We thought we knew what a Christmas market was before moving to Europe because we’d been to markets in Chicago and San Diego. We were mistaken. The Europeans treat the holiday as what it is: the most wonderful time of year.
Since they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, they don’t have to follow arbitrary rules about when the decor goes up, either. Come November 1, those cobblestoned alleyways are decked out to the nines and ready to party.
As a result, attending Christmas markets has become one of our favorite things to do.
Even so, European Christmas markets can also be a lot. If you’re an introvert, it’s hard to remind yourself of the whimsy when you’re sharing space with thousands of other celebrants.
That doesn’t make you a Grinch. It makes you human.
If you’re approaching your limit of holiday market revelry, check out my tips for coming out on the other side with a positive attitude.
Set your intentions.
Think about why you’re planning your trip abroad. Is it to add something special to your tree back home, embrace local traditions, or have a riotous time with your friends? Is it to try every cookie available as part of some personal challenge?
Maybe it’s your very first time at European Christmas markets, and you just want to be present and enjoy the whole experience.
Set an intention or two before your trip that you can remind yourself of if things get weird or impatience gets the best of you.
It’s a privilege to be able to travel at all, but we tend to forget that when someone spills on your coat or you encounter a cranky vendor at a holiday booth.
Pace yourself.
I have to remind myself of this one on a regular basis. You don’t need to see every market at a destination. Feel free to linger at a market you like instead of moving on just to tick off another.
If you’re of a certain age as we are, take breaks to sit and people-watch to recharge before continuing. Break up all of that mulled wine and hot rum with some hot cocoa (sans alcohol) or water, for Pete’s sake.
For those lucky enough to have a week of Christmas fun ahead, you really don’t want to embarrass yourself and burn out after the first day.
Dress for the weather.
Most European destinations you’re considering for Christmas markets are going to play the part. That means chilly temperatures and the potential for snow.
Nobody expects you to come dressed in some holiday romper that barely covers your behind. Locals will laugh at you and so should your friends.
You don’t need to wear elf ears or reindeer antlers or your ugly Christmas sweater, either. That’s unless you really want to, of course.
Navigating Europe’s Christmas markets is about doing so comfortably. That means a warm coat, gloves, and a winter hat for starters. I’ll leave decisions around long underwear to you.
Seek out local traditions.
We planned a whole trip around seeing the Perchten parade in Salzburg. As a big fan of Halloween AND Christmas, finding them in the wild was a no-brainer. (I have a whole guide to visiting Salzburg for the Perchten if this sounds just as incredible to you.)
Fun fact: A Percht is a creature that can take two different forms. Sometimes they’re here for mischief. Sometimes they’re here to ward off evil spirits and Krampus. Austria is the best place to enjoy the Alpine tradition.
A little intrigue in the form of goat-like creatures in your midst can certainly make your holiday feel a little different than Christmases past. No matter where you’re going, seek out the special events that can break up your market visits a bit.
Plan your route and timing.
If you have to visit markets in the days before Christmas, you’ll want to pack your patience. They will be slammed. You can say the same about weekends at the big Christmas hubs.
Prioritize weekday visits if you’re able and start early for the best chance at short lines at the best vendors.
Note: I know those Christmas lights are mesmerizing, but they also draw the biggest crowds. Try to hit a night market on a weekday or right as the sun goes down.
Identify a positivity buddy.
Brian and I can usually spot one another’s tells when things start feeling a little sketchy in travel. We generally know when one or the other needs a break or one of those snacks I’m inevitably carrying in my purse.
READ MORE: We know a thing or two about traveling as a couple. Check out more tips we’ve learned along the way!
That can be harder to navigate in a group. If you’re traveling with friends, have a plan with someone for when you start throwing out expletives about crowds or that guy over there who looked at you weird.
Did he really, though, or should you put down the mug for a round?
This identified buddy should be able to drop truth bombs without repercussions from you, even when you’re feeling heated.
Find the specialty markets.
There are many Christmas markets out there that can feel like more of the same after a while, especially in big cities that go hard on Christmas.
Those same destinations likely have markets that offer wares beyond the ornaments, pretzels, and kettles of hot wine that you’re used to.
We’ve been to all-pink LGBTQ markets — that one is in Frankfurt — and markets that sell eco-friendly souvenirs. We’ve seen markets with no food at all and others that were SO much about the food that we’d go so far as to call them a gourmet experience.
Do your research ahead of your trip about markets that go behind the classic experience. I promise that no matter how whimsical it looks that first day, you’ll want something different at some point.
Think small.
Sometimes the small towns near the big destination are just as charming — if not more so! — than the large city markets. Since you’re on a continent as well-connected as Europe, it may not even be that big of an effort to get out to these places.
Just make sure you investigate the hours at smaller markets before you go. Sometimes these are only open on weekends or in the days approaching Christmas.
Take a break indoors.
This doesn’t have to be a siesta at the hotel. If you’re anything like me, that could mean you’re in for the rest of the day because of the effort involved in getting yourself back out in the cold.
I mean finding a cozy space to hang out for a bit out of the cold. That mulled wine cools down quite quickly in chilly conditions.
Fun fact: If you’re lucky enough to be in Reims, France, for the holiday, that can happen in a Champagne hut.
I find myself experiencing an immediate mood lift when I encounter bubbles at Christmas.
Explore activities outside of the markets.
It doesn’t matter where we are. It could be a reindeer farm for all I care. I can only do Christmas markets for so long before they all start blending together.
That’s not the fault of the markets. They know what works, and many won’t deviate from that, so that newcomers aren’t disappointed.
If you don’t have anything planned outside of markets, that’s on you. Pick at least one activity per day that doesn’t have anything to do with the markets. Bonus points if it isn’t connected to Christmas in any way.
On our trip to Austria, we planned some museum trips and a Sound of Music tour to give ourselves a holiday market break.
Investigate whether you should get tickets in advance to anything while you’re at it. I already told you that you’re competing with big crowds at these things.
Go touch some grass.
I’m being literal here. If you’re feeling a little sluggish after navigating markets the night prior, get up early and hit a trail or two to start the following day.
Alright, you don’t have to get up that early, but daylight does come at a premium during the winter months.
One of our favorite memories on our Christmas visit to Alsace was our hike to see the three castles of Ribeauvillé. While it took a few hours, that was more about enjoying the scenery over how challenging it was.
It gave us the opportunity to have some time away from the crowds below, too, which is always welcome for introverts like us.
READ MORE: Can you relate? I’ve got a full guide to traveling like an introvert to help you out.
Plan some sit-down meals.
I just can’t eat sausages every day. It’s not good for me or honestly, for anyone involved. If you’re visiting German markets, you may feel like that’s all you’ll get for the entirety of your stay, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
While eating is certainly one of the best things about the markets, even the best raclette sandwich is still a raclette sandwich after the second day of them. There’s no shame in planning a meal away from the markets, especially if you’re in one of the big hubs.
I’d recommend identifying a spot or two before you go. Many of these places will require reservations at peak times.
You also don’t want to find yourself in that scenario where you’re staring at your travel partner all, “I don’t care where we eat. What do you want?”
Take a day trip.
Many of the big holiday destinations are an excellent base for travel elsewhere in the region.
I’ve already mentioned hitting up neighboring towns for smaller, more intimate market experiences, but you can also plan a day away that has nothing to do with Christmas.
This is your trip to do as you please. If you’re visiting a region for the first time, plan it in a way that will bring you joy. If that’s a day of markets followed by a day trip to a fairytale castle or wine country, do it.
Note: Just plan ahead. Don’t assume you’ll be able to get on last-minute tours, book last-minute rentals cars, or anything else during one of the busiest travel times of the year.
Don’t force it.
Sometimes you’re just not feeling it, and that’s OK.
Our recent trip to Italy wasn’t centered around Christmas markets, but since it was the season, we decided to check one out on Piazza Santa Croce in Florence.
Despite the friendly Polish vendors that fed us enormous ham hocks and sauerkraut, we weren’t that impressed.
It didn’t feel Italian at all, and most of the tchotchkes seemed cheap and overpriced.
Since Christmas markets weren’t the purpose of our travel, we weren’t that disappointed. (Italy isn’t known for its markets, either.)
Even if we were traveling for markets, though, we wouldn’t force ourselves to hang out and spend money in a situation that we weren’t vibing with.
Life is too short for all of that, and there’s always something else to do.
Reflect on the spirit of the season.
When the Christmas market scaries start to affect the time you’re having, take a moment to remind yourself why you are where you are.
Take a moment to remind yourself why you’re visiting. Think about those intentions you set before your trip. Are you here to find unique gifts or connect with your friends? A quick pause for reflection and gratitude can help reset your mindset.
That said, be kind to yourself. It can be hard to meet super high expectations even though I do believe Christmas markets can be VERY magical.
Just keep some perspective about the fact that everyone there wants to have as good a time as you do. You’ll be just fine.
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