Get Into the Spirit at These Holiday Markets Around the World, From Sapporo to Brussels

There’s no better way to soak up the season’s festive vibes than at a holiday market. What began hundreds of years ago in the town squares of Austria and Germany has since grown into a global tradition—one that brings twinkling lights, festive music and the scent of mulled wine to cities around the world. Europe may still do it best, with its centuries-old markets in places like Vienna and Nuremberg, but today you’ll also find dazzling versions across North America, from New York to Mexico City and Toronto, and even as far afield as Sapporo, Japan. Whether you’re sipping glühwein beneath a canopy of lights, browsing for hand-carved wooden ornaments or snacking on roasted chestnuts and lebkuchen (gingerbread), these markets capture the magic of the season—proof that no matter where you go, the joy of the holidays is wonderfully universal.

Philadelphia

First held in 2008 in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall, the city’s annual Christmas market now unfolds across the street at LOVE Park. (Photo by Elevated Angles for VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®)

For the past 18 years, Philly’s Center City has been transformed into a winter wonderland with its German-style holiday village. This year, the festival debuts a rotating, 30-foot-tall, four-level Christmas pyramid inspired by a weihnachtspyramide, a traditional German wooden decoration that typically houses a Nativity scene. Revelers can take it in as they stroll among the 120 wooden cottages with vendors selling stocking stuffers and indulgent foods like loaded baked potatoes and raclette. Vote on your favorite of nearly two dozen firs decorated by local artists and designers for the annual Festival of Trees, and then take a spin on the Ferris wheel. Stay right by the action at The Rittenhouse, a 118-room luxury hotel on Rittenhouse Square. If you have little ones, continue the seasonal magic by booking the Teddy Bear Tea at the Mary Cassatt Tea Room, where you’ll all enjoy sandwiches and seasonal pastries while a harpist plays holiday music. Kids receive a teddy bear and a treat-filled gift bag.

Zagreb, Croatia

Stroll the stalls at Advent Zagreb to see—and sample—regional treats like sugared doughnuts and smoked sausages. (Photo courtesy of Zagreb Tourist Board/Julien Duval)

It seems as if the entire Croatian capital turns into a wonderland come winter. That might be because Advent Zagreb, the city’s annual holiday festival, is actually made up of around 25 markets spread throughout the city, each packed with stalls selling traditional Croatian dishes like doughnuts dusted with sugar and kobasice (smoked sausages) plus an array of gifts, including hand-carved wooden toys from the landmark Hrvatsko Zagorje region. One of the highlights is the massive skating rink at King Tomislav Square, where you can glide across the ice—or watch professionals do pirouettes at one of the many ice dance performances throughout the season. There are also ice sculptures, a tram that takes kids to see Santa and pop-up concerts. The most glamorous place to stay is the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The hotel actually hosts its own Advent celebration, called Fooling Around, each year on its Oleander Terrace, complete with DJs and live music, light installations and food from celebrated local chefs. Looking for a cozy indoor event? Join for the Advent brunch on Sundays at Zinfandel’s Restaurant or the Christmas Afternoon Tea at Esplanade 1925 Lounge & Cocktail Bar.

Nuremberg, Germany

The 14th-century Frauenkirche, or the Church of Our Lady, is a magnificent backdrop to the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.

Practically every city in Germany has a fantastic holiday market, but Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is widely considered the best, with roots dating back to the 1500s. Set in the city’s Old Town, against the backdrop of the 14th-century Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), it features more than 180 stalls selling toys, ornaments and decorations, as well as spiced gingerbread, Nürnberger rostbratwurst (tiny grilled sausages served three in a bun) and lots of mulled wine, of course. To fully immerse yourself in the market and its history, follow one of the organizer’s six self-guided tours (focuses include Nuremberg Christmas traditions, local and regional products, and vegan offerings), which are conveniently available to download on the website. There’s a separate Children’s Christmas Market on Hans-Sachs-Platz with a two-tiered merry-go-round, steam train, Ferris wheel and even “hands-on booths,” where kids can bake and decorate cookies.

New York City

Ice skating in Bryant Park’s winter village is an essential New York holiday experience.

Travelers may flock to Rockefeller Center to see the tree, but the best place in New York City to get in the spirit is a few blocks south, at the winter village in Bryant Park. Rent ice skates and take a few spins around the rink, then complete your holiday shopping in one fell swoop: There are more than 180 jewel-box kiosks packed with artisan crafts, tasty treats and quirky gifts, including art-themed jigsaw puzzles, gold bar necklaces and dangerously delicious chocolate truffles. At the rink-side food hall, dig in to sausages and frites, churros and an Irish coffee (or three). Want a more intimate dining experience? Book a private igloo for you and your seven closest friends. To keep that cozy vibe going, reserve a room at The Lowell, the only hotel in the city with rooms featuring authentic wood-burning fireplaces (the hotel turns 100 in 2027).

Daly City, California

You’ll have no trouble getting into the spirit of the season, thanks to the raucous performers of Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House. (Photo by Zoart Photography)

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair in the Bay Area’s Daly City is part Victorian reenactment, part holiday market. Running for five weekends in November and December at the indoor Cow Palace event venue, the immersive annual event (since 1970) is staffed by actors dressed as if they’d just stepped out of the pages of “A Christmas Carol”—and visitors are also encouraged to come in period costume. Once you’ve purchased your tickets, be prepared to waltz at Fezziwig’s Dance Party, laugh at the Punch and Judy puppet show and raise a glass at the Jekyll and Hyde Pub Crawl. You can also shop for handmade gifts and eat your fill of pub grub like fish and chips or bangers and mash. Stay just north of Daly City at the historic Fairmont San Francisco, which goes all out for the holidays. Marvel at the life-size gingerbread house (you can even book a private dinner inside it) and shop for gifts from local makers at the open-air Fairmont Holiday Rooftop Faire. Families may want to book the Santa Suite, complete with a tree, decorations, a gingerbread-house kit and more.

Toronto

Puppet shows and an ugly sweater–themed cocktail bar are just a few of the draws of Toronto’s Distillery Winter Village. (Photo by Patrick Tomasso)

Toronto’s Distillery District—a historic neighborhood with pedestrian-only cobblestone streets and Victorian-era industrial buildings filled with hip boutiques and restaurants—is a great place to visit all year round, but it really comes alive with The Distillery Winter Village. Entertainment is a big draw here: See performances by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, artists from the Canadian Opera Company and cast members from Mirvish Productions’ current musicals (be sure to check the website for dates). Kids will love the Narnia-inspired Santa’s Village (you enter through a wardrobe!) and the roving puppet shows, while adults will enjoy sipping cocktails at the Ugly Sweater Patio Bar (dress accordingly). Of course, there’s also plenty of great shopping; find custom pet ornaments (just bring a picture of your furbaby), board games and hand-crocheted stuffed animals alongside indulgent Canadian food options like poutine and butter tarts.

Mexico City

The Zócalo, Mexico City’s sprawling main square, comes alive with twinkling lights, live performances and specialty food stalls each festive season.

Every December, the Zócalo—the main public square in Mexico City—hosts a huge Christmas festival. The decorations and lights are next-level: Buildings around the plaza, including the National Palace and the Old City Hall, are illuminated; there’s a tunnel made with hundreds of lights for the perfect selfie; and even the dozens of piñatas strung up over the plaza are aglow. A bazaar features handicrafts from more than 250 artisans from around the country, spanning hand-embroidered clothing, Nativity sets, clay figurines and more. A stage in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral welcomes rock bands, jazz musicians and pastorelas (Nativity folk dramas) nightly. Traditional holiday foods include ponche (a seasonal punch), tamales, tlayudas (crispy tortillas topped with ingredients like refried beans and cheese) and bacalao navideño (a cod and potato stew).

Sapporo, Japan

Though more than 5,000 miles from its namesake, Sapporo’s Munich Christmas Market offers a faithful replication of the German city’s holiday offerings. (Photo courtesy of the City of Sapporo)

Fun fact: Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, and Munich, Germany, are sister cities—a relationship that promotes cultural and commercial ties—and since 2002, Sapporo has held a Munich Christmas Market in Odori Park. The setup promises much of what you’d find in Bavaria’s capital: stalls selling toys and Christmas trinkets; hearty German fare like sausages, pretzels and glühwein (there’s a different collectible mug available for purchase each year); and lots of holiday music. The market coincides with Sapporo White Illumination, a light festival held in Odori Park since 1981. The fact that Sapporo’s average annual snowfall is nearly 200 inches makes everything feel that much more festive.

Vienna

Vienna’s Christmas markets can trace their origins to the late 13th century.

Vienna lays claim to the first Christmas market, held way back in 1296. Technically, it wasn’t a holiday market, just a December fair, but who’s keeping score? The tradition continues today with the annual Vienna Christkindlmarkt in the central Rathausplatz in front of the stately city hall. Kids do especially well here: There’s a two-tiered carousel, a Ferris wheel, a reindeer-themed train and ice skating. Adults, meanwhile, will enjoy browsing the wooden stalls for sustainably made goods like candles and scarves. Fill up on traditional market treats like jam doughnuts and roasted chestnuts, washed down with schnapps or kirschpunsch (cherry punch) while listening to the brass brands play. Check in to the historic Hotel Sacher Vienna, which opened in 1876 across from the opera house and over the years has welcomed numerous dignitaries, presidents and celebrities. During the holidays, the hotel is elegantly decorated with garlands, nutcracker figurines, a towering Christmas tree and twinkling lights, and there are special prix fixe menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. No matter when you go, the lavish, cake-filled breakfast buffet—which includes the hotel’s iconic Sacher-Torte—is a must.

York, England

Visiting York, which hosts the annual York Christmas Market, feels like stepping back in time. (Photo courtesy of Visit York)

Attending the York Christmas Market (also known as the St. Nicholas Fair) in the medieval city of York feels like stepping back in time. The city’s central St. Sampson’s Square and Parliament Street are filled with alpine chalets selling Yorkshire caps, hand-drawn maps, Scotch eggs and mince pies; more than three-quarters of the vendors are from Yorkshire, so you’ll feel good knowing that each pound you spend goes back into the local community. After picking out all your presents, head to Thor’s Tipi, a beloved winter pop-up bar in The Milner York hotel gardens, to enjoy pints of ale around a roaring fire.

Brussels

The Big Wheel—the illuminated Ferris wheel at Brussels’ Plaisirs d’Hiver—offers some of the best views of the city.

Plaisirs d’Hiver (also called Winterpret or Winter Wonders) lights up Brussels each holiday season, stretching from Place Sainte-Catherine to Place de la Bourse to the Grand-Place. But because Brussels is such a walkable city, it’s easy to experience everything in one gloriously festive day. First, admire the massive tree (and all the gorgeous Gothic architecture) at the Grand-Place, then make your way to Place Sainte-Catherine for shopping and feasting (frites! waffles! beer!). Kids can pop into Santa’s Workshop for storytelling and music and then head over to the reindeer carousel for a ride. Everyone, meanwhile, will enjoy a ride on the Big Wheel, which promises epic views of the city. Curling in Place de Brouckère is another fun activity for the whole family. Recover from all that merrymaking at Corinthia Brussels, which reopened in December 2024, transforming what was once the Grand Hotel Astoria, a fabulous Belle Époque property that initially opened in 1910 for the Brussels International Exposition. The holiday season brings special Sunday concerts in the Palm Court, pop-up shopping at the Astoria Club, and Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day brunches and dinners.