After having visited 25 Christmas markets in Europe in one season alone, I felt I needed to share the ones that are completely overrun by visitors from all over the world.
These are famed Christmas markets, and yes, they are beautiful, but due to the tremendous number of people, it is difficult to enjoy the setting to the fullest.
TL;DR
This includes 6 Christmas markets and cities in Europe.
Mind you, we visited most of them in November. The biggest crowds are in December, close to Christmas.
Keep in mind that most cities have more than one Christmas market, and therefore I share some fantastic alternatives that are equally great. A majority are just a stone's throw away.
We filmed walking tours of most Christmas markets, and those will serve as proof. Although I tried to film when the crowds dispersed a bit, what you see in the videos are the Christmas markets close to the major busy time.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is THE Christmas market, and if you are a fan of classic traditional Christmas markets, then you have to visit the mother of all Christmas markets.
Due to its infamous popularity, you will find yourself in a sea of people as soon as the night falls on the main square Christmas market.
If you are people-shy, avoid coming on the opening day, which is the last Friday in November, or, so to say, the Friday before the first Advent Sunday candle is lit.
The market is solemnly opened by the Christkindles, a young, golden, curly-wigged girl representing the city’s Christmas “angel”
Walking Tour Video (Opening Day)
Alternative: Once we saw everything, we escaped to the much more chill Winter Market at the White Tower in Nuremberg.
Vienna
The Vienna Christmas market has been proclaimed one of the most beautiful in the world, and Christmas in Vienna is a dream that many share on this planet.
Classic old world charm merges really well with the polished light effect that the city has put in place.
The center of it all is the Christmas market at the Rathausplatz (town hall). This market is as busy as it gets from morning until nighttime.
I still recommend making a tour through this Christmas market because the light effects are dazzling, and we haven't seen anything comparable anywhere else so far.
Alternative: The Schönbrunn Palace is chill and at a stunning location! But Vienna has over 20 Christmas markets, and some other top 5 Vienna Christmas markets are just near the Rathausplatz Christmas market.
Zürich
Zürich has two super busy and popular Christmas markets and a Christmas “tree” corner, where people flock to.
Generally speaking, the city is so overcrowded that you will have never-ending half-hour queues to the public (pay) toilets. That's as busy as it gets, especially on weekends.
The Christmas market at the Sechsenläutenplatz and the central train station market are the most attended, hands down.
The busy Christmas “tree” corner is the singing tree, which is a stage for choirs in the shape of a tree.
Alternative: The Christmas Markets in Zürich are scattered, and you will find that the market at the Münsterhof is the least busy. That said, if you are up for a day trip from Zürich, head to Winterthur. They have charming markets.
Rothenburg
Rothenburg is Germany's fairy tale poster child destination.
The buildings of the walled town are just picture-perfect, and I get it why anybody would want to travel there during Christmas.
The problem is, everybody else seems to have the same idea, and it all gets amplified with the travel bus groups that fill up the narrow streets in no time.
We barely got to see the market because it is small, and the crowds are just everywhere. The complete old town is overrun by people.
Now, we visited in November, and that was still the least busy day. I was told by some locals that the 2nd and 3rd Advent weekends tend to be the craziest in terms of number of visitors.
Alternative: To be honest, none. The town is unique, and no other setting nearby can make up for that. But I can recommend equally pretty towns nearby that host lovely Christmas markets, such as Dinkelsbühel (which is also on the Romantic Road) and Bamberg.
Munich
Munich is one of the largest cities in Central Europe, and the main city market, held on the Marienplatz, extends to all neighboring sidewalk roads.
Yet, it is hopelessly full of Christmas market revelers, and it is almost impossible to get through the masses on the main square.
The situation is slightly better just outside the main market hub. Therefore, I think it's still truly worth it to visit the famed Munich Christmas market.
Just a heads-up, another major Christmas market nearby is held in the Munich Residenz, and the small area is super crammed as well.
Walking Tour Video (Opening Day)
Alternative: The city has several smaller markets that are scattered around the city. These are not as fantastic, but they have a more relaxed atmosphere. This includes the Viktualien Christmas Market, the Pink Christmas market and the hidden Christmas market with the largest Feuerzangenbowle.
Salzburg City
We visited the Salzburg Christmas Market 10 years ago, and everything was different back then.
Probably, back in the day people hadn't discovered Christmas markets yet because in 2024, the Christmas Market at the cathedral square, is absolutely jam-packed.
My wife's cousin had actually warned us, as she had visited last year. Her words were, “It's impossible to enjoy the stalls if you can't walk freely around because there are that many visitors.”
It appears as if the city of Salzburg should probably overhaul the market and extend it further into the picturesque side streets. We would all welcome this development!
Walking Tour Video (Opening Day)
Alternative: We loved the Hellbrunn palace Christmas market, which is just outside the city.
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