20 Best European Christmas Market Cruises in 2023

Table Of Content

• Budapest, Hungary: Best European Christmas Markets for Local Eats
• Wander through a winter forest
• Dusseldorf, Germany: Best European Christmas Market for Sampling Local Spirits
• A Christmas Markets river cruise... with your riverboat done up for the holidays!
• Linz, Austria
• Classic Prague & Christmas Markets on the Danube
• What to expect at markets in different countries …

You’ll need warming up after taking your skates for a spin on Bruges open-air Christmas ice rink or going for a romantic stroll around Minnewater (lake of love). If you head to The Vorst Winter Bar (which means “frost” in Dutch), you’ll be welcomed by local drinks and delicious snacks ready to melt off your icicles. Sit below the thousands of lights and watch your fellow ice skaters continue the festive fun for an unforgettable evening. Encompassing the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland, this fantastic Rhine River cruise offers fairytale castles and historic vineyards in addition to Christmas markets. Starting in canal-laden Amsterdam, this cruise winds its way through the German city of Cologne, where you can browse the city’s most impressive Christmas markets.

Budapest, Hungary: Best European Christmas Markets for Local Eats

In Vienna, Austria, the whole city comes alive with lights and a festive spirit. One thing not to miss here is the extra-charge excursion to a local winery, where you will celebrate the year's harvest and vintage. In Budapest, you'll spend two days exploring the city at places like Castle Hill and the Grand Market Hall before shopping and dining at the Christmas market in front of St. Stephen's Basilica.

Wander through a winter forest

Indeed, a Rhine cruise takes you often to smaller villages such as in the romantic Rhine valley. Even though a Christmas market cruise is a very laid-back way to enjoy the festive season, you should ask yourself a few questions before booking. Indeed, there are plenty of Christmas cruises to choose from and it might be hard to decide on one. One of the most popular Christmas cruises is the Bruges Christmas market cruise. Indeed, Bruges is not only one of the most scenic towns in Belgium, but it’s also famous for boasting one of the prettiest Christmas markets in Europe.

Dusseldorf, Germany: Best European Christmas Market for Sampling Local Spirits

Rooms are filling up fast on this eight-day cruise from Tauck, which takes guests along the Rhine River. The itinerary has several market visits, including Aachen, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, Colmar, and Riquewihr. More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change. Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as you journey through storybook villages.

In my personal opinion, I find that French Christmas markets have this typically French “finesse”. Often, you can find seafood or champagne food stalls which give them a luxurious touch. Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace and also known as the “capital of Christmas” has one of the most important and quaintest Christmas markets in Europe. However, you might have a difficult time choosing which is the best German Christmas market. A German Christmas market cruise is thus the perfect solution to avoid this dilemma as it takes you to the most scenic ones.

Explore Europe’s Christmas Markets on a Holiday-Themed River Cruise - Thrillist

Explore Europe’s Christmas Markets on a Holiday-Themed River Cruise.

Posted: Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The best Christmas markets in Europe draw revelers by the thousand to enjoy the aroma of gingerbread and mulled wine alongside charming stalls selling traditional toys, local crafts, specialty foods and more. The trip begins and ends in Paris, traveling through Northern France with stops at Christmas markets in Rouen and at the Champs-Élysées. Each holiday season, the streets of Rouen come alive with holiday lights and street performers. These cruise itineraries give you the chance to explore holiday markets dating back to the Middle Ages, and to discover the villages with local treasures like traditional winemaking and artisan crafts. The friendly neighbourhood of St Georg hosts a local Christmas market, WinterPride, and its electric atmosphere. A giant, sparkly reindeer welcomes visitors into the market where you’ll find yummy festive treats like mulled wine and hot chocolate.

All your meals, one excursion per destination, gratuities, Wi-Fi, butler service and transfers are also included in your cruise fare. Alcoholic drinks are only included with the Premium All-Inclusive Package, which can be selected at booking. Guests will also find holiday shops set up in Natchez, Mississippi, where craftsmen will have holiday goodies as carolers set the mood. The cruise also runs through stops like St. Fracisville in Louisiana, where small-town holiday festivities can be seen throughout, and Nottoway, Louisiana, with vibrant gardens and Antebellum mansions.

In Vienna, you can choose to visit one of the city's 100+ museums or visit the iconic Opera House before heading to the Christmas market for a glass of mulled wine and shopping. For those interested in wine, Krems is a must-see destination known for some of the best wines in the country. Before departing from Passau, be sure to explore the Christmas market as well as St. Stephen's Cathedral to see the impressive organ, which is the biggest cathedral organ in the world with almost 18,000 pipes.

What to expect at markets in different countries …

Explore highlights of Germany’s oldest city, from Porta Nigra to the Liebfrauenkirche. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule provided with your final documents. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.

I particularly like the castles and small villages of the Rhine valley with their cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and their location next to the Rhine river. However, you won’t want to miss German Christmas markets as they are considered to be some of the first Christmas markets in entire Europe. Schreiner notes that you’ll have to pay a nonrefundable deposit but that your dates are movable. Admire the patrician houses in the old town and see Passau’s ornately decorated cathedral. Admire Bratislava Castle amid the seasonal festivities in the historic Old Town. Keep an eye on your inbox to verify your email, and for exciting offers and news.

Imagine sailing down one of Europe's iconic rivers as picturesque villages, castles and landscapes pass you by, all while twinkling lights from nearby Christmas markets dance on the water. While this might sound like a fairytale, it can be a reality on a Christmas market river cruise. Book a late fall cruise along the Danube if you'd like to visit Vienna's Christmas markets.

The Salzburg market, located on Festungsberg mountain at the foot of the Hohensalzburg fortress, overlooks the city; and the Krems market takes place right in the center of town. We suggest you pack warm and comfortable clothes for walking around the festive cities you’ll be visiting. There’s so much to do so make sure you pack for your plans and shore experiences, not just the destinations. Remember, you don’t need to pack pool and bath towels or a hair dryer as they’ll be provided for you. You’ll also find toiletries such as soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner in your bathroom – if you run out, your cabin steward can provide you with extra.

This river cruise also gives you the opportunity to visit Linz, where you can find one of the most beautiful Austrian Christmas markets at Hellbrunn Palace. It also stops in Passau, where a walking tour brings you to St. Stephen’s Square and its baroque cathedral in the heart of Old Town. At Passau Christkindlmarkt, you can find cute little Bavarian-style model houses, cookie cutters, and olive wood products from Assisi. While many river cruises traverse the waters around France, Germany and Austria, AmaWaterways' Gems of Southeast Europe itinerary takes guests to Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Romania. The seven-night cruise sails between Budapest and Giurgiu along the Danube River. Solo travelers should know that these cabins don't have a balcony and are the smallest on the riverboat at 150 square feet, but you likely won't be spending much time in your room on this sailing.