Christmas Markets

[CoolShoeshine]

Can someone recommend a christmas market break in Europe for me please? Would like:
Somewhere easy to fly to for 3 nights
Scenic/atmospheric
Not krakow or Budapest (been to both recently)
Not too commercial or busy (if that's possible)

Not Berlin but I would look at less well known places in Germany

Also Gadansk was apparently voted best Christmas market 2024

Cologne has several markets and is only a short flight from U.K.

Prague, it is beautiful.

We went to Munich a couple of years ago - it was lovely - so many different Christmas markets to explore, each with different themes. There was a huge market at the site of the Oktoberfest, and even a market at the airport!
It was very busy, but I would think most cities with Christmas markets would be. If you can go in the week, rather than a weekend, it would make a big difference.

We also did a night in nearby Erding, at the Therme spa, which was lovely ,and very relaxing.

Colmar is one of the most beautiful that I’ve been to and it’s neither busy nor commercial. It’s made up of 6 individual markets dotted around the town. We caught a train direct from Strasbourg airport to Colmar, which took just over an hour. During our stay, we did a day trip by train to the markets in Strasbourg.

Salzburg was the most Christmassy place I’ve been

Valkenburg underground sand caves. The most unique and memorable Christmas market I've ever been too.

There's plenty above ground, but the caves all lit up are just fabulous.

I’d second Prague. Don’t go to Riga.

Innsbruck

Bremen or Cologne would be my choices. I used to live in Germany though many years ago so I am biased.

Bruges is beautiful especially at Christmas. But the markets are quite small so it depends on whether this matters to you. Personally I was relieved that they were not too big and crowded.

Went to Vienna last year. Loved it and could have spent so much more than we did as couldn’t fit any more in luggage! Felt lovely and Christmassy although not as cold as I thought it would be.

Bruges is really lovely but don’t go if your main interest is a Christmas market as that was a huge let down

Vienna?

We used to go to Cologne, loved it. Lots to do. We got stuck there in 2010 due to airports closing because of weather and it didn't bother us in the slightest, ended up staying almost a week longer than intended and it was great.

Geneva is supposed to be nice. I am planning a day trip myself.

i went to cologne last November and it was lovely, extremely busy but it was festive, outdoor ice rink, cathedral is incredible and good shops outside of the array of markets.

Did you go recently? We went there last December and whilst it was a nice town and very pretty it was very busy and the stuff on sale in the caves was like B&M bargains. Don't think I'd rush back.

I went maybe 8 years ago. I bought so many beautiful glass ornaments that I had to buy a second suitcase

We went to Copenhagen in December 2024 and it was one of my favourite places I ever visited. Lots of different Christmas markets of varying sizes, and just generally a stunning city that’s easy to get around and has loads to do.

Gdnask and Bratislava have been my favourites.

Vienna for sure.

We did Prague last year just before Xmas it's beautiful and so much to see

Strasbourg, and if you have 3 or 4 days then hop over to Baden-Baden, or down to Colmar or Kaysersberg on the French side.

Thank you for all of the recommendations! I've been doing some research into travel and i think the easiest destinations for me to fly to would be Vienna, Gdansk, Prague or Cologne. So I'm going to try and choose between those ones.
Love the look of some of the others though, particularly Strasburg/Colmar and Bruges. Might also have to look into coach or train trips to those destinations for future year's!