European Christmas Markets by Train: London to Prague in 12 Days

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At the end of November 2025, Chantelle and I joined most of her immediate family on a trip we’d talked about for years: the Christmas markets of Europe. There were ten of us in all, including her young niece and nephew, and we traveled almost the entire way by train.

Here’s the full route, what each stop was like, and the tips we’d give anyone planning their own Christmas market trip.

Our route at a glance

2026 Christmas market dates

If you’re planning this route for 2026, these are the official dates for the main markets we visited:

Our trip ran from late November into early December, when every market on the route was open. Many markets close on or before Christmas Eve, so double-check dates if you’re traveling late in December.

Getting around: Europe by train

We traveled between countries by train, and it was easy to navigate, even with a group of ten. The trains are comfortable, the stations are central, and you skip the airport security lines entirely.

What helped:

• Book the big legs ahead of time, especially for a large group, so you can sit together.
• Pack light enough to lift your own bag onto the train. There’s no checked luggage, and connections can be quick.
• Get to the platform early. The trains leave on time.

London: Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Christmas lights

We started in London, where Chantelle and I had been once before, back in 2017. Seeing it decorated for Christmas was a whole new experience.

We walked past Big Ben and along the Thames, then saw Tower Bridge lit up at night, and wandered through the Christmas lights and giant trees in the shopping streets.

Stuttgart: our first German Christmas market

Stuttgart was our first taste of a German Christmas market: wooden chalets, twinkling lights, and the first of many mugs of glühwein.

Munich: Marienplatz and the view from the tower

Munich’s main Christmas market fills Marienplatz, right in front of the giant Gothic New Town Hall. It was beautiful, and it was also the most crowded market of our trip.

The next day we rode up the New Town Hall tower, right above the market, for a view over the whole city, including the twin towers of the Frauenkirche, then toured the Residenz, the former royal palace. Its Antiquarium, a long hall with painted ceilings, was one of the most impressive rooms we saw all trip. More in our Munich Christmas market guide.

A snowy day trip to Neuschwanstein

From Munich, we took a guided day tour into the Bavarian Alps to Neuschwanstein Castle, and woke up to fresh snow. It was absolutely stunning, and looked exactly like a Christmas card.

We finished the day at the Alpsee, the lake below the castle, as the sun went down over the mountains.

If you go in winter, book castle tickets ahead, wear real boots, and check whether the walking paths and Marienbrücke viewpoint are open. We went with a tour, and we’d recommend it: someone else handles the driving on snowy mountain roads. Here’s our full Neuschwanstein in winter guide. Compare Neuschwanstein day tours from Munich.

Salzburg: Mozart, Mirabell and the Christkindlmarkt

Salzburg is small and walkable, and the blue-sky day we had there was perfect. We walked through the Mirabell Gardens, across the love-lock bridge over the Salzach River, and past Mozart’s birthplace on Getreidegasse.

At sunset we visited the lake at Schloss Leopoldskron, the palace and lake from The Sound of Music, with the mountains glowing behind it, and that night we explored the Christkindlmarkt in the old town squares. Dates and hours for all four of Salzburg’s 2026 markets are in our Salzburg Christmas markets guide.

Vienna: our favorite stop of the whole trip

Vienna was the highlight. The main Christmas market at Rathausplatz, in front of the lit-up City Hall, was our absolute favorite place of the entire trip. More on that in our Vienna Christmas markets guide.

We also saw St. Stephen’s Cathedral and its tiled roof from the tower, the Austrian National Library’s ornate State Hall, the lights along the Graben, and the horse-drawn carriages around the old town.

Prague: Old Town Square, the castle and Charles Bridge

Our last stop was Prague. The Christmas market in Old Town Square, with its huge tree in front of the Týn Church, was our second-favorite market of the trip. We didn’t love the feel of Prague quite as much as Austria, but the sights are spectacular. More in our Prague Christmas market guide.

We spent a day at Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, whose stained glass windows are stunning, then walked across Charles Bridge and watched the Astronomical Clock.

For the best view of the market, climb the Old Town Hall tower after dark.

How the markets compared

1. Vienna (Rathausplatz): our favorite of the whole trip.
2. Prague (Old Town Square): second favorite, with an incredible tree.
3. Munich (Marienplatz): beautiful, but more crowded than all the others.

The glühwein was wonderful at every market. Most markets serve it in a souvenir mug with a deposit (Pfand). Return the mug for your deposit back, or keep it. We collected mugs from every market.

Traveling with little ones at the markets

Chantelle’s niece and nephew rode around the markets in a wagon and often both napped in it, which kept the whole group moving through long evenings. If you’re bringing toddlers, a wagon or a sturdy stroller with a rain cover is worth it. The cobblestones are bumpy and the crowds are thick.

Where we stayed

We had hotels in each city. Sometimes the rooms were a little tight, but it worked out well. Staying in or near each old town meant we could walk to the markets at night.

• Hotels in Munich
• Hotels in Salzburg’s old town
• Hotels in Vienna’s 1st district
• Hotels near Prague’s Old Town Square

Phone data

We used T-Mobile’s included international data, which worked for maps and messages in every country. If your plan doesn’t include international data, an Airalo eSIM is an easy way to get Europe-wide data before you land.

Safety tip: know where the US Embassy is

With a big group, make sure everyone has the contact information for the US Embassy in each country you visit, in case someone gets separated, loses a passport or needs help. You can find them at travel.state.gov. It’s also worth enrolling in the State Department’s free STEP program, so the embassy can reach you in an emergency.

Credit card perks that help on a trip like this

Travel credit cards can take a real bite out of a trip like this. Benefits vary by card, so check what yours actually includes before you go, but look for:

• No foreign transaction fees. Otherwise you can pay around 3% on every purchase abroad.
• Rideshare credits, like Uber credits, for airport and train station rides.
• Checked bag, airline fee, or travel credits.
• Lounge access for long layovers on the way over.
• Built-in trip delay and baggage protection.

For military families: several card issuers waive annual fees for active-duty service members under the Military Lending Act and SCRA. Check each issuer’s current military benefits. It can make a premium travel card free while you’re serving.

Would we do it again?

Absolutely. If you only have time for one, make it Vienna in late November or December. Grab a mug of glühwein at Rathausplatz and wander until your feet give out.