Christmas Markets 2026: Dates for Cologne, Vienna, Prague and More

Most of Europe's big Christmas markets open in mid to late November 2026 and run until just before or just after Christmas. Vienna's Rathausplatz market opens on 13 November, Cologne Cathedral's on 16 November, and Prague's Old Town Square market on 28 November. Below are the dates confirmed so far for seven favourite cities, plus practical tips on paying, data and maps.

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Where an organiser has not yet published 2026 dates, we say so and give last year's dates as a guide. Always check the official site before you book.

Christmas market dates 2026 at a glance

City by city

Cologne

Cologne has several markets within walking distance of each other. The market in front of the cathedral runs from 16 November to 23 December 2026. It opens from 11am daily (10am on Saturdays) and closes at 9pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10pm Thursday to Saturday. It is closed on Sunday 22 November for Totensonntag, a German day of remembrance. Other markets include the Old Town's Heinzels Wintermärchen (23 November to 10 January), Neumarkt (16 November to 23 December), Stadtgarten (13 November to 23 December) and the Rheinauhafen harbour market (13 November to 3 January). Dates are from the koeln.de city portal.

Vienna

The Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily from 10am to 10pm, closing at 6.30pm on Christmas Eve (christkindlmarkt.at). The Eistraum ice rink beside it opens on the same day and runs until 6 January. The Schönbrunn Palace market runs from 6 November to 6 January, and Spittelberg's narrow lanes host a market from 13 November to 23 December. See the Vienna tourist board for hours.

Prague

Prague's two main markets, on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, both run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, from 10am to 10pm, according to the organiser trhypraha.cz. The Czech Republic uses the koruna (CZK), not the euro.

Budapest

The Advent market in front of St Stephen's Basilica runs from 13 November 2026 to 1 January 2027 (adventbazilika.hu). The market on Vörösmarty tér had not announced its 2026 dates when we checked. Last year it ran from 14 November to 31 December, with shorter hours on 24, 25 and 26 December. Hungary uses the forint (HUF).

Strasbourg

Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, and its markets spread across the city centre, with the historic Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie. The official site confirms opening on Friday 27 November 2026 but says the full programme is still being finalised (noel.strasbourg.eu). In 2025 the markets ran from 26 November to 24 December, so plan on a similar finish and check closer to the time.

Copenhagen

Christmas in Tivoli is listed from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Tivoli's opening hours page. Tivoli has an entry fee and its own opening hours, and it is usually closed on certain days around Christmas, so check before you go. The market along the Nyhavn waterfront usually runs from mid November until just before Christmas. 2026 dates had not been published when we checked. Denmark uses the krone (DKK).

Edinburgh

Edinburgh's Christmas in East Princes Street Gardens runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (official site). Opening hours over Christmas Day and Boxing Day differ from normal days, and Hogmanay events are ticketed separately. You won't need a travel eSIM here if you live in the UK, but visitors from abroad will.

Paying at the markets: cards, cash and deposits

• Carry some cash. Card payments are growing fast across Europe. The Bundesbank reports German card payments rose 11 per cent in 2025 (Bundesbank), but some small stalls still take cash only.
• Pay in the local currency. If a card machine offers to charge you in pounds, choose the local currency instead. The exchange rate offered at the till is usually worse.
• Mug deposits. In Germany and Austria, mulled wine usually comes in a mug with a small deposit (Pfand). Return the mug to get your deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir.
• Check your card fees. Some UK cards charge for spending abroad, so a fee-free travel card can save money over a weekend away.

Mobile data, maps and staying together

Markets are crowded, it gets dark by mid afternoon, and it is easy to lose your group. A working phone helps with:

• Maps between markets, many of which are spread across a city centre.
• Finding friends with live location sharing in WhatsApp or Find My.
• Transport apps and e-tickets for trams, trains and airport transfers.
• Translation of menus and stall signs.
• Mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, which work wherever contactless cards are accepted.

Many UK networks now charge a daily fee for roaming in Europe, so check your plan before you go. A travel eSIM is an alternative. If you are visiting more than one country, a regional plan saves buying a separate eSIM for each. For example, SimplySIM's Europe 10GB 30 Days (£15.12 on 15 October 2026) covers Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France and Denmark. For a short break in one city, see the country pages for Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France and Denmark.

Before you buy, check your phone supports eSIM and is network-unlocked using our compatibility checker. Keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts from your bank, and turn off data roaming on it.

Battery tips for cold evenings

Cold weather drains phone batteries faster. Keep your phone in an inside pocket, carry a small power bank, and download offline maps of the city centre before you leave the hotel.

Safety and emergencies

Busy markets attract pickpockets, so keep your phone and wallet in a zipped inside pocket. The emergency number 112 works free of charge across the EU (European Commission), and also in the UK alongside 999. Check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice for each country, and remember that the EU Entry/Exit System now records your fingerprints and photo on your first crossing into the Schengen area.

FAQs

When do the Christmas markets open in 2026?

Most open between 6 and 28 November 2026. Vienna's Schönbrunn market opens first on 6 November, Vienna's Rathausplatz and Budapest's Basilica market on 13 November, Cologne Cathedral on 16 November, Strasbourg on 27 November and Prague on 28 November.

Which Christmas markets stay open after Christmas?

Prague's main markets and Vienna's Schönbrunn market run until 6 January 2027. Budapest's Basilica market runs until 1 January, Tivoli and Edinburgh until 3 January, and Cologne's Old Town market until 10 January.

Are the markets open on Christmas Day?

It varies. Vienna's Rathausplatz market is open on 25 and 26 December, while Cologne's Cathedral market closes on 23 December. Check each market's official site for holiday hours.

Can I pay by card at Christmas markets?

Many stalls take contactless cards, but not all. Carry some local currency, particularly in Germany, and pay in the local currency rather than pounds when you use a card.

Do I need a travel eSIM for a Christmas market break?

You don't need one, but it can cost less than your network's daily roaming fee. A regional Europe eSIM covers several countries if you are visiting more than one market city.