Recently updated on September 1st, 2022 at 02:57 pm
December is here, which means that the countdown to Christmas has at last officially begun! Here at snowy Trafalgar HQ we’re already getting into the yuletide spirit, and you too can be walking in your very own winter wonderland this Christmas with one of our magical winter tours. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so it’s time to wrap up warm and prepare for some festive fun.
Picture the scene: sparkling Christmas lights adorning snowy trees; chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a warming glass of mulled wine to stave off the cold; little stalls selling everything from wooden toys to hand-crafted jewellery to Christmas panettone. Yes, it’s the time of year when all across Europe the Christmas markets are in full swing, and there’s no better place to pick out some unique gifts for your loved ones back home – or, indeed, a Christmas present for yourself! And, unlike the commercialised chaos of the shops back home, the bustling Christmas markets of a stunning European city like Prague, Munich or Vienna are guaranteed to leave you feeling festive not fraught.
The traditional Christmas market originates in Germany, where it is known as the Christkindlmarkt and held throughout the four weeks of Advent in celebration of Christmas. A Christmas market was held in Dresden as far back as 1434, and today its 60 stalls attract as many as two million visitors each year. You can visit this city yourself on a Trafalgar tour of Germany. These days you have a wide range of festive destinations to choose from on a tour of Europe, whether it’s a traditional Christkindlmarkt in its German homeland, or beyond to European cities as diverse as Krakow in Poland, Salzburg in Austria and Zurich in Switzerland. The perfect way to discover the joy of the traditional Christmas market is on the Trafalgar Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland European tour – endless inspiration for your Christmas shopping!
There’s no time quite like December to visit an enchanting European capital. Traditional Christmas markets offer the perfect seasonal shopping experience and are an ideal way to get yourself in the mood for Christmas. If you’ve never been to one before, we’re sure you’ll love them as much as we do – and if you have, then you’ll know what we’re talking about!
Have you been to a Christmas market in Europe before? Let us know below!