Few things beat a mug of hot spiced wine under a canopy of lights. Christmas markets started in German-speaking Europe centuries ago, and today you can find great ones from Chicago’s Daley Plaza to Vienna’s City Hall square. Below are our picks for 2026, with the dates organizers have announced (as of October 2026) and tips for using points and miles to get there and stay there.
A quick note on dates: we pulled every date from the organizer, the city’s official tourism site, or a news report on the announcement, and we flag the ones that are not yet official. Hours change on holidays, so check the market’s own site before you go.
Top U.S. Christmas Markets for 2026
Chicago: Christkindlmarket (Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville and Aurora)
Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is the big one in the Midwest, and the Daley Plaza market is back for its 30th year. All three locations open Friday, November 20, 2026, and admission is free:
- Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St.): daily, Nov. 20 to Dec. 24.
- Wrigleyville (Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.): daily, Nov. 20 to Dec. 31, closed Christmas Day.
- Aurora (RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway): Thursdays to Sundays, Nov. 20 to Dec. 24, with more than 60 vendors.
In past years organizers have suggested bringing some cash, since not every vendor takes cards. Hours are shorter on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
Getting there: Chicago has two big airports. O’Hare (ORD) is a hub for both United and American, and Midway (MDW) is a major Southwest base, so this is a great place to use United MileagePlus, AAdvantage, or Rapid Rewards points. The Loop has plenty of chain hotels from the big programs, but December weekends near the market fill up, so book early or look at points hotels a short CTA ride away.
Our trip: We went to Chicago’s Christkindlmarket in 2025 and stayed at the St. Regis Chicago for free, using the 85,000-point annual Free Night Award from our Chase Ritz-Carlton card (see our Ritz-Carlton card guide for how that certificate works). The St. Regis is on East Wacker Drive in Lakeshore East, within walking distance of the Daley Plaza market. It’s about a mile, or a 20 to 25 minute walk. For dinner we went to RPM Seafood on the Chicago River, where we had an amazing haddock. We paid for every meal and every warm apple cider at the market with our Chase Sapphire Reserve, which earns 3x points on dining. Between the free night and the points we earned, it was one of our best-value holiday weekends.
Don’t skip the amenities. The St. Regis Chicago’s pool and gym are awesome, and they were a highlight of our stay. The heated indoor pool has windows facing Lake Michigan. The fitness center is just as impressive: Fodor’s describes it as a 5,000-square-foot space with top-of-the-line Cybex equipment, saunas and daily classes like yoga, Pilates and TRX. If you’re staying here on points, make time for both between trips to the Christkindlmarket.
The cards behind this trip: We paid for our meals and market treats with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You can apply for the Sapphire Reserve or Sapphire Preferred with our Chase referral link. Our free St. Regis night came from the Ritz-Carlton card, which you can only get by upgrading a Chase Marriott Bonvoy card. You can get one of those with our Marriott Bonvoy referral link.
Disclosure: These are our personal Chase referral links. If you’re approved through one, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
New York City: Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
New York’s best-known holiday market opens early. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park open October 28, 2026 and run through January 3, 2027, and the free-admission ice rink stays open through February 28, 2027 (skate rentals cost extra). It is a good add-on if you are already flying into JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark for a city weekend.
Philadelphia: Christmas Village at LOVE Park and City Hall
Philadelphia’s German-style Christmas Village returns to LOVE Park and City Hall in Center City from November 21 to December 27, 2026. Philadelphia (PHL) is an American Airlines hub, which makes it an easy AAdvantage award.
Carmel, Indiana: Carmel Christkindlmarkt
This suburban Indianapolis market is a hidden gem with a real German feel. It runs November 21 to December 24, 2026 and is free to visit. There is also a ticketed preview night, Wundernacht, on November 19 for guests 21 and over ($100 general admission). Fly into Indianapolis (IND), or drive, since it is about three hours from Chicago.
Top Christmas Markets in Germany
Nuremberg: Christkindlesmarkt
For many travelers this is the Christmas market. The official site lists November 27 to December 24, 2026, open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the opening ceremony on November 27 at 5:30 p.m. Try Nuremberg’s famous small grilled sausages and lebkuchen (gingerbread).
Dresden: Striezelmarkt
Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is one of Germany’s oldest. Its 592nd edition runs November 25 to December 24, 2026, according to the city. It is named for the Striezel, better known today as Dresden stollen.
Cologne: Christmas Market at the Cathedral
Cologne has several markets, and the one beneath the twin spires of the cathedral is the most photographed. A German festival listing gives November 16 to December 23, 2026, closed November 22 for the Totensonntag holiday. That listing is not the organizer, so confirm before you book. Cologne is easy to reach by train from Frankfurt or Düsseldorf.
Getting to Germany on points: Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) are Lufthansa hubs, and Lufthansa is in Star Alliance with United. That means United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, and other Star Alliance programs can usually book awards there, although Lufthansa awards can carry hefty carrier surcharges depending on the program you use. Nuremberg is roughly an hour from Munich by high-speed train. Air France–KLM Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles are the SkyTeam options through Paris and Amsterdam.
Top Christmas Markets in Austria
Vienna: Rathausplatz and the palace markets
Vienna may be the best Christmas market city in the world, because you can hop between several in one evening. Vienna’s official tourism site lists these 2026 dates:
- Viennese Christmas Market at Rathausplatz (City Hall): Nov. 13 to Dec. 26, 2026
- Schönbrunn Palace: Nov. 6, 2026 to Jan. 6, 2027
- Spittelberg: Nov. 13 to Dec. 23, 2026
- Belvedere Palace: Nov. 20 to Dec. 31, 2026
Vienna (VIE) is home to Austrian Airlines, another Star Alliance member, so look for award space using United or other Star Alliance miles. The big hotel programs (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and others) all have Vienna properties, and December is busy, so book early.
Salzburg: Christkindlmarkt at the Cathedral
Salzburg’s market fills Domplatz and Residenzplatz below the fortress. The organizer lists November 19, 2026 to January 1, 2027. Salzburg has a small airport, but many travelers fly into Munich or Vienna and take the train.
More Famous Markets Worth the Trip
Strasbourg, France: Christkindelsmärik
Strasbourg calls itself the “Capital of Christmas,” and its market dates to 1570. The city’s official site says the 2026 market opens Friday, November 27, 2026, but it has not posted a closing date yet (the 2025 market ended December 24). Fly into Paris on Air France or partner miles and take the high-speed train, or connect through Frankfurt.
Prague, Czech Republic: Old Town Square
Prague’s Old Town Square market, with its giant tree beside the Týn Church, is a favorite. Travel guides expect it to run from about late November 2026 to early January 2027, but we could not find an official 2026 announcement, so treat those dates as unconfirmed.
Points and Miles Tips for Christmas Market Trips
- Book flights early. Late November and December weekends are peak travel, and award space to Europe goes fast. Midweek departures are often easier.
- Think open-jaw. Fly into one city and home from another (for example, into Munich and home from Vienna), and take the train between markets. Many programs price this the same as a round trip.
- Use transferable points. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One and Bilt points transfer to airline programs, which gives you more ways to find award seats. Check current transfer partners and ratios before you move points, because transfers are usually final.
- Lock in hotels with free cancellation. Points bookings at most big chains can be canceled for free up to a deadline, so grab the room now and keep watching for better rates.
- Go on a weekday. Weekend evenings are packed at the most popular markets.
- Carry some cash. Many European stalls, and some in Chicago, prefer cash. At many German and Austrian markets your drink comes in a souvenir mug with a deposit you get back when you return it, or you can keep the mug.
Our Take
If you have one long weekend, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is hard to beat for Midwest travelers, with cheap domestic flights and three locations. If you can cross the Atlantic, pair Vienna and Salzburg, or Nuremberg and Munich, for the classic experience. Just book flights and hotels as early as you can, because December is one of the busiest times of year in these cities.
Sources: NBC Chicago (Christkindlmarket 2026), CBS Chicago, Fodor’s (St. Regis Chicago), Hoodline (Bryant Park), Christmas Village in Philadelphia, Hoodline (Carmel), Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, Dresden Striezelmarkt, Festivals in Deutschland (Cologne), Vienna Tourist Board, Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, Strasbourg Capitale de Noël, Prague-trip.com (unofficial).
Dates and hours are as announced as of October 2026 and can change. Confirm with each market before you travel. Award availability and points prices change constantly.
