Jan-2026
Central Europe Christmas Markets Itinerary (by Train)
We’ve always visited Europe during the warmer months, but have been jotting down itinerary ideas to experience Europe’s Christmas markets for years. This year, we experienced our very first Christmas in Europe!
There are many countries with Christmas markets these days, but Germany is where it all began. With this in mind, we decided to start our journey there and stick to traveling by train through Central Europe. (Tip: keep in mind that when planning your own trip, most Christmas markets close by Christmas Day—if not before. I designed this specific itinerary because some of these cities’ markets stayed open into January.)
NÜRNBERG, GERMANY
We kicked off our three-country European Christmas Markets by Train trip in Nürnberg, Germany! We flew into Frankfurt and took the train to Nürnberg, but München is also a great place to start. The Nürnberg Christmas Market is one of the oldest, dating back to 1530, and truly a magical Bavarian experience. The historic city is famous for the Imperial Castle, a stronghold of the Holy Roman Emperors during the Middle Ages. But a darker past lingers here as the Nazi Party rally center, and the site of the Nürnberg Trials post-WWII. It was nice to break up our Christmas Market visits with a little local history.
What we did:
• Christkindlesmarkts (during the day and evening)
• Drinking Glühwein!
• Imperial Castle of Nürnberg
• Justizpalast Nürnberg (WWII Nürnberg Trials)
REGENSBURG, GERMANY
Along the banks of the Danube lies another medieval cultural hub— the UNESCO World Heritage city of Regensburg. Wandering the cobblestone streets, admiring the Gothic and Baroque grandeur, and marveling at Roman foundations by day. Then, take in the enchanting fairy-tale Christmas markets and Bavarian holiday cheer by night. The highlight was the evening Christmas market at the castle.
What we did:
• Christkindlesmarkts (during the day and evening)
• Drinking Glühwein!
• Lunch at historic Wurstkuchl (the world’s oldest continuously operating sausage restaurant. It has served charcoal-grilled sausages to dockworkers and stone bridge builders since 1146.)
• Steinerne Brücke
• Stadtamhof
• Romantischen Weihnachtsmarkt auf Schloss Thurn und Taxis (Keep your eye out for Princess Gloria of Thurn und Taxis and her family, as they are known to frequently visit and stroll among the guests.)
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
I’ve been to Vienna in the spring, but seeing this festive city draped in twinkling lights in winter was extraordinary. We had a busy few days exploring Vienna’s historic old town, sipping the variety of Glühwein, browsing the Christmas market stalls, admiring the Habsburg jewels, watching the morning training at the Vienna Spanish Riding School, and ending our stay celebrating Christmas Day at the grand Schönbrunn Palace. The highlight was snow on Christmas Eve!
What we did:
• Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt
• Drinking Glühwein!
• Vienna’s Innere Stadt
• Hofburg Imperial Treasury
• Morning training at the Vienna Spanish Riding School (no pictures allowed during training)
• Schönbrunn Palace + Christkindlesmarkt on Christmas Day
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
We arrived in Prague, our final destination, on our Central European Christmas Markets Trip by Train. It was a new country for all of us, so I built in extra days to explore the city deeper. With five nights here, we saw many attractions during the day and enjoyed the Christmas markets in the chilly evenings. Storied churches, narrow streets, a daunting hilltop castle, and statue-lined bridges create the most beautiful winter fairy tale here. It’s truly a magical city, and I’m glad we had more time to slow down and take in the panoramic views of the festive city. (full blog post coming soon!)
What we did:
• Old Town Square Christmas Market
• Na Kampě Square Christmas Market
• Astronomical Clock + Tower
• Charles Bridge Museum
• Story of Prague Museum
• Vltava River Cruise (day and evening)
• Lesser Town Bridge Tower
• Prague Castle + Golden Lane
• Old Royal Palace
• St. George’s Basilica
• Strahov Monastery Brewery
• Museum of Communism
• National Museum
• The Old-New Synagogue
Hope this itinerary helps you plan your own European Christmas Markets Trip! Let me know if you have any questions about traveling by train or planning your own trip. I hope to have a full itinerary up on my Etsy site later this year.
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