Solo Travel at Christmas: How to Do Europe’s Christmas Markets Solo (2026)
Last Updated on November 11, 2026 by Kimberly
Thinking about solo travel at Christmas, but not sure you want to do Europe’s Christmas markets on your own? I’ve been to Christmas markets in more than 30 cities over five winters, and some of my favorite market days were the ones where I didn’t have to check in with anyone.
Here’s what I love about doing Christmas markets solo:
I don’t have to worry about anyone but myself.
I can walk the stalls at my own pace, grab what I need, go back to the stalls I loved and browse longer, and design the whole day around me. Even on trips with a friend, like Strasbourg and Colmar in 2023, we split up and did our own thing for most of it.
This guide covers how to plan a solo Christmas market trip in Europe: the markets I’d pick for a first solo trip, how to handle trains (where I’ve made my biggest mistakes), eating alone, getting around after dark, and what to pack. If you’re a military spouse whose partner is working or deployed in December, there’s a section for you, too.
In a Rush?
Where I’ve Stayed for Christmas Markets
| Pension Bergseeblick Titisee, for the Ravenna Gorge Christmas market | Check rates and availability |
| Hotels on Lake Constance For the Lindau and Lake Constance markets | Check rates and availability |
| Hotels in Riva del Garda My base for the Lake Garda markets | Check rates and availability |
Why Solo Travel at Christmas Works So Well
Christmas markets might be the easiest place in Europe to travel solo. Everything is set up for one person: food comes in single portions, you eat standing at high tables next to strangers, and nobody looks twice at a woman on her own with a mug of mulled wine. The squares stay busy and lit into the evening, and most markets sit in walkable old towns close to the train station.
Going alone also means the trip runs on your schedule. You can spend an hour at one ceramics stall, skip the rides you don’t care about and leave when your feet are done. On a group trip, however, that kind of day takes negotiating. On a solo one, it’s the default.
Your First Solo Christmas Market Trip, Step by Step
If you’ve never traveled solo before, start here. This is the order I’d do it in:
- Pick a market you can reach easily. Choose one that’s a short train ride from home or from your base, so getting there isn’t the hard part.
- Start with a day trip. Go during the day and come home the same night. Once that feels easy, try an overnight.
- Book one base close to the market or the station. A short, simple walk back is everything when you’re on your own.
- Book your train with a buffer. Leave at least an hour between connections, and buy through Omio with their trip protection in case of delays.
- Arrive in daylight. Walk from your hotel to the market once while it’s light out, so you know the route before dark. If you’re landing late, book an airport transfer ahead with Welcome Pickups so you’re not hunting for a ride in the dark.
- Plan one meal. Eat at the stalls, or book a lunch table for one if a sit-down meal feels like too much at night.
- Know your way back. Memorize the route, keep your bag in front and call an Uber if anything feels off.
- Go back to the stalls you loved. This is the best part of going solo, so take your time.
Best Christmas Markets for Solo Travel in Europe
These are the markets I’d point you to for a first solo trip, all ones I’ve been to myself. For the full list of where I’ve been, start with my European Christmas Markets hub.
Verona, Italy
Verona is compact, well lit and easy to walk, which is why I’d send a nervous first-timer here. I’ve been three years in a row, sometimes solo and sometimes not, and I’ve never felt unsafe. Two hours at the market was always plenty, so pair it with a bigger Verona day. My Verona Christmas market guide covers parking, food prices and the layout, and my guide to Christmas markets in Italy has 11 more.
Aosta, Italy
Aosta’s market is small enough that you can’t get lost and friendly enough that you won’t feel out of place eating alone. Because it’s a long way from everything else, give it a few nights. Here’s my full Aosta Christmas market guide.
Bolzano and Merano, Italy
If you want to do it all by train, South Tyrol is the easiest place to start. Bolzano’s market is a few minutes’ walk from the station, and Merano is a short regional train ride away, with thermal baths for the evening. My 4-day Bolzano and Merano itinerary lays it out day by day.
Strasbourg and Colmar, France
I went to both in 2023 with a friend, but she was off doing her own thing most of the time, so it was basically a solo trip. Strasbourg and Colmar were complete madness, even before social media took hold of these Christmas markets, and it’s wild how much they’ve changed since. What pulled me there was how the cities go all out decorating for the season. Strasbourg’s market dates back to 1570 and spreads across the old town on the Grande ÃŽle. Colmar is about 30 minutes away by train, with several smaller markets spread through its old town, which makes it an easy day trip from a Strasbourg base.
My best advice for both: stay close to the city center, and pick a hotel that’s easy to find. With crowds like these, you want a short, simple walk back at the end of the night. Go on a weekday morning if you can.
Dresden, Germany
I went to Dresden in 2018, back when we lived in Poland, and I made the trip over just for the market. The Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt has been held since 1434, and it’s a mammoth of a Christmas market. It’s easy to get lost among all the stalls, and I was so proud of myself for finding my way around it on my own. I wasn’t documenting my trips back then the way I do now, so I don’t have photos to show you, but it’s the market that showed me I could handle the big ones solo.
Gdańsk and Poznań, Poland
I did the northern Poland route with my friend Aleksandra by train and rental car, and the trains between the big cities make it easy to do on your own, too. Start with my Gdańsk Christmas market guide, my Poznań guide, and what to eat at Polish Christmas markets.
Lake Constance and the Black Forest, Germany
For a slower trip, the Lake Constance Christmas markets are easy to string together by train. I wrote my Ravenna Gorge Christmas market guide with solo travelers in mind, including where to stay so you’re not stuck after dark.
Read Next
Ready to pick a market? I’ve rounded up the 12 Christmas markets in Italy I’ve visited, grouped by region with 2026 dates and a map.
See the 12 Christmas Markets in Italy →How to Plan a Solo Christmas Market Trip
A solo market trip comes down to three things: where you sleep, how you get between towns and when you go.
Pick one base and take day trips
Changing hotels every night is tiring on your own, so choose one walkable base and take day trips from it. These are the bases that work well:
- Bolzano: Merano, Brunico, Vipiteno (Sterzing), Bressanone, and even the Krampus run in Kastelruth
- Verona: Lake Garda and Trento
- Strasbourg: Colmar
- Freiburg im Breisgau: many of the markets in the Black Forest like the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market
- Brussels: Bruges, Ghent and Mons
As a bonus, you only have to learn one train station. New to trains in Italy? My guide to train travel in Italy walks you through tickets, validation, and which trains to book. On travel days, drop your bag with Radical Storage so you can see one last market before your train without dragging a suitcase through the crowds.
Stay close to the market or the station
Book a hotel you can walk to from the market, or one right by the train station. That way, the walk back after dark is short, and you’re not relying on a taxi when the market closes.
Go on a weekday, and go early
Weekend evenings at the big markets are packed. On a weekday morning or early afternoon, you can actually see the stalls, talk to the makers, and get a table. Then save the evening for one last mug of mulled wine under the lights.
Build buffer time into your trains
My biggest mistakes on Christmas market trips have all been about transportation: tight train connections, missed trains and delays. Trains and flights in Europe can be a pain in December, and when you’re solo there’s nobody else to help you rebook. So give yourself at least an hour between connections, check your train’s status the morning you travel, and keep the rail operator’s app on your phone.
I remember one time I was flying to Basel from Venice (don’t ask why I didn’t just take the train), and my flight got delayed in Munich, so I was worried I wouldn’t make my train to the Black Forest. It’s real, and it can happen. In saying all this, I don’t want you to think you need to OVERplan because you don’t. Leave room for the magic. Far too many people forget that.
Kimberly’s Tip
I compare times and prices on Omio, and I always add Omio’s trip protection when I book. Late trains happen, and getting a refund on your own is a headache. New to trains? Read my guide to traveling by train in Italy first.
If you’re driving, check my guide to which countries in Europe require a vignette before you cross a border.
Read Next
Trains are where most solo market trips go sideways. My Italy train guide covers tickets, validation and which trains to book so you don’t miss a connection.
Read My Italy Train Guide →Eating Alone at Christmas Markets
This is the part of solo travel at Christmas that people worry about most. It used to be the part I worried about most, too. When I first started traveling solo, I was so focused on what strangers thought of me that eating alone felt like a big deal. Over time, I found that pushing through that fear led me to bolder choices, and now I’m completely fine eating alone at a stall.
Here’s the thing I didn’t realize back then: everyone at a Christmas market is busy. They’re juggling plates, finding their friends, and deciding between sausages. Nobody is paying attention to what you’re doing. Besides, market food is meant to be eaten standing up, so grab a plate, find a spot at one of the high tables, and enjoy it.
I’ve sat down in restaurants on my own, too, and I keep one thing in mind: it’s okay to be alone. Sometimes it’s bold to show up in this world without a plus one, and that’s a good thing. If a dinner reservation for one feels like too much at first, book lunch instead, or take a seat at the bar.
One practical tip from Verona: eat before 7 p.m., before the food area gets crowded. For what to order, see my guides to Polish Christmas market food and the Christmas markets in Italy.
Read Next
New to traveling on your own? Start with my 10-step guide to how to travel solo, from picking your first destination to getting through arrival day.
Read How to Travel Solo →Staying Safe as a Solo Female Traveler at Christmas Markets
Christmas markets are busy, well lit and full of families, which makes solo travel at Christmas more comfortable than most people expect. Still, the real risk is pickpockets in the crowds, especially around the food stalls. A few habits cover most of it:
- Wear your bag in front. A crossbody bag with a zipper is the easiest option.
- Leave the nice jewelry at home. I keep my wedding band at home and wear a QALO silicone ring instead, on hikes, too. I still want people to know I’m married, but I don’t want to be a target.
- Keep to the main streets after dark. Stay where the lights and people are, and know your walk back to the hotel before you go out.
- Share your plans. Send someone at home your hotel and train times.
- Have data the minute you land. I use Holafly so maps and train apps work right away. Here are the other apps I use as a solo female traveler.
- Get travel insurance. Winter weather cancels trains and flights. I buy single-trip plans from World Nomads, and my World Nomads review explains what it covers.
- For train tickets, I’ve found that buying through Omio is the way to go lately, because of the trip protection they offer. On my recent trip to Munich, my train was an hour late, and I was at least able to keep Omio in the loop about what was happening. Getting a refund from Deutsche Bahn on your own can be tricky.
How I Get Back to My Hotel at Night
Walking back after the market closes is the part I’m most deliberate about. I stay aware of my surroundings and what’s going on around me, I keep my purse under my jacket and I try not to look at my phone. Before I leave the market, I take one look at the map, memorize the route and start walking.
If I do need to check directions on the way, I pull off to the side and stand with my back against a wall or a storefront. That way I know nothing can come up behind me while I’m looking down.
My husband always told me that if I feel anxiety creeping in, I should look around and ground myself. It might not make sense in the moment, but when I don’t feel confident, I look around and repeat to myself what’s in front of me. It slows everything down.
And if I ever feel unsafe, I don’t walk at all. I call an Uber, screenshot the driver’s details and send them to one person I trust. If something feels icky, that one step makes a big difference.
Funny enough, these days I feel more confident on a hiking trail than in a big city. Cities just have more factors to keep track of. If you’re the same, keep your hotel close to the market, so the walk back is short and well lit.
Solo Christmas Markets for Military Spouses
If your spouse is working through December or deployed over the holidays, solo travel at Christmas is one of the easiest ways to get out of the house and use your time overseas. Most bases in Europe are within a train ride or a short drive of at least one good market, so a day trip on a Saturday is enough to start.
To start, pick one market close to home, go during the day and come back the same night. Once that feels easy, try an overnight. If you’re stationed in Italy, my guide to being stationed in Vicenza has more on getting out and exploring.
How to Get Photos of Yourself on a Solo Christmas Market Trip
Coming home with photos of yourself is one of the trickier parts of solo travel at Christmas. These are the three ways I do it.
Bring a Small Tripod (My DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Setup)
My favorite tool lately is my DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It’s small and discreet, and people at the market aren’t expecting you to have it, so I can film and take photos without drawing attention. To my eye, the quality is better than my iPhone, too.
I pair it with a Ulanzi tripod made for the Osmo Pocket. It has a slide-in mount, so I set up the tripod first and then slide the camera in. The same lock-in mount works with my Sony A7 II, so one tripod covers both cameras, and it works fantastically.
Set up a little off to the side of the main walkway so you’re not blocking the crowd, and try it earlier in the day when the stalls are quieter.
Ask Someone
Most people are happy to help, especially other travelers taking their own photos. Offer to take theirs first, then ask if they’d mind returning the favor.
Book a Flytographer Shoot
For the photos I really want, I use Flytographer, which matches you with a local photographer for a short shoot in the city you’re visiting. It’s a splurge, but it’s the easiest way to get photos of yourself at a market that don’t look like selfies, and the photographer knows where to go.
What to Pack for a Solo Christmas Market Trip
You’ll be standing outside for hours, often after dark. I once forgot my gloves in Verona and regretted it all evening. These are the things I don’t leave without:
- A warm, packable jacket. I wear this Uniqlo down jacket.
- Rechargeable hand warmers. These Ocoopa hand warmers last a full evening.
- A crossbody bag. This RFID crossbody keeps your phone and wallet in front of you.
- Gloves, a hat and comfortable shoes. Cobblestones and cold feet don’t mix.
My Europe packing list has everything else I bring, and my sustainable Christmas market tips cover how to shop the stalls without buying throwaway souvenirs.
Read Next
Want the full list? My Europe packing list has everything I bring for winter trips, from layers to the small things I always forget.
See My Europe Packing List →Spending Christmas Day Alone in Europe
As a military spouse, I’ve spent Christmas Days alone in Europe, and I’ve spent Christmas Day traveling, too. I’ll be honest: it can be kind of lonely. What helped was planning for it and finding social settings where I wouldn’t feel like the only person on my own.
The biggest thing to know is that much of Europe shuts down for the holiday. Most Christmas markets close by Christmas Eve afternoon, and shops and many restaurants close on December 25. In many countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy and Poland, December 26 is a holiday, too. In the UK, Christmas Day shuts down almost everything, including the London Underground, and Boxing Day runs on a reduced schedule.
How to Make Christmas Day Alone Easier
- Plan your Christmas Day meal ahead. Hotel restaurants often serve a holiday lunch or dinner, but they book up, so reserve early. Expat groups like Democrats Abroad sometimes host holiday meals, too, which is an easy way to share the day with other Americans.
- Stock up on December 24. Grab snacks, water and anything you need before the shops close.
- Find a social setting. A Christmas Eve church service or concert, a hotel bar or a city walking tour that runs over the holiday all put you around other people. If you’d rather spend part of the day with other women, check the local hubs on Wanderful, book a local woman guide through GreetHer, or post in a solo female travel group on Facebook and ask if anyone else is in town. Someone usually is. If you’re an American abroad, Democrats Abroad chapters sometimes host holiday gatherings and meals, too.
- Check transport the day before. Trains and buses run reduced schedules, and some don’t run at all.
- Call home. It sounds simple, but a video call with family can change the whole day.
If you’d rather skip the shutdown entirely, plan your market trip for the weeks before Christmas and be home by December 24.
Solo Travel at Christmas FAQ
Is it safe to visit Christmas markets alone?
Yes, for most travelers. Christmas markets are busy, well lit and full of families. The main thing to watch for is pickpockets in crowded food areas, so keep your bag in front of you and stick to the main streets after dark.
Is solo travel at Christmas lonely?
It doesn’t have to be. Markets are social places, and you’ll end up sharing standing tables with strangers. For me, the best part of going solo is that the whole day runs on my schedule, from which stalls I revisit to when I call it a night.
What are the best Christmas markets in Europe for solo travelers?
Pick compact, walkable markets near a train station. Verona, Bolzano, Merano and Aosta in Italy, Strasbourg and Colmar in France, and Gdańsk and Poznań in Poland are all easy to do on your own.
Do I need to book ahead for a solo Christmas market trip?
In general, book hotels and trains as early as you can, especially for December weekends. Hotels near the big markets fill up fast, and train prices go up closer to the date.
Why Solo Travel at Christmas Is Worth Trying
Solo travel at Christmas gives you something a group trip can’t: a whole day built around what you want. You can go back to the stall you loved, eat when you’re hungry and head home when you’re done. Start with one market close to home, give yourself extra time for trains, and go. You might find, like I did, that showing up on your own is the bold part, and the rest gets easier every time.
More Christmas Market and Solo Travel Guides
- European Christmas Markets Hub
- 12 Christmas Markets in Italy
- Verona Christmas Market Guide
- Aosta Christmas Market Guide
- Gdańsk Christmas Market Guide
- Lake Constance Christmas Markets Itinerary
- Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market Guide
- How to Travel by Train in Italy
- Best Travel Apps for Solo Female Travelers
Research and Sources
- My own Christmas market trips over five winters, including Dresden (2018), Strasbourg and Colmar (2023), Verona (2023, 2024 and 2025), Aosta, Bolzano, Merano, Gdańsk, Poznań, Lake Constance and the Ravenna Gorge.
- City of Dresden: Dresdner Striezelmarkt
- Pixidia: Strasbourg Christmas Market 2026
- Ware on the Globe: Colmar Christmas Market Day Trip From Strasbourg
