‘Tis the most wonderful time of the year, pack your Safari bag and plan a trip to these magical locations

Twinkling lights, the smell of hot cocoa, gingerbread houses, beautiful ornaments and a background of Christmas carols; Christmas markets are nothing but happiness gifts wrapped in reds and greens with a speckle of snow.

Come December, the world gears up to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with Christmas markets opening up across countries, each with its own unique little charm. This is a great time to pack up your Safari trolley bag and experience a new country with its Christmas traditions. Christmas markets are definitely worth a trip to a new city; they encapsulate the holiday spirit and are a fitting way to end the year. 

We give a bunch of markets that are ready to sparkle bright and celebrate a shiny Christmas in all its glory. Just remember to plan smart: pack your Safari travel bag with winter layers but be sure to leave space for souvenirs and knick-knacks you will get at the market. Also, make sure to plan a long trip; for this you will need an itinerary of multiple Christmas markets and celebrations in your chosen country along with a light but durable suitcase, like Safari’s hard luggage, to pack and travel easily.

We give you a list of some of the most loved and beautiful Christmas markets around the world that are worth a visit.

The London Escapade: a host of markets
Christmas is an extremely magical time in London. The city decks up in fairy lights and Christmas trees, shops bring out their best Christmas decor and fashion and every little church is a carol center. There are a multitude of Christmas markets in the city. Make sure you hold on to your Safari backpack while you steer through the crowds.

Christmas in Covent Garden comes with a 60ft sparkling tree, colorful lights and smaller markets within the limits of the Covent Garden. The Southbank Centre is perfect for foodies with its  seasonal food stands and winter pop-up bars. While Borough Market is an all-year-round favorite for tourists and locals alike, Christmas is a special time: the market gets a festive makeover with wreaths, tinsel and fairy lights galore along with Christmas treats like cakes and warm drinks like mulled wine. Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, each have their own little Christmas tale with tempting treats, gifts. festive tunes and a bright glittering tree.

The Charming Vienna Christmas World
Ice skating, winter sports, concerts and stunning architecture come together in Austria’s Vienna during Christmas time. Vienna’s Christmas World is a popular market, held in Rathausplatz Square. The market has over 150 stalls selling traditional gifts, tree decorations, souvenirs and toys. All the trees of City Hall Park are decorated and lit up for an absolute Christmas feel and air smells of strudels and gingerbread. There is something for everybody including kids with a carousel, ice rink, concerts and Christmas workshops.

Dresden Christmas Markets, Germany
Germany’s oldest Christmas market, Striezel market, is one of the most loved and awaited for winter moments in Dresden. While the city is famous for its sheer number of Christmas markets, this one is a hot favorite. It has a traditional Christmas pyramid, a fairytale-like castle and beautifully decorated stalls. There are a whole lot of bakers, local artists and everything that truly makes the Christmas spirit come alive. 

A Christmassy State of Mind in New York City
The perfect way to embrace the holiday spirit is spending it in New York City. A trip to New York in December means a Safari trolly bag that comes back filled with goodies.
The Rockefeller tree with its beautiful decoration and skating rink is the embodiment of Christmas in the most beautiful way ever. The city also has its host of Christmas markets: Bryant Park Winter Village is a true treat with its fairy lights, cute carousel and aisle after aisle of special stores, funnel cake and mulled wine. Union Square Holiday Market has been a long favorite with its over 25 years of history of hosting holiday markets. The red and white striped booths host local and international vendors and, if you look hard, you will also find a warming booth.

A winter wonderland in Brussels
Christmas is a grand affair in Brussels with six different sectors with different layouts and themes, all of which is celebrated for a whole 2 kms. The 17th-century Grand Place has the city’s largest Christmas tree along with light shows against the UNESCO-protected facades. While there are over 200 festive stalls selling a variety of original crafts and gifts, one part of the wonderland celebrates a different country’s Christmas culture as a part of the market. The city transforms into magic; there are live musical performances, champagne bars and this year, facades of St. Catherine’s Church and the Viage will be video-mapped to transform the buildings into moving works of art.

These are just some of the markets around the world, there are so many more! Budapest Christmas Market, Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen, Strasbourg Christmas Market and Christkindl market in Chicago are some of the other favorites.

 A pro tip while planning your Christmas vacation and market escapade is to make sure you have enough space in your travel bag to bring back goodies. Remember to carry a backpack while walking through the market so that you can stuff it with your favorite treats. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year so it’s best to travel to different parts of the world to experience its magic and bring back some home in your suitcase. Merry almost Christmas!