I’m thinking of starting in Basel to see Colmar, Strasbourg, and Riquewihr, then heading over to either Vienna or Germany (Cologne, Frankfurt, Nuremberg). Any suggestions?
In a major German city, you can visit multiple markets in a day. Cities like Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin all have several. If you aim for efficiency, you could hit around 25-30 markets in 5 days across three major German cities.
@Mickey
I agree! Cologne’s markets are wonderful, and the time frame seems perfect for exploring the city.
Max said:
@Mickey
I agree! Cologne’s markets are wonderful, and the time frame seems perfect for exploring the city.
Cologne has been on my bucket list for a while—does it have one main market or several?
@Brett
I can’t confirm if there’s one main market, but you can find more details at this link: Cologne Christmas Markets.
Max said:
@Brett
I can’t confirm if there’s one main market, but you can find more details at this link: Cologne Christmas Markets.
Thank you! 
@Mickey
Thanks! Germany seems more appealing with so many options. I’m considering either renting a car or taking the train to save time… hitting 25-30 markets in 5 days would be wild but awesome!
@Brett
I’d recommend against a car; parking in city centers can be a hassle. Most cities offer public transport maps showing markets near stops. Enjoy your trip!
Consider Liège, Belgium—it’s more of a local hidden gem for Europeans rather than a hotspot for North Americans.
Definitely include Tallinn in your itinerary. Their Christmas market is often voted among the best in the world.
Don’t miss Strasbourg, France—its market is iconic!
Why go to so many? They are quite similar, and the difference is minimal.
Page said:
Why go to so many? They are quite similar, and the difference is minimal.
Because if it’s my only chance to go, wouldn’t I want to maximize that experience with unique markets?
@Brett
You might tire of them quickly. I’d suggest visiting a few, enjoying the atmosphere, and immersing yourself in the cities. I’d just visit Salzburg and Vienna if it were me.
Lyle said:
@Brett
You might tire of them quickly. I’d suggest visiting a few, enjoying the atmosphere, and immersing yourself in the cities. I’d just visit Salzburg and Vienna if it were me.
Exactly! We saw four Christmas markets in Zurich, and they all felt quite similar, mostly food-oriented. It made me wonder how much one can eat! Haha. And I love food.
@Toby
They can be ridiculously overrated—nice to see but typically they are expensive with mostly the same stalls.
Lyle said:
@Toby
They can be ridiculously overrated—nice to see but typically they are expensive with mostly the same stalls.
In the end, most of the items sold are sourced from China.
@Brett
There’s so much else to enjoy in the cities, though.
@Brett
There is a lot more to Europe in the winter than just Christmas markets.
Kara and Nate visited a ton of markets in a video a couple of years ago. Their YouTube channel could be helpful—Strasbourg was definitely on their list.