Robert HardingWhat better than the twinkling lights and delicious treats of a Christmas market to stoke up the festive spirit? While many of the largest and most celebrated Christkindlmarkts are in Germany (the inventors of Christmas trees), Prague, Vienna, Brussels and Basel’s city squares also offer quintessential seasonal fairs, packed with hot drink sellers, craft stalls and traditional delicacies. Over the past few years German-style Christmas traditions have also spread across the UK, with Birmingham’s festive market now larger than Berlin’s, while London, Belfast and Nottingham are following suit.
Christmas Market and City Hall at night, Hamburg, Germany (age fotostock/Robert Harding)
People strolling through the Christmas market, Hamburg, Germany (LOOK/Robert Harding)
Nuremberg Christmas Market, Germany (age fotostock/Robert Harding)
Frankfurt Christmas Market, Germany (age fotostock/Robert Harding)
Christmas ornaments for sale at the Christmas Market, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Frank Fell/Robert Harding)
St. Nicholas impersonator at Munich Christmas market, Bavaria, Germany (Godong/Robert Harding)
Baubles, Christmas market, Belvedere, Vienna, Austria (Image Broker/Robert Harding)
Christmas market at Rathausplatz square, Vienna, Austria (LOOK/Robert Harding)
Christmas market at Staromestske (Old Town Square) with Gothic Tyn Cathedral, Stare Mesto, Prague, Czech Republic (Richard Nebesky/Robert Harding)
Christmas market, Basel, Switzerland (Image Broker/Robert Harding)
Carousel in the Christmas market in Belfast, Northern Ireland (age fotostock/Robert Harding)
New Street and Christmas Market, City Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, England (Frank Fell/Robert Harding)
Stall at Christmas Market, Birmingham City Centre, West Midlands, England (Frank Fell/Robert Harding)
Child enjoying merry-go-round carousel at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London (Tim Graham/Robert Harding)
See more Christmas market photos here