If you are going to be spending Christmas in Switzerland, chances are you’ll get to experience one of the many Christmas markets. Switzerland is the perfect destination to enjoy the festive season and the best way to immerse yourself in one of the most popular Swiss Christmas traditions is to head to the nearest market.
There are many Christmas markets in Switzerland – you’ll find them in both cities and smaller towns and villages – and they are loved by locals and tourists alike.
A typical Swiss Christmas market features wooden huts or chalets assembled in the town square. Sellers offer a variety of goods including handmade crafts perfect for gifts, Christmas ornaments, Christmas trees and food and drink.
Some of the largest Switzerland Christmas markets include:
Zurich Christmas Market – Whilst there are numerous markets in Zurich each festive season the most romantic is also Zurich’s oldest Christmas market. It’s held at Niederdorfstrasse in the heart of the Old Town. At Werdmuhlepltaz you’ll find a market and what is probably the most unusual Swiss Christmas tree. The Singing Christmas Tree features choristers standing on a Christmas-tree-shaped vertical podium who entertain the crowds with their carols.
Basel Christmas Market – The oldest Christmas Market in Switzerland, Basel’s market can be found in the Old Town. More than 180 stalls add to the festive charm and they are watched over by a huge Christmas tree decorated by Johann Wanner, a Basel local who, for more than 50 years has created beautiful hand-blown and hand-painted Christmas decorations.
Why not join an organised coach tour to visit the Swiss Christmas Markets? Click here to search available tours.
Bern Christmas Market – Bern is home to a number of Christmas markets but one with a slight difference is the Bernese Christmas market which is held in front of the Munster (Cathedral). This market has an ethos to only sell unique items that the artisan stall holders have produced in their own studios. Rather than offering customers mass-produced goods, only lovingly handcrafted products are for sale.
Montreux Christmas Market – Widely regarded as one of the best Christmas markets in Switzerland, Montreux’s market can be found along the lakeside promenade where more than 160 chalets sell their wares. This is a favourite market amongst children as, each evening, Santa and his reindeer can be seen flying across the sky.
Below you will find a list of the dates for Switzerland’s Christmas Markets in 2019. These are not all the Christmas markets in Switzerland but still offer plenty of options for visitors to Switzerland at Christmas time.
Switzerland Christmas Market dates for 2019
| Bern | 30 November to 24 December More info > |
| Brienz | 30 November to 1 December More info > |
| Chur | 29 to 30 November More info > |
| Geneva | 4 to 31 December More info > |
| Gruyeres | 6 to 8 and 13 to 15 December More info > |
| Interlaken | 14 to 22 December More info > |
| Kandersteg | 7 to 8 December More info > |
| Lausanne | 20 November to 31 December More info > |
| Locarno | 8 December More info > |
| Lugano | 30 November to 6 January More info > |
| Luzern | 5 to 22 December More info > |
| Martigny | 12 to 23 December More info > |
| Montreux | 21 November to 24 December More info > |
| Mount Pilatus | 15 to 17 November More info > |
| Rapperswil-Jona | 6 to 22 December More info > |
| Saanen | 6 and 21 December More info > |
| Schaffhausen | 14 and 15 December More info > |
| Solothurn | 4 and 5 December More info > |
| Spiez | 7 December More info > |
| Stein am Rhein | 4 to 31 December More info > |
| St Gallen | 28 November to 24 December More info > |
| St Moritz | December More info > |
| Thun | December More info > |
| Vaduz (Liechtenstein) | 14 and 15 December More info > |
| Veytaux-Chillon Castle | 1 to 16 December More info > |
| Winterthur | 22 November to 22 December More info > |
| Yverdon-les-Bains | 1 to 24 December More info > |
| Zug | 1 December More info > |
| Zurich | 21 November to 24 December More info > |
Whilst you are in Switzerland during the winter for the Christmas markets, you might also be planning a mountain excursion or two. In this article you can see the dates that the Swiss cableways and funiculars will be closed.
Switzerland Travel Essentials
Accommodation
Tours
[This post may contain compensated links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.]
Top image: Christmas market at Stein am Rhein. Credit: swiss-image.ch/Jan Geerk
