: among the faceless consumer goods there are worthy handmade items, which are not ashamed to bring as a gift to your relatives ... or to yourself. or yourself.

Keep in mind that on the evening of December 24, most of the tents are closed, and queues line up in front of the rest. Between money and the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with your family, Czechs definitely choose the latter. However, the fair is the last to close, keeping tourists happy until the beginning of January.

Work schedule:

Starting November 20, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (food tents open longer).

Hotel reservations with discounts up to -65% can be booked online.

2. Vienna, Austria

The biggest fair is on Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz, in front of the Town Hall. Every year more than 150 stalls with sweets, food, drinks and souvenirs, as well as a 3000 m² ice skating rink (buying tickets online will save you 10% of the usual price and you won't have to queue to get in).

For parents and children there will be master classes on Christmas baking, toy decorating and many others.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday the fair guests will be entertained by carol singers from different countries, which you can listen to for free. Be sure to try the famous Viennese sausages, mulled wine (here its name is different - glüwein) or punch. Hot drinks are poured not only in disposable dishes, but also in souvenir cups, which for €4-5 you can keep as a souvenir.

Work schedule:

There is no exact schedule for the fair yet, but you should expect it to open as early as the end of November.

3. Nuremberg, Germany

The Christkindlesmarkt, held on the Hauptmarkt square next to St. Sebaldus Church and the Town Hall, is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe (first mentioned in 1628). Its symbol is the Christkind, an adorable creature with white curls and golden robes. Christkind is chosen from among the young women of the town every two years and opens the fair on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent.

When hungry, go in search of Nuremberg sausages. They are made of minced pork with marjoram, served 6, 8, 10 or 12 with horseradish or mustard, or put 3 pieces in cut buns (this dish is called Drei im Weggla or "Three in a Bun"). The recipe and format of these miniature (7-9 centimeters, 20-25 grams) sausages has been unchanged since 1497!

Another local specialty is the gingerbread Lebkuchen, which has been baked here for over 600 years. About 70 million of these gingerbreads are sold in Nuremberg every year. If you get cold, you will be warmed by mulled wine, which can also be poured into a souvenir mug (its design changes every year). Statistically, 80% of the mugs are taken away by visitors.

There will be a children's fair at Hans-Sachs-Platz, where children can enjoy carousels, a steam train, a chat with the Christmas Angel, workshops on baking gingerbread, decorating candles or glassware, making cards and Christmas gifts, and creating sand paintings. You can also send a letter to your relatives, visit St. Nicholas and warm up in the free game room.

Work schedule:

11/30 through 12/24, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

4. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest's oldest fair is located on Vörösmarty Square. It is a paradise for gourmets, you can hardly leave here hungry. Those with a sweet tooth will love the cinnamon pastry Kurtoskalacs, similar to Czech trdelnik, meat-eaters will appreciate the sausages or goulash in bread, and for a light snack you can enjoy potato dumplings dodolle, langos or roasted chestnuts. The traditional mulled wine is also available.

In the evenings, enjoy a light show on the facade of the Gerbeaud Café and free concerts of folk, jazz, indie, blues and pop music.

5. Helsinki, Finland

The St. Tuomas Christmas Fair in the center of the capital, on Senate Square, is an integral part of Pikkujoulou, "a little Christmas."

It is a paradise for lovers of stylish things: 120 stalls sell jewelry, tableware, toys, garlands and more. In the central part of the fair there is an old-fashioned carousel, delighting visitors of all ages.

At the fair you can meet Joulupukki, the Finnish "Christmas grandfather", buy yourself or your loved ones a reindeer sweater, and warm up with spiced tea or glögg (the equivalent of mulled wine, which sometimes has vodka or madera added for strength). When you get hungry, stop by one of the tents to buy sausages or yowlutortta, a puff pastry with jam.

Work schedule:

11/24/2023 through 12/26/2023, Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

6. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen's #1 Christmas Fair is located in Tivoli Gardens (Vesterbrogade 3), the third most visited amusement park in Europe. During the days of Advent, the historic park is filled with wooden decorated houses, Santa's reindeer (he himself will also drop by for the festivities), snow-covered trees and lit up with garland lights. There are many cafes, both indoor and outdoor (they usually have heaters and offer blankets).

The warming wine-based drink is called glög, glogg or glück. It is based on red wine to which raisins, cinnamon, almonds, cloves and a little schnapps or aquavit are added. If you prefer beer, look for Christmas varieties, which Tuborg and other producers start brewing in November.

Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the traditional Æbleskiver, a kind of sugar-coated doughnut often served with jam. The fair also sells rye bread sandwiches with pickled herring Smørrebrød, sandwiches with roasted duck meat, roasted chestnuts and almonds.

Work schedule:

11/17/12 through 12/31/12, Sunday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 24:00 p.m.

7. Tallinn, Estonia

The fair takes place in the Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), where the country's main Christmas tree has been erected since 1441. The wooden huts sell handmade souvenirs, sheepskin products, local honey, mulled wine and hot beer with spices. If you're hungry, try the blood sausage verivorst, also called black pudding, sauerkraut, and for dessert, gingerbread.

The program includes entertainment for adults and children: carousel rides, weekend concerts with Estonian and foreign performers and the opportunity to visit the house of the Estonian Santa Claus (here he is called Jõuluvana).

Work schedule:

16.11 to 7.01, 10:00 to 20:00.

8. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm's main Christmas fair runs on Stortorget Square in the Gamla Stan neighborhood, a few steps from the Royal Palace. The red-roofed houses that surround the decorated Christmas tree showcase the work of Swedish artisans, such as hand-painted Christmas tree ornaments, angels and straw gnomes. You can also buy ceramics, jewelry, spices, soaps, clothes, cheeses and other delicacies. Food and drink stalls offer waffles, gingerbread and hot chocolate, while those who don't like sweets can order sausages or venison. There is, of course, glögg, the Scandinavian counterpart of the much-loved mulled wine, as well as hot beer with spices.

Work schedule:

11/24/11 through 12/23/12.

9. Bolzano, Italy

One of the most beautiful and visited fairs in Italy has been held in the capital of South Tyrol since 1990. The rules of participation are strict: in 80 stalls on Piazza Walther you are allowed to sell only local products: wooden toys, knitted clothes, Christmas tree ornaments, musical instruments, decorated candles. You can also see craftsmen at work, take a ride on a carousel, wagon or mini train, and visit a puppet theater.

You can refresh yourself at one of the three gastronomic stands, where you will be offered pancakes, strudel with various fillings, Zelten cake with dried fruits and candied fruits, mulled wine, called Vin Brulè, or apple juice.

10. Strasbourg, France

The capital of Alsace has been hosting a Christmas fair since 1570, the oldest in France and one of the largest in Europe. For a month or so, the city turns into the setting for a Christmas movie: everything is shining and sparkling, traditional songs are heard in the streets, the air smells of mulled wine, chocolate, pastries and caramelized apples. In the central Place Kléber square, a Christmas tree, the symbol of the holiday, is set up.

Around 300 wooden huts with food, drinks and souvenirs appear before Christmas in ten town squares (most of them in Place Broglie). Here you can buy Christmas tree decorations, dishes, toys, towels and tablecloths with traditional patterns, garlands and much more.

Work schedule:

11/23/11 through 12/30/12, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.