My 6 Christmas market survival tips
30.11.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
If you’re a sucker for Christmas markets but hate the crowds, the deafening music and constantly losing your mates, I’ve got a few tips for you.
I have a real love-hate relationship with Christmas markets. As lovely as they are, going there is also seriously exhausting; an experience that veers between sensory delight and sensory overload. Despite this, I wind up there several times a year. If you’re in the same boat and on the lookout for ways to make the undertaking more enjoyable, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get to tackling those Christmas market conundrums.
It’s too crowded
With swarms of people bustling between the stalls, fighting your way through the market feels like being in a rugby scrum. Then, after the agonisingly slow journey to your desired stall is over, you turn around to find you’ve lost the rest of your group. My advice? Get there as early as possible. Late-afternoon Christmas market trips are nice too. After all, we all know it gets dark earlier in winter. It’s also better to go with a couple of people than to make a huge group event out of it. This way, you and your friends will be more likely to agree on which stalls you want to visit, and less likely to lose each other.
It’s too loud
Laughter, shouting, the jingle of Christmas bells, music blaring from the merry-go-round – this pretty much sums up the auditory experience of a Christmas market. If you’re sensitive to loud noises, earmuffs might be a good option for you. Not only do they keep your ears warm, they also shield you slightly better from background noise than a hat. You’ll find some fluffy ones in our range:
It’s too hot – no wait, too cold
It doesn’t matter if you’re prone to getting chilly or quick to break out in a sweat. Regulating your body temperature at a Christmas market is no easy feat. And the issue is only compounded when everybody huddles into a Christmas market hut together, then steps back out into the cold. Or when your body temperature rises after you sink a few mulled wines. An unbeatable way to fight this is by dressing like an onion. In other words, wear plenty of layers that you can take off or throw on again as required. Our fashion expert Stephanie Vinzens explains how to get the layered look right:
It’s too expensive
Of course, you can’t change the food and drink prices. What you can change is the way you consume it. When visiting a Christmas market, the same rule applies as when you’re doing the weekly shop: don’t go when you’re hungry or thirsty. It’s also a good idea to think about what you want to eat beforehand if you already know what’s on offer. You’ll also save a little on drinks if you bring your own nips of liquor. Hip flasks are handy for bringing your own amaretto or rum, allowing you to slip the spirits into a comparatively cheap hot chocolate.
It’s too dangerous
Pickpockets like Christmas markets too. And, of course, they like your cash. With this in mind, only bring enough to cover what you need. You’re better off leaving unnecessary valuables at home. The police also advise that you «always carry cash and credit cards in separate zipped inside pockets, as close to your body as possible» (article in German). Plus, you should always keep the zipped part of your bag facing your body. Bum bags and shoulder bags are also safer than handbags.
Belt bags
Only-Bags.Store Fanny Pack Fanny Pack, Sport Fashion Hip Bags Chest Bag Shoulder Bag Crossbody Bag with
It’s too boring
So you’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Or have you? If you feel like you’ve done your local Christmas market to death, why not go discover some new ones? What’s stopping you from breaking out of your routine? One bonus of going to a market in another city is that you’ll be less likely to bump into people you know (but were hoping to avoid). Instead, you’ll have the chance to meet new, interesting people.
You don’t feel like leaving the house
Well, then none of these tips will be any help to you. But maybe you’ll find some use for these homemade mulled wine ingredients.
Spices + Salt
−22%
only 4 of 5 remaining on sale
CHF7.70 was CHF9.90 CHF35.81/1kg
Gipfelhirsch Mulled wine
215 g
Spices + Salt
Quantity discount
CHF4.85 per piece for 4 units CHF228.–/1kg
Sonnentor Star anise whole organic
25 g
Spice mills
Quantity discount
CHF11.40 per piece for 2 units
Peugeot Ceylon cinnamon sticks
Various spices
