Every winter, Europe's old town squares fill up with wooden huts, choirs, and the smell of roasted almonds. Some of the best are just around the corner from a Bob W, so we've picked our favourites, with this year's dates.

Whether you're after the classic, the biggest, or something a little different, there's a market for you. Pick one, make a weekend of it, and stay with us nearby.

Day1

Best for the classic

Vienna

When

13 Nov–26 Dec

Where

Rathausplatz

Entry

Free

The tree comes from a different Austrian town every year. The Glühwein is always local.

This is the market everyone pictures: a glowing arch, a carousel, and City Hall lit up behind it, daily from 10:00 to 22:00. The Eistraum ice rink sets up alongside and stays until 6 January.

★ Don't miss: the market at Schönbrunn Palace, for a daytime visit. It opens on 6 November and runs until 6 January 2027.

Your Bob in Vienna

Bob W Vienna Döbling

A quieter base by the vineyards, a short ride from the centre.

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Day2

Best for old traditions

Munich

When

20 Nov–24 Dec

Where

Marienplatz

Entry

Free

Half the old town is angels and nativity figures. The other half, for one night, is Krampus.

Munich's original market, with roots in the 14th century, opens a little earlier than usual this year (closed on 22 November). Come for the nativity market, first mentioned in 1757 and the largest of its kind in Germany.

★ Don't miss: the Krampuslauf, when around 300 Krampus figures and Perchten parade through the old town.

Your Bob in Munich

Bob W Munich Old Town

Cobbled streets, with Marienplatz within walking distance.

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Day3

45 m

of Christmas tree

Best for going big

Dortmund

When

19 Nov–30 Dec

Where

Hansaplatz

Entry

Free

A 45-metre Christmas tree. Dortmund doesn't do subtle.

More than 250 stalls spread through the city centre, and they all lead back to one very large tree.

★ Don't miss: Dortmunder Reibekuchen, the city's potato fritters, best eaten standing up by the tree.

Your Bob in Dortmund

Bob W Dortmund Stadtmitte

In the city centre, a short walk from the tree.

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Day4

Best for plenty of choice

Berlin

When

23 Nov–31 Dec

Where

Gendarmenmarkt

Entry

About €2

Two domes, one square, and the only €2 you'll be glad to spend.

Berlin has dozens of Christmas markets. WeihnachtsZauber is the grand one, set between the French and German cathedrals, and it stays open for New Year's Eve.

★ Don't miss: the market at Charlottenburg Palace (23 Nov–27 Dec, closed 24 Dec) for baroque views, or the winter market at the Humboldt Forum, open until 3 January.

Your Bob in Berlin

Bob W Berlin Mitte

Central, close to Museum Island and the markets of Mitte.

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Day5

Best for history (and marzipan)

Lübeck

When

23 Nov–30 Dec

Where

The Old Town

Entry

Free

Christmas markets since 1648. They've had time to get it right.

The Christmas City of the North spreads its markets across the old town. Start at the Rathaus, then wander to the historic market at St Mary's Church, where craftspeople show off skills that have almost disappeared.

★ Don't miss: the maritime market on Koberg, in the old seafarers' quarter. And some Lübeck marzipan to take home.

Your Bob in Lübeck

Bob W Lübeck Old Town

Maritime charm and a medieval mood, a walk from the markets.

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Day6

Best for fairy lights

Copenhagen

When

13 Nov–3 Jan

Where

Tivoli Gardens

Entry

Ticketed

Tivoli at Christmas – the whole city's fairy lights, in one garden.

Tivoli's Christmas season fills the gardens with lights, rides, and market stalls, and it runs into the new year.

★ Don't miss: the free market on City Hall Square, 11–20 December. The Højbro Plads market isn't running this year.

Your Bob in Copenhagen

Bob W Copenhagen Østerbro

A former chocolate factory, once home to Anthon Berg marzipan.

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Day7

Best for something a little different

Stockholm

When

Fri–Sun, 27 Nov–20 Dec

Where

Skansen

Entry

About 250 SEK

A Swedish Christmas, with old farmhouses for a backdrop.

Skansen on Djurgården opened in 1891 as the world's first open-air museum. At Christmas, its market fills Bollnäs Square with glögg, roasted almonds, and painted Dala horses, and your ticket covers the Nordic zoo too, reindeer included.

★ Don't miss: the free market on Stortorget in Gamla stan, expected to run from 21 November to 23 December.

Your Bob in Stockholm

Bob W Stockholm Gamla Stan

In the old town, a few steps from Stortorget.

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Day8

Best for a true Finnish Christmas

Turku

When

Weekends, 21 Nov–13 Dec

Where

Old Great Square

Entry

Free

Finland's Christmas starts here, officially, at noon on 24 December.

Finland's official Christmas City keeps its market to four weekends (21–22 Nov, 28–29 Nov, 5–6 Dec, and 12–13 Dec), from 11:00 to 17:00. Plan around one and make a weekend of it.

★ Don't miss: Christmas Eve at noon, when the Declaration of Christmas Peace is read from the balcony of Brinkkala House. It's a 700-year-old tradition.

Your Bob in Turku

Bob W Turku City Centre

In the heart of Finland's oldest city.

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Day9

Best for local food

Helsinki

When

27 Nov–22 Dec

Where

Senate Square

Entry

Free

Mostly vegetarian, very local, and a carousel in the middle.

Tuomaan Markkinat is Helsinki's oldest outdoor Christmas market, with the cathedral looking down on the stalls and the carousel spinning at the centre of it all.

★ Don't miss: the food. Most of it is vegetarian and comes from local producers, so come hungry.

Your Bob in Helsinki

Bob W Helsinki City Centre

Helsinki at full volume, a short walk from Senate Square.

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Day10

1441

the year the first tree went up

Best for a fairytale old town

Tallinn

When

20 Nov–6 Jan

Where

Town Hall Square

Entry

Free

The tree has stood on this square since 1441. The pharmacy next to it is even older.

A medieval square, a tree with history, and one of the few markets still open after Christmas, so it's a good one for the days between Christmas and New Year.

★ Don't miss: a cup of glögi, then the Town Hall Pharmacy on the square. It's been open since 1422 and is the oldest working pharmacy in Europe.

Your Bob in Tallinn

Bob W Tallinn City Centre – Ambassador

Between the Old Town and the city centre.

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