There isn't much left for Christmas. Time is ticking, the year is slipping away and soon, in the blink of an eye we will be living the Christmas and New Year's Eve parties. One of the Christmas customs that I like the most in Europe is that of the christmas markets in the squares. This is common in countries like France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany, for example, and they are always a good place to discover typical country crafts, some gastronomy and a lot of local customs.
And of course, any Christmas market in Europe It is an excellent place to shop for souvenirs. Let's look at some of the Europe Christmas markets which are among the most recommended:
- Christmas markets in Germany: It is the country with the most markets but the most popular are those in Cologne, Stuttgart, Dresden and Nuremberg. The Dresden market dates back to 1434 and being one of the oldest on the continent it attracts almost 2 million visitors every year. In Germany there are about 2500 Christmas markets so you have a lot to choose from.
- Christmas markets in Austria: those in Vienna and Salzburg are the most popular. The one in Vienna is set up on the Rathausplatz square, opposite the beautiful, gothic city hall building. There are always people, everything is sold and at night it lights up. It is a beautiful postcard.
- Christmas markets in France: The oldest market of this type in France is located in Strasbourg, but the most entertaining and attractive is that of Lille. There is a towering Ferris wheel and many stalls selling a plethora of delicacies. If you are in London you take the Eurostar and you are on an 80 minute journey.