In this guide
Every Christmas market sells a mix of handcrafts, food, and trinkets. Here's what's worth buying — and what to skip.
Buy: regional handcrafts
- Glass ornaments (Lauscha, Germany — the birthplace of glass ornaments)
- Wooden nativity scenes (Erzgebirge, Germany)
- Santon figurines (Provence — hand-painted clay nativity figures)
- Lebkuchen tins (Nuremberg)
- Cork products (Portugal)
Buy: the market mug
Many markets use a deposit system for reusable drink mugs. Pay the listed deposit, then return the mug for a refund or keep it as a souvenir. Amounts, designs, and return rules vary, so ask the stall before walking away.
Buy: local food
- Lebkuchen (Nuremberg gingerbread — sealed tins travel well)
- Stollen (Dresden Christmas bread — keeps for weeks)
- Bredele (Alsatian spiced cookies)
- Port wine (Porto — buy at the lodges, not the market)
- Calvados (Normandy)
Skip: mass-produced trinkets
If it has 'Made in China' on the bottom and you've seen it at three other markets, skip it. The good stuff is regionally made and the seller is often the maker. Look for stalls with the maker's name on the sign.
Tip
Bring a small, packable duffel for souvenirs. Ornaments are fragile — wrap them in socks and pack them in your carry-on, never your checked bag.
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