A visit to a Christmas market is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit with its mulled wine, tasty traditional treats, pretty lights and novelty Yuletide gifts. Book a Christmas market cruise, and you can see several of these magical markets in just one holiday.
In recent years, European Christmas markets have increased massively in popularity, meaning there is a great variety to visit. So, if you’re wondering how to see Christmas markets by cruise, we’ve created a guide to help.
Read on to learn how you can explore Christmas markets by cruise and which are the best ones you can visit on your Christmas cruise holiday.
Which Christmas markets can I cruise to?
The great news about exploring European Christmas markets is that some of the best festive markets can be visited by cruise as they are located near major rivers or the coast of Northern Europe.
For example, Christmas market cruises can start in the UK, then sail via the English Channel and North Sea to take in Zeebrugge (for Bruges), Amsterdam and Hamburg. Some festive market cruises also sail further north to stop in Copenhagen, Gothenburg or Oslo.
Alternatively, Christmas market cruises can follow European rivers, such as the Rhine, and visit destinations including Cologne, Mainz, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Frankfurt and Strasbourg, or the River Danube to cruise to European Christmas markets in Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and Linz.
How to see Christmas markets by cruise
Almost all river cruise lines offer cruises to Christmas markets, usually from late November through to early in the New Year. Some ocean cruise lines have also seen the popularity of these festive market cruises and have itineraries visiting these attractions.
Leading cruise lines offering European Christmas market cruises include Ambassador Cruises, Fred. Olsen, P&O Cruises, Emerald Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Tui and Saga.
Christmas market cruise itineraries usually last around a week, but you can find some that sail for 4 or 5 days.
Which are the best Christmas market cruises?
There are plenty of options when selecting a European Christmas market cruise. So, to help you choose, we’re sharing our favourite festive markets alongside examples of Christmas market cruise itineraries that sail to them.
Budapest, Hungary
The Christmas market in Budapest is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe. When its magnificent Basilica and impressive city squares are illuminated with Christmas lights, it is just breathtaking.
‘The Advent Feast at the Basilica’ has around 120 domestic craft exhibitors. The atmosphere there is spellbinding, with spectacular light shows, musical performances, a 12-metre-high Christmas tree, and traditional gastronomic treats.
Emerald Cruises has a Budapest Christmas market cruise that travels through five countries, also stopping in Amsterdam, Rüdesheim and Bamberg.
Vienna, Austria
A city already renowned for its stunning art, architecture and culture, Vienna gets even more magical at Christmas. The traditional Christmas market, ‘Vienna Magic of Advent,’ transforms City Hall Square into a fairytale-like scene.
The surrounding trees are decorated with twinkling lights, enchanting wooden stalls sell Christmas gifts, sweets and steaming hot drinks, while the carousel delights children and adults alike.
Saga Holidays has Vienna Christmas market cruises with flights included from the UK. This Vienna festive market cruise begins in Linz and sails on the Danube, with port stops in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.
Basel, Switzerland
The Christmas market in Basel is held in its beautiful Old Town on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz and attracts around 900,000 visitors each year. It is considered one of the prettiest in Switzerland, as well as being the country’s largest.
Savour the traditional mulled wine around the impressive Christmas tree while also enjoying glorious views of the Rhine River.
Avalon Waterways offers Basel festive market cruises, sailing from Vienna on the Danube River. This Basel Christmas market cruise has stops in Nuremberg, Bamberg, Heidelberg and Frankfurt in Germany and Strasbourg in France before concluding in Basel.
Bruges, Belgium
Already home to hot chocolate and waffles, Belgium brings all the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas to host the most wonderfully romantic Christmas market.
Held in the historic market square of Grote Markt, wooden chalets are decorated with twinkling lights, selling spiced glühwein and Belgium beers, comfort food dishes and a whole range of seasonal gifts while ice skaters swish and swoop on the nearby ice rink.
P&O Cruises offers a Bruges festive market cruise, sailing from Southampton, that also includes visits to Hamburg and Rotterdam.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen offers the perfect hygge for its Christmas market visitors. This traditional Danish experience of finding comfort and warmth in cosy atmospheres sums up the feeling you’ll get when wandering one of Copenhagen’s many Christmas markets.
In Tivoli Gardens, thousands of glittering lights create a festive feel to the sixty wooden cabins, while the decorative pine branches add a Nordic charm to the Christmas atmosphere. There’s local Danish food to sample, hot drinks to take away the chill and handmade Scandi gifts to purchase for home.
Fred. Olsen Cruises have a Copenhagen Christmas market cruise that also takes in Hamburg and Bruges for more Yuletide delights. This Copenhagen festive market cruise sails from Southampton.
