Christmas Markets 2024: Your Guide to an Enchanting Advent Season
Experience the enchanting atmosphere of Switzerland’s lesser-known Christmas markets, where the holiday spirit comes alive in quaint villages and small towns. Stroll through cobblestone streets lined with festive stalls, offering everything from handmade crafts to locally produced delicacies. The aroma of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and freshly baked pastries fills the crisp winter air, creating an irresistible sense of warmth and nostalgia.
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and twinkling lights, these markets offer a more intimate and authentic holiday experience. Here, you can browse unique gifts, enjoy traditional music, and savor regional specialties, all while soaking in the charm and serenity of the season. Whether it’s the cozy wooden chalets or the lively Christmas cheer, these hidden gems provide an unforgettable way to celebrate the magic of the holidays in Switzerland.
We have curated a list of some of our favourite Christmas markets – guaranteed to put you in a festive mood:
Baden
With twinkling lights, Baden exudes winter magic. Not one, but three Christmas villages celebrate the most beautiful time of the year. The Badener WunderDorf on the Theaterplatz enchants visitors with its Christmas market and delicious street food. Immerse yourself in the sea of lights and let yourself be enchanted as you stroll through the city centre.
Biel / Bienne
Every year in December the Christmas houses in and next to Biel’s Nidaugasse open daily for the traditional Christmas market. Festive music, glittering lights and the smell of gingerbread and mulled wine await visitors. The glassblower in the Nidaugasse should not be missed!
Chur
The Christmas market of Chur in Graubünden is as rustic and magical as the historical Alpine city itself. Handmade crafts, home-baked festive treats and, of course, nutritious, freshly prepared barley soup delight all visitors at Christmastime.
Lausanne
Lausanne shows its most glorious side in the run-up to Christmas. A magical ambience awaits visitors at the various Christmas markets in the city centre, where the most beautiful live nativity scene in Switzerland and its moving performance awaits. A children’s village is set up for the youngest visitors, where they can play and listen to stories.
Lugano
Unforgettable moments in Switzerland’s southernmost city: with its festive lighting, beautifully decorated Christmas tree, lovingly displayed market stalls and the scent of cinnamon wafting through the alleyways, Lugano is sure to delight both young and old.
Olten
With a combination of Christmas market and Advent magic, the Olten Advent Village shines in the downtown area. There are many small, lovingly decorated chalets with vendors that change weekly. For the little ones, there is also a Christmas carousel and an ice rink.
Schaffhausen
For two days in December, the cloister of the Allerheiligen Monastery in Schaffhausen is the backdrop to a wonderful Christmas market. Visitors can amble from the cloister to the old town, past small yet exclusive market stalls and enjoy the romantic atmosphere in the run-up to Christmas.
Solothurn
A variety of regional exhibitors present their creations at the Christmas market in the Capuchin monastery. Visitors are invited to enjoy and browse the products on offer which range from culinary delicacies to handicrafts.
St. Gallen
Over the squares and alleyways of St. Gallen’s old town, 700 stars will twinkle this December, casting a festive glow over the historic façades of this UNESCO World Heritage site. The Christmas market in the winding alleys of the old town has something for all Christmas lovers – from local handicrafts to mouth-watering regional delicacies.
Thun
In the run-up to Christmas, the Bälliz shopping promenade becomes a playground for young and old. Children can try their hand at candle making or enjoy a ride on the merry-go-round. Decorated market stalls make up the heart of the Thun Christmas Market. With panoramic views of the Alps, they offer pretty wood carvings, regional specialties and other treasures.
Winterthur
It is not just the Chlausenumzug that helps draw 350,000 visitors to the Neumarkt square in Winterthur each year – they also marvel at the beautifully decorated Christmas huts, the colorful gifts, and the hundreds of Father Christmases.
We invite you to get off the beaten track, so to speak, and experience the many magical Christmas markets, villages and locations dotted around Switzerland. With over 130 Christmas markets the list above merely grazes the surface – we encourage you to explore! Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and Switzerland offers the fairytale background to which memories are made.
