Every year, more than 2 million people visit Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, one of the world’s largest Christmas markets. With thousands of Christmas markets to choose from throughout Europe, planning a trip that captures the season’s spirit can feel daunting. Christmas market river cruises offer itineraries that make it easy to experience the yuletide magic without the do-it-yourself planning stress.

A brief history of European Christmas markets

The Christmas markets were initially a Germanic tradition with roots in the Middle Ages. History tells us the first markets started as early as the 13th century. In 1296, Duke Albrecht I granted Vienna’s citizens permission to hold a two-week market in December. However, this first market may have been more about selling the necessary

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