Looking for festive cheer without the crowds? HomeToGo has recently uncovered that more than half (51%) of U.S. travelers are planning to visit Christmas Markets this winter. This enthusiasm surpassed even that of their European counterparts, with only 45% of Germans, 47% of the French expressing a similar interest¹.

While Europe boasts some of the world's most iconic and expansive Christmas markets, for travelers seeking quieter, more snug experiences, HomeToGo has compiled a list of excellent off-the-beaten-track options. Looking only at destinations which do not appear on lists of the most-searched spots for the run up to Christmas in 2023, HomeToGo used exclusive search and price insights to identify and rank fifty locations with lovely lesser-known markets and lower accommodation costs.

Travelers looking for quaint Christmas markets, appealing prices, and less hubbub can find sleigh-loads of inspiration in the full list below:

🎄 Europe's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets: The Top 50 List

🎄 Europe's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets: Mapped

🎄 Europe's Hidden Gem Christmas Markets: Top 4 in Focus

1. Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain

🎁 Search score: 10.00 / Median price per night for a vacation home: $136

While a Spanish metropolis might not be the first type of location that springs to mind for Christmas market trips, this destination brims with undeniable festive charm in December. Indulge in Galician culinary delights and browse lovingly crafted gifts under shimmering lights at the Christmas market. Take in the views while wandering the cobbled streets of the incredible Old Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a majestic cathedral which dates back to the 13th century.

2. Chimay in the Walloon Region, Belgium

🎁 Search score: 9.34 / Median price per night for a vacation home: $211

Chimay's Christmas market spreads festive cheer with 70 stalls. It boasts a particularly scenic setting, partly situated in the regal main courtyard of the city's castle, and invites visitors to sample regional delicacies such as la Poteauflette, oysters, and snails. Dishes are best enjoyed alongside Chimay beer, as created by the Trappist monks of the nearby Scourmont Abbey. For wintery activities outside of the festive fair, the Riezes ski runs, which offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, are a short drive away.

3. Svendborg in Region Syddanmark, Denmark

🎁 Search score: 8.10 / Median price per night for a holiday home: $146

Book a stay in the small city of Svendborg and visit the Christmas market hosted in the nearby Egeskov Castle. With over 110 stalls set up across the site's gardens and museums, this option is superlative in terms of both its scenic setting and options for festive shopping. Listen to the Christmas choir, warm up in the Café Jomfru Rigborg with some æbleskiver, and drink in the atmosphere at this well-preserved Renaissance water castle before heading back to the coastal cosiness of Svendborg.

4. Canterbury in Kent, England (UK)

🎁 Search score: 9.27 / Median price per night for a holiday home: $233

From meet-and-greet breakfasts with Father Christmas to festive "Santa Paws" photography sessions for pets, there's something for every kind of visitor at the Christmas market in Canterbury - a beautiful medieval walled city in southeast England. Collect some Kent cider or a sweet treat to sip from the Speciality Hot Chocolate Bar, before strolling through more than 50 stalls while listening to live music. Stop by the Giving Tree, where one can donate gifts to children in need.

Methodology

To create this ranking, HomeToGo first used internal search data to collate a shortlist of smaller cities and towns in Europe meeting the following requirements:

• do not appear on the list of the 100 most-searched destinations for the countries in which they are situated for the run up to Christmas in 2023 (lists were based on searches carried out via all HomeToGo domains in between 1st January 2023 - 31st October 2023, with check-in dates between 15th November 2023 - 24th December 2023).
• have a recurring Christmas market.
• have a maximum population of 100,000.

For each destination in this shortlist, HomeToGo researched two data points using exclusive internal data: interest among winter travelers, and accommodation costs. After obtaining the raw data, each data point was assigned a representative numerical value between 5 and 10, with 5 representing the lowest data point and 10 representing the highest data point. The hypothetical "perfect score" would be 20 out of 20. The following equation was used in order to calculate this for every factor:

Score(i) = 5 · (x(i) - xmin ) / (xmax - xmin ) + 5

Price: Internal HomeToGo data was used to find the median price per night for a vacation rental in each destination between 15th November - 24th December 2023. The destination with the lowest median price per night for a vacation rental was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining counties were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected in November 2023. Prices are subject to change.

Searches: Internal HomeToGo data was used to find the volume of traveler searches for each destination with a check-in date between 15th November 2023 - 24th December 2023. The location with the lowest search volume was given a score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher.

¹ Based on research conducted by HomeToGo among a general population sample of respondents in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy (500 respondents per country). To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 or older. The survey was conducted on 13 August 2023.

All Christmas market information was accurate at the time of collection during October and November 2023, and was taken from the official websites of the respective tourism boards wherever possible. Please double-check the status of events prior to arranging travel.

HomeToGo assumes no liability for possible changes or discrepancies in the data.