The holiday season is fast approaching, and there’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by visiting a traditional Christmas market While some may opt to drive or fly to their desired destination, taking the train can offer a unique and stress-free way to travel With its scenic routes, comfortable seating, and lack of traffic, traveling by train allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey to some of the best Christmas markets in Europe Here are some of the top Christmas markets that can be easily reached by train.
1 Strasbourg, France
Known as the “Capital of Christmas,” Strasbourg is home to one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in Europe The market’s centerpiece is the stunning Cathedral Notre-Dame, which serves as a backdrop to the numerous stalls selling crafts, ornaments, and traditional Alsatian treats To reach Strasbourg by train, you can take the TGV from Paris, with a journey time of around 2 hours and 20 minutes.
2 Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt is one of the most enchanting Christmas markets in the world, with its imperial backdrop and fairy-tale atmosphere Located in front of the City Hall, this market features over 150 stalls selling everything from handmade crafts to delicious Viennese pastries Traveling to Vienna by train is easy, with direct connections available from cities such as Munich, Budapest, and Prague.
3 Cologne, Germany
Cologne is home to not one, but seven different Christmas markets, each with its own unique charm and character From the traditional market at the foot of the Cathedral to the floating market on the Rhine, there is something for everyone to enjoy To reach Cologne by train, you can take a high-speed service from cities such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Brussels.
4 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels’ Winter Wonders market transforms the Belgian capital into a winter wonderland, with its ice rink, ferris wheel, and light displays In addition to the market stalls selling gifts and decorations, visitors can also enjoy a wide range of food and drink options, including traditional Belgian waffles and hot chocolate best christmas markets by train. Traveling to Brussels by train is easy, with direct connections available from cities such as Paris, London, and Amsterdam.
5 Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich’s Christmas market is one of the largest in Switzerland, attracting visitors from near and far with its festive atmosphere and stunning backdrop of Lake Zurich and the Alps The market is located in the city’s Old Town, where visitors can browse stalls selling handcrafted gifts, decorations, and seasonal treats To reach Zurich by train, you can take a direct service from cities such as Geneva, Bern, or Milan.
6 Budapest, Hungary
Budapest’s Christmas market is set against the backdrop of the city’s historic buildings, including the stunning St Stephen’s Basilica The market features a wide range of traditional Hungarian crafts, food, and drink, as well as live music and entertainment Traveling to Budapest by train is easy, with direct connections available from cities such as Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava.
7 Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh’s Christmas market is a festive extravaganza, with its iconic backdrop of the city’s historic buildings and monuments, including Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument The market features a wide range of stalls selling gifts, decorations, and traditional Scottish treats, as well as an ice rink, a ferris wheel, and a Christmas tree maze To reach Edinburgh by train, you can take a direct service from cities such as London, Manchester, or Glasgow.
Traveling by train to these Christmas markets not only adds to the festive experience but also allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey without the stress of traffic or parking So why not hop aboard the festive express this holiday season and explore some of the best Christmas markets in Europe? It’s a magical way to get into the Christmas spirit and create lasting memories with friends and family