If you are visiting Christmas markets in Europe, Canada, or any other cold weather destination, you might be wondering how to dress for the occasion.
Choosing what to wear to Christmas markets depends a lot on the weather, but luckily most will be serving warm drinks and food to keep you cozy during your visit.
As I have visited many European Christmas markets, I’m excited to share my top tips on what to wear to these wintry markets.
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What are Christmas markets?
Christmas markets are among the best reasons to visit Europe in winter. While they are rooted in German tradition, you can now find Christmas markets happening across Europe, including the UK.
Even countries like Canada and the US have jumped on the Christmas market train. But, what exactly are Christmas markets?
Christmas markets are cozy outdoor street markets full of the festive spirit of the holiday season. Just think of twinkling lights strung overhead, tall evergreen Christmas trees, cozy wooden stalls selling handmade gifts, ornaments, and local crafts, and the warm scent of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and fresh pastries in the air. Dreamy!
Many Christmas markets in Europe are open daily from late November until the end of December. However, in some smaller destinations or other continents, they may only be open Thursday to Sunday until just after Christmas.
Check the Christmas market timetables of the winter destinations you’re visiting to see when they are open.
Many people come to Christmas markets to embrace the holiday cheer, search for ornaments, purchase woolen goodies, or simply enjoy a mug of mulled wine and a pretzel.
What to Wear to Christmas Markets
Here’s a general breakdown of how to dress for Christmas markets in Europe, Canada, and cold parts of the US.
Warm Waterproof Parka or Wool Coat
For starters, make sure you have a warm coat, preferably a long waterproof parka or a wool peacoat or similar.
Some Christmas markets might have cozy igloos to hang out in, but most are open-air and exposed to the elements. So, you’ll want to be prepared with a warm layer that’s resistant to wind, snow, rain, and the cold.
If you want to match well with the colors of Christmas markets, choose a neutral-colored coat or a red or green one. I find white or red to be the cutest!
For a waterproof parka, you can choose a packable option like this one that can be folded up into a small bag. Otherwise, I wore this Mountain Warehouse coat for Tallinn and Helsinki, two very cold Christmas market destinations.
Looking for travel inspo? heck out my winter guide on Christmas in Tallinn!
Thermal Layers
Many places in Europe and Canada hover around freezing at the peak of winter. To prepare to explore cities and Christmas markets in freezing temperatures, you’ll want to have some thermal base layers for your top and bottom.
I recommend brands like Smartwool or Merino.tech for a more affordable alternative. You can get warm long sleeves and leggings for men and women.
Avoid wearing cotton as your base layer as cotton absorbs moisture and can make you colder in humid or snowy conditions. Instead, opt for merino wool or synthetic options like Uniqlo’s HEATTECH.
Sweaters
Whether you like cozy fair isle sweaters or chic turtlenecks, I highly suggest packing your favorite sweater when choosing what to wear to Christmas markets.
The only thing to consider is chunky sweaters. They can be bulky in your suitcase, requiring unnecessary space that could be better used for Christmas market souvenirs!
Instead, choose lightweight merino wool sweaters and long sleeves that don’t sacrifice warmth.
If you’re set on bringing a chunky sweater, wear it on the plane to save space. I usually bring one loose and cozy sweater along with two other fitted merino wool sweaters for traveling in a carry-on.
Winter Vest
If you are visiting cold and snowy destinations like Estonia, Poland, or Germany, your Christmas market outfit will benefit from a packable winter vest.
This layer adds loads of warmth to your core, allowing you to feel warm and cozy as you explore the markets.
Plus, they can be very lightweight and packable, taking little to no space in your suitcase. Definitely worth the investment!
You can buy a down vest, but this is not the most ethical option. If you want down, I would check for thrifted options first. Otherwise, choose something like this vest.
Pants or Long Dress/Skirt
As long as you’re wearing thermal leggings or tights, you can wear your favorite pants or even a long dress/skirt.
Dresses are particularly versatile because you can layer a fitted sweater underneath, a vest overtop, and wear your long coat and thermals. Choose holiday colors for the best photos!
Most cities with Christmas markets in Europe are also going to have somewhere to ice-skate nearby. So, make sure you have something you can easily move around in if you plan on ice-skating during your trip.
Snow pants
If you are going somewhere really cold like Finland or another Nordic Christmas market destination, I would suggest bringing a pair of cute snow pants.
These will keep you incredibly warm and repel moisture as you walk through snowy winter markets in Europe.
Plus, having snow pants will prepare you for any snowy excursions you may want to do during your winter Europe trip.
If you need more packing tips for winter destinations in Eruope, see my winter Europe packing list.
Touchscreen Winter Gloves
Traveling to new cities and destinations for Christmas markets will require pulling out your phone to check Maps, travel tips, etc. It will be super annoying to have to take your gloves on and off to be able to use your phone.
So, I do suggest prioritizing a pair with touchscreen fingers (typically just for the pointer fingers).
Combine a pair of gloves with a warm mug of gluhwein and you’ll be sitting cozy in a magical Christmas market!
Beanie, Balaclava, Ear Warmers
If you don’t want your ears to freeze off in the winter conditions, do bring a beanie, ear warmers, or even a stylish balaclava hood.
For really cold destinations, I often pair a beanie with a pair of earmuffs and I’m in absolute bliss. I bought a pair of amazing wool earmuffs from a street market in Helsinki, and they’ve become my favorite winter accessory.
So, don’t worry if you don’t pack the warmest beanie or ear warmers. If you are visiting Europe during Christmas markets and winter events, you will easily be able to find a wonderful souvenir that will also keep your head warm.
Christmas markets are full of local vendors selling their goods, and this largely includes scarves, hats, and gloves.
Scarf
When it comes to what to wear to Christmas markets, a scarf adds a lot of dimension to a winter outfit and will have you feeling nice and cozy as you explore the lit-up streets.
Plus, scarves can be folded up to use as a neck pillow or spread out as a blanket to keep you comfortable on trains and planes.
I suggest bringing just one scarf, and if you want to buy one as a Christmas market souvenir, then great!
Conclusion – What to Wear to Christmas Markets
Deciding what to wear to Christmas markets depends a lot on the current temperature of the places you’re visiting. Check the weather in advance, and when in doubt, pack warmer items that can be layered up or down.
Otherwise, remember that Christmas markets will be full of local goodies from wool mittens and beanies to scarves and socks, So, if you get cold, you’ll have no problem finding something to keep you warm.
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