European Best Destinations Reveals Top Christmas Markets for 2026
More than 800,000 travellers have voted for their favorite European Christmas markets through the European Best Destinations platform. The ranking highlights the top five festive destinations to visit in 2026, featuring cities such as Craiova in Romania, Zurich, Riga, Lisbon, and Debrecen.
Key points
- More than 800,000 travellers voted in the European Best Destinations ranking.
- Craiova, Romania, claimed the top spot with a Nutcracker theme and a 280,000 square meter space.
- Zurich, Riga, Lisbon, and Debrecen were also highlighted among the top festive locations.
What Happened
More than 800,000 travellers have cast their votes for their favorite festive spots via the European Best Destinations platform, selecting a final ranking of twenty locations across Europe. The report highlights the top five destinations for travellers looking to experience winter markets in 2026.
Context
The Romanian city of Craiova secured the top position, featuring a Nutcracker theme, a huge festive space spanning over 280,000 square meters, and Eastern Europe's highest-flying Santa sleigh, running from mid-November to early January.
Zurich ranked prominently with attractions including Wienachtsdorf at Sechseläutenplatz and the Weihnachtsallee near the main station. Riga's Doma Square hosts a Baltic-themed market from late November to early January surrounded by fairy-tale light installations.
Lisbon offers mild temperatures and winter sunshine at Parque Eduardo VII for Wonderland Lisboa's 11th edition. Meanwhile, Hungary's second-largest city, Debrecen, transforms its streets with glowing installations, more than 100 cultural events, and traditional treats.
What's Next
The highlighted Christmas markets are scheduled to run across the winter season, opening between mid-November and late November and continuing through early January.
Why it matters
The annual European Best Destinations ranking guides winter holiday planning for hundreds of thousands of international travellers, highlighting both prominent and lesser-known festive destinations across Europe.
What we know
- Over 800,000 travellers voted via the European Best Destinations platform.
- Craiova secured the top spot in the 2026 ranking with a Nutcracker theme.
- Markets in Craiova, Zurich, Riga, Lisbon, and Debrecen are scheduled to run between mid-November and early January.
What remains unclear
- Future visitor turnout numbers and exact weather conditions during the 2026 operating windows remain unverified.
