Best European Christmas Markets by Train: Interrail Itinerary

I took a train from Vienna all the way to London, visiting as many Christmas Markets as I could along the way over 2 weeks! It was the most epic trip I’ve ever taken.

There’s something about Christmas time in Europe that’s really special. Countries literally go all out, decorating the towns with so much Christmas cheer.

Whether you’re visiting Strasbourg, the Christmas capital of the world or somewhere like London, you’ll really feel the Christmas magic. In this post, I will show you 9 European Christmas Markets by train.

You can travel using an app called Omio or get an Interrail pass which is a more affordable way to get around by train to many destinations all over Europe. I opted to use an Interrail Pass and this post will share my exact Christmas Market Interrail Itinerary.

I simply prefer traveling by train and want to share with you how easy it is to do so! You can really cover so many Christmassy places in Europe just by train.

Follow along my day-to-day Christmas Market journey through Europe:
Check out my Christmas Market Instagram Story Highlights

⭐ I am planning a Christmas Market group trip for female travelers – register your interest here & help me with where you want to go!

Just a heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Your support helps me continue doing what I love ♡. Thank you! Read our Affiliate Disclosure here.

Summary: European Christmas Markets by Train

• Day 1-2: Vienna, Austria
• Day 3-5: Nuremberg (day trip to Rothenburg) 
• Day 5-7: Cologne 
• Day 8-10: Bern (day trip Montreux)
• Day 10-13: Alsace
• Day 13-15: Paris
• Day 15-17: London

My Exact Interrail Journey & Train Statistics

I traveled over 2,700 kilometres on 23 trains to 14 places! The map of my journey is below.

European Christmas Markets by Train: 2-Week Itinerary

Every year, I make it a must to visit at least one Christmas Market. I feel a bit sad that I have such limited time to explore the magic of Christmas across Europe. So this year I decided I’d plan the most EPIC Christmas route by train and see as many markets as I could in just over 2 weeks.

I created my own itinerary after tons of research, carefully selecting the stops I wanted to make.

Interrail is a cost-effective way to explore by train if you’re traveling for an extended period. You can buy a 3 day, 7 day, 10 day, or even 15 day Interrail pass with validity for 2 months to do this exact itinerary. If you’re traveling for a shorter time frame, Omio is also a great choice.

What is Interrail?

The Interrail Pass is a rail pass that allows unlimited travel on most trains across participating European countries within a chosen time period.

It works by giving travelers access to multiple countries with one ticket, which can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive travel days, depending on the type of pass.

The pass is available for both short trips (as little as 3 days of travel in 1 month) and longer adventures, and prices vary depending on travel duration, age, and country of residence.

For example, a 4-day global pass might start around €200, while an unlimited 1-month pass can cost upwards of €500. This flexibility makes Interrail a great option for those wanting to explore multiple destinations in Europe at a reasonable cost.

The Interrail pass worked on Eurostar and the Belle Epoque train in Switzerland. These tickets alone cost €40-100 one way. You can easily see it adding up to more than the pass cost if you are doing multiple journeys.

What is Omio?

Omio is a platform that makes booking your train journeys easy and efficient. You can book many journeys all over the world with a few clicks of a button. It takes the confusion out of booking because you no longer need to figure out which train company site to go with for each country or the language barriers associated with booking.

As I’m based in London, I decided to first fly to Vienna and make my way all the way back to London by train.

Now, let’s get into the itinerary. Feel free to cut it down to one week or even less if you desire by picking the number of dates that suit your travels.

You can also check out my post on the 10 Best Cities for Christmas in Europe for more ideas.

Day 1-2: Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a stunning city, and during Christmas it’s extra magical. There are over 20 markets to choose from! Read my full Christmas guide to Vienna, Austria! It also includes what to do in the city and where to eat.

My favorites had to be Rathausplatz Christmas market for the moving heart, Schönbrunn Palace was the prettiest, and  Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof had the best food by far.

• Market Dates: November 16, 2024 – December 26, 2024
• Why go: The Moving Heart at City Hall and Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market.
• Markets: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere Palace, Rathausplatz Christmas market,  Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market, and Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof.

🏨 Where to Stay: I stayed in Vienna for 3 nights at the Ruby Lissi Hotel. It was walkable to most sites and a great place to base yourself in Vienna. The breakfast was also delicous.

Day 3-5: Nuremberg & Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is the oldest and most traditional market in Germany so I had to check it out.

My honest opinion: I went on opening weekend and sadly it was overcrowded to the point it was shoulder to shoulder. You can see what I mean in my insta vs reality video here.

I also didn’t find the town as picturesque as other German cities. But don’t let me steer you away from checking it out yourself. I have heard from other friends that it was not as busy for them.So, try a weekday and I’m sure you’ll have a more pleasant experience.

Food to try at the market includes bratwurst, Champignons (mushrooms), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), and lebkuchen (gingerbread).

• Market Dates: November 29, 2024 – December 24, 2024
• Train: Vienna to Nuremberg
• Train Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (direct)

🏨 Where to Stay: I based myself here for 3 nights and stayed at the NH Collection Nürnberg City. It was just 5 minutes from the train station and a short 10-15 minutes walk to the markets.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Day Trip)

Rothenburg is a fairytale town in Germany decked out for Christmas. It was my favorite stop along my Europeean Christmas market by train journey! I would not miss this one. The market itself is quite small but I loved how intimate it was. Plus, there were fewer crowds here making it such an enjoyable experience. Aside from the market, all the stores are filled with Christmas souevenirs!

Don’t miss the Christmas Museum which is filled with the most stunning Christmas displays. The huge and gorgeous tree that spins around in the center of the store was mesmerizing.

I visited as a day trip, but next time, I’d love the opportunity to stay overnight in this magical city.

• Market Dates: November 29, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• Train: Nuremberg to Rothenburg
• Train Time: 1 hour 9 minutes (2 short changes via Ansbach & Steinach)

Read my full guide on visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber during Christmas.

Day 5-7: Cologne 

Cologne’s Christmas Markets have been on my bucket list forever! There are 7 in the city and each has a different theme. The Cathedral Market is the most iconic one and has lots of delicious food and mulled wine to choose from. I’ve written an entire guide on all the must-visit markets in Cologne.

My favorite, however, was the Market of Angels. There were actual dressed-up angels walking around, blowing gold glitter! And, I loved the starry lights that lined the market pathways. There were a lot of nice items for sale too. For food, my favorite was the cathedral-shaped waffle! Be sure to also try the Feuerzangenbowle which is a flaming mulled wine.

Not only that, the Christmas market mugs were adorable. Usually, you pay a deposit for the mug and you can get around €3 cash back when you return it or you can opt to keep the mug! This is standard across nearly every European Christmas market I visited and they don’t always tell you this, so keep note!

• Market Dates: November 18, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• Markets: There’s 7 markets spread throughout the city which include:  Cathedral Market, Angel’s Market, Harbour Market, Heinzels Winter Fairytale
• Train: Nuremberg to Cologne
• Train Time: ~3 hours 14 minutes (direct)

Aside from markets, in Cologne, I would walk to Hohenzollern Bridge for nice views of the city and continue to the end of it, arriving at the Cologne Triangle. For only €5, you can access the elevator for panoramic views of Cologne.

🏨 Where to Stay: I spent 2 nights in Cologne. I’d recommend staying at the 25 Hours Hotel. It is really stylish and a cool place to even hang out in the evening. That’s because the lobby is really innovative with lots to look at (you’ll see!) The elevators are fun for a selfie and they have a rooftop bar with views of the city.

Day 8-10: Bern & Montreux

From Cologne, make your way to Bern and use this as a base to explore both the Bern and Montreux Christmas Markets.

Bern was a city that surprised me. I honestly had really low expectations and didn’t think it would be a good stop but it was a convenient base for me on my European Christmas Market by train journey.

However, I was wrong! There were about 3 Christmas Markets there and I simply adored them all. That’s because, not only was it not crowded, the markets felt authentic. All of them sold really wonderful handmade items, nothing really commercial like I saw at some of the bigger markets.

I loved the cozy vibes too! If Bern was never on your radar, I’d definetly recommend it especially if you hate crowds.

• Markets: Berner Sternenmarkt, Waisenhausplatz Christmas market, Münsterplatz Christmas market, Oscar Elch, Ringgenpärkli park (for drinks)
• Bern Market Dates: November 29, 2024 – December 22, 2024
• Train: Cologne to Bern
• Train Time: ~5 hours 30 minutes (via Mannheim)

Read my full guide on Bern Christmas Markets

🏨 Where to Stay: I’d recommend basing yourself at Bellevue Palace Hotel in Bern. It is a lovely 5 star hotel with views of the city and has amazing Christmas decorations. I stayed here for 2 nights and took a day trip to Montreux.

Day 9: Day trip to Montreux via the Belle Époque Train

The Belle Époque Train is a a luxurious, vintage-style train that offers a scenic journey through Switzerland. It will feel like you’re back in the 20th century with it’s beautifully restored carriages, elegant interiors, and panoramic windows to the Swiss Alps.

This train journey is only 2x a day and the journey is included in your Interrail pass!

Check the timetable for the Belle Époque Train on the MOB site but as of October 2024 it’s as follows:

• From Montreux: 09:50 and 14:50
• From Zweisimmen: 12:02 and 17:02

Be sure to book first class for the more beautiful seating. Without the Interrail pass, you can get a first class ticket for €50 from Zweisimmen to Montreux or even as cheap as €17 if you go from Gstaad to Montreux.

• When traveling from Zweisimmen to Montreux, the left-hand side will give you the best views.
• Train: Bern to Zweisimmen
• Train Time: ~1 hours 16 minutes (via Spiez)
• Belle Epoque Train: Zweisimmen to Montreux
• Train Time: ~2 hours 8 minutes 

The Montreux Christmas Market is one I’ve had on my list for so long as the huge attraction is the flying santa on a sleigh! The flying santa runs daily at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm. There’s another flight at 4pm on the weekends.

Montreux to Bern

• Train: Montreux to Bern
• Train Time: ~1 hours 40 minutes (via Lausanne)

Day 10-13: Alsace

• Strasbourg Market Dates: November 27, 2024 – December 31, 2024
• Colmar Market Dates: Starting November 29, 2024
• Explore: Petit France quarter, festive lights, and regional Alsatian foods, the Giant Christmas Tree in Place Kléber and enchanting half-timbered houses.
• Towns to visit: Colmar, Strasbourg, Eguisheim, Kayersberg, Riquewihr
• Train: Basel to Strasbourg 
• Train Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes

🏨 Where to Stay: I would base yourself in Strasbourg or Colmar. Personally, I prefer Colmar because it’s much cuter than Strasbourg. However, if convenience is more important to you, then stay in Strasbourg as it’s where you’ll need to be to get to the airport or to take the train to other cities like Paris, London, etc.

I stayed at the Mercure Strasbourg Centre, which was right next to the main Christmas market at Kebler Place. You could also stay at Mercure Strasbourg Centre Gare, which is conveniently located right next to the Strasbourg train station, where you can easily get to Colmar in a 30 minute train ride. If you stay in Colmar, I’d recommend Colmar Hotel.

My advice is to book WELL in advance. I was looking over a month early and everything was nearly sold out in all cities across Alsace.

Read more: best Christmas Markets in Alsace
Guide to visiting Eguisheim’s Christmas Market

Day 13-15: Paris

Christmas in Paris is not to be missed. The shops go all out with decor, especially the famous department store, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. The interior displays a giant Christmas tree, and it’s so pretty.

Be sure to walk along Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous streets in Paris to see all the lights lining the road all the way up to the Arc de Triomphe. The luxury shops along Avenue Montaigne, as well as endless facades and stores, will be Christmassy.

Top Christmas Spots in Paris:

• Galeries Lafayette Haussmann interior decor
• Avenue of Champs-Élysées
• Luxury Shops (like Dior and more) on Avenue Montaigne
• Pl. Maurice Barrès
• Tuileries Garden Christmas Market: They have both a Ferris wheel and an Ice skating rink.
• Galerie Vivienne: A shopping arcade with beautiful Christmas decor.
• The Hot Air Balloon at Village Royal

• Markets: La Défense, Tuileries Garden
• Train: Strasburg to Paris
• Train Time: ~1 hour 45 min

🏨 Where to Stay: I stayed at Hôtel L’Ormaie & Spa, and it was a great location just a 7 minutes walk from Trocadero, where you’ll find an Eiffel Tower view! Plus, it’s around €200 a night which isn’t too bad for Paris. If you want to know what it looks like, check out my Instagram video on this hotel!

⭐ Read my full guide to the best Christmas Displays in Paris!
🏨 If you are looking for hotels with an actual view of the Eiffel Tower, then check out my referenced blog post.

Day 15-17: London

London during Christmas is pure magic. No one decocates a city this well, trust me. After living here for 6 years, I’m still impressed by all the decorations in London and it’s my favorite time of year in London.

Regent Street has it’s iconic angels lighting up the streets, Covent Garden has it’s Christmas tree, and storefronts go all out with beautiful decorations.

I must say that the actual Christmas Markets in London are not as nice as other European Cities though. If I had to choose my favorites they would be Christmas by the River and the Novikov Christmas Market (which only takes place across a few days).

Other London Christmas Markets include Leicester Square and London’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

• Train: Paris to London
• Train Time: ~2 hour 53 min

Christmas in London Guides:
🎡 Guide to Winter Wonderland London
🎄 14 Festive Things to Do in London in December
✨24 Best Christmas Decorations in London
🍽 Christmassy Restaurants in London

🏨 Where to Stay: I live in London and could recommend you the following hotels:

Luxury: The Savoy | Claridge’s | Hotel Cafe Royal
Mid-range: Marriott County Hall | The Tower Hotel | The Hoxton | Treehouse | Mamma Shelter
Budget: Hostel One Notting Hill | Wombat’s City Hostel

You may also like these posts:
🏰 Christmas Guide to Rothenburg, Germany
🎄Cologne Christmas Market Guide
🏘️ The Charming Town of Eguisheim, France
🎅🏼 Christmas Markets in Alsace, France
🎡 Best Christmas Decorations in London
🐻 Best Christmas Displays in Paris
🎅 Christmas Guide to Vienna, Austria
🚂 Belle Epoque Train: Scenic train in Switzerland
🇨🇿 Best Christmas Markets in Prague