Christmas Markets to visit in Europe
Compiled by Patricia Bech
Christmas market season is approaching. There are some beautiful places to visit in the UK. For the extra special magic touch, a trip to Europe is also ideal. Some of the places are obvious; however, here at The Sloaney, hidden gems are also considered important.
Beyond Europe’s best-known festive destinations, you will find some special places with the continent’s most atmospheric celebrations.
Across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, Christmas markets take over historic squares, open-air museums and even forests, bringing together local crafts, Nordic design, seasonal food and traditions that have been celebrated for generations.
For travellers looking for something a little different this winter, Nordic travel specialist Off The Map Travel has selected six Christmas markets worth putting on the radar for 2026, from Stockholm’s century-old Skansen market to Bergen’s enormous gingerbread city.
Skansen Christmas Market, Stockholm, Sweden
27 November to 20 December 2026, Fridays to Sundays
One of Scandinavia’s most traditional Christmas markets has been held at Stockholm’s Skansen open-air museum since 1903. Set among historic Swedish buildings, fires are lit around the market while stalls sell handicrafts, locally produced gifts and festive food, from waffles and roasted almonds to steaming cups of glögg. Rather than feeling like a conventional city-centre market, Skansen offers an introduction to Swedish Christmas traditions and can easily be combined with a few days exploring Stockholm, including Gamla Stan, the waterfront and the capital’s restaurants and hotels.
Bergen Christmas Market, Norway
20 November to 22 December 2026
With mountains rising behind the city and the historic Bryggen waterfront illuminated for Christmas, Bergen provides a particularly atmospheric setting for a festive break. More than 90 stalls fill Festplassen for the annual Christmas market, alongside food, drink and a Ferris wheel overlooking the city. But one of Bergen’s most unusual festive attractions sits just beyond the market. Pepperkakebyen, the city’s annual Gingerbread City, is created from thousands of gingerbread buildings each Christmas. In 2026, it opens on 14 November and runs until 10 January 2027.
Beyond Christmas, Bergen is also the gateway to Norway’s fjords, making it easy to turn a festive city break into a longer winter journey.
Heiðmörk Christmas Market, Iceland
2026 dates to be confirmed, traditionally held over the Advent weekends
For something far removed from the conventional city-square Christmas market, Heiðmörk takes the festivities into the Icelandic countryside. Surrounded by woodland outside Reykjavík, the market focuses on Icelandic handicrafts, natural products and local food, with visitors gathering beside fires with hot drinks on dark December afternoons.Traditionally held during the Advent weekends, it makes an easy addition to a Reykjavík stay, with the capital, winter landscapes and Northern Lights experiences all within reach.
Helsinki Christmas Market, Finland
27 November to 22 December 2026
Helsinki’s oldest outdoor Christmas market fills Senate Square beneath the city’s cathedral, bringing together Finnish craftspeople, independent producers, designers and food stalls. There is also a traditional carousel and dedicated food courtyard, while beyond the market Helsinki offers Finnish design, restaurants, saunas and winter walks beside the Baltic. It is a particularly good option for travellers looking for a festive break that feels more grown-up than overtly commercial.
Old Great Square Christmas Market, Turku, Finland
28-29 November, 5-6 December, 12-13 and 19-20 December 2026
For a quieter take on the Christmas market break, Turku’s celebrations centre around the historic Old Great Square. Known as Finland’s Christmas City, Turku has some of the country’s strongest festive traditions. Across four weekends, the Old Great Square fills with market stalls against a backdrop of historic buildings, with an emphasis on local crafts and a slower, more traditional Christmas experience. Its smaller scale makes it a particularly appealing alternative for travellers who want an atmosphere without the crowds of a major European Christmas market.
Jul i Vinterland, Oslo, Norway
7 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Oslo’s largest Christmas market has one of the longest festive seasons on the list, opening unusually early on 7 November and continuing into the New Year. Central Oslo’s Spikersuppa is transformed with illuminated stalls, festive food, rides and an ice rink, surrounded by many of the capital’s restaurants, shops and hotels.
The market can easily form just one part of a winter weekend in the city. Spend the afternoon exploring Oslo’s museums, warm up in a floating sauna beside the fjord and return to the market once darkness falls and the lights come on.
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