The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!
With its arrival, the aroma of gingerbread cookies and chestnuts (roasting on an open fire optional) wafting through the festive atmosphere of your local malls and shopping centres is nigh unavoidable. And along with the sweet serenade of Christmas carols and the beautiful season-appropriate decor, it’s not hard to see why everyone is in a holiday mood.
Oh, and lest we forget, the Christmas period also signals the impending arrival of some of the best Christmas markets around the world. From a classic European affair to the non-traditional culture of Japan, there’s a Christmas market out there for everyone!
So why not make the most out of your year-end holiday by hopping on a plane to visit one of these magical Christmas markets? We promise the journey is well worth the money and effort to get there.
But if you’re still undecided on which Christmas markets to visit, we’ve got you fam! We’ve compiled a list of must-see Christmas markets that will spark that joyous and festive spirit in you.
Bath Christmas Market
Regarded as one of the best destinations for a winter Christmas, the Bath Christmas Market is up first. This market is the local’s favourite annual affair which is held in the centre of the historic city of Bath, England. And the award-winning market is open only for a short duration at the tail-end of the year.
Bath Christmas Market features more than 150 beautifully decorated wooden chalets adorning its historic Georgian streets, and right outside the atmospheric Bath Abbey, Christmas carolers are sharing the holiday spirit. Majority of the stalls are local businesses from Bath as well as the surrounding region, you can find plenty of handmade Christmas decorations and toys, festive food and drinks, local artwork, and even designer jewellery. Truly, the Bath Christmas Market is every festive shopper’s haven!
Osaka German Christmas Market
While in Japan, Christmas is not a religious celebration but a time to spread joy, and they have their own unique Christmas traditions that involve fried chicken. Come December, it is a common sight to see families having a year-end feast at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurants.
While it’s true that Christmas markets can be found in every city in Japan during this time, we’d like to point you to Osaka German Christmas Market.
Taking inspiration from the traditional Christkindlmarkt from Germany, the Osaka version is set up in the vicinity of the always-enchanting Shin Umeda City Christmas tree. The German hüttes (huts) are dotted around the brightly-lit tree which provides an ideal backdrop for selfies and is a popular spot among tourists. Expect to find a variety of Christmas goodies here, from pastries to sausages, handicraft trinkets and ornaments, the Osaka German Christmas Market is also complete with a carousel that will make you feel as if you are in Germany!
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, Germany
Speaking of classic German Christmas markets, you can never go wrong with visiting one of the many Christkindlesmarkt/Christkindlmarkt during winter.
Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, in particular, is the most popular year-end holiday market in Europe. Every year, during the Christmas season, the city welcomes over two million visitors.
The Christmas market is held in Nuremberg’s central square in the Old Town during the Advent — an event which sees crowds gathering to watch the Christkind, an angel-like being, often dressed in golden robes and wings, to launch the festivities.
Here, more than 180 wooden stalls are selling a whole host of Christmas-themed products. For example, handcrafted Christmas ornaments, toys, games, and holiday treats are on the menu. In Germany, you can even keep the mugs that serve mulled wine. Also, one should not miss out on trying the traditional Nüremberg bratwurst and gingerbread.
We’d also suggest looking out for the lantern procession that passes through the market each year. This event features the Nüremberg schoolchildren and usually takes place the week before Christmas.
Leiden Floating Christmas Market
Sitting atop one of the Netherland’s many picturesque canals, the Leiden Floating Christmas Market is one of the more unique entries on our list. Specifically, the market is located (or rather floating) on top of Leiden city’s oldest canal — the Nieuwe Rijn.
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Leiden’s Floating Christmas Market is one-of-a-kind Dutch attraction considering the fact that there are plenty of Christmas markets across Netherland. The cosy market is made up of 90 stalls which offer various food and drinks, as well as handcrafted items. Besides Christmas shopping and dining, you can even expect to find a skating ice rink and a small stage with festive performances here – all built atop the city’s oldest canal.
Top image by Humphrey Muleba from Pexels
The article was first published on 9 December 2019. Last updated as of 7 November 2023.
