Inspired Christmas Markets

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The experience of a luxury river cruise should transcend snapshots. It should awaken your senses and envelop your heart in a warm embrace. It’s the authenticity of sipping a decadent Rüdesheimer coffee in the very city where the iconic beverage was born. It’s waking up each morning to another spectacular hilltop castle around the river bend. It’s the distant sounds of carolers singing joyous tunes, the taste of a delicate yet rich Sacher Torte, lovingly hand-crafted by and expert chef. It’s immersive, transformative, and unforgettable.

Each year, timeless traditions spring to life at European Christmas Markets, where thousands of twinkling lights, immense tinsel-clad trees, and charming booths brimming with traditional handicrafts adorn historic town squares. With unique itineraries along the Rhine and Danube rivers, cruise lines sail to the best of these holiday fairs. On board, decks are filled with boughs of holly, the staff with good cheer, as guests indulge in exquisite feasts, toast the new year, and playfully engage in customs that rekindle memories long since passed.

Christmas Markets are a time-honored tradition throughout Europe. Widely popular in Germany, Christmas Markets are found elsewhere, including in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (to name a few!)

Budapest, Hungary

The Budapest Christmas Market is Hungary’s largest, overtaking the cobblestone of Vörösmarty Square. Its strict “handcrafted-only” policy makes it the ideal shopping spot for one-of-a-kind gifts.

Vienna, Austria

Situated in front of Vienna’s impressive 19th-century town hall, Christkindlmarket boasts awe-inspiring decorations that illuminate the city, as well as festive choir music and more than 150 vendor stalls.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg—the self-proclaimed “Capital of Christmas,”—has the oldest, largest, and most famous Christmas Market in France, the Marchés de Noël, chock-full of storks, a cherished icon of the city.

Nuremberg, Germany

One of the largest and most popular in all of Europe, Nuremberg’s 400-year-old Christmas Market offers live music, distinctive hand-crafted souvenirs, a nostalgic carousel, and a children’s steam train.

Regensburg, Germany

With its fairytale-like turret, the 18th century Thurn und Taxis palace is the backdrop of Bavaria’s most romantic Christmas Market. Fresh dumplings in vanilla sauce are a not-to-be-missed seasonal specialty.

Cologne, Germany

Mouthwatering pan-fried reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with applesauce—is a specialty at Cologne’s Christmas Market, twinkling in  the shadow of the city’s elaborate landmark cathedral.

Whether you sail along the Danube or the Rhine, you’ll be tempted by the enticing aromas of cinnamon and fir trees shortly after stepping off the ship. In glittering medieval squares and amid iconic cathedrals, a seemingly never-ending array of kaleidoscopic artisan stalls showcase one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers and colorful souvenirs.

Glühwein is a drink of hot spiced wine that has been served for centuries. It is poured into a distinctive souvenir mug—a unique design for each market—making the experience unforgettable with an interesting gift for everyone on your Christmas list. Lebkuchen is a short and chewy gingerbread, often shaped into large hearts. This treat is a staple of Germany’s Christmas Markets.

In Nuremberg, look for the Nuremberg Plum People. Only found in this German village, these folksy figurines made from dried prunes make whimsical gifts. And of course, the holiday season would not be completed without a traditional, hand-painted wooden nutcracker. Nutcrackers are a cherished item at many markets, each one more unique than the first.

Most Christmas markets open during the last week of November until approximately December 22. Christmas Markets itineraries—both cruise and land options—sell out rapidly, as this European experience is both a once-in-a-lifetime journey that quickly becomes a family holiday tradition.

Adapted from AmaWaterways