There’s nothing quite like a Christmas market to put you in the mood for all things Yuletide: the twinkling of fairy lights, the aroma of mulled wine and roasting hazelnuts, and the distinctly festive air of excitement. In Europe alone, there are thousands of Christmas markets you can explore, ranging from smaller destinations like Montbéliard and Esslingen to historic favourites like Strasbourg and Dresden (click here to read about some of our favourites).
However, you don’t have to be in Europe to experience the magic of a Christmas market. From the snowy wonderland of Canada’s Rocky Mountains to the vibrant waterfront of Hong Kong, we’ve created a merry selection of our favourite Christmas markets around the world.
Christmas in Canada is a truly enchanting experience, and the alpine resort town of Banff, with its breathtaking setting in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, is one of our favourite destinations to experience Christmas, Canadian-style. We’re talking true winter wonderland, where you can walk through snowy streets lined with twinkling lights to reach Banff Heritage Train Station, which is rebranded for the festive season as North Pole Station.
It’s here that you’ll find Banff Christmas Market, packed with more than 175 artisan vendors offering everything from woollen mittens to peppermint schnapps. There’s live music and an outdoor fire lounge to ensure your Christmas spirit is fully charged, and you can add a little extra magic to your visit by booking a lantern-lit sleigh ride. The market is open from 10am daily, and tickets are required for entry.
Thanks to the numerous holiday movies in which New York plays a starring role, spending Christmas in New York may have you feeling like you’ve walked onto a film set when you take a carriage ride through a snow-clad Central Park or browse the stalls at Union Square Holiday Market.
The market is the largest and longest-running of New York’s famous Christmas markets, and it’s open daily from mid-November until Christmas Eve. You can browse for artisan gifts for the family back home while feasting on chocolate-covered strawberries, then head uptown along iconic 5th Avenue to join the ice skaters at the Rockefeller Center.
If you dream of experiencing the wonder of a European Christmas market, but infused with more than a little Midwest hospitality, Chicago might be the perfect destination for you. The city’s festive centrepiece is its Christkindlmarket, which is inspired by traditional German markets like Heidelberg and Dresden, with timber market stalls selling handcrafted gifts and authentic German culinary delights like freshly baked pretzels and bratwurst.
Be sure to pick up a souvenir ceramic mug, ideally filled with steaming, aromatic glühwein – it’s a local tradition that serves as a fabulous memento of Christmas in the Windy City. The market is open daily until Christmas Eve, and along with the main location at Daley Plaza in the heart of the Chicago Loop, you can visit its sister sites at Wrigleyville and Aurora.
You won’t find any snow in Cusco during December, but you will still find plenty of Christmas joy, especially on Christmas Eve when the city’s Main Square, the Plaza de Armas, transforms for the traditional Santurantikuy handicraft fair. The market, which has been running for well over a century, is so much more than a Christmas market – it’s a celebration of Andean culture and heritage.
You’ll find everything you need to create the perfect Nativity scene, much of it with a unique, Peruvian twist. The shepherds may be dressed in authentic Andean clothing, while llamas and alpacas join the usual hand-carved sheep and cows. You’ll also find a vast array of clothing, toys, puppets, lamps and leatherwork, much of it handcrafted according to local designs and traditions.
Don’t let the tropical setting put you off – what Singapore lacks in wintry weather, it more than makes up for with sheer spectacle. During December, the entire city, from Orchard Road to Clark Quay, transforms into a glittering wonderland of elaborate light displays and Christmas decorations, and Togetherland by World Christmas Market, which is located on the waterfront at Marina Bay Sands, is described as Singapore’s ‘biggest and most immersive Christmas market experience’.
Whether you’re shopping for gifts, taking part in a crafts workshop, or enjoying the festive fun of a live, Broadway-style stage show, there are endless reasons to get excited about all things Christmas. Be sure to allow time to explore neighbouring Gardens by the Bay, where you’ll find stunning light displays, singing reindeer and even a touch of snow, all while Santa’s magic sleigh soars overhead.
If we had to name two things that Hong Kong does better than almost anywhere else in the world, it would be light shows and markets, and these reach a whole new level of amazing at Christmas time. The city skyline’s famous light show is complemented by the sparkling sights in and around Statue Square Gardens, which together make up ‘Winter Wonderland in Central.’
A dazzling, 20-metre Christmas tree overlooks over the festivities at Christmas Town, where you can watch an immersive 3D show light up eight of the surrounding buildings. You can browse the traditional, German-style chalets for gifts, handcrafts and tasty treats, then take a stroll along Chater Road, which transforms into Starlight Boulevard for the holiday season, to reach the incredible, interactive holiday installation at LANDMARK (one of Hong Kong’s most impressive shopping destinations).
These wonderful Christmas markets are just a taste of the incredible options on offer around the world. If you’re feeling inspired to add an international twist to your Christmas celebrations, why not give your personal travel elf a call.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
