Photo by Ram Lanka on UnsplashNuremberg
Christkindlesmarkt
When: 27 Nov to 24 Dec
Closes 2pm on Christmas Eve.
Fly direct in December from 4 UK airports:
Winter 2026 · checked 16 October 2026
Christmas markets 2026 you can fly to direct
25 Christmas markets, from Nuremberg and Vienna to a market held inside caves, each with its 2026 dates and every UK airport that flies there direct in December.
The big ones
Photo by Ram Lanka on Unsplash
Photo by ian kelsall on UnsplashMunich
Christkindlmarkt am Marienplatz
When: 20 Nov to 24 Dec
Opens a week earlier than it used to.
Fly direct in December from 4 UK airports:
Photo by Rob Hall on UnsplashCologne
Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom
When: 16 Nov to 23 Dec
Heinzels Wintermärchen in the Altstadt runs 23 Nov to 10 Jan.
Fly direct in December from 7 UK airports:
Photo by Ditmar Lange on UnsplashDortmund
Dortmunder Weihnachtsstadt
When: 19 Nov to 30 Dec
The 45m 'giant Christmas tree' on Hansaplatz.
Fly direct in December from 1 UK airport:
Photo by Krisztian Tabori on UnsplashVienna
Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz
When: 13 Nov to 26 Dec (listed)
Schönbrunn runs 6 Nov to 6 Jan.
Fly direct in December from 13 UK airports:
Photo by Henrique Ferreira on UnsplashBasel
Basler Weihnachtsmarkt
When: 26 Nov to 23 Dec
Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz.
Fly direct in December from 6 UK airports:
Photo by Henrique Ferreira on UnsplashColmar
Colmar Christmas markets
When: 23 Nov to 29 Dec (listed)
About 45 minutes from Basel-Mulhouse airport.
Fly direct in December from 6 UK airports:
Photo by Lucile Noiriel on UnsplashStrasbourg
Christkindelsmärik
When: 27 Nov to 24 Dec (listed)
France's oldest, since 1570.
Fly direct in December from 6 UK airports:
Photo by Marius Badstuber on UnsplashBrussels
Plaisirs d'Hiver / Winter Wonders
When: 27 Nov to 3 Jan 2027
Fly direct in December from 2 UK airports:
Photo by Marius Badstuber on UnsplashBruges
Bruges Christmas market
When: 20 Nov to 3 Jan 2027
About 1h45 from Charleroi by train.
Fly direct in December from 2 UK airports:
Photo by Hongbin on UnsplashLuxembourg City
Winterlights
When: 20 Nov to 3 Jan 2027
Fly direct in December from 1 UK airport:
Photo by Nick Karvounis on UnsplashCopenhagen
Christmas in Tivoli
When: 13 Nov to 3 Jan 2027 (listed)
Ticketed: it's inside Tivoli Gardens.
Fly direct in December from 9 UK airports:
Photo by Leo Roomets on UnsplashTallinn
Tallinn Christmas Market
When: 20 Nov to 6 Jan 2027
Town Hall Square, with the tree that's stood there since 1441.
Fly direct in December from 6 UK airports:
Photo by Oleh Morhun on UnsplashPrague
Old Town Square Christmas market
When: 2026 dates not announced yet. Usually late November to 6 January.
Fly direct in December from 14 UK airports:
Photo by Jeffrey Zhang on UnsplashKraków
Main Square Christmas market
When: 2026 dates not announced yet. Usually late November to 1 January.
Fly direct in December from 15 UK airports:
Photo by Ervin Lukacs on UnsplashBudapest
Vörösmarty Square & Basilica markets
When: 2026 dates not announced yet. Usually mid-November to 1 January.
Fly direct in December from 12 UK airports:
Photo by Lukas on UnsplashZagreb
Advent u Zagrebu
When: 2026 dates not announced yet
2025 ran 29 Nov to 7 Jan; voted Europe's best several times.
Fly direct in December from 1 UK airport:
Hidden gems
Smaller, quieter and in places most people never think of, but still reachable on a direct flight.
Photo by Alex vd Slikke on UnsplashValkenburg
Kerststad Valkenburg (markets inside caves)
When: 13 Nov to 3 Jan 2027
Gemeentegrot and Fluweelengrot caves; about 1h15 from Eindhoven.
Fly direct in December from 1 UK airport:
Photo by Felix on UnsplashLindau
Lindauer Hafenweihnacht
When: 26 Nov to 20 Dec
Thursday to Sunday only, on Lake Constance harbour.
Fly direct in December from 2 UK airports:
Photo by Stefan Schauberger on UnsplashGengenbach
Gengenbach Advent calendar town hall
When: 30 Nov to 23 Dec
The town hall's 24 windows become the world's biggest Advent calendar.
Fly direct in December from 1 UK airport:
Photo by Henrique Ferreira on UnsplashRiquewihr
Riquewihr Christmas market
When: 27 Nov to 20 Dec (listed)
A walled wine village straight off a biscuit tin.
Fly direct in December from 6 UK airports:
Photo by Henrique Ferreira on UnsplashKaysersberg
Kaysersberg Christmas market
When: 27 Nov to 20 Dec (listed)
Fly direct in December from 6 UK airports:
Photo by Marius Badstuber on UnsplashDurbuy
Durbuy Christmas market
When: 20 Nov to 3 Jan 2027 (listed)
'the world's smallest town'.
Fly direct in December from 2 UK airports:
Photo by Grafi Jeremiah on UnsplashNaples
Via San Gregorio Armeno
When: Open all year, busiest in December
The street of nativity-scene makers, at its busiest in December.
Fly direct in December from 5 UK airports:
Photo by 66 north on UnsplashRovaniemi
Santa Claus Village
When: Open all year, busiest in December
On the Arctic Circle; open all year.
Fly direct in December from 10 UK airports:
About these dates
Where the organiser or the city has published 2026 dates, we show them and link to the source. Where 2026 dates haven't been announced yet, we say so and give the usual season rather than guess. Markets can change their hours at short notice, so check the official site before you book. Flights are direct services in December 2026 from Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 timetables.