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PLAN YOUR FESTIVE BREAK

Christmas 2026: 40 cities to visit

Plan a Christmas trip around markets, lights and city walks. Guides with routes, real photographs and confirmed or pending dates for 2026.

Choose the kind of trip you want: walk between Christmas markets, see big-city lights or spend a few winter days in the north. Not every market opens on 25 December, and snow is never guaranteed. Each guide distinguishes confirmed programmes from details that still need checking with the organiser.

Markets in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Christmas decorations at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, Paris, in 2012 · archive photograph taken before 2026France
ErasmusOfParis / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Paris

Christmas in Paris 2026: windows, Tuileries and an evening avenue

Rathausplatz Christmas market viewed from Vienna City Hall in 2005 · archive photograph taken before 2026Austria
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Vienna

Christmas in Vienna 2026: three markets and the dates that matter

Place Kléber lit for Christmas in Strasbourg in 2018 · archive photograph taken before 2026France
Lidine Mia / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Strasbourg

Christmas in Strasbourg 2026: three market areas and a clear route

Christmas market on Place des Dominicains in Colmar in 2018 · archive photograph taken before 2026France
Gzen92 / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Colmar

Christmas in Colmar 2026: market dates and a walk through the old town

Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt during the Christmas market in 2012 · archive photograph taken before 2026Germany
Lothar Weber / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Nuremberg

Christmas in Nuremberg 2026: Christkindlesmarkt dates and a family route

Entrance to the Striezelmarkt on Altmarkt, Dresden, in 2023 · archive photograph taken before 2026Germany
Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Dresden

Christmas in Dresden 2026: Striezelmarkt dates and three old town markets

Christmas market on Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin in 2016 · archive photograph taken before 2026Germany
Andreas Trojak / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Berlin

Christmas in Berlin 2026: three markets, dates and a practical city route

Marienplatz Christmas market, Munich, seen from Peterskirche in 2013 · archive photograph taken before 2026Germany
Ashwin Chandrasekaran / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Munich

Christmas in Munich 2026: Marienplatz, Residenz and Tollwood dates

Christmas market beside Cologne Cathedral in 2008 · archive photograph taken before 2026Germany
CGP Grey, www.cgpgrey.com / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Cologne

Christmas in Cologne 2026: cathedral market, Heumarkt and Alter Markt

Christmas market on Domplatz, Salzburg, in 2016 · archive photograph taken before 2026Austria
Eweht / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Salzburg

Christmas in Salzburg 2026: cathedral market, Hellbrunn and Mirabell

Christmas market below the Golden Roof in Innsbruck’s Old Town in 2018 · archive photograph taken before 2026Austria
Arquus / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Innsbruck

Christmas in Innsbruck 2026: old town, Maria Theresien Street and Hungerburg

Christmas scene on Sechseläutenplatz, Zurich · archive photograph taken before 2026Switzerland
Adrian Michael; attribution: Parpan05 / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Zurich

Christmas in Zurich 2026: Bellevue Noël, station market and Lucy

Christmas tree on Münsterplatz, Basel, in January 2023 · archive photograph taken before 2026Switzerland
Valo139 / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Basel

Christmas in Basel 2026: two squares and the Rheingasse market

Barfüsserbrunnen fountain and Franziskanerplatz, Lucerne, in August 2020 · archive photograph taken before 2026Switzerland
Ymblanter / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Lucerne

Christmas in Lucerne 2026: markets, lakefront lights and a two-day route

Christmas in northern and central Europe

Christmas tree and market in Prague’s Old Town Square in 2025 · archive photograph taken before 2026Czechia
House of Larl / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Prague

Christmas in Prague 2026: two markets and a daylight castle visit

Christmas fair on Vörösmarty Square, Budapest, in 2023 · archive photograph taken before 2026Hungary
Elekes Andor / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Budapest

Christmas in Budapest 2026: two Advent squares and Buda views

Christmas market at Tivoli, Copenhagen, in 2015 · archive photograph taken before 2026Denmark
Susanne Nilsson / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Copenhagen

Christmas in Copenhagen 2026: Tivoli, Nyhavn and a relaxed winter route

Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, at night in December 2010 · archive photograph taken before 2026Finland
Timo Newton-Syms from Helsinki, Finland and Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, UK / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Rovaniemi

Christmas in Rovaniemi 2026: Santa, Arctic culture and snow

Christmas market on Helsinki’s Senate Square in 2017 · archive photograph taken before 2026Finland
Marit Henriksson / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Helsinki

Christmas in Helsinki 2026: Senate Square and a winter island

Christmas tree and market on Tallinn’s Town Hall Square in 2009 · archive photograph taken before 2026Estonia
Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Tallinn

Christmas in Tallinn 2026: market dates and a three-stop route

Christmas market on Stortorget, Stockholm, in 2017 · archive photograph taken before 2026Sweden
Bysmon / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Stockholm

Christmas in Stockholm 2026: markets, Skansen and city lights

Festive lights and city breaks

Christmas decorations at Covent Garden, London, in 2014 · archive photograph taken before 2026United Kingdom
“Christmas decorations at Covent Garden” by Oast House Archive / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in London

Christmas in London 2026: a West End lights route and Hyde Park

Ice rink and Christmas market on Markt, Bruges, in 2013 · archive photograph taken before 2026Belgium
DimiTalen / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC0
Travel guide

Christmas in Bruges

Christmas in Bruges 2026: markets, Winter Glow and Minnewater

Grand-Place in Brussels illuminated in January 2018 · archive photograph taken before 2026Belgium
Pjposullivan1 / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Brussels

Christmas in Brussels 2026: Winter Wonders in three stages

Christmas market in East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, in 2018 · archive photograph taken before 2026United Kingdom
“Christmas Market, Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh” by Jim Barton / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Edinburgh

Christmas in Edinburgh 2026: market dates, George Street and a winter route

Grafton Street, Dublin, illuminated in December 2012 · archive photograph taken before 2026Ireland
Miguel Mendez from Malahide, Ireland / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Dublin

Christmas in Dublin 2026: Grafton Street, winter walks and the castle closure

Museumplein ice rink in front of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, in January 2016 · archive photograph taken before 2026Netherlands
Henk Bezemer / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Amsterdam

Christmas in Amsterdam 2026: canal lights, Museumplein and Dam Square

Christmas in Spain and Italy

Madrid’s Plaza Mayor illuminated in January 2010 · archive photograph taken before 2026Spain
Panhard / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.5
Travel guide

Christmas in Madrid

Christmas in Madrid 2026: Plaza Mayor market, Sol and Gran Vía on foot

Fira de Santa Llúcia beside Barcelona Cathedral in 2021 · archive photograph taken before 2026Spain
Jordi Gili / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Barcelona

Christmas in Barcelona 2026: cathedral traditions and Sant Pau’s lights

Christmas lights at the junction of Policarpo Sanz and Colón, Vigo, in 2007 · archive photograph taken before 2026Spain
Contando Estrelas / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Vigo

Christmas in Vigo 2026: a practical route for lights, crowds and rainy evenings

Christmas lights on Calle Larios, Málaga, in 2019 · archive photograph taken before 2026Spain
Maximo88 / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Malaga

Christmas in Malaga 2026: Calle Larios, the Cathedral and La Concepción

Seville’s Plaza Nueva with Christmas decorations in 2017 · archive photograph taken before 2026Spain
CarlosVdeHabsburgo / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Seville

Christmas in Seville 2026: an evening route with room for daylight

Christmas market on Piazza Navona in Rome in 2011 · archive photograph taken before 2026Italy
Mitravabanerjee / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Rome

Christmas in Rome 2026: Navona, St Peter's and an unhurried city walk

Christmas market on Piazza Santa Croce, Florence, in 2009 · archive photograph taken before 2026Italy
Freepenguin / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Florence

Christmas in Florence 2026: Santa Croce market and a two-day route

Milan’s Piazza del Duomo during Christmas 2008 · archive photograph taken before 2026Italy
Goldmund100 / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Milan

Christmas in Milan 2026: Duomo, castle and Galleria with a clear plan

Christmas in the Americas and Australia

Christmas tree and decorations outside Rockefeller Center, New York, in 2011 · archive photograph taken before 2026United States
Daniel Dimitrov / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in New York

Christmas in New York 2026: the tree, skating and a Midtown route

Rue du Petit-Champlain, Québec City, in December 2006 · archive photograph taken before 2026Canada
Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Quebec City

Christmas in Québec City 2026: market days, Petit-Champlain and skating

Christmas trees for sale at Atwater Market in Montreal in 2019 · archive photograph taken before 2026Canada
Jeangagnon / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Montreal

Christmas in Montréal 2026: two markets with different opening days

Christkindlmarket on Daley Plaza, Chicago, in 2007 · archive photograph taken before 2026United States
Richie Diesterheft from Santa Barbara, CA, USA / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY 2.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Chicago

Christmas in Chicago 2026: Daley Plaza, Millennium Park and ZooLights

Christmas tree in Martin Place, Sydney, at night in 2019 · archive photograph taken before 2026Australia
Kgbo / Wikimedia Commons · archivo / archive · resized and converted to WebP by MaletaFeliz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide

Christmas in Sydney

Christmas in Sydney 2026: Martin Place lights and a summer city route

Choosing dates and booking

If markets are your priority, compare each venue’s dates before buying flights: many close before Christmas Eve, while others continue into January. For a family trip, staying near transport and planning an indoor break often helps more than adding another city. Photographs show the real places; an archive image does not confirm this season’s decorations.