The Basler Weihnachtsmarkt is the best and biggest Christmas market in Switzerland and draws visitors from nearby Germany and France to Basel — the market is open for Advent 2025. The Swiss city of Basel, which lies on the border with France and Germany, arguably has the best and largest Christmas market in all of … Read more
The popular Nuremberg Christmas market (Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt) is one of the best, largest, and most famous traditional Weihnachtsmärkte to visit in Germany — in 2025, the market is open daily from November 28 to December 24, 2025. The annual Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) in Nuremberg, Bavaria, is one of the most popular Advent markets in Germany. … Read more
Rhine and Main River day-trip pleasure cruise boat excursions are possible during the pre-Christmas advent period from Rüdesheim and Frankfurt. Rhein boats also cruise the Loreley Valley most winter days.
During winter, pleasure boat cruises and sightseeing excursions on the Rhine River are limited but still possible. The best options are during the Christmas market period or all winter from Rüdesheim, Boppard, and Cologne.
Cheap flights and fast trains help to make the Kölner Weihnachtsmarkt (Cologne Christmas Market), Dom (Cathedral), and museums popular travel destinations in Germany.
The best Christmas markets (Marché de Noel or Weihnachtsmarkt) to visit in Switzerland are in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Montreux, Pilatus, St Gallen, and Zurich.
The best Weihnachtsmärkte (Christkindlmärkte) in Wien are at the Rathaus, Maria Theresien Platz, Freyung in the old town center, and at the Baroque Schloss Schönbrunn and Schloss Belvedere.
Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) has a lovely historic old town that provides the perfect backdrop to the German Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) closest to Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The best Advent Christmas markets to visit in Austria in 2024 are the Christkindlmärkte in Vienna (Wien), Salzburg, Innsbruck in Tyrol, Graz in Steiermark, and Linz. In 2024, most Christmas markets in Austria will be open from mid-November. Austrian Christmas markets are a popular advent tradition throughout Austria. The largest Christmas markets in Austria are … Read more
Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) offers many day-trip sightseeing pleasure cruises on the Rhine during the advent and Christmas market period. Special New Year’s Day party boats also sail from Cologne.