<strong>World's best Christmas markets are... </strong>Nothing puts us in a Christmas mood better than a Christmas market visit. Here are the best ones to get your yuletide celebrations started.
World's best Christmas markets are... Nothing puts us in a Christmas mood better than a Christmas market visit. Here are the best ones to get your yuletide celebrations started.
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<strong>Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, Prague (Czech Republic):</strong> Prague's two main Christmas markets -- one in Old Town Square (pictured here) and one in Wenceslas Square -- are only a five-minute walk from each other, making them easy to visit in one day.
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, Prague (Czech Republic): Prague's two main Christmas markets -- one in Old Town Square (pictured here) and one in Wenceslas Square -- are only a five-minute walk from each other, making them easy to visit in one day.
MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, Prague (Czech Republic): </strong>Czech treats -- chiefly a klobása (Czech sausage) with a Pilsner Urquell -- help make Prague's Christmas markets special.
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, Prague (Czech Republic): Czech treats -- chiefly a klobása (Czech sausage) with a Pilsner Urquell -- help make Prague's Christmas markets special.
MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Strasbourg (France): </strong>As the home to one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets, Strasbourg in eastern France knows how to do Christmas right. It boasts 300 market chalets, illuminations and a giant 30-meter Christmas tree in the city center.
Strasbourg (France): As the home to one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets, Strasbourg in eastern France knows how to do Christmas right. It boasts 300 market chalets, illuminations and a giant 30-meter Christmas tree in the city center.
PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Strasbourg (France): </strong>The self-styled "capital of Christmas" sees market stalls scattered around various locations along the narrow alleys of the city. This year, there'll also be a special Icelandic-themed village.
Strasbourg (France): The self-styled "capital of Christmas" sees market stalls scattered around various locations along the narrow alleys of the city. This year, there'll also be a special Icelandic-themed village.
PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Viennese Christmas Market, Vienna (Austria): </strong>The popular Viennese Christmas Market in front of Vienna City Hall is as picturesque as the Austrian capital city itself.
Viennese Christmas Market, Vienna (Austria): The popular Viennese Christmas Market in front of Vienna City Hall is as picturesque as the Austrian capital city itself.
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Viennese Christmas Market, Vienna (Austria): </strong>Insta-ops are plentiful at the market, including a huge ice rink for skating, reindeer rides for kids and a classic nativity scene at Viennese Christmas Market.
Viennese Christmas Market, Vienna (Austria): Insta-ops are plentiful at the market, including a huge ice rink for skating, reindeer rides for kids and a classic nativity scene at Viennese Christmas Market.
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Winter Wonders, Brussels (Belgium): </strong>More of a festival than a Christmas Market, Brussels's Winter Wonders host events and markets across the city.
Winter Wonders, Brussels (Belgium): More of a festival than a Christmas Market, Brussels's Winter Wonders host events and markets across the city.
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<strong>Toronto Christmas Market, Toronto, (Canada): </strong>Based in the city's historic Distillery District, Toronto's Christmas Market features a Santa's Grotto, fairground rides and beer gardens.
Toronto Christmas Market, Toronto, (Canada): Based in the city's historic Distillery District, Toronto's Christmas Market features a Santa's Grotto, fairground rides and beer gardens.
Toronto Christmas Market
<strong>Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin (Germany): </strong>If there's only time for one Christmas market in Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt is the one to see. Situated near the iconic Deutscher Dom, the concert hall and Französischer Dom, this popular market has the best views in town.
Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin (Germany): If there's only time for one Christmas market in Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt is the one to see. Situated near the iconic Deutscher Dom, the concert hall and Französischer Dom, this popular market has the best views in town.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
<strong>Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin (Germany): </strong>Top-notch food and glühwein, a vast craft market, and nightly concerts are just some of the reasons to visit Gendarmenmarkt.
Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin (Germany): Top-notch food and glühwein, a vast craft market, and nightly concerts are just some of the reasons to visit Gendarmenmarkt.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
<strong>Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham (England): </strong>England's second city is Britain's Christmas market capital. With more than 180 stalls and a singing moose head called Chris, Birmingham claims that it's "the largest authentic German Christmas Market outside of Germany or Austria."
Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham (England): England's second city is Britain's Christmas market capital. With more than 180 stalls and a singing moose head called Chris, Birmingham claims that it's "the largest authentic German Christmas Market outside of Germany or Austria."
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
<strong>Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham (England): </strong>Its neighboring Christmas Craft Market (in Centenary Square) features 30 stalls selling local beers, British sausages and work by local artisans.
Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham (England): Its neighboring Christmas Craft Market (in Centenary Square) features 30 stalls selling local beers, British sausages and work by local artisans.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
<strong>Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen (Denmark): </strong>As one of the most beautiful amusement parks in Europe, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen hosts the best Christmassy fair in the city. In addition to three different light shows, there are also be firework displays between December 25 and 27, as well as between December 31 and Jan 3 in the park.
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen (Denmark): As one of the most beautiful amusement parks in Europe, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen hosts the best Christmassy fair in the city. In addition to three different light shows, there are also be firework displays between December 25 and 27, as well as between December 31 and Jan 3 in the park.
courtesy Morten Jerichau
<strong>Krakow (Poland): </strong>Krakow's Christmas market is held in Rynek Glowny, the city's huge main square. It usually gets a heavy dusting of snow during December, making it more magical than some of the big name markets in western Europe.
Krakow (Poland): Krakow's Christmas market is held in Rynek Glowny, the city's huge main square. It usually gets a heavy dusting of snow during December, making it more magical than some of the big name markets in western Europe.
courtesy Poland Travel
<strong>Piazza Santa Croce, Florence (Italy): </strong>The Christmas market in Florence's spectacular Piazza Santa Croce is a great place to pick up presents as well as both Italian and German treats.
Piazza Santa Croce, Florence (Italy): The Christmas market in Florence's spectacular Piazza Santa Croce is a great place to pick up presents as well as both Italian and German treats.
courtesy Visit Florence
<strong>Fira de Santa Llúcia, Barcelona (Spain): </strong>Dating back to 1786, Fira de Santa Llúcia is Barcelona's oldest Christmas fair. Its located in front of the cathedral and sells various items such as traditional decorations, nativity figurines and instruments.<br />
Fira de Santa Llúcia, Barcelona (Spain): Dating back to 1786, Fira de Santa Llúcia is Barcelona's oldest Christmas fair. Its located in front of the cathedral and sells various items such as traditional decorations, nativity figurines and instruments.
Fira de Santa Llúcia
<strong>Advent in Zagreb (Croatia): </strong>Advent in Zagreb has become one of the top attractions for those visiting the Croatian city during the Christmas period.
Advent in Zagreb (Croatia): Advent in Zagreb has become one of the top attractions for those visiting the Croatian city during the Christmas period.
STR / AFP / Getty Images
<strong>Advent in Zagreb (Croatia): </strong>The event has been named the "best Christmas market destination" by users of travel portal European Best Destinations for two years consecutive years, and its popularity looks set to continue in 2017.
Advent in Zagreb (Croatia): The event has been named the "best Christmas market destination" by users of travel portal European Best Destinations for two years consecutive years, and its popularity looks set to continue in 2017.
Courtesy Roman Avdagić / Flickr, Creative Commons
<strong>Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival (Hungary): </strong>Budapest's festive experience is ideally located in the scenic Vörösmarty Square, right in the heart of the city.
Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival (Hungary): Budapest's festive experience is ideally located in the scenic Vörösmarty Square, right in the heart of the city.
TILA KISBENEDEK / AFP / Getty Images
<strong>Skansen's Christmas Market, Stockholm (Sweden):</strong> This Scandinavian shopping experience has been around since 1903 and continues to draw large crowds to this day.
Skansen's Christmas Market, Stockholm (Sweden): This Scandinavian shopping experience has been around since 1903 and continues to draw large crowds to this day.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)
<strong>Skansen's Christmas Market, Stockholm (Sweden): </strong>Situated in an open-air museum on the island of Djurgarden in the heart of Stockholm, the traditional Christmas fair sees visitors playing dancing games around a Christmas tree as well as sipping mulled wine and hot chocolates.
Skansen's Christmas Market, Stockholm (Sweden): Situated in an open-air museum on the island of Djurgarden in the heart of Stockholm, the traditional Christmas fair sees visitors playing dancing games around a Christmas tree as well as sipping mulled wine and hot chocolates.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)
<strong>Bank of America Winter Village, New York City:</strong> New York's answer to a European Christmas market can be found in the city's Bryant Park. Its made up of around 125 custom-designed kiosks selling festive goods as well as food and drink.
Bank of America Winter Village, New York City: New York's answer to a European Christmas market can be found in the city's Bryant Park. Its made up of around 125 custom-designed kiosks selling festive goods as well as food and drink.
Angelito Jusay
<strong>Bank of America Winter Village, New York City:</strong> One of the Winter Village's main highlights is a 17,000-square-foot outdoor rink, which is the only free ice skating rink in the city.
Bank of America Winter Village, New York City: One of the Winter Village's main highlights is a 17,000-square-foot outdoor rink, which is the only free ice skating rink in the city.
Elizabeth Shrier Photography