The enchantment and magic of the holiday spirit are personified in the Christmas markets of Europe. The spicy scents of gingerbread, steamy mugs of gluhwein and the tastes of stollen and bratwurst combine to illuminate the magic of this special time of year.
Compared to warmer climes during the holiday season, visiting Europe in the wintertime may seem chilly, but the Christmas markets truly serve to warm the heart.
There are many different ways to experience these charming temporary cities that spring up all around the continent. You can choose one location for a holiday shopping spree or travel to several markets over the course of a week-or even two.
The beauty of Europe's Christmas markets is that they are easily accessible, numerous and offer up some wonderful sights, sounds and scenery for visitors.
River Cruise
One of the most popular ways to visit the Christmas markets is to travel by river. Floating down the Rhine, Main or Danube are popular ways to arrive at several towns that offer wonderful Christmas markets.
AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Rhine cruise lets guests sail from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland, on a seven-night voyage that visits the Black Forest and Alsace regions of Germany and France, respectively.
Guests also travel to Cologne, Rudesheim, Manheim, Strasbourg, Breach and Basel, stopping in some of the most charming markets along the way as well as taking in famous landmarks such as the Cologne Cathedral, the castles along the Rhine River and one of the world's most sought-after Christmas markets in Strasbourg, France.
Guided Vacation
For those who do not want to travel by river, Trafalgar offers guided vacations by coach.
The German Christmas Markets tour is eight days and visits 12 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Weimar, Dresden and Leipzig.
The journey doesn't just stop at Christmas markets, however. Guests get a solid dose of historic sights at the Opera House and Zwinger Palace in Dresden, the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag Building in Berlin and more.
For those looking to immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit, there are many markets along the way in Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Erfurt, Weimar, Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin.
Traveling with Trafalgar means flexible sightseeing options, hidden gems, high-end service and comfortable transportation on high-tech coaches with Wi-Fi access.
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Stay in a Christmas Town
Dresden has the longest continually operating Christmas market and, for those looking for a shopping spree, this is the perfect one-stop shop.
Book a room in the heart of the city, such as the Innside by Melia Dresden, for easy access to the Christmas market. Make sure to go beyond, experiencing some of the many traditions that have been taking place for centuries during the holiday season.
There are city walking tours that incorporate Christmas traditions. Visitors can check out baking demonstrations of stollen, and a variety of Christmas concerts take place within the city that bring the sounds of the season to life.
Independent Exploration
Those wanting to independently explore can create their own, personalized journey. Avanti Destinations can craft a customized itinerary that blends visits to the historical Christmas markets with traditional European cities.
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Take the Train
A German rail pass can bring the Christmas markets to life via train. Many times, Christmas markets are located steps from the railway stations, making travel by rail an easy way to take in a variety of cities over a short period of time.
With Rail Europe, travelers can customize an itinerary, choosing the cities and markets they would like to visit and then picking the rail pass that is right for them.
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