Charming Christmas markets around Europe to visit 

When you think of European Christmas markets, your mind probably goes to Germanic landscapes like Cologne or Vienna and the scent of roasted chestnuts in frigid air. You might imagine yourself strolling along the stands shopping for hand-sculpted beer steins or a wooden nutcracker.

But while the traditional holiday markets have roots in Germany and Austria, you now can find them throughout the continent — where, from Brussels to Budapest, you’ll encounter celebrations with distinct national and regional flavors.

Some cities, such as Copenhagen, convert landmarks each year into wintry wonderlands. Some, like Liège in Belgium, highlight their culinary heritage, with vendors offering things such as handmade sausage or the country’s famous waffles, served straight from the press. And many towns and villages put on their own neighborhood markets, which offer an authentic, less tourist-driven window into regional holiday celebrations. Whether big or small, though, these festivals tend to attract crowds, so try to visit on weekdays.

Here are six European Christmas markets to check out.

Brussels

A 65-foot Nordmann fir in the center of the Grand Place welcomes visitors to Brussels’s holiday festival, Plaisirs d’Hiver (or Winter Wonders), a local favorite that also attracts flocks of tourists from neighboring France and the Netherlands. North from the fir, bustling chalets cover several squares, from the Bourse to Place Saint Catherine, with activities such as concerts, ice skating and even curling.

The vendors reflect the many cultures of Brussels, a city with residents reflecting more than 150 nationalities. Lovers of global cuisine can enjoy stands selling foods such as Japanese takoyaki and melted Swiss raclette cheese served on a crusty baguette.

"Our chalet not only serves pasteis de nata, but our employees mirror our city, with employees with roots from Portugal to South America," said Maxime Paran, the CEO of Forcado, a Portuguese-founded, Brussels-based business featuring pasteis de nata, a small pastry filled with egg custard. Whether you’re snacking on a pasteis de nata, shopping for Ukrainian pottery, or having a classic Belgian waffle, you can get a slice of the world at the Brussels festival, which starts in late November and continues through early January.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen, one of Europe’s most picturesque capitals, brings a storybook holiday spirit to life through its markets, which spring up even in the town squares of residential neighborhoods like Dragoer and Roedovre.

One of Copenhagen’s best-known holiday attractions is the Hans Christian Andersen Market, named, fittingly, for the famed fairy-tale author. It’s located near Nyhavn, the waterfront district that’s popular with tourists for its colorful buildings and stately boats along the canal, which are covered in garlands and lights in honor of the season. Sip on a mug of gloegg (Danish mulled wine) and snack on aebleskiver (small, fluffy pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar) as you shop vendors selling hand-knitted scarves and wooden ornaments.

Another stop that’s worth the price (entry tickets start at 180 Danish krone, around $25) is the holiday celebration at Tivoli Gardens, the theme park in the heart of the city. Tivoli offers an idyllic Christmas market experience from November to early January, with a light show inspired by "The Nutcracker," food stalls offering roasted almonds and mulled wine, and illuminated trees all around — including a magnificent one guarding the center of the park’s ice-skating rink.

Reims, France

Reims is the hub of the wine-producing Champagne region, and that identity sets apart its Christmas market, one of the largest in France. Many independent Champagne houses host stands in the city center, where visitors can sample and purchase bottles to bring back home. Larger producers are also in the scene. Head to the Veuve Clicquot tent for locally made pâtés with a glass of bubbly, then find a gourmet gift at stands stocked with Champagne from small producers, artisanal sausages and regional French cheese.

Lest you think it’s just about wine, the Reims market also features a Ferris wheel, games and train rides for kids, and a light show called Regalia at the Reims Notre Dame Cathedral, a city landmark. It’s all only about an hour via fast train from Paris.

Budapest

While Vienna, its neighbor up the Danube, may get more attention for its Christmas markets, Budapest brings its own old-world style to the season in markets across the city, which run from the end of November until the end of December. One of its main ones sets up in Vorosmarty Square, steps away from the historic Széchenyi Chain Bridge that connects the Western (Buda) and eastern (Pest) sides of the city. Bundle up there with a chimney cake cooked over an open fire and a shot of pálinka, a warming, fruity Hungarian spirit similar to schnapps.

Another market sets up a short Metro ride away, in City Park, with ice skating and goods by local artisans. Carole Rosenblat, a Budapest-based travel writer and the owner of Drop Me Anywhere Tours for Women, recommends heading to the market square of St. Stephen’s Basilica, too. "Every 30 minutes or so, an animated scene set to music is projected, transforming the front of the basilica into a set for a Christmas story," she said. The "Nutcracker" one is her favorite.

Liège, Belgium

Liège is within an hour’s drive from the Netherlands and Germany and not much farther from France, and its annual Christmas village is a masterful showcase of Belgian cuisine from late November to the end of December. Arrive hungry: The wafted scents of warm gaufre de Liège or a decadent lacquemant (a thin waffle sandwich filled with candy syrup and orange blossom) will tempt you.

But the treats are many. Chocolate lovers can sip a mug of Belgian hot chocolate as they wander the light installations throughout the city center, while those with a savory palate can try Saucisson d’Ardenne, a smoked and fermented artisan sausage crafted in the nearby Ardennes forest region. Breweries like La Chouffe and Bestiale serve up rich brown local beers, and pop-up restaurants serve full multicourse dinners. Reservations at the restaurants are a must, especially during the weekend, when visitors flock across borders for the Liégeois charm.

Maastricht, the Netherlands

The Netherlands is not known for its Christmas markets, but the holiday spirit shines brightly at the annual late-November-through-December affair in the small southern city of Maastricht, along the Belgian border. Its cozy city center with well-preserved medieval architecture makes for a rich backdrop against the wooden chalets, ice-skating rink and Ferris wheel, which offers the best view of the scenery.

Although you can drive from Maastricht to the German border in less than an hour, its market preserves its Dutch charm. The stands offer cheeses made in nearby farms of the Limburg province, warm stroopwafels and poffertjes (small pancakes) slathered with butter. Just leave room for an oliebol, a dense ancestor of the modern doughnut with rum-soaked raisins and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s a Dutch holiday-season fixture.