Europe’s Christmas markets are the perfect vacation spot for getting right into a festive vacation temper. You may enterprise into storybook-like medieval market squares the place heat mugs of mulled wine heat up winter nights, aromas of candy spice linger within the air and handmade items make for one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
For vacationers from the U.S., a Christmas market-themed river cruise alongside the Rhine or Danube rivers is without doubt one of the hottest methods to go to a number of of probably the most well-known markets in a single journey. Nonetheless, these aren’t the one cruises that may take you to Europe’s vacation markets, as I discovered this previous Christmas.
Impressed by the Viking river cruise on the Danube I took final yr, I booked one other wintertime European cruise for this yr’s trip — however this time on an ocean-going ship within the Mediterranean.
My husband and I, in addition to our two younger daughters, have been excited to cruise with small-ship line Windstar Cruises on the 312-passenger Star Legend. However we did not anticipate our journey to be full of visits to Christmas markets in each port. In spite of everything, for all their vacationer charms, nobody ever mentions Rome and Barcelona as must-visit Christmas market locations, do they?
Nonetheless, we have been delighted to find that each cities host Christmas markets — as did each different port we visited: Livorno and Genoa, Italy, in addition to Good, France. We have been decided to go to all of them, reworking our offseason Mediterranean cruise into our personal Christmas market crusing — simply on an ocean vessel as a substitute of a river ship.
Alongside the best way, we found that there is loads of Christmas magic within the nice Mediterranean port cities. Here is what you need to know if you wish to do the identical.
A Christmas market cruise on the Med requires a DIY strategy
The very first thing to notice is that, not like my Viking river cruise, the place shore excursions to festive markets have been included as free excursions within the cruise fare, Windstar’s shoreside program does not characteristic Christmas markets. This implies our Christmas market cruise on the Mediterranean was a do-it-yourself enterprise.
Luckily, not one of the markets have been too tough to succeed in on foot or by public transport (with the assistance of Google Maps). In Rome, our precruise resort was a straightforward 10-minute stroll from the Christmas market on Piazza Navona. In Livorno, a free shuttle bus from the ship to the city heart dropped us a five-minute stroll away from the market.
In Genoa and Good, the markets have been lower than a half-hour on foot from the place we docked; it was straightforward to observe the flat curve of the waterfront towards the vacation lights. Each walks additionally allowed us to take in a few of the predominant sights in every metropolis, corresponding to Good’s pastel-pretty previous city, Vieux Good.
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Our ship stayed in a single day in Good, so we have been additionally in a position to tick off Monaco’s Christmas market. The bus from the port of Good to Monaco is without doubt one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic public transport routes and a vacationer attraction in its personal proper, so we fortunately paid the 1.70 euro ($1.76) fare every for the 45-minute experience. Most conveniently of all, Barcelona’s market was arrange simply outdoors the cruise terminal the place Star Legend docked.
Mediterranean Christmas markets have a distinct vibe
The three Italian cities we visited first — and notably Rome — had a particular vacation buzz. They have been fantastically dressed for the season; the streets glittered with festive lights, and elaborate decorations adorned store fronts.
In comparison with the fairytale medieval market squares filled with wood chalets within the cities alongside the Danube, I discovered the Italian Christmas markets lacked the coziness and ambiance of their river counterparts. That they had fewer stalls, fewer folks and a much less charming setting typically.
The markets in Livorno and Genoa have been so small that we visited all of the stalls in below quarter-hour. We could not discover an inviting spot to linger with a glass of mulled wine or — and this shocked me — stalls with recent meals.
Within the river cities, notably Passau in Germany and Bratislava in Slovakia, freshly cooked meals was an enormous a part of the Christmas market expertise. In every single place, folks have been having fun with native dishes corresponding to bratwurst sausages, loksa (potato truffles with fillings) and cinnamon-dusted chimney truffles.
Surprisingly, the Italian markets targeted much less on seasonal eats. Aside from roasted chestnuts, I discovered little in the best way of savory fare. They do promote conventional sweets — corresponding to ciambelle (large donuts) in Rome and chocolate fudge in Genoa — however it was removed from the array of Christmas market meals I discovered on my river cruise.
Additional into the crusing, the Christmas markets we visited in Monaco and Good have been extra much like these I visited on the Danube — with the added benefit of heat winter sunshine. Distributors served Champagne and oysters alongside aromatic vats of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts on open fires. Moreover the heavy plates of tartiflette and bratwurst sausages, stalls offered native meals specialties corresponding to socca (a chickpea pancake) in Good and barbajuan (a fried ravioli) in Monaco.
To not be outdone, Barcelona’s large seasonal Port Vell honest was additionally nice enjoyable, with loud music, flowing sangria, massive forged iron pans of simmering paella and candy churros dipped in Nutella for dessert.
My kids’s enjoyment of using the enormous Ferris wheel in Monaco made me notice one thing else: Christmas markets in river cities are targeted on meals and items, with the occasional ice-skating rink, whereas the higher markets we visited within the Mediterranean supplied extra number of actions. After all, they promote seasonal specialties to savor and souvenirs to take residence, however the markets additionally included fairground rides and video games, which my youngsters liked.
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You will discover loads of conventional crafts to carry residence
I got here residence from my Viking river cruise laden with items to position below the Christmas tree. I purchased hand-carved cookie stamps from Budapest, a horseshoe cast from metal in Bratislava Fort’s medieval market and handmade ceramic mugs from Passau for my daughters.
Equally, I picked up some pleasant souvenirs from the Christmas markets we visited on the Mediterranean, corresponding to a doll of La Befana in Rome. The figurine of an previous woman with a sharp nostril wearing rags and clutching a brush fabricated from dried twigs is a basic Italian Christmas character: She is alleged to carry presents to good kids on Jan. 5, Epiphany Eve (or, as lore has it, a lump of coal to those that are unhealthy). Her brush can be believed to brush away any lingering issues of the earlier yr.
I discovered one other pleasant festive custom on the Cote d’Azur, too. Santons — or miniature clay collectible figurines of shepherds and lavender growers that individuals use to create Provencal nativity scenes of their houses — are on sale in each Good and Monaco. In Barcelona, we found the Tio de Nadal, a small ornamental wood log with a smiling face that’s stated to poop out Christmas items.
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Ocean vessels provide extra onboard points of interest than river ships
Christmas market river cruises construct market visits into the itinerary, which provides an ease to your go to {that a} do-it-yourself Christmas market cruise on the ocean does not have. That is additionally why Christmas market river cruises are so fashionable — they typically guide out years prematurely.
Winter Mediterranean cruises are thought-about offseason journeys and never as fashionable as itineraries in hotter months. Meaning ships sail much less full or have last-minute availability for spur-of-the-moment vacationers. On Star Legend, the ship was nowhere close to full capability; we sailed with simply 193 passengers on a ship that might carry 312.
Though it is a smaller yacht-style vessel, Star Legend can be a lot larger than a Viking river ship. It might probably carry 312 passengers and has six visitor decks, in comparison with Viking’s 190 passengers and 4 decks. Our cabins have been bigger than these on the Viking river ship, with a separate lounge space. Our household of 4 booked two cabins, and we actually appreciated the house because it meant we weren’t at all times on high of one another.
Windstar has a pleasant method of arranging adjoining cabins. As a substitute of a door in the course of the room you can open or shut, the ship places a small vestibule between the hallway and the doorways for every cabin. We might depart each cabin doorways open and shut the principle door onto the hall to create our personal personal house.
The ship supplied extra public areas and facilities on board than the river ship, together with a spa and health heart, swimming pool and theater. Because it was heated, we used the swimming pool each day. We spent most evenings within the lounge bar, Compass Rose, as all of us liked the nightly reside music. Nonetheless, we made positive to not miss the carols within the theater on Christmas Eve nor the crew present two nights earlier than we disembarked.
The additional dimension of Star Legend was most noticeable within the meals and beverage choices, with six restaurant and bar areas. In distinction, our Viking riverboats supplied solely a small informal buffet space, a lounge and one restaurant. We needed to be seated at 7 p.m. each night round massive tables with different visitors. On the ocean, we might eat after we wished and with whom. I a lot most well-liked having this selection.
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The Mediterranean is a delight to cruise — even in winter
The normal Christmas market river cruising season begins when the markets open in mid-November and finishes earlier than Christmas.The Christmas markets alongside the Danube shut on numerous dates, normally after Christmas day however earlier than the top of December on the newest.
The markets in Mediterranean cities begin later, in early December, but additionally stay open till Epiphany (Jan. 6). Affirm the markets are open throughout your potential sail dates earlier than finalizing your reserving.
For those who desire cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and cheaper fares, winter is a great time to cruise the Mediterranean. The identical seven-night Europe’s Winter Riviera itinerary as ours in December 2025 is at present priced at $3,892 with Windstar’s all-inclusive add-on package deal, primarily based on double occupancy. Compared, an identical summertime itinerary on Windstar’s Wind Surf crusing yacht in July begins at $5,692 primarily based on double occupancy and with the all-inclusive add-on package deal.
Nonetheless, it’s a must to strategy a winter cruise within the Mediterranean understanding that you haven’t any management over what climate you are going to encounter.
The evening earlier than we boarded in Rome, the climate was so unhealthy on the Italian coast that the ship could not depart Livorno. The Captain informed us that simply as he was about to place out the decision for buses to shuttle everybody up from Rome within the morning, the winds dropped, and the ship was in a position to get underway a number of hours later than deliberate.
Luckily, we loved seven days of uninterrupted blue skies — the sort of good winter situations you’d order for those who might. The heated Jacuzzi and plunge pool on the highest deck turned a part of our morning routine, as did lunch below the nice and cozy noon solar on the highest deck at Star Grill. The temperature even tiptoed into the 60s as we sailed out of Good into a day of superb Cote d’Azur cruising as we headed towards Barcelona.
The climate was good for shore excursions, corresponding to a superb 3.7-mile hike of the hilltop fortifications that when protected Genoa from invasion. As a result of we traveled over the vacation week, we discovered crowds having fun with walks and meals within the solar with household and pals wherever we went. Barcelona was so busy after we arrived that the quantity of pedestrian visitors alongside Las Ramblas was a well-liked matter of dialogue with fellow passengers at cocktail hour again on the ship.
The hotter climate means you will have to take a distinct strategy to packing than you’d for those who have been on the river. We did not want lengthy underwear, gloves or heat hats. Layering is essential throughout winter within the Mediterranean. You could be in a T-shirt and denims for lunch within the solar, however the minute you step into the shade, you will need to placed on a sweater and heat coat.
The gown code on Star Legend was similar to my river cruise with Viking: relaxed through the day and sensible informal at evening.
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Just a few cruise traces provide winter Mediterranean sailings
If you need some Christmas market cheer on a winter cruise within the Mediterranean, you will need to contemplate two different cruise traces along with Windstar.
Viking’s fleet of ocean vessels carries fewer than 1,000 folks, and youngsters below 18 aren’t allowed to sail. The road’s seven-night Iconic Western Mediterranean cruise between Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona calls at Marseille, Villefranche-sur-Mer (for Good and Monaco) and Livorno (gateway to Florence and Tuscany).
MSC Cruises is a superb selection for households inquisitive about winter sailings to ports with Christmas markets at cheap costs. The large MSC World Europa sails a loop across the Mediterranean year-round, calling at Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, Valetta, Barcelona and Marseille. Different MSC vessels — together with MSC Splendida, MSC Orchestra and MSC Magnifica — additionally cruise the Western Mediterranean in winter.
Backside line
Whereas they are not fairly the storybook markets in twinkling, snow-dusted cities that you simply image if you consider the Rhine and Danube’s Christmas markets, the markets within the Mediterranean are a delight. They’ve the entire festive substances to get you into the vacation temper — particularly given the area’s tendency for superb winter solar.
After all, it might be a lot simpler to go to the Mediterranean markets on a shore tour, however for those who’re somebody who’s not afraid of organizing your personal actions, you will discover attending to them a breeze. For those who’ve already loved a Christmas market river cruise and are on the lookout for a distinct expertise in Europe over the vacations, an ocean cruise to Christmas markets on the Med affords an identical festive temper and a brand new array of equally pleasant seasonal traditions to uncover.
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