At a glance
Christmas markets have opened their chalets all over the country. Here are a few out-of-the-ordinary Christmas markets...
Christmas markets have opened their chalets all over the country and across Europe. It's an almost unmissable idea for a getaway to put you in the festive mood for the end-of-year holidays!
Looking for a wonderful getaway idea close to home or in a European city? Whether you go by car or by train: make the most of this time of year to visit a Christmas market, enjoy winter pleasures (skating, entertainment, tastings), get into the festive spirit (decorations, gifts, etc.) and be dazzled by the magnificent lights.
At home or abroad, you're spoilt for choice!
Here are a few ideas:
Christmas markets in Belgium
Every major city organises a Christmas market and/or festivities for the end-of-year holidays. The local tourist office or each city's website will give you all the details you need.
Here are a few well-known Christmas markets:
Brussels
Winter Pleasures (Grand-Place, Bourse, Ste-Catherine Square) from 29/11/2019 to 05/01/2020.
Open Monday to Friday 12pm to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 10pm
Info: https://www.plaisirsdhiver.be/
Liège
The Christmas Village ("the largest and oldest in Belgium"), on St-Lambert Square (home to "Santa's sledge") and Liège's Market Square, from 29 November to 30 December. Open from 11am to 8pm (food chalets open later)
Info: http://www.villagedenoel.be/fr
Antwerp
A big Christmas market in the city centre (Steenplein, Suikerrui, Grote Markt, Handschoenmarkt) from 7 December 2019 to 5 January 2020.
Open Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 9pm, Friday from 12pm to 11pm, Saturday from 11am to 11pm, Sunday from 11am to 9pm.
Info: http://www.kerstmarkt-antwerpen.nl
Other cities such as Bruges, Charleroi, Leuven, Namur, Mons, Tournai, etc. also offer a Christmas market and entertainment.
Christmas markets in France
Paris
Why not enjoy the magical festive atmosphere in the City of Light?
Paris has several Christmas markets from 26 November to 29 December: St Germain des Prés Square, Place de la Nation, Champs-Élysées, Trocadéro, Défense, St Sulpice Square, Montmartre, Notre Dame...
Info: www.marches-noel.org/marches-de-noel-a-paris
Strasbourg
Do you prefer the typically Alsatian atmosphere and want to visit France's oldest Christmas market? Head to Strasbourg between 22 November and 30 December.
Market open from 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm.
Info: http://noel.strasbourg.eu/[](http://http://www.marches-noel.org/marche-de-noel-a-strasbourg/)
Provence
If you're looking for the warmth of Christmas at the markets of Provence, surrounded by their traditional santons (nativity figurines), you'll be spoilt for choice: Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Cassis, Tarascon, Uzès, and many more...
Info: https://www.marches-noel.org/marche-de-noel-a-avignon/[](http://http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/noel-provence/marches-noel/)
Close to home in Germany
Aachen
A stone's throw from Belgium, a beautiful, typically German-style Christmas market open from 11am to 9pm from 20 November to 23 December.
Info: www.aachenweihnachtsmarkt.de
Cologne
The city with 7 major Christmas markets! Easy to reach by train.
Markets at the Cathedral, Alter Markt, Neumarkt, Rudolfplatz, the harbour (Hafen), etc.
From 22 November 2019 to 23 December 2019. Open from 11am to 9pm, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 10pm, Saturday from 10am to 10pm.
Info: http://www.koeln.de/tourismus/weihnachtliches_koeln/weihnachtsmaerkte[](http://http://www.marches-noel.org/marches-de-noel-a-cologne-koln/)
Across the Channel
London
Who wouldn't want to go to London to be tempted by the traditional "Christmas Shopping" and the special festive atmosphere straight out of a Charles Dickens tale?
The city of London offers a wide range of entertainment of all kinds (e.g. Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park) and Christmas markets (e.g. Southbank Centre Christmas Market), from late November to New Year.
Make the most of the crossing to London before Brexit!
Info: http://www.visitlondon.com/tag/christmas-markets
Cover image: Felix-Emanuel Catana / Shutterstock.com
