When are the European markets open?

Most open in the final week of November and close on or about 23 December, with a handful running into early January. The exact dates move every year, so we check the published calendar for the specific cities before recommending travel dates.

Which city is best for a first market trip?

Vienna for the full version in a city worth several days, Bruges if you would rather not fly, and Strasbourg if you want two towns easily combined. It depends mostly on how long you have and how far you want to go.

Can we take in more than one city?

Yes, and it often makes the better trip. Several of the strongest markets are an hour or two apart by rail, so three nights can comfortably cover two cities.

What happens after I submit an enquiry?

A member of the team reviews it personally and comes back to you, usually within one to two working days, to talk through timings before anything is booked.

Seasonal & Festive

The markets, and the city they sit in

Two or three nights in Europe's festive cities, positioned so the market is a walk rather than a journey.

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Seasonal

A short trip where the small decisions do all the work

Christmas market trips are easy to book badly. The markets are outdoor and the light goes by mid-afternoon, so a hotel twenty minutes out changes the whole shape of the trip — and it is the saving people most often make and most often regret.

We place you centrally, plan around the published market dates rather than an approximate season, and leave the days free for the galleries, coffee houses and thermal baths that make these cities worth visiting in the first place. Several of the best markets sit an hour or two apart by rail, so two cities in three nights is very doable.

Walking Distance

Central positioning, so you can go back to the room and come out again rather than committing to one long evening.

Real Dates

Market opening dates shift each year. We plan against the published calendar for the specific cities, not a rough guess.

More Than Markets

The stalls are an evening thing. The days are for the city itself.

What's Included

Ways to see the markets

Single-City Breaks

Two or three nights in one city, centrally placed, for a first market trip or a straightforward long weekend.

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Multi-City Rail Journeys

Two or three market cities linked by train — more variety, and far less repetitive than it sounds.

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Markets & Mountains

A few days of markets followed by a few days on snow, which turns a short break into a proper trip.

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Family Market Trips

Closer cities, shorter travel and hotels that work when you need to be back by four.

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FAQs

Questions about Cherished Christmas Markets

Cherished Group is affiliated with InteleTravel UK, under ABTA membership number P7384. InteleTravel UK are appointed agents for our suppliers who are ATOL holders.

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Which market, and when?

Tell us how long you have and whether you would rather fly or take the train, and we will shape something around it.

Enquire About Market Breaks