Switzerland's largest city, Zurich, is a delightful place to be during the festive season. Its serene lakeside location, with the alps on the horizon, make it an incredibly picturesque capital city. The sweet aromas of roasted chestnuts float around the plazas, leading to one of Zurich’s many Christmas markets. Perfect for Christmas shopping, each market offers a variety of handcrafted goods to browse and glühwein and delicious cuisine to combat the winter chill.

Zurich Sechseläutenplatz

Zurich’s largest Christmas market is set upon the romantic lakeside, with the glimmering water reflecting the moonlight. Found on Sechseläutenplatz, the market lies in front of the spectacular opera house, its neo-classical facade illuminated red and adorned with busts of Weber, Wagner and Mozart. This enchanting space sets the backdrop for around 100 wooden market stalls, uniformly decorated red with strings of glowing lights running overhead. The market itself offers a vibrant range of goods, with individual vendors selling their handmade products. This market is the perfect opportunity to find unique gifts, from jewellery, ceramics to textiles. Ideal for winter, hearty Swiss cuisine is available- from cheese fondue to roasted sausages, or spiced biscuits and glühwein for something sweet.

Dörfli in the Niederdorf

In the heart of Zurich’s charming old town, this market is Zurich’s oldest and most traditional Christmas market. The market resides in the Niederdorfstrasse, with dainty wooden market stalls lining the cobblestone streets. This market offers everything from handmade candles, soap, ornaments and clothing to ceramics and toys- and of course, many opportunities to enjoy a warm glühwein!

Christkindlimarkt at Zurich Main Station

Shielded from the winter chill, this indoor market is located in Zurich’s main station, making it perfect to stop by while on the go. With over 120 stalls it is one of Europe’s largest indoor markets, offering a wide range of wares and delicious cuisine. This market uniquely transforms a busy station into a cheery, festive space, with a 10-metre Christmas tree in the middle.

Illuminarium at the National Museum

Advent sees a spectacular transformation of the courtyard of Zurich’s national museum, with elaborate light projections illuminating the courtyard walls. Within the transformed courtyard there is a bar and food stands offering hot cuisine. A perfect treat after spending a day at the museum. For a fee, visitors can see two even more impressive light shows, incorporating sound to create a truly immersive experience.