Europe’s Christmas markets do not share one calendar. Some start in early November, others wait until the end of the month, and several pack up before Christmas Day. To add, no two markets in the same city keep the same schedule either.

Below are 18 of the most popular European Christmas market destinations, with published 2026 dates, the specific markets those dates cover and the exceptions worth knowing before you book.

Dates come from official organizers, city authorities or tourism boards. Keep in mind, schedules can change, and holiday opening hours may be shorter than usual.

European Christmas Market Dates 2026: Quick-Reference Table

All November and December dates below are in 2026. January dates are in 2027. Where a city has several markets, the table names the market or group covered.

Destination	Market	2026 season dates	Before you book
Strasbourg, France	City-center Christmas markets	Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026	Stalls close Dec 24.
Colmar, France	Six Christmas markets	Nov 23–Dec 29, 2026	Continues after Christmas.
Nuremberg, Germany	Christkindlesmarkt	Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026	Closes at 2 p.m. Dec 24.
Dresden, Germany	Striezelmarkt, Altmarkt	Nov 25–Dec 24, 2026	Ends on Christmas Eve.
Cologne, Germany	Cathedral Christmas market	Nov 16–Dec 23, 2026	Closed Nov 22.
Munich, Germany	Christkindlmarkt, Marienplatz	Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026	Closed Nov 22.
Vienna, Austria	Christmas Market, Rathausplatz	Nov 13–Dec 26, 2026	Schönbrunn runs Nov 6–Jan 6.
Salzburg, Austria	Christkindlmarkt, Domplatz and Residenzplatz	Nov 19, 2026–Jan 1, 2027	Reduced holiday hours.
Prague, Czechia	Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square	Nov 28, 2026–Jan 6, 2027	Other Prague markets differ.
Budapest, Hungary	Advent Bazilika, St. Stephen’s Square	Nov 13, 2026–Jan 1, 2027	Dates are for the Basilica market.
Brussels, Belgium	Winter Wonders	Nov 27, 2026–Jan 3, 2027	City-center event; holiday hours vary.
Bruges, Belgium	Markt and Simon Stevinplein markets	Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027	Markets finish before Winter Glow.
Basel, Switzerland	Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz markets	Nov 26–Dec 23, 2026	Theaterplatz has a later end date.
Tallinn, Estonia	Town Hall Square Christmas Market	Nov 20, 2026–Jan 6, 2027	Runs into the first week of January.
Copenhagen, Denmark	Christmas in Tivoli Gardens	Nov 13, 2026–Jan 3, 2027	Paid admission; check daily calendar.
Bolzano, Italy	Christmas Market, Piazza Walther	Nov 27, 2026–Jan 6, 2027	Opening evening Nov 26; closed Dec 25.
Bath, England	Bath Christmas Market	Nov 26–Dec 13, 2026	Shortest season in this selection.
Edinburgh, Scotland	East Princes Street Gardens markets	Nov 14, 2026–Jan 3, 2027	Closed Dec 25.

Which Dates Work Best for a Christmas Market Trip?

For the widest choice, plan between November 28 and December 13. Based on the published schedules above, all 18 destinations have markets operating within this window. That makes it a useful starting point if you are comparing several cities or building a trip around more than one market.

For an early-November trip, consider Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace or Rathausplatz Market, Budapest Advent Bazilika, Copehangen Christmas in Tivoli Gardens, or Edinburgh East Princes Street Gardens markets. All of these markets open before November 15th.

For a trip after Christmas, start with the closing dates. Prague, Tallinn, Budapest, Brussels, Bruges, Edinburgh, Tivoli and Bolzano all have seasons extending into January. Vienna’s Schönbrunn market does too. Colmar continues through December 29, while Salzburg’s main market season ends January 1.

18 European Christmas Markets to Consider in 2026

1. Strasbourg, France

2026 dates: November 27–December 24.

Strasbourg is personal favorite here at Cleared For Departure and is a strong choice for an Alsace Christmas trip, with markets spread through the historic center. Give yourself time to move between squares rather than treating it as one stop beside the cathedral. The important booking detail: the chalets finish on Christmas Eve, even if your hotel is advertising a longer festive break.

Official Strasbourg market dates and visitor information.

2. Colmar, France

2026 dates: November 23–December 29.

Colmar’s six markets make this a good pick if you want to spend your visit walking between smaller settings in the old town. It also gives travelers a later window than Strasbourg. If you are combining the two, visit Strasbourg before its December 24 closing date.

Official Colmar market dates and visitor information.

3. Nuremberg, Germany

2026 dates: November 27–December 24.

Choose Nuremberg for traditional decorations, gingerbread and a market that puts Christmas shopping at the center of the visit. The Christkindlesmarkt takes place on the Hauptmarkt. Christmas Eve is a short final session, so an arrival that afternoon will be too late.

Official Nuremberg market dates and visitor information.

4. Dresden, Germany

2026 dates: November 25–December 24.

Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is a natural choice for travelers interested in Saxon crafts and Christmas baking. The Altmarkt is the main location to use when planning your visit. Its published season ends on December 24; check the organizer’s final opening hours before making that your only market day.

Official Dresden market dates and visitor information.

5. Cologne, Germany

2026 dates: November 16–December 23. Closed November 22.

The cathedral market on Roncalliplatz gives Cologne one of the most recognizable settings on this list. It is also just one part of the city’s Christmas offering. These dates apply to the cathedral market specifically, and it will be closed on November 22. Other Cologne markets have their own schedules.

Official Cologne market dates and visitor information.

6. Munich, Germany

2026 dates: November 20–December 24. Closed November 22.

Munich’s main Christkindlmarkt centers on Marienplatz, with Christmas decorations, traditional crafts and a nativity market. It works well as the anchor for a wider city break. Watch the early-season gap: the main market is closed on November 22, despite that date falling within its overall run.

Official Munich market dates and visitor information.

7. Vienna, Austria

2026 dates: November 13–December 26 for Rathausplatz. November 6, 2026–January 6, 2027 for Schönbrunn Palace.

Vienna is useful for travelers who want several markets within one city, but the dates vary by location. The Rathausplatz Christmas Market runs November 13–December 26. For an earlier or later trip, Schönbrunn Palace’s market runs November 6, 2026–January 6, 2027. The Rathausplatz skating season also lasts longer than its market.

Official Vienna market dates and visitor information.

8. Salzburg, Austria

2026 dates: November 19, 2026–January 1, 2027.

Salzburg’s main market fills the cathedral and Residenz squares, making it a good fit for a visit built around the old town. It continues beyond Christmas, with shorter hours on key holidays. January 1 is listed as an opening day, although Salzburg’s tourism site specifically highlights the food huts for that final day.

Official Salzburg market dates and visitor information.

9. Prague, Czechia

2026 dates: November 28, 2026–January 6, 2027.

Prague’s two headline markets run into January, giving you more flexibility than markets that finish before Christmas. Old Town Square is the obvious starting point, with Wenceslas Square offering a second central stop. Do not apply these dates to every neighborhood market: some finish on December 24.

Official Prague market dates and visitor information.

10. Budapest, Hungary

2026 dates: November 13, 2026–January 1, 2027.

Advent Bazilika combines Hungarian craft stalls, food and light displays in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica. Its mid-November opening makes it an option before many markets elsewhere have started. These dates belong to the Basilica event; check separately if Vörösmarty Square is also part of your plans.

Official Budapest market dates and visitor information.

11. Brussels, Belgium

2026 dates: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027.

Winter Wonders spreads across central Brussels, combining market chalets with a wider program of lights and attractions. It is a good fit if you want your Christmas market visit to be part of a bigger city break. Allow time to walk between locations, and check individual attraction hours rather than relying on one closing time.

Official Brussels market dates and visitor information.

12. Bruges, Belgium

2026 dates: November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027.

Bruges has two central Christmas markets, on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein, which makes it straightforward to visit both during a short stay. The key distinction is the calendar: the Christmas markets finish on January 3, even though the broader Winter Glow program continues later.

Official Bruges market dates and visitor information.

13. Basel, Switzerland

2026 dates: November 26–December 23 for Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz.

Basel’s main Christmas markets occupy Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz in the old town. They are a useful pairing for travelers who want two central locations without changing cities. Both finish on December 23. The separate Basler Wienachtsdorf at Theaterplatz is scheduled through January 3, 2027.

Official Basel market dates and visitor information.

14. Tallinn, Estonia

2026 dates: November 20, 2026–January 6, 2027.

Tallinn’s market centers on Town Hall Square, with Estonian Christmas food, handicrafts and a seasonal program. Choose it if a single main square appeals more than a sprawling citywide event. Its January closing date gives you a later travel window, but snowy market photos are no guarantee of snow during your stay.

Official Tallinn market dates and visitor information.

15. Copenhagen, Denmark

2026 dates: November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027 for Christmas in Tivoli Gardens.

Tivoli combines Christmas stalls and decorations with an amusement-park visit, making it a different proposition from an open city-square market. Budget for admission and check what your ticket includes before adding rides. The dates here cover Tivoli’s Christmas season; other Copenhagen markets operate on separate calendars.

Official Copenhagen Tivoli dates and visitor information.

16. Bolzano, Italy

2026 dates: November 27, 2026–January 6, 2027, with an opening celebration on November 26. Closed December 25.

Bolzano brings South Tyrolean Christmas traditions to Piazza Walther, with crafts, mulled wine and regional baking. The opening celebration is November 26 at 5 p.m.; the regular market season starts November 27. It continues into January but closes on Christmas Day, with reduced hours on selected holidays.

Official Bolzano market dates and visitor information.

17. Bath, England

2026 dates: November 26–December 13.

Bath’s market threads through the historic city center, with chalets around some of its best-known landmarks. It is also the date to watch most closely on this list: the market ends on December 13. A visit over Christmas itself will miss it. The published public opening date is November 26.

Official Bath market dates and visitor information.

18. Edinburgh, Scotland

2026 dates: November 14, 2026–January 3, 2027. Closed December 25.

Edinburgh’s traditional Christmas markets take place in East Princes Street Gardens, with gifts, food stalls and rides against the city skyline. The organizer has published market-specific dates, rather than just a general festival window. Entry is free, but rides cost extra. The markets close on Christmas Day and have adjusted hours on several other dates.

Official Edinburgh market dates and visitor information.

Before You Book

Confirm the specific market’s dates. Markets in the same city can follow different schedules, and lights or skating rinks may stay open after the shopping stalls close. Use the official links above to check the market you want to visit.

Check holiday closures and shorter hours. A season running into January does not mean the market opens every day. Double-check your visiting dates, particularly December 24–26 and New Year’s. Christmas Eve can mean an early afternoon closing.

Check what requires a ticket. Some markets are free to browse, while others, including Christmas in Tivoli Gardens, require admission. Rides, skating and special attractions may cost extra.