If you’re a Christmas lover like me, you’ll want to soak up every bit of holiday cheer you can. Fortunately, many of Europe’s festive cities start decking their halls as early as mid-November, with Christmas markets already in full swing. This is also the perfect time to score great deals on flights and hotels, as rates tend to be at their lowest. So why not take advantage of the savings and immerse yourself in the holiday magic of these charming cities?
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In this guide, we’re highlighting some of Europe’s most beautiful Christmas markets that open by mid-November. After you’ve reserved your spot on our Holiday Truffles and Wine Adventure in Piedmont, Italy, you can fly to these other cities and continue the festive journey.
And if you sign up for our second Holiday Truffles and Wine Adventure, even more Christmas markets will be waiting for you to explore!
London
London has the most connecting flights to cities in North America. And the good news is that London likes to celebrate Christmas for a whole two months! Their Christmas markets pale in comparison to Germany, but the lights and decorations are definitely worth seeing. I absolutely love riding on a double-decker bus under the strings of Christmas lights through London’s boroughs.
Plan your trip to London for cultural attractions and world-class museums like the British Museum and the National Gallery, and catch a live show at one of the famous West End theaters.
The Christmas markets of London are icing on the cake. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is a must-visit, where you can enjoy ice skating, a giant Ferris wheel, and live performances, all while sipping on a steaming cup of hot chocolate or spiced cider. Iconic department stores like Harrods will have festive window displays. The Southbank Christmas Market runs alongside the river with adorable chalets selling festive gifts and drinks for everyone. And don’t miss the twinkling lights and unique shops in Covent Garden. With so much to see and do in London during the holidays, your trip will be unforgettable. Travel Tip: Great Britain’s currency is the pound, not Euros.
Where to Stay in London: Wilde Aparthotels London Covent Garden
The location couldn’t be more perfect! Wilde Aparthotels is located on the Strand in the heart of the West End theater district and just a few minutes’ walk from Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square.
These dates are based on 2025 research for 2026 planning purposes. They will be updated when the new dates are released:
- Southbank- November 2
- Leiceister Square Nov 6
- Trafalgar Square Nov 9
- Covent Gardens Nov 12
- Hyde Park Nov 14
Also check out the Christmas Markets in Cardiff, Sheffield, and Liverpool as they will be open mid-November.
Paris
Known as the “City of Light” and the “City of Love”, Paris is absolutely magical during the holiday season. The trees may be bare of leaves, but that only makes it easier to see all the lights on the Champs-Élysées between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. Across the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower sparkles, and the themed holiday window displays will beckon passersby to come inside for their Christmas shopping. November is the perfect time to indulge in oysters and champagne. After all, this is Paris. Overindulgence is expected.
Two of the main Christmas markets open by mid-November in Paris. Jardin des Tuileries is the largest, and La Défense Esplanade has an ice skating rink and delicious food options. The third week in November, you can expect Noël La Villette known as the Swiss Christmas Village, the Abbesses Christmas Market in Montmartre, and a Christmas Market on Avenue de Suffren in the 15th Arrondissement. If you book our Piedmont, Italy tour for the week of November 16-23, you’ll be able to experience all these Christmas markets the week after, plus many more that will open a few days later.
Paris and Reims are on our Christmas Market must-do list for 2026!
- Christmas market on La Défense Esplanade November 13
- Christmas in the Tuileries November 15
- Noël La Villette November 20
- Avenue de Suffren November 20
- Abbesses Christmas Market (Montmartre) November 20
The Alsatian Christmas Market and the Notre Dame Christmas Market open on November 28th. Many other pop-up Christmas markets will take place around the city, starting on the last weekend in November until Christmas.
Where to stay in Paris: Hôtel Le Presbytère
Located in the 4th Arrondissement, this converted church with Gothic details is centrally located within walking distance to the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, and the Seine River.
Budapest
Budapest always seems so far away from other European destinations, but this could be your chance to see Budapest all decked out for the Christmas season! Imagine wandering through this magnificent city all aglow with festive lights and the aromas of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. The Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market near St. Stephen’s Basilica offers a magical atmosphere, with Hungarian langos and chimney cakes, handcrafted gifts, and holiday decorations.
Budapest’s stunning architecture, from the neoclassical grandeur of the Parliament Building to the majestic Buda Castle overlooking the Danube River, creates a picturesque backdrop for the festivities. Soak up the holiday cheer in one of Budapest’s thermal baths and visit other historical landmarks like the Fisherman’s Bastion and the medieval Matthias Church. Budapest is enchanting in any season, but especially during the winter holidays.
Travel Tip: Hungary uses Forints, not Euros. One US dollar is equivalent to 334 forints.
Budapest Christmas markets in Vörösmarty Square and in front of Saint Stephen’s Basilica are open from November 14 until January 1, 2026.
Where to stay in Budapest: Radisson Collection Hotel, Basilica Budapest
You can’t get any closer to St. Stephen’s Basilica than this! With modern rooms, queen-size beds, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Basilica, it’s the perfect location.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is also a major airport for East Coast peeps. While it’s famous for the Little Mermaid and world-class restaurants, there are plenty of other things to do, see, and eat in Copenhagen. Two of their Christmas markets take place in the most beautiful settings in Copenhagen. Nyhavn, with its pretty, colorful buildings along the edge of a canal (a popular place for locals to hang out after 5 pm). Tivoli Gardens, an amusement park featuring rides and 30 different restaurants, transforms into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights and holiday decorations, with the scent of spiced wine in the air.
I’ve visited Copenhagen in the winter, spring, and summer, and it’s gorgeous in every season. The Kongens Nytorv runs right into Nyhavn, and features a 1200-sqm ice skating rink and Christmas stalls from local eateries. Try the Æbleskiver (Danish Christmas doughnuts). Other Christmas markets in Copenhagen include the Højbro Plads next to Strøget where you can taste different foods from all over Europe.
If you need to duck out of the cold, visit Rosenborg Castle, where you can admire the Danish Crown Jewels, Amalienborg Palace, home to the Danish royal family, or one of the many Michelin-starred restaurants serving exquisite Nordic cuisine like Noma, Geranium, or Relae.
Copenhagen is in Denmark. They use Euros as their currency.
- Nyhavn- Nov 4
- Højbro Plads Nov 4
- Tivoli Gardens- Nov 14
- Hans Christian Andersen Julemarked Nov 14
- Kongens Nytorv Nov 14
Where to Stay in Copenhagen: Phoenix Copenhagen
The location couldn’t be better. Seven minutes to Nyhavn, 3 minutes to Amalienborg Palace, and 20 minutes to the Little Mermaid statue, this hotel with Louis XVI touches also has a restaurant serving exquisite French cuisine and a fantastic bar.
Innsbruck
Nov 15- Dec 23
Step inside the medieval town of Innsbruck, surrounded by the imposing Alpine mountains, and you’ll feel like you just stepped into a classic fairytale. The pointed-arched windows and gorgeous frescoes add to the magical wonderland decorated with fairy lights and Christmas cheer. The main Christmas market is in the picturesque Altstadt, or Old Town, with other Christmas markets spilling down winding streets, especially on the pedestrian-only Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
Historical landmarks are a welcome reprieve out of the cold. Take some time to visit the Schloss Ambras, the Imperial Palace, Innsbruck Cathedral, and the City Tower. In the evenings, dine on Tyrolean cuisine, like Knödel, a type of dumpling, Schlutzkrapfen, similar to ravioli, and Käsespätzle, a type of egg noodle mixed with cheese.
Innsbruck is in the heart of the Alps, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy snow. Several ski resorts are just a 20-minute drive away, including Nordkette, located right above the city. For the most breathtaking views, take the Nordkettenbahnen cable car from the Old Town up to the Top of Innsbruck at Nordkette. From this snow park, you’ll be treated to stunning panoramic views of Innsbruck and the surrounding mountain valley.
Where to stay in Innsbruck: Hotel Innsbruck
Located right in between Markplatz and the Old Town (less than 3 minutes in either direction), this hotel has spacious rooms and a spa to warm you up after walking around the Christmas Markets or skiing in the Alps.
Vienna
Consistently voted one of the Top 10 Christmas Markets for over a decade, Vienna hosts 17 Christmas markets around the city. I can personally say that Vienna is one of my favorite Christmas Markets. Pair the Christmas markets with historical attractions, and Vienna is the ultimate winter destination.
The Schönbrunn Christmas Market is the first to open on the first Saturday of November. Most of the other Christmas markets are open by the second weekend in November. The iconic Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz, with the historic City Hall as its backdrop and enchanting stalls decorated in lebkuchen (a type of gingerbread), is the poster child of European Christmas markets.
As the capital of the Habsburg dynasty, you will be awed by the Gothic and Renaissance architecture throughout the city. Attend a performance at the State Opera, take a tour of the Hofburg Palace, the Habsburg “winter” residence, wander through the Nachtmarkt for local produce, and watch horses prance away at the Spanish Riding School. Vienna is a place you can’t get bored, but if you need a break, sit down at one of their famous coffee houses and order a delectable Sachertorte, a dense chocolate cake created in Vienna in 1832. Vienna is the ideal destination for a holiday getaway.
- Schönbrunn Christmas Market Nov 6
- Stephansplatz Nov 8
- Hirschstetten Nov 13
- Christkindlmarkt Nov 14
- Spittelberg Nov 14
- Belvedere Nov 14
- Am Hof Nov 14
- Freyung Nov 14
- Altes AKH Nov 14
- Karlsplatz and Wintermarkt Nov 21
Where to Stay in Vienna: The Guesthouse Vienna
Central to many of Vienna’s landmarks (5-minute walk to Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, 3-minute walk to the State Opera, 6-minute walk to the Sisi Museum, and 20-minute walk to the Rathaus Christmas Market, this modern hotel also provides Austrian wine, beer, nonalcoholic drinks, tea and coffee in each room free of charge.
What About the Bratislava Christmas Market?
Unfortunately, the Bratislava Christmas market (30 minutes by train from Vienna) doesn’t open until Nov 21st, so if you are hoping to check these two cities off your list, sign up for our second Italy Tour November 16-23.
There you have it. One fantastic week of Italian wine with us, and a second week of spectacular Christmas Markets in some of Europe’s prettiest and historical cities. Plan your European Christmas market trip well in advance for the best rates. We hope you have a magical time in Europe filled with wine, food, and holiday cheer!
