There's nothing in the world quite like the holiday season in Europe, and if you’re there from late November through the New Year, it’s easy to see why. There are wooden chalets in 13th-century towns, snow-capped cathedrals, seasonal cookies and cakes in display windows (better still: in your mouth), and of course, all the hot mulled wine you can drink. Put all of it together, and the towns practically twinkle with fairy-tale festiveness. We’d venture to say there’s hardly a wrong way to do Christmas across the continent, but it's worth hitting some of the biggest celebrations first. Here, in no particular order, are 20 of the best Christmas markets in Europe and where to stay when you visit.

This gallery was originally published in November 2018. It has been updated with new information.