Europe’s Magical Christmas Markets

Monday, December 19th, 2011 Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor

Traveling in Europe this month? Don’t miss out on “Christkindlmarkt.”

Last year I was delighted to experience one of these Old World Christmas Markets while visiting friends in Aix-en-Provence and Avignon. Open weekend nights, the rows of stalls, called “chalets”, were lit with white lights, as revelers meandered past the often hand-made crafts, sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine in the brisk air. Highly anticipated, with a feeling of fun and community, people pour into the streets once the sun sets.

Our new Mobility Story features these Old World “Christkindlmarkt” or Christmas Market. Held during Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, these magical markets can be found throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria, as well as in neighboring countries like Belgium, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the Alsace region of France. While not as rife with markets as the Germanic countries, Great Britain and Italy have their fair share as well, and usually extend the festivities another week or two into January.

Get more details about some of our favorites in Dresden, Vienna and Copenhagen. But also, we share some of our favorite Wi-Fi hotspots, to make sure that you can get connected while there.