June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
;
false
If you’re not yet feeling the holiday spirit, visiting a bustling and cheerful Christmas market is the perfect way to get excited about Christmas. A long-standing European tradition dating to the late Middle Ages in Germany and France, Christmas markets are loved worldwide.
And if you plan on loading up the family vehicle for a wintery road trip to a Christmas market far from home, consider purchasing travel insurance. You may think that because you aren’t leaving the country or boarding a plane, travel insurance isn’t useful, but it can help you get out of a number of snags while on your road trip. An annual insurance plan by Allianz Global Assistance can protect you anytime you wander 100 miles from home with coverage for rental car damage and theft, and trip cancellation and interruption benefits. We also provide 24/7 assistance, which can help with most travel-related issues, including locating the nearest repair shop and towing company if your car happens to break down.
Here's some of the biggest Christmas markets in the U.S. where you can find unique gifts, entertainment, and delicious sweet and savory eats.
If you’re a lover of music, then check out the amazing music line up at Atlanta Christkindl Market. On almost every night in December, experience live music across genres at the market. Enjoy performances by artists such as Balalaika Fantasie, Tubajohn, Atlanta Sängerkreis Choir, Atlanta Horn Quartet, and more. Visit more than 50 vendors to shop for Christmas gifts and eat traditional German fare. Remember to bring your good boys and girls – both canine and human children – to take pictures with Santa!
Inspired by the 16th Century Christkindlmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, one of the first of its kind, the Christkindl Market in Chicago brings European tradition and charm to Windy City. The market was conceptualized in 1995 when The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest Inc. Was brainstorming alternative ways to foster trade between Germany and the U.S. In partnership with city officials in Nuremberg, the organization invited companies from Germany and the Chicago area to partake in the inaugural Christmas market in 1996. Today, the event is highly popular for both tourists and locals, attracting 1.5 million visitors last year.
True to German tradition, you’ll enjoy a warm mug of mulled wine, chocolate, schnitzel, goulash and other fare. Buy Christmas gifts from international artisans from rustic wooden stalls typical of most European Christmas markets. And be sure to pick up this year’s commemorative mug to prove you went.
Recognized as Christmas City USA, the town of Bethlehem was named on Christmas Eve in 1741. Today, this charming city is a top destination for lovers of the holiday. Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt was twice recognized as one of the best holiday markets in the U.S. by Travel+Leisure. Enjoy ice skating and purchase hand-crafted German nutcrackers and other handcrafted gifts. Watch Ice sculptors at work and try your hand at creating your own glass artwork with the ArtsQuest Hot Glass Experience. Browse for gifts at the wooden stalls of Christmas City Village, a European-inspired Christmas market held in downtown Bethlehem. If you’re looking for more Christmas magic, visit the Winter Light Spectacular at nearby Lehigh Zoo.
There’s plenty of glitz at the Denver Christkindl Market thanks to the Mile High Tree, America’s tallest digital Christmas tree, shining over the market from Civic Center Park. If you ever happen to be in town the first week of December, check out the annual 9News Parade of Lights. Stroll through the heart of Denver, while you eat traditional holiday fare from across Europe and sip on hot glühwein and German biers. Browse rustic wooden stalls for unique, handcrafted gifts.
Our nation’s capital has a modern take on the traditional Christmas market. At the Downtown Holiday Market, you’ll be able to find the perfect gift from more than 70 small business vendors – many of them Black-owned – selling clothes, art, crafts, jewelry and specialty items. And if you want to step in from the cold, stroll to the nearby Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
Music lovers will enjoy the market’s lineup of Jazz, country, soul, rock, world and contemporary performances. The market’s food is equally diverse, some offerings include Alexa’s Empanadas and Churros, A Taste of Germany, and Migue’s Mini Donuts.
Local festival partners bring more to the Christmas market experience. ARTECHOUSE, a center of experiential art, has created an immersive extended reality holiday experience for guests. And official hotel partners Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC and Dirty Habit transform their grounds into a holiday wonderland with winter décor, fire pits, blankets and specialty cocktails.
Millions of travelers rely on Allianz Global Assistance for help when they need it most. Let us be there for you too.
View all of our travel insurance products
Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
Share this Page