Europe’s Festive Christmas Markets via Instagram

Christmas market season is in full swing across Europe & these festive, Instagram-ableevents are seemingly everywhere. Our trip up the Danube last year to visit the Hungarian, Austrian & German Christmas markets will go down as one of the best we’ve ever taken. Added bonus: every inch of holiday festivity is just begging for a photo. Below are my favorite Instagram-able moments from our visits to the markets. But just remember when you’re visiting to put your phone down every once in a while, take a sip of glühwein & bask in the holiday season.

Oh, Vienna! What an amazing city! We had a lovely, long, COLD day in Wein today, gawking at architecture, sipping hot mulled wine (& collecting mugs!) & hopping from market to market. This is the largest, in front of the stunning city hall building. This year, they also added an ice skating rink! 🇦🇹

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 6, 2016 at 10:34am PST

Such sad news out of Berlin today. The Christmas markets are such a source of festive joy across Europe – we loved getting caught up in the holiday spirit while we were shopping. Thoughts with those who were injured & killed in today’s attack. 📸 a happier time at the Salzburg Advent Market 🇦🇹

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 19, 2016 at 2:00pm PST

I debated about continuing to post happy Christmas Market photos from our trip in light of yesterday’s events in Berlin. But after thinking about it a bit, I decided that if I stop, they win. So post I shall & I hope others do too. Christmas markets are meant to be a place for family, friendship & festive spirit. So please go to the markets & travel – & be safe doing it. ❤ 🇦🇹

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 20, 2016 at 4:16pm PST

Day 1 of the Christmas markets in Budapest has been amazing! A little overwhelming at first (especially with jet lag…), but once we got our mulled wine & chimney cake (a local delicacy of dough cooked over hot coals and dipped in a topping (we had cinnamon)) we were market hoping like pros. Can’t wait to get on @vikingcruises tomorrow! 📸 St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Old Town Market 🇭🇺

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 3, 2016 at 1:05pm PST

Gingerbread (or Lebkuchen in German) was created in Nuremberg, Germany over 600 years ago. Their Christmas market has gingerbread in every shape & size, including some beautifully decorated, like these ornament cookies. Traditional Nuremberg gingerbread is also gluten free! 🇩🇪

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 23, 2016 at 4:08am PST

The size & scale of Nuremberg’s main Christkindl Market is hard to convey in one photo. They get about 2 million visitors a year & it’s one of the oldest & largest in Germany. The day we were there, a mild, sunny Saturday afternoon, we were ill-prepared for the crowds. But instead of being overwhelming, we found great energy as we moved through the 200 or so booths. It was packed with people, but no one was pushing or shoving or rude, just happy to be there & festive. This is the view from balcony of the Church of Our Lady & shows about 1/3 of the main market. There are also several smaller markets, including a children’s market & a market featuring booths from Nuremberg’s sister cities around the world. On these last few shopping days before Christmas, wishing everyone visiting markets a safe time. 🇩🇪

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 22, 2016 at 4:32am PST

More glühwein, anyone? 😍

A post shared by Christina (@travelsips) on Dec 9, 2016 at 2:29pm PST

All is calm, all is bright. After a whirlwind week, getting back into the swing of things, digging out from email & wrapping & shipping Christmas gifts, tonight we’re going to have a few friends over to toast the holiday season. Wishing everyone a calm, peaceful Saturday night, wherever in the world you find yourself tonight. 🇦🇹

A post shared by Christina Saull (@middleseatview) on Dec 17, 2016 at 2:26pm PST

Wishing you a calm, bright, safe, joyous, Instagrammable holiday season!