Exploring Christmas Markets in Europe: Prague to Berlin

Intro

It was Day 07 of my 21-day Round The World Trip 2025-2026. At 1/3 of this adventure already completed, I was almost done with the Europe leg, but first, I needed to spend Christmas Eve-Eve in Prague and Christmas Eve in Berlin. For now, I was doing a quick stop in Riga, Latvia, of all places, coming from Denmark, where I had an amazing time, and on the way to the Czech Republic, now called Czechia, since the last time I visited it.

I was excited for seeing once another Christmas Market in another city, and to spend Christmas Eve in Berlin, in what could be another Christmas Market. With this completed, another leg my trip would start, but a buffer period in the Alps was also waiting for me before the big jump to the next continent. Stay tuned to see what happened in the next couple of days, and where I would be going next.

Day 07: A quick stop in Latvia

Since my flight from Denmark to Prague was on AirBaltic, the connection was in Riga, Latvia. A country I was not expecting to include in this trip, but here I was. I did not have time to go outside of the airport, since I had such a short connection, but since I was awake since so early, I decided to grab coffee and some food at the airport. It actually looked really good,

The view of the terminal was cute. Not a very busy day at the airport, given it was so close to Christmas.

But I caved, and got a bento box from one of the quick service restaurants in the airport while I waited for my flight to Prague. I gotta say it was actually pretty good.

Finally boarded on the AirBaltic flight, and on my way to Prague.

Bye Latvia, I would have liked checking you out again, but maybe in another trip. For reference I came here in 2016, I know 10 years ago.

Arriving at Prague

Finally made it to Prague, Czechia. I had not been here since 2016 also, and it showed. I did not arrive by plane last time, so I was a little bit lost upon arrival. I did not want to pay for an Uber, so my recommendation is just to use the Public Transportation. There is a bus that takes you to one of the Metro stations, and from there, you can take a train that takes you straight to the the city center, and it seemed that a lot of people had the same idea.

The train station was very in the outskirts of the city. I wish there was a train that would take straight to the airport like in many cities in this continent, but I guess we can only wish too much lol. Anyways, here I was waiting for the metro into the city center.

Made it to one of the stops in the city center, and after getting a another coffee at the Starbucks, I went to my hotel, this time the Brewery Hotel – U Medvídků, very walking distance to many of the tourist spots in this city. I was only going to be here for once night, since my goal was to see a little bit of the decorations, and refresh my memory of this city I had visited before. To be honest, including Prague was more of an afterthought, after I had already planned the entire Europe leg, and apparently this city had one of the best Holiday markets of the continent.

The hotel was cozy and very old, but it was good enough, I would probably stay here once again, I really liked it a lot.

The view was good, only a couple of floors above the ground, could see the activity of the city, although I was not expecting the crowds I was going to experience in a few minutes.

Old Town Square Christmas Market (Staroměstské náměstí)

Continuing with my Christmas Market tour in Europe, I had to go to the main one in the entire Czechia: Old Town Square Christmas Market (Staroměstské náměstí). This is the most iconic market, known for its massive Christmas tree, nativity scene, and the backdrop of the Astronomical Clock. I walked there, and on the way I had to go through crowds of people. On the way there I saw the “Man Hanging Out” (Czech: Viselec), one of Prague’s most famous and startling pieces of public art.

If you are walking down Husova Street in the Old Town, you have to remember to look up, or you’ll miss it entirely. It depicts a life-sized Sigmund Freud hanging by one hand from a horizontal pole extending from a rooftop, while his other hand is casually tucked into his pocket.

The Christmas Market in the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is the largest and most iconic in the Czech Republic. Set against the Gothic spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn and the famous Astronomical Clock, it is widely considered one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world

So many memories came to my mind, when I was younger and explored this city as a student. Now, instead of visiting it in the summer, but in the cold winter, I was shocked by the amount of people, and how more beautiful it looked than the last time I came here, maybe because of all of the Christmas decorations.

Food & Drink (Traditional Specialties)

The air in the square is filled with the scent of roasted meat and cinnamon. Key items to try include:

• Trdelník: A spiral-shaped pastry grilled on a spit and topped with sugar and walnuts.
• Pražská Šunka: Large hams roasted on open spits, usually served with thick slices of rye bread.
• Klobása: Grilled sausages served with mustard and bread.
• Svařák: Traditional Czech mulled wine (rich with cloves and cinnamon).
• Medovina: Hot honey wine, a sweet and warming local favorite.

The Christmas Tree: The market’s centerpiece is a massive, real Christmas tree sourced from a different region of the Czech Republic each year. In 2026, it is expected to feature hourly light animations (typically starting around 4:30 PM) synchronized to classical music, such as Bedřich Smetana’s Vltava.

The Observation Bridge: A small wooden footbridge is usually erected in the center of the square, providing a perfect elevated vantage point for photos of the glittering stalls and the tree. Getting up here was virtually impossible, because of the crowds, but I managed to do so.

All the views were amazing, and it was probably one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets so far. I will probably do a ranking at the end, comparing the ones in Berlin, Copenhagen and this one.

Exploring more of Prague

Before it got dark, I had to go check and walk more of Prague, since my train to Berlin was going to be early the next day, and I would not have time to check anymore during the day. That’s the problem of traveling too close to the Winter Solstice lol.

Now, I was in the Charles Bridge. The Charles Bridge is a historic 14th-century stone arch bridge that serves as the iconic link between Prague’s Old Town and the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). Commissioned by King Charles IV in 1357, it replaced the Judith Bridge after it was destroyed by floods.

To say it was packed was a misconception. I had never seen so much people blocking a view on a bridge before. Apparently there was going to be the manual lighting of the historic gas lamps, a nostalgic tradition that brings a 19th-century atmosphere to the bridge. The ceremony is performed by a lamplighter dressed in an authentic 19th-century uniform: a long black wool coat with brass buttons and a red cape.

I crossed the bridge, and came back to the Old Town side, to go back to the hotel…

…not without checking the views of the Prague Castle and the Vltava River. A group of people from Spain explained to me what was happening with the lighting of the lamps.

A chill evening at the Mall

After relaxing in my hotel for a couple of hours, I was hungry and went to visit the mall that was nearby: Máj – House of Fun, next to OC Quadrio Mall. From the terrace on top you could see a nice view of the St. Vitus Cathedral and the Prague Castle at night.

And the main square where I had been before with the Church of Our Lady before Týn. It was so cold up here, that I had to go back down to the food court, where I ate salmon and some vegetables lol. Nothing too crazy.

I was surprised by the amount of offerings in this mall, and just like the rest of the city it was very packed. I felt kind of overwhelmed the entire time I was in Prague.

Day 08: Back to Berlin

Woke up early on Christmas Eve, and for the first time in this trip, the hotel offered breakfast, so of course I had to take advantage of it. I actually enjoyed the offerings it had.

Checked out and now I was rushing to the Praha hlavní nádraží to take the train to Berlin. The station was crowded, and the whole time I was so confused, but I was able to find the platform. They only showed it in the screen a couple of minutes before departing time, so there was a river of people getting into the train.

Got in, and now I had to be here for 4 hours crossing most of Germany on my way to Berlin. The train was beautiful, and it had a food car.

The speed was not the greatest, but it was fast enough for me to be impressed, definitely better than many trains in the US.

Got myself a coffee from the food car, hehe, of course I had to buy something from it.

One of my initial plans in Germany included the city of Dresden since supposedly the best Christmas Market of Germany is here, but I was afraid that there will not be not much to do, and I would be trapped in this city, when there is so much to do in Berlin. So I skipped, but at least I got to pass by it from Prague to Berlin, and maybe one day I would come back.

Made it to Berlin, and this time I was staying in a hotel I liked a lot last year, the Hotel AMO by AMANO. Same area by Friedrichstraße, but very accesible to the metro and with a nice style.

They left a note given that it was Christmas Eve with a huge Chocolate Santa Claus lol.

This was the translation using the Google Lens on my phone. Can’t wait to stay here again lol.

Housekeeping

I would have never guessed that my mandatory laundry was going to be during Christmas Eve, but it had been 8 days and the carry on was now basically full of dirty clothes, so I Googled what places could still be opened to wash my clothes, and one was actually kind of close of my hotel. On the way there with a bag full of dirty clothes, I was able to see once again the Berlin TV Tower.

Made it to a Laundromat and fortunately I had just got some cash from the ATM. One of the workers was about to leave, so he explained me that it would close at 6 PM, but had enough time to wash and dry my clothes. The process was a little confusing but I was able to do it, and even explain other tourists that picked Christmas Eve to do their laundry.

A Christmas Eve in Weihnachtsmarkt am Gendarmenmarkt

Last year Christmas Eve I was flying from New York to Maspalomas in Spain. It was a trek, but I actually enjoyed the whole thing. This year I was already in my destination, and even though it was freezing this December 24, I decided to go out and explore once again the Weihnachtsmarkt am Gendarmenmarkt, which had been so far my favorite Christmas Market, despite the fact that you had to pay 2 euros to get in.

Just the ambience and the food alone were amazing. Tonight tho, the market would close by 6 PM. so I did not have much time. Maybe grab a bite and leave. I am surprised that in Berlin the Christmas Markets do not even make it to Christmas days most of the time, and then they get demolished.

But despite it was closing soon, and it was freezing, I was able to check it out and walk around it once again.

Not before getting a Handbrot and a hot chocolate. Loved the flavors of the ham and the cheese melting in my mouth. Very nice snack before heading back to the hotel in this freezing Christmas Eve.

Bye bye Weihnachtsmarkt am Gendarmenmarkt, maybe I will see you again sometime in the future. With this I conclude my coverage of the Christmas Markets, so let me do a quick countdown of my ranking for all the ones I visited in Berlin, Copenhagen and Prague.

Ranking of the Christmas Markets

1️⃣ Weihnachtsmarkt am Gendarmenmarkt — Berlin, Germany

Why #1: The most elegant atmosphere, incredible gourmet food (that noodle dish was a 10/10), and the only market I loved so much I came back to again—even on Christmas Eve.

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2️⃣ Old Town Square Christmas Market — Prague, Czechia

Why #2: One of the most visually stunning markets in the world, with the massive Christmas tree, the Astronomical Clock, and the magical Old Town backdrop bringing back so many memories.

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3️⃣ Weihnachtsmarkt am Schloss Charlottenburg — Berlin, Germany

Why #3: My first German Christmas Market ever, set against a beautiful royal palace, with amazing wurst and one of the most romantic atmospheres of the trip.

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4️⃣ Wintermarkt am Humboldt Forum — Berlin, Germany

Why #4: The most modern and visually surprising market, with the incredible light projections on the palace that ended up being one of the coolest Christmas market moments of the trip.

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5️⃣ Højbro Plads Christmas Market — Copenhagen, Denmark

Why #5: One of the smallest markets I visited, but also one of the cutest—and the raclette I found there was absolutely amazing.

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6️⃣ Nyhavn Harbor Christmas Market — Copenhagen, Denmark

Why #6: More about the magical scenery than the market itself, but the colorful harbor and Christmas lights made it feel like I was walking inside a postcard.

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7️⃣ Weihnachtsmarkt am Breitscheidplatz — Berlin, Germany

Why #7: A classic Berlin Christmas market with great drinks and a dramatic setting around the ruins of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

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8️⃣ Kongens Nytorv Christmas Market — Copenhagen, Denmark

Why #8: A sophisticated market surrounded by beautiful historic buildings and holiday lights, but one that felt more relaxed and less memorable than others on the trip.

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9️⃣ Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market — Copenhagen, Denmark

Why #9: A fun and storybook-inspired market, cool to see a place dedicated to the famous writer, but smaller and simpler compared to the others I visited.

After visiting Christmas Markets across Berlin, Copenhagen, and Prague, I can honestly say that this had been on my bucket list for years for a reason. Seeing the lights, the decorations, the historic squares, and the smell of roasted meats and mulled wine filling the cold winter air felt exactly like stepping into the pages of the travel books I used to read growing up.

Berlin ended up surprising me the most, not only because of the number of markets, but also because each one felt different. Some were elegant and sophisticated, others were modern and full of light shows, while others felt like cozy little villages in the middle of the city. Copenhagen had some of the most charming settings, especially around the colorful harbor of Nyhavn, while Prague delivered one of the most breathtaking Christmas scenes I have ever seen with the Old Town Square and its massive Christmas tree.

If there is one thing I learned from this part of my trip, it is that Christmas Markets are not just about food or shopping, they are about atmosphere. Walking through centuries-old squares covered in lights, with people laughing, music playing, and the smell of cinnamon in the air, creates a kind of holiday magic that is very hard to describe.

After years of wanting to experience them in person, I can finally say it: Christmas Markets in Europe truly live up to the hype. And something tells me this will definitely not be the last time I plan a winter trip around them.

Day 09: From Berlin to Switzerland

It was Christmas Day, and even though I was not planning on leaving Berlin so soon again, while I was planning this trip, I realized that I still had that free pass to the Cable Car in the Matterhorn. Remember? The failed trip from earlier this year, when I was trapped in Visp for days? Well, I squeezed a visit to this town once again before my big jump to the next continent, so I would call this the buffer zone, between my main Christmas Plans in Berlin, and my New Years plans (somewhere else). For now, it was time to go to the Berlin International Airport to get to Zurich.

Fortunately, the flight was not too early, but since it was Christmas I was scared that the whole thing would be a mess, either canceled flights, or bad weather or crowds, but so far so good. The flight did get a little delayed, but I was hopeful.

I got a banana bread and a zero sugar coke on my flight hehe.

It was time to go see the Alps once again.

Unfortunately, after landing, it took me longer than expected to get from the airport to the train station for my train to Bern, where I was supposed to transfer to another train to Visp. I ran all the way to the train station at Zurich Airport—it was much farther than I thought—and arrived just in time to see my train pulling away from the platform.

Thinking quickly, I opened the train app and noticed that another train on the nearby platform was about to depart for Zurich’s city center. My hope was to catch that one and transfer there instead. I jumped on the train without thinking too much about it.

It turned out I had boarded a First Class car. I honestly did not notice at first, since I already had tickets for the rest of my journey and assumed I was fine for the short ride. However, the conductor came by and asked me to pay the First Class supplement for that train, even though the trip to the city center was only a few minutes.

I tried to explain the situation—that I had just missed my train at the airport and was trying to catch it again in Zurich—but he did not seem to care. In the end, I paid the fee.

Luckily, the plan still worked. I got off at Zurich’s main station just in time to board the same train that had left the airport earlier, the one heading to Bern. I felt incredibly lucky not to miss my connection to Visp. After some time on the train, I arrived in Bern and began looking for my next train to Visp.

And while I contemplated the beautiful scenery in Switzerland, I was glad I was going to make it to Visp. But I was nervous about the next day. I was going to Zermatt and was really hoping I would be able to climb the cable car to see the Matterhorn, and then make it on time to get back into the original route on the way to the next continent. Definitely a time constraint but you will see more of that in the next post.