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Christmas Markets

A Guide to Christmas in Europe and Beyond

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You are here: Home / Travel / Christmas Market Tours in Europe – A Guide for 2023

Christmas Market Tours in Europe – A Guide for 2023

If it’s your first time in a city or you don’t have a lot of time, a tour can be a great introduction to a city, enabling you to gain insight via a local guide.  

City tours will give you an overview of everything the destination has to offer, while taking a food tour will introduce you to regional specialties and unique flavours you might not discover on your own.

You can find specialised tours like architecture, street art, photography, or history and war tours. Or choose a dedicated Christmas market tour.

Search for a Tour

Seasonal and holiday activities can also be a great way to learn about the local culture and people by experiencing customs, traditions, festivals and, of course, the Christmas markets.  

Christmas Market Tours in Europe

I recommend joining an expertly guided city tour, food tour, or focused Christmas market tour in Europe. These are offered in small group settings, led by knowledgeable local guides.

Here’s a brief overview of the various types of Christmas tours available.

  1. City Tours: These tours focus on exploring a specific city’s major attractions and landmarks during the Christmas season. You’ll get to experience the festive atmosphere and see how the city is decorated for the holiday season.
  2. Food Tours: For those who love food, a food tour is a perfect way to discover the traditional Christmas specialties of a destination. You’ll get to sample a variety of local delicacies and learn about the local cuisine.
  3. Christmas Market Tours: Dedicated Christmas market tours are designed to take you to the best markets in a city or region. You’ll have the opportunity to shop for unique gifts, taste local foods, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
  4. Combination Tours: Some tours offer a combination of city and Christmas market visits, giving you the best of both worlds. You’ll get to see the sights and sounds of the city, as well as explore the Christmas markets.
  5. Skip the Line Tickets – Pre-booking tickets to popular events and museums at heavily visited destinations is highly recommended to make the most of your time and avoid long lines.

The Most Popular Tours

Here are some of the top Christmas market tours available in Europe in 2023.

Nuremberg Christmas Market

Nuremberg: Christmas City Culinary Tour

On a guided tour, discover the enchanting city of Nuremberg during Christmas. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, gain insight into the city’s rich history, learn about the traditional German Christmas markets, and savour delicious culinary treats.

Overlooking Prague in the Castle district.

Prague’s Merry Markets

Visit the Christmas markets in central Prague, including the city centre’s main market. Try traditional Czech snacks, mulled wine, and hot mead during this evening tour.

Cobblestone street in Vienna with snow.

Vienna Christmas Markets Tour

Take a walking tour of 4 of Vienna’s traditional Christmas markets. Drink hot rum, snack on market food and experience some of Vienna’s alternative districts. 

Dresden Christmas Market

Dresden Advent Tour with Stollen Tasting

This city tour includes stops at 3 Dresden Christmas markets, including the oldest Christmas market in the world, Striezelmarkt. Also, see Dresden’s Opera House, the incredible Zwinger museum and the famous Frauenkirche historic church. The tour includes tasting stollen, a Christmas snack unique to Dresden.

Colmar France

Strasbourg 7-hour Christmas Market Tour

Discover the Christmas markets in Alsace from Strasbourg, including the beautiful Colmar Christmas market. Visit multiple markets in different cities and villages during this one-day tour. 

Berlin in Winter

Berlin Christmas Lights by Trabi

One of the most unique tours you’ll ever experience. View Berlin’s Christmas lights from the comfort of a Trabi limousine. Enjoy sparkling wine as you’re driven around your chosen route.

As an experienced travel blogger, I’ve had the opportunity to experience various tours throughout my travels.

After thorough research and personal experiences, I’ve found that Get Your Guide is the most trustworthy, user-friendly, and secure platform to book tours through.

That’s why I’m now an affiliate of theirs. Being an affiliate means that if you book via my link, I get a small commission from any bookings at no extra cost to you.

The majority of the tours I suggest here can be easily booked through Get Your Guide.

If you can’t find what you’re looking, click here to search for a tour at your destination.

Food Tours in Europe

Brussels Grand-Place

Brussels Chocolate Tasting Tour

Enjoy chocolate tastings as you are guided around the centre of Brussels on this tasty city tour. Learn about the history of chocolate in Belgium while experiencing the beautiful surroundings of Brussels in winter. 

Bologna Christmas Market

Bologna Secret Food Tour

Bologna is the culinary capital of Italy’s incredible food scene. During this 3-hour food tour, you will experience the best the region has to offer, discovering local specialties, passionate food producers and delicious food.

Budapest Christmas Market

Budapest Food & Wine Tasting

A great tasting experience with Budapest’s famous Taste Hungary. Try cheese and charcuterie paired with 5 unique Hungarian wines.

Search for a Different Tour

Past Christmas Tours

These highly sought-after tours have been a hit among travelers in the past, but unfortunately, they were not available last year.

Here’s hoping they make a comeback this year as they bring a wealth of experiences and opportunities for those exploring the Christmas markets.

British Parliament building and Westminster Bridge

London Markets Tour

If you’ve never been to London during the Christmas season, it’s quite the experience. Decorations in the streets and squares are incredible, including central Christmas trees. This tour covers Christmas markets in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and more. 

Christmas in Warsaw

Warsaw Christmas Tour

Walk along Nowy Świat and the Royal Route to experience the Christmas lights and decorations in Warsaw’s old town. Try a traditional Polish doughnut and drink a shot of cherry liqueur.

Copenhagen Denmark

Copenhagen Christmas Spirit

Experience the Danish Christmas season as you tour the Christmas markets and the pretty decorations and lights in Copenhagen. 

Salzburg view of castle from the river.

Salzburg Christmas Tour

Tour the Salzburger Christmas market with a local guide. Drink mulled wine as you discover Austrian Christmas traditions under the lights and decorations of the old town. 

Rome Italy

Best of Rome Christmas Tour

Tour the sights of Rome with a local guide during the Christmas season. Experience the city at one of the most beautiful times of the year as you learn about its history and traditions. 

Stockholm in Winter

Stockholm Old Town Christmas

Walk around Stockholm’s beautiful old town during winter and the Christmas season. Learn about Swedish history and Christmas traditions by lantern light. 

Zagreb in December

Zagreb Christmas Tour

During this small group tour, a local guide will take you around Zagreb’s Christmas markets. Try Croatian Christmas treats, learn about local traditions and tour the best of the city’s 25 Christmas markets.

Bremen Germany

Bremen Christmas Market Tour

Wander through the winding streets of the old town and the beautifully decorated stalls at the Bremen Christmas market this November and December. 

London Eye at night during winter.

London Christmas Lights

Experience London’s Christmas lights from the comfort of an old-fashioned 1960s open-top bus. Drive under the lights of Oxford Street and past the beautiful decorations at Harrods on this popular tour. 

Last Updated: February 6, 2023 Filed Under: Travel

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Christmas Markets
A guide to Christmas in Europe and beyond.

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