Top 10 Cruise Destinations For Christmas Markets
If you head away in the run up to the 25th of December, you can do some last minute shopping and take advantage of the different shops on offer and perhaps find an extra special present to take back with you.
Once you have finished visiting the shops, you often find that Xmas markets have lots of locally produced crafts, food and drink products that make for unique gifts or an ideal stocking filler.
One of the great attributes of heading to Christmas markets is the incredible food and drink on offer and the chance to take in the family friendly atmosphere on offer and whilst a day out in the United Kingdom to visit a nearby market is always great fun, why not visit multiple markets, in multiple locations and even in a number of different countries?
If that sounds like too much riving or travelling for you, don’t worry, you can sit back, relax, and have a stress free time whilst visiting top Christmas market after top Christmas market and that is by taking advantage of the numerous Xmas market themed cruises on offer or by simply choosing a cruise in November or December that takes in top destinations that feature Christmas markets.
As ever, our top 10 list below takes into account the choice of cruise lines and ships that visit each place, how easy it is to visit from the UK and of course for this list it takes into account the quality of Christmas markets on offer.
Our Top 10 Cruise Destinations For Christmas Markets
Hamburg, Germany
When it comes to Christmas and the tradition of going to a themed market, we all have Germany to thank for that so it is only fitting that the country is still the go to destination for a Xmas market and it is also only fitting that a top German cruise destination sits atop of this list.
The city of Hamburg can easily be reached on a cruise from the United Kingdom, with a number of lines doing Christmas themed getaways that call into the port- with some even overnighting so you can enjoy a day exploring the city and then a visit to the market when night falls and the decorations can be enjoyed at their best.
There are around 30 markets to be enjoyed in Hamburg, with the one based in St Pauli always a great experience.
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a fairy-tale city any time of the year and is a great place to indulge in some shopping but at Christmas it comes alive and is a simply must visit destination.
Easily reached from the nearby port of Zeebrugge, the Belgian city is known for its lace and chocolate shops that can great for for some great stocking filler gifts before you head to the main city square for a bite to eat, a walk around the market and to enjoy ice skating in front of the beautiful Stadhuis.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
The Dutch city of Rotterdam is another popular stopping of port for cruise from the UK in December and with good reason.
Cruise ships can dock right in the heart of the city and give easy access to the many shopping areas and markets that take place or you can head early in the seaosn and enjoy the always beautiful Festival of Light.
Many ships also dock overnight in the city and thanks to the great transport links it has, you can also visit Amsterdam or other nearby town and cities on your own.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
If the city of Amsterdam is your preferred Dutch destination, there are also a number of cruise lines that offer itineraries to visit the Dutch capital in December and to take in the great Christmas market on offer.
The city is of course another great year round destination and offers lots of other shopping opportunities to find the perfect gifts to take home.
The main reason it sits behind Rotterdam on this list is that few cruise ships head into the city itself and most visitors will need to take around an hour long transfer from either Rotterdam or Ijmuiden.
Paris, France
Paris is another great city for shopping and for visiting all year around but it is also a city that can feel unfriendly and cold for most of the year.
Thankfully that goes out of the window at Christmas when people from across the capital mingle at a number of great markets that can be enjoyed on an excursion from the port of Le Havre.
Lisbon, Portugal
Although the traditional Christmas market is relatively new to the Portuguese capital, the locals have taken to it with some gusto and when you add in the great attractions and shopping on offer in Lisbon and out have a great day on shore.
Lisbon can be visited throughout the year on a number of cruise lines but it makes for a great winter sun getaway for those wanting to do some seasonal shopping but without the cold.
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Similar to Lisbon, Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira has only recently started to embrace Christmas markets but what they lack in tradition, they more than make up for in gusto as the cities Avenida Arriaga central walkway becomes the place to be and the place to shop for locally made gifts.
Oslo, Norway
Jul I Vinterland, which translates as Christmas in Winterland, is the place to be for Christmas fun in Oslo as the often snowy Spikersuppa district hosts the Norwegian capitals main market.
There are lots of other shopping opportunities and Norway is one of those places that feels extra special at Christmas but sadly there are only a small number of ships that visit the port in winter which is why it ranks so low on this list.
Bergen, Norway
If you want a traditional Christmas experience, surrounded by snow capped mountains and with a chill in the air then Bergen is a great place to visit.
The wooden houses of Bryggen give a festive feel to the city all year around but it is Torgallmenningen Square that is the place to be in December as that is where the cities large Xmas market is located.
Unfortunately, there are few cruises from the UK that visit Bergen in Winter but you can enjoy a trip on the Hurtigruten service all year around.
London, England
Ok, we admit it and we have cheated somewhat for our first pick of a great cruise destination as whilst some cruise lines will count ports such as Portsmouth, Dover and even Southampton as London, we here in the UK know different.
The reason that we have picked the English capital on this list is that it is now simply one of the world’s great cities for Christmas markets, from numerous smaller markets along the banks of the river Thames to one of the world’s biggest in Hyde Park and from an ice rink outside the Tower of London to the shops of Oxford Street- London has something for everybody all year around but especially at Christmas.
A visit to London can easily be added on your holiday before or after your cruise and whilst you are in the capital you can visit many of the world’s leading attractions or why not take in a star studded show on the west end?
