5 must visit Christmas markets
Christmas shopping it can be crazy, manic, panic filled and it can be magical, especially when you take some time out and visit one of the Christmas markets that pop up across the globe. I have to admit to being a big fan of them, thanks to the atmosphere as well as sights and sounds, so I thought I would put together a few of the markets I fancy visiting myself.
Birmingham – England
Living in Lichfield this is one I have visited many times, it features over 180 stalls with many of the stall holders travelling from Frankfurt, Germany to sell their wares. If you ever go, make sure you sample some of the food and drink which is cooked up just the way they would have it in Germany so offers something really different. The Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Market 2015 is open from 12 November to 22 December from 10:00am till 9:00pm.
Belfast – Northern Ireland
Situated in the grounds of Belfast City Hall (Donegall Square), Belfast’s Christmas market offers a mix of stalls from local traders to those from across the globe. The market features a whole host of stalls, allowing you to buy a selection of mouth-watering foods, as well as offering you a chance to warm up in some traditional Irish bars as you make your way around. Also make sure you keep an eye for Santa, as he is known to visit the market. The Belfast Christmas Market runs from November 14th to December 20th, times are all to be confirmed.
Dublin – Eire
This new, free Christmas market, will see 60 stalls opening from noon till 8pm daily from November 13th till December 22nd. It is to be held in traditional wooden chalets along the outside of St Stephen’s Green Park and stalls will feature everything from hand crafted gift idea, to food and drink, as someone who would love to visit Dublin, this might just be the perfect extra reason to go at this time of year.
Paris – France
Paris doesn’t do things in halves and between 15th November and 4th January you will find multiple Christmas markets across this fine city. For instance, you can visit Santa’s Village in Saint Germain des Prés, while St. Sulpice opens up a market that is just full of trinkets and regional food. For those that have money to splash or just don’t want to miss the sight, the Champs Elysées is a must visit, with it all decked out in lights – it definitely isn’t the same as you have seen before.
Amsterdam – Netherlands
Another beautiful city, that is full of markets at this time of year is Amsterdam, with many of the markets running on different dates it is best to check what it running when you can make it. But highlights include winter ice-rinks and the Festival of Lights which runs from 28th November to the 17th of January, it is well worth trying to book onto the Water Colors canal cruise to make the most of this spectacular event.
Where ever you end up going to get in the festive spirit, make sure you check out what is on and when before you head out.
Do you have a favourite Christmas market to visit?
*Couple at Christmas market photo from Shutterstock.
*Colourful Christmas stars photo from Shutterstock.
*Written in collaboration with Travel Supermarket.
I am hoping to get to Winchester Christmas market this year, have heard it is fabulous
Christmas markets are fab! We have a little one in the area we live and it always gets me in the crimbo spirit. Amsterdam – Netherlands is one which I would love to visit.
I have to confess I am a huge fan of Christmas Markets. I think the one on the Southbank in London is fab, and we have one here in Nottingham too. I must check out these as well
I would also love to go to the Christmas market in Amsterdam, definitely one for the wish list. I used to work in Birmingham so loved it when the Christmas market arrived there; enjoy! We will be visiting Manchester’s for the first time this year and hoping it’s as good as the others we have been to.
Ohh let me know what Manchester’s is like if you get a chance 🙂 x
Having the Birmingham market on my doorstep, I’m ashamed to say that I have never visited any others.
The manchester christmas market is always lovely 🙂
All of the markets sound amazing, think I will put this on a to do list perhaps by the time I retire!
Lincoln Christmas market is another good one….but Birmingham has got to be my favourite & will be going in December with friends
I would love to go to a Christmas market
Ooooh, I’ve heard Manchester is good too.
Would be so awesome to visit one of these markets one day! Especially during the holidays for some Christmas shopping!
What an amazing list. I wish I could visit each and every one of the markets on this list. I can only hope.
I hope you get to visit them all one day 🙂 x
I have had no idea there were even a Christmas market out there! How cool,
I adore Christmas and weirdly enough I enjoy the chaos of the shopping lol!
Liverpool has been a bit of a let down the last year, I’m hoping they’ve upped their game this time around!!
I’d LOVE to go to a proper traditional Belgian Market, but reading your blog post here I quite like the sound of amsterdam too! I have my cloggy slippers at the ready ?
Those sound great, wish there was one a bit nearer though.
I love Christmas Markets, we dont Have one where I am but one day love to go to one
I am so pleased to see the Belfast one included, we have been doing it since Emma was a tiny baby and we love it, it has become now a family tradition to kick start the Christmas celebrations.xx
Sound great hopefully get to visit some xx
If I’m ever in that part of the world at Christmas I’ll have to check out these markets.
I love Christmas Markets, but they sure can get expensive….
I’d love to go to Germany and go to a Christmas market…. I bet they are Amazing
Christmas shopping is almost the best of all all through the year & it is always filled with so much of fun & excitement all around. These are some great list of markets to keep note, where Birmingham & Paris would be my favorite ones to shop once in my life time at least.
I love Christmas Markets – I have written a similar post of just UK ones! I think they are just lovely. Great round up, thank you. Kaz x
Amsterdam’s Christmas Markets are amazing! I went last year and I’d love to go every year if I can
Achen was my fave christmas market, it was packed full of stuff that you just didn’t see in the others (i always find xmas markets a bit samey). And Valkenberg but just for the food lol
Birmingham is the closest to us so we may be visiting the market soon.
our town has a Christmas market the first weekend of December, I love going to it and I am really looking forward to going this year too
These Christmas Markets were featured in a travel show. They are so attractive. I would love to see them all someday.
i love our local marker at rochester castle ,such a lovely location and coinciding with the christmas dickens festival and horse and carriage rides its the perfect day out
Visiting a Christmas market is on my to-do list this year. There are so many things we can get at reasonable prices. It is also so nice to walk around and see all those wonderful goodies and the warm smiles of the shoppers.
I would love to take a Christmas tour abroad. I love the idea of making the rounds.
I would love to go to any of them! If I won the lotto, I would be there in a minute.
I’ll be going to the christmas market in Krakow, poland this year and I cant wait! xxx
Those look like so much fun to visit!
I’ve been wondering about Christmas markets in Paris so thanks for the info!! Will try find some more info on google about these 🙂
I love Xmas markets they really get you in the spirit for the festive season. Would love to explore the ones above!
I love Christmas markets. When our daughter was little we visited the Christmas markets throughout Germany and we loved them!
These sound amazing! I’m so excited because we’re going to Germany to see the Christmas markets this year. Will report back!
Were off to the German market 🙂
We often go to York Christmas market. I love Christmas markets, but they are often very over crowed and not great for taking kids
For someone who has never been out of the country, any of these would be awesome! I think Dublin would be magical.
I will be going to the Birmingham one it sounds amazing! xz
Will definitely try to get to the Birmingham markets this year not sure I can afford the others x
Wow, it sounds like the holiday season is a great time to travel. I didn’t know about all of these!
I’d love to visit them all, but I think Dublin would be my first choice. We are sticking locally this year and will probably just go to the big one that’s in Michigan.
I’ve wanted to go to a German Christmas market for ages since my husband first took me to Germany at Christmas, never been yet though so maybe I could get to the Birminghams one this year
I have never been to a proper christmas market, I would love to go one year, maybe once my Daughter has grown up I can visit them all one a year x
I adore Christmas markets but I’ve only ever done them in this country (except for a trip to Germany about 20 years ago!). I’d love to visit one further afield again.
I just love Christmas markets nod would to go overseas to one in the future. Unfortunately it will be one closer to home this year x
I love Christmas markets – my favourites are York and Salzburg!
Both completely different but both are so festive x
Lincoln had an amazing Christmas market when I was at Uni, you could smell the mulled wine right across the city. Ive never been outside of the UK though, but Germany is meant to be amazing x
They all sound wonderful. Paris is first on my list.
Christmas markets are great. I’d like to visit one in Germany.
I love going to Christmas markets. Prague has to be my favourite. It’s a beautiful city x
They all look amazing! I’ve been to some German Christmas markets too and there was a giant gingerbread man (and I mean literally gint!) I’m going to be in Birmingham at the end of the month so I think I’ll have to investigate Frankfurt Christmas Market 🙂
Juanita xx
I adore the Birmingham christmas market – last year I worked up there so went all the time but this year I don’t so I will have to make a special trip I think! xxx
I’d love to go to a christmas market, i just dont live near one good enough.
Aww they sounds magical. I’d like to visit the Dublin one someday.