Nothing captures the feeling of Christmas better than exploring a beautiful Christmas market in Europe, soaking up all the sounds, smells and tastes of a beautiful town or city at the most magical time of year.
Sip mulled wine in the cold, fresh air, gaze at the technicolor Christmas lights and try incredible local fondues, chocolates and hog roasts at the French Christmas markets in Champagne or Strasbourg.
But our Christmas market breaks aren’t your bog-standard trips that take in the markets themselves and little else. We get you off the beaten track and help you dig a little deeper into the local culture and cuisine of France, by taking you to wineries owned by the same families for generations, sitting you down at the chef’s table at prestigious restaurants for world-class meals as the kitchen rushes around you, and taking you on Champagne masterclasses at the famed Champagne houses near Reims.
Of course, you’ll also get plenty of chance to soak up the atmosphere of the Christmas markets, and your local guide will make sure you discover the very best of each.
Whether it’s the artisans and distinctly German influence at the Christmas markets in Strasbourg, with picturesque wooden stalls selling handcrafted artworks and bratwurst, or the refined Christmas markets in Reims in the shadow of the beautifully lit cathedral, there’s nothing out there that simultaneously gets you in the Christmas mood and off the beaten track like a Christmas markets tour with Not In The Guidebooks.
Browse our Christmas market breaks below, and pick your magical experience to make this Christmas an unforgettable one.