Christmas Market Breaks by Train from the UK (2026): Strasbourg, Bruges, Ghent, Cologne, Nuremberg and Salzburg

Have you ever wanted to sip mulled wine under a giant Christmas tree in Strasbourg, then be home in London the same weekend? You can, and you don't even need to go near an airport! Tripadvisor looked at what UK travellers searched for between August and October 2026, for trips from November to February. Strasbourg came out top, and Ghent, Bruges, Nuremberg and Salzburg were also in the top 10.

I love Christmas markets. One of my favourite Christmases ever was in Paris, where we stayed through a home exchange and spent our days at the markets, drinking mulled wine and ice skating near the Eiffel Tower. Closer to home, I always end up with a Hungarian chimney cake at Christmas in London. I haven't visited the markets in this guide yet. So I've checked the official 2026 dates, the train times from London St Pancras and the practical details for you, as of November 2026.

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Quick answer

• Easiest: Brussels is about 2 hours from London by Eurostar. Bruges and Ghent are a short train ride further.
• Most famous: Strasbourg, from 27 November to 24 December 2026. Change in Paris or Lille.
• Germany: Cologne is about 5 hours away with one change. Nuremberg takes a full day.
• Longest season: Salzburg, from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, with a sleeper train from Brussels.
• Before you go: you register for the EU's Entry/Exit System at St Pancras, so don't arrive late. Eurostar doesn't run on Christmas Day.

Christmas markets by train at a glance

Journey times are from Seat61's sample timetables and include changes.

Strasbourg: the capital of Christmas

Strasbourg calls itself the capital of Christmas. It isn't one market but a whole network of them around the old town on the Grande Île. The oldest is the Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie. Place Kléber has the Grand Sapin, the huge Christmas tree, and there are more stalls around the cathedral, at Place du Marché-aux-Poissons and in Petite France.

• Dates (2026): Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December.
• Opening hours: 11 am to 9 pm every day. On the opening day it opens at 2 pm, and on 24 December it closes at 6 pm. Nothing is open from 25 December to New Year's Day.
• Good to know: cars are banned on the Grande Île during market hours. Drinks come in a returnable cup with a €1 deposit, which you can get back or donate to charity.

Getting there: take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord (about 2 hours 20 minutes). Then walk 7 minutes to Paris Gare de l'Est, where TGVs reach Strasbourg in as little as 1 hour 47 minutes. Seat61 also suggests going via Lille, with a same-station change, in as little as 5 hours 35 minutes.

Winter walk: follow the River Ill around Petite France to the Ponts Couverts, the old covered bridges. Then climb onto the Barrage Vauban, a 17th-century weir. Its roof terrace has a lovely view over the bridges and Petite France, and it is free to visit.

Sample weekend: leave London on Friday morning and have a late lunch in Paris. You can be in Strasbourg for the evening lights. Spend Saturday on the markets and the cathedral, then do the riverside walk on Sunday morning before the train home.

Brussels, Bruges and Ghent: the easiest weekend

For a short weekend, Belgium is the obvious choice. Seat61 says InterCity trains run twice an hour from Brussels. They take about 27 minutes to Ghent and about 1 hour to Bruges. Belgian train fares are fixed, so you don't need to book ahead. However, Eurostar stopped selling "Any Belgian Station" tickets in March 2025, so you now buy the onward Belgian train separately.

Brussels: Winter Wonders

Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d'Hiver) runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The stalls spread over several squares in the centre, including Place Sainte-Catherine, the Vismet, Place de la Bourse and Place de la Monnaie. The full programme is published in November, so check the official website for opening hours.

Bruges: Winter Glow

Bruges looks like a fairy tale! Its winter festival, Winter Glow, runs from 20 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.

• Christmas markets: on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein, from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11:30 pm. On New Year's Eve they stay open until 3 am.
• Ice rink: in Koning Albert I-park.
• Getting there: about 3 hours 25 minutes from London, changing in Brussels. Seat61 lists the standard Brussels to Bruges fare at €18 each way, or €12.60 at weekends.

Winter walk: walk along the old ramparts on the east side of the city. Four of the medieval city gates still stand, including the Kruispoort and the Gentpoort. Along the Kruisvest you also pass the old windmills, such as the Sint-Janshuis Mill.

Ghent: Winter Festivities

Ghent was number 3 on Tripadvisor's list. The Gentse Winterfeesten run from Thursday 3 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, which is until the end of the Christmas holidays.

• Where: more than 150 chalets in the city centre, with the Sapin Magique on Sint-Baafsplein, an ice rink at the Stadshal and a Ferris wheel on the Korenmarkt.
• Christmas market hours: Monday to Thursday noon to midnight, Friday noon to 1 am, Saturday 11 am to 1 am and Sunday 11 am to midnight.
• Christmas and New Year: on 24 and 31 December the market is open from noon to 5 pm. On 25 December and 1 January it is open from noon to 1 am.

Winter walk: stroll along the Graslei and Korenlei, the two historic quays on either side of the river, and on to Gravensteen, the medieval Castle of the Counts.

Sample weekend: take an early Eurostar to Brussels on Saturday and continue to Ghent. Have an evening on the market and the ice rink. On Sunday, take the train to Bruges for the ramparts walk and the Markt, then go back to Brussels for the Eurostar home.

Cologne: markets under the cathedral

Cologne is the easiest German Christmas city from London. Seat61's sample timetable leaves St Pancras at 7:04 am and arrives in Cologne at 12:15 pm local time, with a 20-minute change in Brussels. ICE tickets from Brussels start at £18.99 each way. The main station is right next to the cathedral, so you can be at a market within minutes.

• Cathedral market (Roncalliplatz): 16 November to 23 December 2026. It is closed on 22 November. Hours are 11 am to 9 pm Sunday to Wednesday, 11 am to 10 pm Thursday and Friday, and 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday.
• Heinzels Wintermärchen (old town): on the Alter Markt from 23 November to 23 December 2026, 11 am to 10 pm. The Heumarkt part, with the ice rink, runs from 23 November 2026 to 10 January 2027 and is closed on 24 and 25 December.

Winter walk: walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge next to the station. From the other side of the Rhine you get the classic view back to the cathedral.

Nuremberg: the Christkindlesmarkt

Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt on the Hauptmarkt is one of the most famous in Germany. Do try the small Nuremberg sausages!

• Dates (2026): 27 November to 24 December.
• Opening hours: 10 am to 9 pm every day.
• Opening ceremony: 27 November 2026 at 5:30 pm.
• Getting there: change in Brussels and Frankfurt. On weekdays, the 7:04 am from St Pancras reaches Nuremberg at 3:58 pm local time (2027 timetable, from 13 December 2026).

Winter walk: walk up through the old town to the Kaiserburg, the castle on a sandstone ridge above the city. Then follow the old city walls back down.

Salzburg: the longest season

Salzburg has a special place in my heart. Back in 2013 we cycled from Salzburg to Budapest, and I took a photo in front of the Fortress Hohensalzburg. I said then that I would love to come back for Christmas in Austria one day. Later we spent a summer cycling in the Salzburg Lake District, just north of the city. Not far from there is Oberndorf, where "Silent Night" was first performed in 1818.

• Christkindlmarkt (Domplatz and Residenzplatz): 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027.
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 10 am to 8:30 pm, Friday 10 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 9 pm, Sundays and holidays 9 am to 8:30 pm.
• Christmas and New Year: 24 December 9 am to 3 pm, 25 and 26 December 11 am to 6 pm, and 1 January 11 am to 6 pm.
• Free transport: overnight guests in the province of Salzburg get a Guest Mobility Ticket at check-in for buses and trains.

Getting there: it is doable in a day. Seat61's Monday to Saturday example leaves London at 7:04 am and arrives in Salzburg at 6:58 pm, changing in Brussels. Or you can take an afternoon Eurostar to Brussels and the Nightjet sleeper, which leaves on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:56 pm and arrives in Salzburg at 6:46 am.

Winter walk: take the lift up the Mönchsberg, which has carried visitors since 1890. Then walk along the wooded plateau for views over the old town to the fortress.

Budget tips for a Christmas market break

• Book Eurostar early: fares start at about £51 one way or £78 return to Paris or Brussels, but they rise as trains fill up.
• Go midweek: trains and hotels are cheaper, and the markets are much quieter than on Saturday evenings.
• Think about the dates: Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Salzburg run after Christmas, while Strasbourg and Nuremberg end on 24 December. There are no Eurostar trains on Christmas Day.
• Eat at the stalls: a sausage or a waffle is much cheaper than a restaurant meal. Pack a picnic for the train too.

What to pack for cold days

You will spend hours standing outside on December evenings. It gets cold quickly, even with a hot drink in your hand!

• Layers: a thermal base layer, a warm jumper and a windproof, waterproof coat. I love my merino wool layers, as they keep you warm without being bulky.
• Waterproof boots: cobbles get wet and icy.
• Hat, gloves and scarf: touchscreen gloves are handy for train tickets on your phone.

If you travel with a little one in a pushchair, keep them cosy. We use the footmuff for our Out n About Nipper, and it is a must in cold weather.

The hand muffs are another winter favourite of mine. They save you from taking your gloves off every time you stop, and they fit most other pushchairs too.

Eurostar and the EES check at St Pancras

British travellers now register their passport, photo and, from age 12, fingerprints at EES kiosks in St Pancras. Ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure, so arrive at the time on your ticket. Read my guide to EES and ETIAS for UK travellers, and my full guide to travelling to Europe by train for connections and booking tips.

The train is also a great sustainable swap, as you go from city centre to city centre.

FAQ

Which Christmas market is easiest to reach from London by train?

Brussels. Eurostar takes about 2 hours, with no change. Bruges and Ghent are only a short train ride further.

When does the Strasbourg Christmas market open in 2026?

It runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026, from 11 am to 9 pm. It opens at 2 pm on the first day and closes at 6 pm on 24 December.

Can I do Nuremberg or Salzburg in a weekend?

It is possible, but each way takes most of a day. I suggest three or four nights. For Salzburg, the Brussels sleeper saves you a hotel night and a day of travelling.

Which Christmas market would you choose this year? Let me know in the comments!