The 5 best Christmas Market Cruises in Europe

Published 1st of October 2025 | By Edwina Lonsdale

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As the festive season approaches, many northern and central European cities, towns and villages start to talk about their Christmas Markets. It sounds captivating - the epitome of Christmas in fact. We picture cobbled streets, decorated trees, sparkling lights, gently falling snow, magical music and delicious smells. Trust us, the reality is even better! These are the best Christmas Market cruises in Europe.

When do European Christmas Markets open?

The Christmas Market is a 700-year old tradition, building the excitement for Christmas itself, with wonderful food and drink, shopping for last minute presents and conjuring up the sort of Christmas we remember from fairytales and children's books. You will explore wooden stalls displaying traditional crafts with beautifully carved and painted Nativity figures, glass tree decorations, exquisite ornaments and fine contemporary gifts. Sparkling lights illuminate ancient cathedral squares and the sound of children's laughter mingles with Christmas carols.

Generally the the markets open around mid- to late-November and run until Christmas, and you will find that Christmas Market cruises operate throughout this period, with plenty of options for route and duration. Festive-themed cruises may operate outside of Christmas Market opening dates (for example many markets close on Christmas Eve, but you may be travelling over Christmas and New Year) so it is worth checking the individual Christmas Market opening dates for the dates you wish to travel.

Which Cruise Lines Operate Christmas Market Cruises?

To get into the heart of these cities, the only way is on board a European river cruise. All of our favourite river cruise lines operate a range of itineraries, including the Rhine, Moselle, Danube and Main rivers, and more. On board a luxury river cruise you can generally expect included tours and excursions to allow you to make the most of your time ashore, as well as free time to stroll the magical towns and cities at your leisure. We love the Christmas Market river cruises on board AmaWaterways, Riverside Luxury Cruises, Scenic, Tauck, and Uniworld.

Find a European Christmas Market River Cruise

Best European Christmas Market Cruises

1. Christmas Market Cruises in Belgium

The holiday season in foodie destination Belgium is something truly special. Visit such gems as Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp - always captivating but made even more special by the markets, as well as ice-skating rinks, light displays, Ferris wheels and more. Enjoy the Belgian favourites: chocolates, chips and mayonnaise, and fruit beer, adding in seasonal specials, such as vin chaud, hot chocolate, waffles and spiced gingerbread.

Uniworld River Cruises offers a 'Belgian Holiday Markets' itinerary in December offering the opportunity to visit festive markets in Ghent or Bruges; Belgium's largest Christmas Market in Brussels; and Liège Christmas Market which is Belgium's oldest, returning each day to your river ship dressed for the holiday season.

A festive stall at Bruges' Christmas Market

2. Christmas Along the Main and Danube

The Nuremberg Christmas Market is one of Germany's most famous, opened by the Christkind 'the Christchild', traditionally represented by a young woman with golden curls, a spiky crown and a flowing gold and white dress, who opens the market with these words: "Welcome, young and old, to my little community of wood and cloth."

You'll have a chance to visit Nuremberg's Christmas Market on Tauck's 'Christmas Markets Along the Danube' voyage, featuring a morning sightseeing tour followed by free time to enjoy the delights of the market - including Bavarian crafts, glühwein, lebkuchen and more. Medieval Regensburg is also a sight to behold at Christmas, and with Tauck you will enjoy a visit to the Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram which houses its very own Christmas Market in the inner courtyard.

A square in Nuremberg filled with Christmas Market stalls

3. Christmas Markets in the Heart of the Danube

On a classic Danube journey between Budapest and Vienna or Passau, you will enjoy a whole variety of takes on 'the Christmas market' in Europe's iconic capitals. Budapest has celebrated Christmas since the reign of St. Stephen, the Christian king who founded Hungary, and there are traditional foods, including kürtos kalács (a pastry). In Bratislava, traditional Slovakian Christmas items include medovníky (spiced ginger cookies) and šúpolie (figurines made from corn husks). Finally in beautiful Vienna, a whole variety of markets fill the squares from the traditional "Vienna Magic of Advent", in the City Hall Square to the cultural and Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace.

AmaWaterways' 'Christmas Markets on the Danube' itinerary ticks off all three iconic capitals as well as a day in Linz to either discover the city's charming Christmas Market; enjoy a full day in romantic Salzburg with a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town and a visit to the market; or visit Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic, which hosts its Christmas Market in the picturesque town square. A similar voyage can also be enjoyed on the double-width AmaMagna, offering plenty of space and choice on board.

Festive lights at one of Vienna's Christmas Markets

4. Christmas River Cruises in Switzerland and the Lower Rhine

Sail from Basel, Switzerland's largest and most beautiful Christmas city, with its lovely Old Town, where nearly a hundred tall pine trees border the streets. The Christmas Market can be found on Barfüsserplatz and on Münsterplatz, where there is a magnificent Christmas tree.

Then, in Strasbourg visit a market dating back to 1570, one of the oldest in Europe. The streets, houses, windows and balconies twinkle with lights and decorations, competing every year to be even more original. A thirty-metre Christmas tree stands in Place Kleber, the tallest decorated Christmas tree in Europe - and you must try the little Christmas biscuits called bredle.

Scenic offer a lovely option in 2026, 'Rhine Christmas Markets with Switzerland', sailing between Basel and Amsterdam and featuring a Switzerland land extension. Your tour begins in Zurich with the opportunity to visit the Christmas Markets in Basel, Montreux, and Lucerne, before joining your Scenic Space Ship for your Rhine River cruise.

5. Classic Rhine Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets in Cologne are amongst the most beautiful in Germany. In this festively decorated "Cathedral City", make sure you don't stop at just one market - there are a whole range, each with its own theme, with arts and crafts from all over Europe, high-quality goods, culinary delights and captivating entertainment programmes. Visit the various city quarters (called "Veedel" in Cologne) for smaller neighbourhood markets.

Your cruise along this stretch of the Rhine will give you access to magical market spots, such as romantic Heidelberg and historic Rüdesheim, where you can sample famous Rüdesheimer coffee made with locally distilled Asbach Uralt brandy. Riverside Luxury Cruises offers some lovely options, such as the 'Yule Time on the Rhine' itinerary operating in 2025 offering the opportunity to visit the Christmas Markets in Cologne, Mainz, Düsseldorf, and Rüdesheim. Riverside also offers some shorter 3- and 4- night itineraries if you're looking for a quick getaway.

Meet the Author

Edwina Lonsdale is Managing Director and together with husband Matthew, owner of Mundy Cruising. Most recently she's cruised on Windstar and has also sailed with Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, SeaDream, Ponant, AmaWaterways and Aqua Expeditions. Her favourite destination is the Galapagos however she's also enjoyed cruises in the Mediterranean, Danube, Middle East, East Africa & Indian Ocean, Brahmaputra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Mekong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Caribbean and the Arctic. When she’s not travelling she loves reading, food and wine.

More about Edwina

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