Europe’s 21 Most Spectacular Holiday Markets

As the holidays approach, festive markets selling handmade gifts, sweet morsels, and cups of mulled wine sprout up throughout many parts of Europe. Christmas markets originated in the Middle Ages in Austria and Germany—where they’re most commonly known today as as Christkindlmarkt or Weihnachtsmarkt. They’re still associated with Northern Europe, but the tradition has spread to many other parts of the continent, taking on unique flavors along the way.

These markets are a great way to taste local holiday cuisine—from stollen in Germany to gingerbread in Estonia. Further south in the Iberian peninsula, turrón is a sweet almond treat in Spain that can be served as a brittle or a creamy nougat. Typically held in major town squares, these open-air fairs offer a delight for the senses with twinkling lights, a towering tree, and cheery carolers intermingled among inviting stalls of holiday crafts and delicious foods. Some have maintained their historic flair, but others have adopted modern trappings, like laser light shows. From Munich’s Marienplatz to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, these are 21 of the most beautiful holiday markets in Europe, where crowds showcase the spirit of the season.