Nothing says “Christmas” quite like twinkling fairy lights, mulled wine and a dusting of snow. Of course, in the Southern Hemisphere things are slightly different. Instead of snowflakes and reindeer sweaters there are sun-drenched beaches, BBQs and fiery pohutukawa trees in full bloom. But that’s not to say you can’t savour a little Christmas market magic.
Whether you want to stay close to home or hop across the pond, here’s our pick of the best Christmas markets from across the globe.
Strasbourg, France
Dazzling visitors since 1570, Strasbourg throws one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets. Today there are over 300 stalls to explore, selling everything from handcrafted decorations to spiced Alsatian wine. Don’t miss the beautifully trimmed Great Christmas Tree in Place Kleber, which towers above the cobbled streets and winding alleyways of the historic district.
Grand Christmas Market, Montreal, Canada
Drawing inspiration from Europe, Montreal’s Grand Christmas Market is new to the scene. It’s set on the Sainte Catherine Street thoroughfare and lures shoppers with charming wooden stalls selling hot apple cider, cinnamon dusted “beavertails” and a kaleidoscope of festive handicrafts.
Zagreb, Croatia
Regularly crowned “European Best Christmas Market”, the Croatian Capital knows a thing or two about how to celebrate the silly season. The event is known as Advent and sees the Jelacic Square come alive with a shimmering ice rink, pop-up bars, colourful street food stalls, live ice sculpture carvings and more.
Wellington Underground Market, NZ
While you won’t find fairy light strewn ice rinks or piping hot mulled wine, the Christmas edition of the Wellington Underground Market is a fantastic place to pick up unique gifts and stocking stuffers. It features almost 100 stalls showcasing beautiful products from local artists and designers. Think ethical clothing, handcrafted decorations, painted Christmas cards, potted succulents, merino socks, one of a kind jewellery and more. Not to mention a smorgasbord of Christmas goodies.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, New York
Held in snow-dusted Bryant Park, this long-running market is a favourite with local New Yorkers. There are unique gift stalls to browse, gingerbread to devour and a gleaming outdoor ice skating rink to admire. Basically, it’s a winter wonderland in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.
Christmas Wonderland Festive Market, Singapore
Who says Christmas has to be chilly? In sun-drenched Singapore the annual Christmas Wonderland Festive Market puts an exotic twist on the yuletide season. It’s held at the iconic Gardens by the Bay and treats visitors to carnival rides, live music and of course, a utopia of shopping. You may be in Asia, but that doesn’t stop the market from housing its stalls in adorable wooden huts.
Will you be hitting up your favourite Christmas market this year?
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