You can’t actually celebrate Christmas in July in Europe… but it’s the perfect time to plan a Christmas market visit to celebrate the season. There really is no better way to get into the spirit of the holidays than to immerse yourself in the markets, traditions, food, beverages, arts and crafts of the lands and cultures that shaped our own holiday celebrations.

But take these tips to make sure you get the best of the best holiday – and holiday experience!

DO: Take a river cruise.

Germany, Austria, Switzerland and even France are some of the best places to travel to capture the joy of Europe’s Christmas markets. And the best way to visit multiple Christmas markets – even in multiple countries, only unpack once – and have someone else do the driving! Is to take a river cruise. For river cruisers, the two big options are the Danube, especially in Germany and Austria, and the Rhine, between Switzerland, into Germany, France and the Netherlands.

DO: Indulge in the taste of Christmas, Europe-style

In German Christmas markets, that means sausage, many types of sausage. And pretzels. But there are also uniquely seasonal market treats: gingerbread, often in heart shapes, with heart-warming messages like “I love you.” Or marzipan (sweet almond paste) shapes, especially in the lucky pig shape of the German region of Bavaria. Or delicious marzipan-stuffed fruit bread, stollen.

Leave room to taste your way through markets and skip a meal on your river cruise ship!

DO: Sip the festive flavors.

Goodbye, hot chocolate. Gluhwein is the warm, spiced wine so famous in German and neighboring countries’ Christmas markets. The classic version is red wine, but you can also find white wine, and look for a citrusy French version in the Noel market of the French Alsace region.

DO: Buy hand-made local Christmas souvenirs.

You and your loved ones will always remember the hand-painted, hand-blown glass Christmas ornament from the European Christmas market. Do you have little ones in the family? Hand-carved wooden toys become family heirlooms to pass on through the generations… with a story!

Candles, boiled wool tea cozies, wool scarves and shawls all warm the heart on a mid-winter’s night, as do memories of your Christmas market visit.

DON’T Miss the opportunity to take home a memory of Christmas markets.

Everyone is trying to pack lighter these days, with smaller and smaller suitcases. Don’t deny yourself a memory of your Christmas market odyssey because your bag is too small to take even one thing home. I get it, you don’t want clutter, so get something consumable and ideally, shareable with friends and loved ones instead of another object to display, dust and ultimately, store.

DO: Pack layers.

Winter isn’t a Nordic/ Arctic winter in most of these countries, so you won’t see much snow, but you will notice a real cold damp that can pack a punch. The only solution is waterproof footwear and insulating layers, with a windproof and waterproof outer layer against the damp and the cold. You can always layer down, but it’s hard to warm up once you’re cold, so this is your best way to ensure the weather doesn’t dampen your Christmas cheer.

Have some vintage or faux fur? Now's the time to get it out of the back of the closet and put a stylish foot forward in Europe!

DON’T: Forget personal security.

It's easy to be caught up in the joy of the moment. But, as everywhere, crowds can bring out the wrong type of people. Make sure your cash and credit cards are secure. Never leave your bag hanging on the back of your chair, or your wallet in a back pocket. Be mindful of people getting too close to you. Use good sense to avoid a bad taste in your mouth from an unfortunate encounter with people looking to cash in on Christmas crowds.

DON’T: Wait to plan now for a Christmas market trip.

Use your Christmas market trip to get into the spirit of the season – and even do all your shopping in Europe, to cut down the stress of getting ready for the holidays at home. Plan now to make sure you have that trip in place to limit the pressures and demands that can pile up and make you forget what the holidays are all about. You deserve a holiday that captures the spirit of the season just for you!

START YOUR TRIP!

Story and Images by: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.

Do's and Don'ts of a European Christmas Market Trip