There’s something truly magical about floating along Europe’s historic waterways during the holiday season, stopping at enchanting Christmas markets along the way. Whether you’re a festive enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply seeking a unique way to embrace the holiday spirit, a Christmas market river cruise offers an unforgettable experience. Here’s my comprehensive guide to finding the best Christmas market river cruise experience.
The Most Popular Rivers for Christmas Market Cruises
The Rhine: A Classic Choice
The Rhine River offers some of the most beloved Christmas market river cruises, typically running from late November through December. These cruises often sail between Amsterdam and Basel, stopping at picturesque towns and cities along the way. The Rhine Valley becomes a winter wonderland during the festive season, with cruise ships like the MS Amacerto taking travelers to experience Europe’s most enchanting Christmas markets.
From Cologne with its impressive Gothic cathedral to Strasbourg’s festive charm and even Gengenbach with its giant Advent calendar, the Rhine offers diverse Christmas market experiences. Cologne deserves special mention with its seven distinct Christmas markets, including the famous market at the foot of the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. The scent of mulled wine and gingerbread fills the air as you wander through stalls selling handcrafted ornaments and gifts.
Strasbourg hosts France’s oldest and largest Christmas market, with a dozen holiday markets fanning out along the Grand Rue, under the cathedral. While in Strasbourg, you can stop at the Bredle Market to taste the tiny, traditional cakes of Alsace.
Other highlights along the Rhine include Baden-Baden’s Holiday Market in the Black Forest and Heidelberg’s Weihnachtsmarkt, which spans five city squares with a setting as serene as any snow globe. In Rüdesheim, you can explore decorated shops and stalls in a town that hosts Europe’s largest live nativity scene.
The Danube: Eastern European Charm
The Danube River cruises typically sail between Nuremberg and Budapest, featuring stops in iconic cities like Vienna, Salzburg, and Passau. Uniworld offers enchanting Christmas market river cruise itineraries on the Danube during the holiday season, featuring centuries-old Christmas markets, memorable excursions, and numerous once-a-year delights.
Vienna’s Christmas markets are particularly impressive, with the one in front of Schönbrunn Palace offering an imperial backdrop to your holiday shopping. The Schönbrunn Christmas Market typically runs from the end of November until Boxing Day before reopening on December 27th and running through the first few days of the new year.
Budapest’s Christmas markets provide a unique Eastern European perspective on holiday traditions, with local treats like chimney cake (kürtőskalács) that you won’t find elsewhere. The Hungarian capital comes to life with the twinkling of lights, market stalls, and general festivities in December.
The Seine: French Elegance
France is known for some of the most photogenic Christmas markets in Europe, and you can experience them on a Christmas market river cruise in the Seine Valley. These shorter cruises often start in Paris, allowing you to spend time exploring the city and visiting Christmas markets in Montmartre or Saint-Germain, or shopping for high-end gifts along the Champs-Elysees before sailing to other beautiful towns.
For a truly breathtaking holiday season experience, a luxury Christmas market river cruise on the Seine during Advent is exceptional. It’s no surprise that the City of Lights pulls out all the stops for the festive season.
What Makes a Great Christmas Market River Cruise
Varied Itineraries
The best Christmas market river cruises offer diverse experiences, combining major cities with charming small towns. The traditional Christmas markets of Germany and surrounding countries date back to the 13th century when they marked the beginning of the Advent season. Now, these holiday markets have evolved into a colorful seasonal display of shops and festivities for all to enjoy.
Festive Onboard Experience
Many cruise lines offer special onboard holiday touches like tree-trimming parties, caroling and other festive gatherings, traditional European Christmas dinners with all the fixings, and special evenings of holiday-themed entertainment. Your ship itself becomes part of the festive atmosphere, often decorated with twinkling lights and holiday decorations.
Exclusive Experiences
Look for Christmas market river cruises that offer special access or unique experiences. For example, some cruises include private evening canal cruises to see the Amsterdam Light Festival, or demonstrations and tastings of local specialties like stroopwafels in Gouda.
Some Christmas market river cruises also feature cookie baking demonstrations and tastings, revealing the secrets of traditional lebkuchen (German gingerbread) and Rüdesheimer coffee (complemented with a touch of locally produced brandy).
Top Cruise Lines for Christmas Market Experiences
Several river cruise companies excel in Christmas market river cruise itineraries:
- AmaWaterways – AmaWaterways offers Christmas market river cruises aboard ships like the AMA Kristina and the AMA Lea, taking travelers to experience Europe’s most enchanting Christmas markets.
- Tauck – Tauck’s Christmas market river cruises include unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship and special onboard holiday touches. Their cruises visit the magic of each destination’s holiday markets, each of which has taken on a distinctive character of its own over the centuries.
- Uniworld – Uniworld offers enchanting Christmas market river cruise itineraries on the Rhine and Danube rivers, featuring festively decorated ships. Their cruises include visits to centuries-old Christmas Markets, memorable excursions, decadent confections and numerous other once-a-year delights.
- Avalon Waterways – Enjoy a magical Christmastime Rhine River cruise vacation starting in Frankfurt, cruising through the heart of Germany, and ending in Basel. Visit Breisach, Strasbourg, Speyer, and Heidelberg while experiencing the festive charm of the season.
- Viking River Cruises – Viking offers Christmas Markets itineraries that allow passengers to witness the beauty, romance and spirit of the holidays come alive at Europe’s colorful Christmas markets. Their cruises often feature special onboard experiences like caroling and lectures on the origins of beloved holiday customs.
Popular Christmas Market Destinations
Germany
Over 2 million people annually visit Nuremberg’s Christmas markets due to its reputation for being one of the world’s finest. The best parts of any German Christmas market can be found here, including spiced gingerbread and festive decorations.
Cologne offers seven German Christmas markets from its location on the banks of the Rhine, making it ideal for those seeking a European Christmas market river cruise. One of its must-visit markets has Cologne Cathedral as its backdrop.
France
For more than 400 years, the Strasbourg Christmas market has welcomed visitors annually. It has now become the largest in Europe, featuring chalets with fairy decorations, traditional Alsatian houses, and many specialties to enjoy for a magical experience.
Austria
Vienna hosts multiple Christmas markets, including the famous one at Schönbrunn Palace and another charming market at Spittelberg.
When to Book
Christmas market river cruises tend to book up quickly, attracting passengers ranging from older adults to families looking for a winter holiday filled with festive fun. These exclusive tours come but once a year, just before the Christmas holiday, so they have limited availability.
For the best selection and pricing, I recommend booking 9-12 months in advance – typically in January or February for the following December.
What to Pack
Since these Christmas market river cruises take place in November and December, be prepared for winter weather. Temperatures aren’t quite freezing, but don’t expect a warm summer holiday either. That’s the price you pay to witness and explore one of Europe’s most ancient traditions – the Christmas Markets.
Pack layers, comfortable walking shoes, a warm coat, gloves, and a scarf. You’ll be spending time outdoors at the markets, so staying warm is essential. For more packing tips and advice, check out What to Pack for Your River Cruise: The Ultimate Guide to make sure you’re fully prepared for your holiday adventure.
Making the Most of Your Christmas Market River Cruise
Timing Your Visits
Try to visit the markets both during the day and in the evening when they’re illuminated with twinkling lights. The atmosphere transforms completely after dark, creating a truly magical experience.
Local Specialties to Try
Each region has its own traditional foods and drinks that are must-tries during the holiday season:
- Glühwein (mulled wine) in Germany
- Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies) in Nuremberg
- Chimney cake in Hungary
- Bredele (small cookies) in Alsace, France
- Stroopwafels in the Netherlands
Shopping Tips
Walking amongst the unique market stalls with a chimney cake and hot chocolate makes for a special evening, and bringing home unique gifts can make Christmas morning more magical. During your festive celebrations at home, you’ll also be able to relive the marvelous memories by telling friends and family about your travels.
Look for handcrafted ornaments, traditional wooden toys, and regional specialties that will serve as lasting mementos of your journey on your Christmas market river cruise.
Beyond the Markets
While the Christmas markets are certainly the highlight, don’t forget to enjoy the other aspects of your Christmas market river cruise:
- Take in the stunning winter landscapes as you sail between destinations
- Participate in shore excursions to historic sites and cultural attractions
- Enjoy the fine dining and entertainment onboard your ship
- Get to know fellow passengers who share your interest in European traditions
The Ultimate Itinerary
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive Christmas market river cruise experience, consider a 14-day cruise that combines both the Rhine and Danube rivers. This would allow you to experience the best markets in Germany, France, Austria, and Hungary all in one trip.
However, if you have limited time, an 8-day Christmas market river cruise on either the Rhine or the Danube will still provide an incredible Christmas market experience.
Final Thoughts
A Christmas market river cruise offers a unique way to experience Europe’s festive traditions while enjoying the comfort and convenience of river travel. From the twinkling lights of the markets to the warming cups of glühwein, from handcrafted ornaments to traditional holiday treats, these cruises immerse you in the authentic spirit of a European Christmas.
Whether you choose the Rhine for its variety, the Danube for its imperial cities, or the Seine for its French flair, a Christmas market river cruise promises to be a magical experience that will create holiday memories to last a lifetime. The combination of scenic sailing, festive markets, and cultural experiences makes these cruises truly special – a perfect gift to yourself or your loved ones during the most wonderful time of the year.
Tara B is the founder of Travel by Tara B, specializing in bespoke European experiences and luxury cruising. When not exploring the world’s waterways, she can be found seeking out hidden gems to share with her discerning clientele. Interested in more posts like this? Sign up for the newsletter here.
