Christmas markets evoke fairy tale scenes of medieval town squares, snow-capped mountains and the aroma of citrus-spiced glühwein (mulled wine) filling the air. It’s a pretty accurate picture, even several centuries after one of the earliest known markets popped up in Vienna in 1298.

The European Christmas market tradition has since spread across the globe. As a result, you might embrace the holiday spirit by sampling German-style pretzels and sausages in equally frosty Sapporo, Japan, while admiring its light show and towering tree. Or, you can combine ice-skating with browsing for handcrafted jewellery, toys and gifts at the Bryant Park Christmas market in the heart of New York.

Taking inspiration from Santa himself, we’ve made a list and checked it twice to point you to the best Christmas markets around the world.

North America