Text and Photo, © 2025, CM Cordeiro and JE Nilsson
Europe has many beautiful Christmas markets, with some of the most famous found in Austria and Germany. Cities like Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck in Austria, and Nuremberg, Cologne, Dresden, and Munich in Germany are globally renowned for their historic and atmospheric Christmas markets. They are often seen as the heartland of the tradition. When I planned a week in Brussels, I realised I hadn’t heard much about its Christmas markets at all. Brussels is often associated with the European Union, conference rooms, institutions, and polished modern buildings, so I assumed the holiday season might feel more formal than festive. I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised.