Christmas Markets 2026: City Dates and Travel Guide

Europe's Christmas markets 2026 run from mid November to early January, with Nuremberg, Cologne, Vienna, Prague and Strasbourg among the main city breaks. Each city has its own dates, airport transfer and market squares. A multi country trip needs data for Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and France, and a Slashtel eSIM per country keeps maps, tickets and messages working while the home SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank codes.

Christmas market dates for 2026 by city

The 2026 season runs from mid November to early January, but each city opens and closes on its own dates, and some markets close for a single day. Check the official city site before booking travel around a specific market.

Key patterns for 2026:

• Cologne opens earliest of the five, with several markets starting on 16 November 2026.
• Vienna's Schönbrunn market runs from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
• Nuremberg and Strasbourg both run to 24 December 2026.
• Prague's Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets run to 6 January 2027.

Opening hours vary by square, so the official site for each market will confirm times on the day you plan to visit.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt runs on the Hauptmarkt from 27 November to 24 December 2026 and closes at 14:00 on 24 December. The Christkind opens it with the Prolog on the evening of 27 November from the balcony of the Frauenkirche.

Also in the city for 2026:

• The children's Christmas market (Kinderweihnacht) on Hans-Sachs-Platz, 27 November to 30 December 2026.
• The Market of the Partner Cities on Rathausplatz, 27 November to 23 December 2026.

Getting there: U-Bahn line U2 links Nuremberg Airport (NUE) with Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof in about 12 minutes. The Hauptmarkt is in the old town, a short walk from the station area. Data for Germany is on the Germany destination page.

Cologne

Cologne spreads its markets across several squares, and the cathedral market runs from 16 November to 23 December 2026 directly in front of the cathedral. It is closed on 22 November 2026, so avoid that date if the cathedral setting is the reason for the trip.

Other 2026 sites:

• Altstadt Christmas market, 23 November 2026 to 10 January 2027.
• Neumarkt Christmas market, 16 November to 23 December 2026.
• Nikolausdorf on Rudolfplatz, 16 November to 23 December 2026.

Getting there: the S19 S-Bahn links Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) with Köln Hauptbahnhof every 20 minutes in around 14 minutes. The cathedral and Hauptbahnhof sit next to each other, with the Altstadt and Neumarkt within walking distance. See the Germany eSIM page for data options.

Vienna

Vienna's Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, with the Wiener Eistraum ice rink beside it from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. The city has several other markets across the season.

2026 dates to note:

• Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market, 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
• Belvedere Christmas market, 20 November to 31 December 2026.
• Spittelberg market, 13 November to 23 December 2026.
• Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung, 14 November to 23 December 2026.

Getting there: as of 7 September 2026 the City Airport Train from Vienna Airport (VIE) was running temporarily as premium buses to the centre because of a rail line closure, and ÖBB S7 trains run between the airport and Wien St. Marx. Confirm current arrangements before you travel. Data plans are on the Austria page.

Prague

Prague's Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square both run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, open from 10:00 to 22:00. The two squares are a short walk apart, so both can be covered in one evening.

Getting there: bus 119 leaves from outside the arrivals halls at Prague Airport (PRG) for Nádraží Veleslavín, where passengers change to metro line A into the centre. Allow time for the change with luggage.

Data for the Czech Republic is on the Czech Republic page.

Strasbourg

The Strasbourg Christmas market runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026, and its historic Christkindelsmärik is on Place Broglie. The market spreads across several squares rather than one site.

Other 2026 sites include:

• The squares around the cathedral.
• Place Kléber, with the Great Tree.
• Place du Temple Neuf.
• Petite France.

Getting there: a shuttle train links Strasbourg-Entzheim airport (SXB) with Strasbourg railway station up to four times an hour in about 9 minutes. The station is on the edge of the centre, walkable to Place Broglie and the cathedral squares. Data is on the France page.

Getting between cities by train

The five cities sit on a workable rail route, with Strasbourg and Cologne in the west, Nuremberg in the middle, and Vienna and Prague to the east. Book longer legs in advance and keep tickets on the phone, since a data connection is what opens them at the barrier.

A practical order for a multi city trip:

1. Start in Cologne or Strasbourg, where markets open earliest in November.
2. Move to Nuremberg for the Christkindlesmarkt from 27 November 2026.
3. Continue to Vienna, then Prague, both running into early January.

Airport transfers are covered in each city section above. Timetables and seat reservations are confirmed by the national rail operators.

Where to stay near the markets

Staying within walking distance of the main square removes the need for late night transport in the cold, but central areas are busiest at weekends. Book early for the first weekend of December.

Areas to consider:

• Nuremberg: the old town around the Hauptmarkt, or the area near Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof for easy U2 access to the airport.
• Cologne: the cathedral and Hauptbahnhof area, the Altstadt, or Neumarkt.
• Vienna: the area around Rathausplatz, or near Wien St. Marx for the S7 airport link.
• Prague: the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square area, or Nádraží Veleslavín for the bus 119 connection.
• Strasbourg: around Place Broglie, Place Kléber and Petite France, or near the railway station.

Specific properties and availability are for booking sites to confirm.

Staying connected on a multi-country trip

A multi country market trip crosses four countries, so a Slashtel eSIM for each host country keeps maps, tickets and messages working. The eSIMs are data only: no local phone number and no calls or SMS, though WhatsApp and other internet calls work over the data.

How it works:

• Keep the home SIM in the phone for calls and bank codes, and turn off data roaming on it to avoid roaming charges.
• Buy online with an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay; the QR code arrives by email within minutes.
• Validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, so it can be bought and installed at home before the trip.
• The network is chosen automatically for the best signal and cannot be picked by hand.
• Hotspot and tethering are allowed.
• More data can be added to the same eSIM later, with no new QR code.
• The phone must be unlocked and eSIM compatible; see the compatibility guide and the install guide.

Data options by country:

• Germany: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 or 50 GB, valid 7, 15, 30 or 180 days. From $1.99.
• Austria: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 or 50 GB, valid 7, 15, 30 or 180 days. From $2.59.
• Czech Republic: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 GB, valid 7, 15 or 30 days. From $1.99.
• France: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 or 50 GB, valid 7, 15, 30 or 180 days. From $2.59.

A single plan covering several countries is on the Europe eSIM page. For calls and one time codes, read calls, texts and OTPs with a data eSIM. Estimate your usage with the data calculator. Support is on WhatsApp and email.

Money, crowds and safety

Markets take cards in many stalls but not all, so carry some local cash for small purchases. Weekends and the first week of December are the busiest, and pickpocketing rises where crowds are dense.

Practical points:

• Check each market's official site for opening hours, as they vary by square and some markets close for a day, as Cologne's cathedral market does on 22 November 2026.
• Keep bags closed and in front of you in the busiest squares.
• Entry rules for UK and US travellers are set by the authorities, not by this guide. Check the ETIAS information page and the official government site for your nationality before booking.
• Keep the home SIM active for bank codes, and use the data eSIM for everything else.

See live eSIM plans for the trip before you travel.

Sources

Event details come from the organisers and official sites below. Dates, venues and entry rules can change, so check them before you travel.

• https://www.nuernberg.de/internet/stadtportal/christkindlesmarkt.html (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.nuernberg.de/imperia/md/maerkte/dokumente/spezialmaerkte/bekanntmachung_ckm_2026.pdf (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flughafen_station (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.koeln.de/weihnachten/weihnachtsmaerkte-koeln/weihnachtsmarkt-am-koelner-dom/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.koeln.de/weihnachten/weihnachtsmaerkte-koeln/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.bahn.de/strecke/flughafen-koeln-bonn (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.wien.info/de/einkaufen-essen-trinken/maerkte/weihnachtsmaerkte-365008 (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.viennaairport.com/en/passengers/arrival_parking/city_airport_train_cat (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://trhypraha.cz/en/dates-of-markets (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.prg.aero/en/where-can-i-find-public-transport-bus-stops (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://noel.strasbourg.eu/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://rm.coe.int/getting-to-strasbourg-and-to-the-council-of-europe/168093b5a6 (checked 24 Oct 2026)