Nesting on the northwest side of Switzerland, by the Rhine River, Basel is a stunning city with an old town charm. It boasts medieval architecture, lovely quaint villages, and the picturesque views of the city. While in Basel, be sure to see the Basel Minister and be left in awe by the beauty of this remarkable Gothic cathedral. If traveling with family, especially the kids, they will surely enjoy some bonding time at Basel Zoological Garden and the Fine Arts Museum Basel. Planning a trip this holiday season? This charming city will not disappoint you with its magical winter markets that amp up the festive spirit. For your guidance, here is a list of the most delightful Christmas markets in Basel, Switzerland.
1. Christmas market at Barfüsserplatz
A magical market that must not be missed while in Basel, Barfüsserplatz is a bustling shopping district in the heart of the city that is filled with numerous stalls, disguised in charming chalets and adorned with Christmas ornaments and fairy lights. The festive spirit on this side of Basel is enchanting due to its picturesque Old Town city views, the aroma of freshly baked culinary delights that you’ll only get to try during the Advent season, such as gingerbread, Hungarian sausages, and Swiss raclette, and the sound of Christmas carols reverberating all over the place. Every year, roughly 160 businesses participate in this delightful gathering.
Christmas market at Barfüsserplatz
Address: Barfüsserpl., 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Website: Christmas market at Barfüsserplatz
Opening hours: Nov 28 - Dec 23: 11am - 8pm (daily)
2. Christmas market at Münsterplatz
An atmosphere filled with festive spirits, the scent of freshly baked goods, and overflowing with busy people with a smile on their faces; the Christmas market at Münsterplatz is like a setting straight out of a fairytale book. Open daily, this place will leave you in awe with its numerous beautifully decorated stalls that are ready to offer you their specialties, be it food or a Christmas product. From savoring premium wine or slowly sipping on hot chocolate, you have a lot of choices in this bustling shopping area with scenic views. Plus, the sight of the Rhine River as it glows with Christmas lights is an astonishing beauty that will make your heart melt.
Christmas market at Münsterplatz
Address: Barfüsserpl., 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Website: Christmas market at Münsterplatz
Opening hours: Nov 28 - Dec 23: 11am - 6pm (daily)
Nearby Christmas markets
3. Weihnachtsmarkt Im Dörfli Christmas Market
Set on the enchanting side of Niederdorf, Weihnachtsmarkt Im Dörfli Christmas Market is not just a sight for sore eyes but a magical destination for families. With its quaint old town charm combined with flickering lights and the melody of people singing popular carols, the place is a paradise of happiness. This Christmas market is known to be one of the oldest one in all of Europe. Yearly, a plethora of businesses gather in this side of Weihnachtsmarkt to provide people with the festivity and experience that is one for the books. From sampling mulled red wine to gorging on delicious melted cheese bread to buying some Christmas presents for your loved ones, or merely enjoying the sight of busy people, there are lots to do for all types of people in this fabulous Christmas market.
Weihnachtsmarkt Im Dörfli Christmas Market
Address: Niederdorf 07,Basel, Switzerland
Website: Weihnachtsmarkt Im Dörfli Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 21 - Dec 23
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Einsiedeln Schwyz Christmas Market
A Christmas festival for all ages, Einsiedeln Schwyz Christmas Market is one of the most-visited attractions in Basel during the Christmas season. Just like most of the Christmas markets in the city, it sparkles with fairy lights and fills with the aroma of culinary delights. It features numerous shops that offer a variety of goods, from delicious cuisine and local eats to handcrafted goodies, knitted sweatshirts, gorgeous jewelry, home decor, Christmas ornaments, and a lot more. With the monastery of Einsiedeln as its perfect backdrop, you will surely take as many souvenir pictures as you can, and upload it straight to your social media accounts for your followers to see. To top it all off, an enchanting Christmas tree that stands tall in the area will take your breath away.
Einsiedeln Schwyz Christmas Market
Address: Hauptstrasse 54, 8840 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Website: Einsiedeln Schwyz Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 29 - Dec 8: Sun - Thu: 11am - 7:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 9pm
5. St. Gallen Christmas Market
Enchanting millions of people every Yuletide season, the St. Gallen Christmas market is another attraction that will make you fall in love with Basel even more. Nothing compares to the beauty of Europe at Christmas as people say. See for yourself by immersing in all of this market’s offerings. Brandy and hot wine are a definite must-try while in this sparkling shopping district and a taste of French bread and German sausage is always a good idea. Lining its cobbled streets in the middle of charming establishments, hundreds of creatively furnished stalls offer their specialty products to you. Ready your wallets as you will surely go overboard with all the shopping in this lovely market. One interesting trivia about it is that 18,000 fairy lights and 700 giant stars scattered across the streets sparkle to illuminate the area for a magical shopping experience.
St. Gallen Christmas Market
Address: 9000 St Gallen, Switzerland
Opening hours: Nov 29 - Dec 24: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 11am - 7pm; Thu: 11am - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 6pm
Fall in love with the stunning city of Basel
Basel is a gorgeous city with a rich cultural heritage, a marvelous architecture, and breathtaking landmarks. Its quaint villages resemble an image that seems taken from a fairytale film. It is a destination worth visiting, especially during the advent season. Filled with sparkling lights and the aroma of freshly baked goods can be smelled from afar, it has a number of Christmas markets that amp up the festival spirit of the season. Use this list as your guide when you visit Basel this Christmas holiday.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to