Can’t make the trip out to Vienna, Nuremberg, Strasbourg, or any of those mega-markets trending on social? That’s ok, not everyone has the time or the money. Plus, let’s not forget the hordes of people. 💀
We are blessed with living in Geneva, where we are conveniently accessible to dozens of equally stunning, often more intimate, Christmas markets right on our doorstep. We’ve curated this list of markets, big and small, that offer maximum festive spirit, incredible backdrops, and delicious food, all easily reachable by car or train from Geneva within 2hrs* (some are bit further more if you take public transportation).
🇨🇭 Swiss Christmas Markets
- Riviera Montreux Noël | 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
- ⭐Berner Weihnachtsmarkt (Bern) | 20 Nov – 28 Dec 2025
- Bô Noël (Lausanne) | 20 Nov – 31 Dec 2025
- ⭐ Gruyères Marché de Noël | 28 Nov – 21 Dec 2025
- Marché de Noël à St-Cergue | 29 – 30 Nov 2025
- ⭐Marché de Noël de Morges | 3 – 23 Dec 2025
- Village de Noël à Nyon | 11 – 14 Dec 2025
🇫🇷 French Christmas Markets
- Le Marché de Noël de Lyon | 21 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
- ⭐Noël des Alpes (Annecy) | 22 Nov 2025 – 10 Jan 2026
- ⭐Thonon Les Féeriques | 27 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
- Marché de Noël de Divonne-les-Bains | 29 Nov 2025
- Bonjour l’Hiver – Marché de Noël (Annemasse) | 5 Dec – 24 Dec 2025
- Marché de Noël de Samoëns | 6 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026
- ⭐Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins (Évian-les-Bains) | 18 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
- Le village de Noël à Chamonix | 18 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
⭐ Special Shoutout
- Basler Weihnachtsmark (Basel) | 27 Nov – 23 Dec 2025
🎄➡️ For those that don’t even want to leave Geneva, we got you: Check out our list of 30 hyperlocal, community-run Christmas markets in the Geneva neighborhoods.
Christmas Markets in Switzerland 🇨🇭
1. Riviera Montreux Noël | Quai de la Rouvenaz | 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
The Montreux Christmas market is arguably the most famous and beautiful Christmas market in Switzerland. Set on the beautiful lakefront promenade with the Alps rising behind it, it offers a dramatic backdrop compared to city-based markets.
The most famous attraction is the flying Santa Claus, which is suspended over the lake and lights up the night sky as it flies past. It is a truly unique sight. Besides the flying Santa, you can enjoy browsing and eating with over 170 chalet stalls installed along the promenade. You can also enjoy a ferris wheel ride (CHF8) to get a birdseye panoramic view of the festive market below, and visit the “forest of wishes”, where you can write and hang up your wishes on the Christmas trees.
If you’re in the area with kids, you can consider visiting Santa’s House at the summit of Rochers-de-Naye, which is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 20 Nov – 22 Dec, as well as the 23 and 24 of Dec. You can book tickets in advance here.
The nearby Chillon Castle will have its own Christmas market behind the castle walls. It’s open from on weekends from 29 Nov to 14 Dec (3 weekends only), which does need admission to enter. Advance reservations are recommended, which you can do here.
‼️ Due to its popularity, we highly HIGHLY recommend visiting the Montreux Christmas market on weekdays. The crowds are very real and can be quite overwhelming, especially given the narrowness of the promenade (speaking from my personal experience). Driving would be a bad idea, as there is very little parking available in the city and the traffic is crazy. SBB has a special 50% discount for those taking the train (until supplies last), the station is just a short 200m walk to the market. Strollers would be a challenge given the crowds in the evenings.
‼️ For those that want to see the flying Santa Claus, be reminder that he has a strict schedule (very Swiss)! From Monday to Friday, he flies at 5, 6, 7pm ONLY. On the weekend, there is one extra flight at 4pm. On the 24 Dec, he will make his last appearances at 4 & 5pm.
2. Berner Weihnachtsmarkt (Bern) | Münsterplatz & Waisenhausplatz | 20 Nov – 28 Dec 2025
Bern’s Christmas Market offers a stunning backdrop as it takes place within the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Old City. There are actually 3 distinctive Christmas markets in Bern:
- Berner Sternenmarkt (20 Nov – 28 Dec): Trendy and decorated to look like a modern village, complete with a fondue chalet and locally designed products.
- Waisenhausplatz Christmas Market (28 Nov – 24 Dec): The more traditional market with tons of seasonal foods and craft stalls.
- Münsterplatz Christmas Market (29 Nov – 24 Dec): Set next to the Bern Minster, focusing on local artisans and delicious mulled wine.
Given that the markets are spread out, you’ll find that it feels much less crowded and enjoyable.
3. Bô Noël (Lausanne) | Place Pépinet, Saint-François, & Louve | 20 Nov – 31 Dec (closed on 25 Dec)
Lausanne’s Bô Noël is more decentralized, as it is spread across three distinct, themed “villages”. For shopping, head to the Marché des Créateurs (Designers’ Market) at Place Pépinet, which focuses on contemporary local art and independent Swiss design. For food, the Marché des Papilles features a wide selection of food stalls and a giant Christmas tree. There are many other smaller themed “markets”, like the children’s village, so it’s worth checking their program ahead of time to see where things are happening. There are a variety of special events during this time, including light shows, Christmas parades, and even a Toboggan run!
🔥Bô Noël is one of the only Christmas markets opened after Christmas Day, as most Swiss Christmas markets close just before Christmas. If you still want to experience the Christmas magic after the 25th, this is where to go!
4. Marché de Noël de Gruyères | Rue du Bourg | 28 Nov – 21 Dec 2025 (weekends only, specially open on Monday 8/12)
Located in the gorgeous medieval town, Marché de Noël at Gruyères is about the vibes ✨. It offers a much more intimate experience, where the biggest attraction is the beautiful city itself. You’ll find tons of high-quality local artisan stalls on the small cobbled streets. It’s a smaller, more traditional, and incredibly cozy Christmas market, unlike the other large sprawling city markets – expect a lot of Gruyère cheese dishes (they were just awarded the world’s best cheese!). There are special events during the weekends as well, including children’s workshops, a visit from St. Nicholas, and tons of live music. We’d suggest making a day trip out of it, and enjoy the many attractions of Gruyères, along with the Christmas market.
🔥 You can check out their webcams during this period of time to get a real feel of the festive vibes.
5. Marché de Noël à St-Cergue | Centre communal du Vallon | 29 – 30 Nov 2025 (1 weekend only)
Nestled high in the Jura mountains, the St-Cergue Christmas market offers an authentic, rustic experience. Thanks to its altitude, the market often enjoys snow (check the forecast), creating a true winter wonderland vibe. It’s a small, local market that features local Jura specialities and regional crafts. Enjoy the intimate setting by standing around the bonfire, with a vin chaud, and make sure to taste some fondue. This market is a short walk from the train station, making it an easy weekend trip from Geneva.
6. Marché de Noël de Morges | Château de Morges | 3 – 23 Dec 2025 (Wed – Fri only)
The Christmas market at Morges is another smaller Christmas market that offers a picturesque backdrop and the charm of a smaller lakeside town. Pick up a uniquely crafted gift at one of their many artisans stalls or enjoy the many food options at the crystal hut (La Kristallhütte). It’s a perfect market to visit for the weekend, as Morges is just 1 hour away by car or train.
7. Village de Noël à Nyon | Quartier de Rive | 11 – 14 Dec 2025
Nyon’s market is a smaller, more intimate event, perfect for a quick day trip from Geneva (a short 30-minute train ride away). It features dozens of local artisan stalls along the Quartier de Rive. The atmosphere is great for families, with plenty of concerts, children’s animations, a visit from Saint Nicholas, Christmas train rides and more.
🔥 Maximize Your Day Trip! For the more intimate markets (like St-Cergue, Nyon, or Gruyères), we highly recommend making a full day trip out of it. These markets are often smaller and may only take an hour or two to explore. The real magic is often found in the surrounding town, scenic lakeside, or the beautiful nature—don’t just go strictly for the stalls!
Christmas Markets in nearby France 🇫🇷
Since we are situated so close to France, it would be a disservice not to mention the many wonderful Christmas markets there. Most of the French Christmas markets run well into January, so you can easily visit them during the holiday break. You’ll experience different types of food compared to the Swiss markets, like tartiflette and local wines. The beautiful alpine backdrop means there’s a higher chance to enjoy a snowy Christmas market experience! Driving would definitely be easier, as public transportation doesn’t always connect easily, especially to the smaller villages. If you are already in the region for a ski holiday, make sure not to miss the Christmas markets!
1. Marché de Noël de Lyon | Place Carnot | 21 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
Lyon’s Christmas market is one of the largest in France, with 100+ wooden stalls filled with high-quality crafts and exceptional Lyonnaise gastronomy. This UNESCO World Heritage city will feature show-stopping light installations, as the Christmas market overlaps with the famous Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) in early December. You can expect the city to be completely decked out and beautiful, with world-class light shows at all the major historical sites. The main market is at Place Carnot, with smaller markets trickling to the other streets. It’s one of the coolest Christmas markets in Europe and definitely attracts a huge crowd (plan accordingly). It’s absolutely worth spending a weekend exploring the city, and enjoying all the festivities.
2. Noël des Alpes (Annecy) | Annecy Old town, Place Saint-Maurice and along Quai de Vicenza, Jardins de l’Europe | 22 Nov 2025 – 10 Jan 2026
Annecy transforms into a Christmas wonderland during the holiday season, with the old town completely decked out in lights, as well as the light displays on the historic buildings. The Christmas market attracts over hundreds of thousands visitors each year. With over 100 wooden chalets featuring tons of crafts and goods, as well as a wide variety of food from crêpes to Savoyard specialities. You can also pay a visit to Santa’s house at the market as well. At the Jardins de l’Europe, you’ll find an ice skating rink and a carousel with the backdrop of the gorgeous Annecy lake. There is a huge program of special events and activities through this period, be sure to check out the full program.
‼️We strongly advise to take the bus or train to Annecy, instead of driving. The traffic is already horrible and parking difficult during normal weekends, so you can expect it to be even worse over the holidays. (speaking from personal experience again)
3. Thonon Les Féeriques | Thonon-les-Bains | 27 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
Thonon-les-Bains is located on the French side of Lake Geneva, and it’s one of the largest in the area. This massive Christmas market is spread across the city, featuring different “areas” like gourmet and artisan villages, a huge outdoor ice rink, large snow globe installations, Santa’s house, and even an enchanted forest. They have many special events, like Santa’s grand arrival (basically a grand parade) on the 13 Dec, as well as a farewell departure on the 24 Dec, a huge Christmas Clearance sale, and even Christmas log competitions! Be sure not to miss the light show at the town hall square, where you can enjoy a Christmas-themed light projection show.
4. Marché de Noël de Divonne-les-Bains | Divonne-les-Bains | Saturday, 29 Nov 2025
The Christmas market at Divonne-les-Bains is a quick hop over the border in the Pays de Gex region. You can expect a cozy, more intimate atmosphere, with a focus on high quality artisan products and local gourmet foods. It’s a packed one day event, with a grand procession starting at 5:30pm, the switching on of the Christmas lights, and even fireworks (around 6:20pm).
5. Bonjour l’Hiver – Marché de Noël (Annemasse) | Place de l’Hôtel de Ville | 5 Dec – 24 Dec 2025
Did you know that Annemasse has a Christmas market? It’s part of Bonjour l’Hiver, which is like a street theatre/music festival, featuring tons of street performances, think acrobats, jugglers, musicians and other talented artists, taking over the streets of Annemasse. They also have a children’s corner, an ice skating rink and a small traditional Christmas market of 20 stalls. Two special highlights – Children’s Day on the 17 Dec, where there are performing artists and other fun surprises for kids, as well as a chance to meet Santa himself on the 23 Dec.
6. Marché de Noël de Samoëns | Centre du Village, Samoëns | 6 – 19 Dec 2025 (weekends only) & 20 Dec – 2 Jan 2026 (every day)
For those looking for a smaller, cozy, and often white Christmas market, look no further than Samoëns. Nestled in the heart of the Grand Massif in the French Alps, you’ll definitely get a picturesque backdrop. You’ll find tons of local crafts, delicious Alpine gastronomy, and unique gifts. The full program isn’t available at this time of publishing, so make sure to keep an eye out.
7. Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins (Évian-les-Bains) | Le centre-ville d’Évian | 12 Dec 2025 – 3 Jan 2026
Those looking for a truly different Christmas market should not miss Le Fabuleux Village (The fabulous village). The market’s concept is unique, as they incorporate sustainability into their DNA. The village features over 300+ large ‘eco’ sculptures called les flottins (a made-up word meaning imaginary creatures), using driftwood that’s found on the shores of Évian and other recycled materials, some are even floating in the lake. There are many ‘fire’ themed events, with parades and floats, Santa Claus’ arrival and more. Expect more theatrical flaires (little surprise as the idea came from the stage director of the theater company), expect light shows, actors dressed up as fairies holding torches, acrobatic performances and more. The vibe is overall fantastical and magical, very different from your traditional commercial Christmas market.
8. Le Village de Noël à Chamonix | Pl. du Triangle de l’Amitié | 18 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
It’s hard to beat a Christmas market that’s set in the heart of Chamonix. The snow-capped mountains behind the wooden stalls and a very high change of a snow blanketed market. Expect local crafts, Savoyard specialties like raclette, local wines, and more. The market will also have activities for kids, and appearances from Santa Claus. For those looking for a cozy, traditional, post-card image of a Christmas market, then it’s worth a visit!
⭐Special Shoutout
1. Basel Christmas market | Basel – Barfüsserplatz, Münsterplatz, Claraplatz | 27 Nov – 23 Dec 2025
Basel’s Christmas market is considered to be the biggest and one of the prettiest in Switzerland, attracting folks not just in Switzerland but all over the world. It’s further but worth the extra effort for their grander scale and unique attractions, if you’re planning a Christmas market holiday!
The Christmas market takes over the city, with the main attractions being at Barfüsserplatz, Münsterplatz, and Claraplatz. Can’t miss attractions include the massive Christmas tree at Münsterplatz, designed by Johann Wanner, a world-renowned Basel-based Christmas decorator, and “faire tale forest” which is designed for kids. Barfüsserplatz is where the majority of the 180+ stalls are located, where you can find glühwein, fondue, raclette, Basel Läckerli (local gingerbread cookies), and much more. (It’s one of my personal favorites in Switzerland!)
Did we miss your favorite Christmas market? Let us know in the comments below!
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