Few things are as magical as strolling through a European Christmas market: lights, wooden stalls, crafts, the smell of mulled wine and sweets, in fairy-tale cities sometimes dusted with snow. Touring Europe's best Christmas markets in a motorhome is a beautiful, different kind of winter route. That said, it does require preparing the camper for the cold. Here's the guide.
The must-see cities
- Germany: the birthplace of Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt), with Nuremberg, Dresden, Cologne... spectacular (see Germany).
- Austria: Vienna and Salzburg, straight out of a fairy tale (see Austria).
- Strasbourg (France, the "capital of Christmas"), Prague, Budapest, Brussels...
The camper strategy
The usual formula for cities applies here: leave the motorhome at an aire or campsite on the outskirts and take transport into the centre (see campers in the city). Many European cities have good aires. You can link several cities together on a route, enjoying each market as evening falls, when the lights come on.
The challenge: continental European winter cold
December in central Europe is genuinely cold (often below zero, with snow). You need a camper well prepared for winter: good insulation, reliable heating, and an electrical system that holds up in the cold (lithium batteries need care when charging below zero; see heated battery and the camper in winter). Size your power properly (see calculator) and protect the water system so it doesn't freeze (see winterising).
Practical tips
- Documentation and vignettes/tolls in order for each country (see documentation).
- Snow chains in case of snowfall (see chains and snow).
- Enjoy it at dusk: the markets shine once the lights are on.
- Wrap up warm and enjoy the mulled wine.
In summary
Europe's Christmas markets make for a magical winter route, with Germany and Austria leading the way, which calls for preparing the camper well for the cold. The step to take today: link a handful of cities with great markets (Germany is ideal), park on the outskirts and take transport in at dusk, and thoroughly prepare your insulation, heating, battery and water system for the cold. Combine it with Christmas in a motorhome.