Zurich, Switzerland
Tourists arriving by train are welcomed by one of Europe's biggest indoor Christmas markets. 150 booths are arranged around a 15-meter-tall Christmas tree that is adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals at the Bahnhof, the city's major train station.
Outside the doors, there are more markets to explore. Just off Bahnhofstrasse is the Lintheschergasse Christmas Market, where beautifully decorated market huts offer handmade goods. The Wienachtsdorf, a Christmas village in front of the Opera House, has 100 cabins with local designers offering their goods next to vendors selling fondue, raclette, and other traditional Swiss foods. There is a skating rink here, and kids can make their own candles in the nearby Bürkliplatz. The picturesque Niederdorf neighborhood in Zurich's Old Town is home to the city's oldest Christmas market. Hirschenplatz, Rosenhof, and Niederdorfstrasse are all filled with market stalls. This market has a more traditional atmosphere because it is surrounded by some of the city's oldest houses.
