If you sip glhwein, peruse endless stalls of holiday wares and look at thousands of twinkling fairy lights, you will feel like you are in your own winter paradise.
The markets were canceled due to the swine flu. Most markets are operating as usual this year.
Christmas markets have been popular in Europe for hundreds of years.
The best way to escape the cold is to experience the sparkling lights, smell of traditional foods and holiday cheer. Travelers can take advantage of fall or winter flight deals or off-peak award redemptions when markets start in November and run through the holidays.
There are tips on how to get to the best Christmas markets in Europe.
The biggest Christmas market in Vienna is located in the famous City Hall Square. Children will love the reindeer train, Ferris wheel and carousel. Expect to see more eco-friendly products and materials this year.
Are you planning a winter visit in the near future? You can rent skates at Vienna Ice World in City Hall Square and glide around the 96,000- square-foot rink.
The Park Hyatt Vienna has high ceilings, an indoor swimming pool, and suites with chandeliers and marble bathroom. Winter rates start at 456 euros and can go as high as 42,000 Hyatt points per night.
Austrian Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance. You should be able to get a seat at a good valuation if you have miles on any of the partner airlines. New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport is one of the airports that Austrian flies from. British Airways, Austrian and Wizz Air all fly nonstop between London's LHR and the other European cities.
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Germany is one of the most well-known countries for Christmas markets. We couldn't choose just one, so here are some of the best.
There are more than 200 hand painted art pieces by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach in the hotel. You can get a rate as low as 260 euros per night.
Several U.S. airports, including major hubs like New York (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago O' Hare (ORD), as well as smaller airports, such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport (C), offer direct flights to Germany.
One of the most popular fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S. is between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Germany's Frankfurt Airport. Business-class awards on this route cost 81,000 miles per route. Transferring points from other points programs to KrisFlyer is possible.
Strasbourg's Christkindelsmrik, near the city's cathedral, is one of France's most popular holiday destinations for sipping mulled wine and sampling French winter treats.
The capital of christmas is the city Strasbourg has a huge Christmas tree, millions of twinkling lights, and an ice rink.
One of the newest hotels in the city is the Aloft Strasbourg. The hotel is close to the Christmas market. You can get a rate of 96 euros or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
You can't fly nonstop from the US to Strasbourg. Go ahead and check out the Christmas market at the airport. You can take a train from Paris to the other side of the world.
You can sample Baltic holiday cuisine like black pudding and gingerbread at the Christmas market.
The setting is stunning, with historic buildings surrounding stalls selling Christmas goods and decorations and an enormous tree as a centerpiece.
There will be two carousels for the little ones and a double-decker holiday bus.
The Radisson Blu Sky Hotel is a short walk away from the town square and can be seen from the outdoor terrace. The rates start at 96 euros and go up to 44,000 points a night.
You can connect easily to hubs such as Warsaw and Istanbul if you want to fly on over. It takes about three and a half hours to get from the U.S. to the HEL. Low-cost airlines like Air Baltic and Wizz Air can be found in London.
The Winter Wonders market is the largest and most impressive in Belgium and is located in the city center.
You can take a ride on the ice rink, ride the Ferris wheel or see Santa. The Christmas show at the market is an innovative way to enjoy the holiday season.
Budget travelers can stay at the Holiday Inn Express Grand Palace for as low as 133 euros or 27,000 I hg points per night, which includes breakfast.
New York-JFK and Washington, D.C. are some of the Star Alliance hub airports. One-way redemptions include Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer. Combining a trip to Brussels with other European cities would be a great idea. Passengers can stay from one to five nights in Belgium for free.
You can fly from the US to London on British Airways. It takes just over two hours to take the Eurostar train between London and Belgium. Each way, the rates are as low as 347 dollars.
It is difficult to decide between the Old Town Square market or the Wenceslas Square market. It is easy to visit both since they are 10 minutes from each other.
The market is near the castle. Old Town Square has live animals like sheep and donkeys for children to pet, unlike the markets where similar items are sold.
Old Town is a 10-minute walk from Old Town Square and offers modern comforts and renovated guest rooms. The room rate is either 141 euros or 33,000 points.
You can find great deals on flights from the U.S. to the Czech Republic with LOT Polish Airlines. You can find cheap fares from Chicago O'Hare, Miami International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Many airlines fly to the Czech Republic from European hubs, which is a great way to travel during the winter. Even though British Airways has a direct route to the Czech Republic capital, it is easy to get there via low-cost carriers.
Make sure to brush up on the rules before you travel to Europe.
Zagreb has been voted Europe's best Christmas market many times. The entire city is adorned with Christmas decorations. You can sample hot trukle, a pastry with melted cheese or medenjaci cookies, at the Zrinjevac Park Christmas market, which runs from November 26 to January 7.
The Nativity scene is in front of Zagreb Cathedral. The King Tomislav Square ice rink and carousel are great places to end the night.
The Westin Zagreb is a great place to stay if you want a quiet space to relax and still be close to the Christmas cheer. The Marriott Bonvoy points rate is 15,00 a night.
It will take you more than one flight to get to Zagreb.
You'll need to stop in London, Istanbul, or Frankfurt first on your way to Zagreb. Both British Airways and Croatia Airlines offer flights between London Heathrow and Zagreb.
There are over 160 snow covered wooden stalls at the Christmas market. The traditional delights of waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette are nicely complemented by a steaming mug of glhwein.
The best of Swiss culture can be found at the new Marriott in the city. The rates start at 169 Swiss Francs and go up to 27,000 Bonvoy points.
It takes a stop in Europe to get to BSL from the U.S. It's a short drive from both Switzerland and Germany to get to the airport in France, which is ideal for visiting three countries in one trip. You can book a complete ticket on the Swiss website if you fly Swiss International Airlines toZURICH and then hop on a Swiss Federal Railways train to BASEL.
The easiest way to get to Basel from the U.K. is via London. British Airways and EasyJet can be flown from London airports.
Christmas markets feature local gastronomy, mulled wine, ice skating and holiday decorations. It has been two years since many of Europe's most popular markets were closed.
Check to see if your destination has a market before you book. There are versions of these markets in many cities.
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