The coronavirus pandemic has jeopardized plans for just about everything this year – vacations were canceled and holiday celebrations were limited. In the early days of the pandemic, in the face of national quarantines, public life came to a halt altogether – in some places for several months. Naturally, 2020’s Christmas season is suffering from pandemic-related restrictions and cancellations as well. In New York, for example, the Rockefeller Center Tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 2, was closed to the public and aired on live television. Like New York City, Europe is famous for its variety of Christmas markets. But most European countries, as discussed in my recent piece, put second lockdowns in place in early November.
A European myself, one of the things I look forward to most when traveling back to Germany to see my family for the holidays is visiting the local market in my hometown Schwäbisch Gmünd, looking at the new booths with handcrafted Christmas gift ideas, grabbing a snack from the food carts and listening to Christmas tunes in the background while sipping on mulled wine. Like most Christmas markets in European cities, Schwäbisch Gmünd’s market was canceled this year due to a rise in coronavirus cases.
But what are the must-see European Christmas markets, and might some of them be open this year despite the pandemic? Here’s a selection of some of Europe’s most beautiful Christmas markets – even though you might not be able to visit them this year, 2021 might be the time to plan a round-trip European Christmas vacation.
Germany
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarket
Nuremberg’s official tourism website says that “there are 1001 reasons to fall in love anew with the Christmas city of Nuremberg,” citing its Christkindlesmarket as one of the main reasons. It’s actually one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets, dating back to the mid-16th century. Some highlights include Nuremberg’s world-famous gingerbread and the Christmas tree baubles, handmade gold foil angels, nativity figurines and wooden nutcrackers that you can purchase in the market. Of course, you can also indulge in typical German street foods, such as bratwurst, and drink mulled wine. Due to coronavirus numbers, the Christkindlesmarket was canceled this year.
Gmünder Weihnachtsmarkt
With approximately 70 booths in 2019, Schwäbisch Gmünd’s Christmas market is much smaller than those in big cities such as Nuremberg. Besides a variety of culinary offerings and hot and cold alcoholic beverages, there’s a stage in front of city hall for live performances. Every year, the city hall windows are turned into an advent calendar – citizens can sign up beforehand for a chance to win one of the prizes hidden behind the calendar doors. There are also plenty of activities for children, such as a carousel, a ferris wheel, a manger with sheep and donkeys, as well as an ice rink. Moreover, the market has a medieval area, where vendors are dressed in medieval costumes and you can watch blacksmiths forge knives and see fire shows on the weekends.
France
Strasbourg Christmas Market
Strasbourg, which is sometimes referred to as the “Capital of Christmas” had to cancel its popular Christmas market this year. The market dates back to 1570 and is located right by the Rhine River. Strasbourg offers traditional French foods, such as foie gras and Alsatian bredele (traditional small cookies). In 300 stalls, you can find unique souvenirs, such as wooden toys and blown glass candles. France’s markets were canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
United Kingdom
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
Located in the heart of London in Hyde Park, this market offers more than 100 rides, attractions and shows. London’s largest Christmas market has a special Santa Land area for children, ice skating, a variety of street food stalls and festive bars, and live music. A relatively new festival – Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland started only 13 years ago – the market has turned into “a landmark event for Londoners and tourists alike.” However, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, old and new fans will have to wait until next holiday season to visit this market.
Austria
Vienna Christmas Market
Located in front of Vienna’s monumental city hall, which was erected between 1872 and 1883, Vienna’s Christmas market, which is known as “Vienna Magic of Advent,” provides sightseeing and holiday shopping all at once. Ice skating and an area inside city hall, where children learn how to make cookies and candles, are only a few of the market’s highlights. Added to the beautiful Vienna views, sweets and warm drinks make for the perfect holiday season experience you shouldn’t miss out on when the market reopens in 2021.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Spain
Plaza Mayor Christmas Market
Plaza Mayor in Madrid, which was built in the late-1600s to early-1700s under King Philip III, is also home to Madrid’s more than 100-year-old Christmas market. The market offers traditional nativity scene figures, musical instruments, toys and other gifts. You can even create your own nativity scene with Belen figures. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is open this year from November 27 to December 31. However, social distancing and limited capacity rules are in place and instead of the usual 104 stalls there are only 56 this year.
Italy
Piazza Duomo Market
One of Italy’s most famous Christmas markets in Milan normally hosts over 60 stalls around the Duomo of Milan selling traditional Christmas products and offering traditional Italian foods. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Milan’s Christmas markets are postponed until next year. Milan, as one of the world’s most renowned shopping destinations is also the perfect place to complete that Christmas shopping list.
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s winter paradise is not just your average Christmas market. The market offers sports activities, such as curling and cross-country skiing in real snow, which gives you the opportunity to work off those extra holiday season calories. Not only can you indulge in food from pop-up restaurants by Amsterdam’s regional cafés and restaurants, you can also roast your own marshmallows over an open fire. Sadly, you’ll have to wait until 2021 to experience this holiday extravaganza.
Poland
Poznan Christmas Market
Poznan’s Christmas Market is most famous for its ice sculpture festival, where participants from all over the world turn ice blocks into sculptures. The market is located in the Poznan Old Market Square and Freedom Square. Poznan’s Mill Wheel carousel, which dates back to 1946, usually arrives in mid-November along with the 33-meter-high Devil’s Wheel, which offers the best views of Poznan’s city panorama. As with the other markets, it will remain closed this year.
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