5 of the best Christmas markets in Europe to visit this winter

Montreux Christmas market, Switzerland

The Christmas market in Montreux, Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It is also one of the most fun. Shoppers can find everything in the 170 chalets along the shores of Lake Geneva, from locally made gifts to food and drink. Chillon Castle, a magnificent medieval edifice, has been festooned in lights, and there are interactive games to play, such as digitally transforming yourself into an elf and a virtual reality experience in which revellers are “transported” to Santa’s village. But visitors don’t have to travel that far to find the man himself. Father Christmas will be at home at Santa’s House at the summit of Rochers-de-Naye, at an altitude of 2,042 metres. To get there, you can take a wonderful cogwheel train ride and enjoy the spectacular mountain views along the way. In the evenings, Santa takes to his sleigh and flies across the sky.

The Forfait Montreux Noël package, from Montreux-Vevey Tourisme, costs CHF 107 (£100) per person and includes a night in a hotel, a restaurant voucher and the Montreux Riviera Card. Visit montreuxriviera.com for details. The market runs until 24 December.

Liseberg Christmas market, Sweden

On Lucia Day, 13 December, women wearing crowns of lit candles and clad all in white in the guise of Lucia drive away the winter darkness across Sweden and other parts of Scandinavia, bringing light to the festive season. But if there is one place that’s never short on light, it’s Sweden’s second city. Gothenburg’s Liseberg julmarknad (Christmas market), which is 25 years old this year, is lit up with around five million fairy lights and some 1,300 Christmas trees. A story is told through the medium of a light display in Hamnområdet (the harbour area), and there are various winter markets, including a Tyrolean market with live music, and an “Old-Fashioned Christmas” market, selling traditional Swedish treats. Meanwhile, fun and games for children can be had in “Santa’s Village”.

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Until 22 December, visit liseberg.se/en.

Vilnius Christmas market, Lithuania

Vilnius is the official European Capital of Christmas 2025, and this year it is celebrating not one Christmas, but two. On 13 December, the Lithuanian city will be marking “Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas”, a one-day celebration to help “visitors experience the holiday season with the same joy and wonder as if they were five years old again”. Revellers will be able to buy festive treats with a “special Christmas currency” and send postcards to anywhere in the world for free on that day. There will also be a 200-strong choir singing carols, 144 uniquely decorated fir trees on display at the new International Christmas Square in Konstantinas Sirvydas Square in the heart of the Old Town and free guided tours of the city.

Christmas and New Year’s celebrations will be held until 6 January, visit govilnius.lt/christmas-in-vilnius-2025.

Wonderland Lisboa Christmas market, Portugal

Lisbon sees itself as “a sunny alternative to traditional winter markets”. So, naturally, Cirque du Soleil will be performing its OVO, a “colourful celebration of life” in the Portuguese capital from 25 to 28 December.

Meanwhile, in Parque Eduardo VII, a giant Ferris wheel, ice rink and Christmas market has been set up for “Wonderland Lisboa”, now in its tenth year. Visitors can shop for gifts and indulge in local festive fare up until 4 January. On 27 December, the city holds its annual Corrida de São Silvestre, a 10k road race during which runners pass along some of Lisbon’s most famous streets, lit up with Christmas lights. And on 31 December, the city bids farewell to 2025 with live music and fireworks on the banks of the Tagus at Terreiro do Paço, while at the Royal Palace, a glamorous bash will welcome in the new year in style.

Tickets from €60. See visitlisboa.com for details.

Christmas Street on Aleksanterinkatu, Finland

Christmas Street on Aleksanterinkatu has opened for business in the Finnish capital. Nearby Esplanade Park has also been illuminated with its trees and walkways twinkling with lights. On 13 December, Lucia Day, Helsinki anoints its own Lucia with a crown of candles, who will lead a procession from the cathedral and through the city centre. The festival of lights reaches its climax in the new year with “Lux Helsinki” (4-8 January), which will see landmarks across the city lit up in a spectacular light show. Meanwhile, the Helsinki Christmas Market in Senate Square, one of the best in Europe, runs until 22 December and Manta’s Christmas Market runs until 6 January.

Visit myhelsinki.fi for details.

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