Roaming with Red

People from all over the world flock to the European Christmas markets. You hear many different languages spoken while you’re walking around with stars in your eyes, wondering how you waited so long to go. When I decided to sign up for the group tour headed to Europe for a Christmas market trip, I wondered what I was going to pack. Where I live is very tropical, so I don’t have a bunch of cold-weather clothes (aside from my coat obsession). Despite this fact, and now that I have actually gone to the markets more than once, I’m going to help you prepare and give you packing tips for what to wear at the Christmas markets in Europe. You’ll want to take note so you can enjoy them to the fullest. This packing list is compiled from several of the women who joined me on this adventure.

What to Wear at the European Christmas Markets

Patagonia Thermals

1. Tights, Fleece Lined Leggings, or Long Undies

No matter what you think your tolerance level is for cold, I highly recommend taking tights for underneath your regular pants or fleece-lined leggings or long underwear. I brought tights and long underwear. I’m not a leggings-wearing gal, and my default are typically jeans. Once in a while jeggings. If you don’t take enough, wash them in the sink. Europe is famous for having towel heaters in the bathrooms at hotels, and I took full advantage of drying items on the rack. The fleece-lined leggings were a recommendation from someone on the trip, so if you like leggings, this pair should do you well, and you won’t need anything over or under them. They are good as is. If you’re wondering what to wear at the European Christmas markets, put these high on the list.

Wool Socks I Purchased at the Christmas Markets

2. Wool or Cashmere Socks

When sitting in my closet before my first trip wondering what to wear at the European Christmas markets, wool socks did not cross my mind as being extremely important. I packed my regular cotton Bombas socks (but recommend these now) and two pair of Smartwool socks that I've had forever and called it a day. Regret. When I got to Europe and was outside for more than a few minutes, my feet (particularly toes) were freezing and possibly on the verge of frostbite. Luckily, the market is filled with random items, and I purchased two pairs of wool-blend socks. They were a life saver. The subsequent trip I was not so naive and I brought merino wool and cashmere socks. My toes thanked me, and so will yours.

La Canadienne Boots

3. Waterproof Boots or Shoes

I live in a wet place, so waterproof shoes are a no-brainer for me. My Blondo boots are exactly the right fit when I decided what to wear at the European Christmas markets because they are waterproof. I purchased two pairs earlier in the season and I brought them both. They were the right item for me on the first trip. It snowed nearly the entire time, and they were worth their weight in gold as I trudged through even the black snow. You’d never know how much water was on these snow boots - they looked brand new after the trip.

My second trip involved my first pair of La Canadienne boots and I was IN LOVE. Red and spicy like myself, they were comfortable right out of the box. I walked miles. Highly recommend one or several pairs. I'll be buying more sooner than later. Another brand I have attached to is Cariuma, and they always give a generous first purchase amount off. I got the thermal high tops and am hot to wear them this year.

My Wool Blend J. Crew Coat in Strasbourg

4. Heavy Coat

Luckily I have a minor coat obsession. For someone who lives in a warm climate, I have an entire closet dedicated to my coats. I’m a Patagonia nut, and last year I bought a coat that makes me look like a charred marshmallow. My initial thought was that I’ll likely never use this coat, but when I started to wonder what to wear at the European Christmas markets, I remembered old marshmallow. It made its debut on the first trip, and it was absolutely perfect.

For the second trip, I went a little more chic. J. Crew and Maje coats were the two I chose and was glad I brought them. I looked stylish and I stayed warm. My most recent trip to Paris during the winter had me donning a Boden coat, which is a wool blend. It was perfect and stylish. Quince has a gorgeous one in chocolate here. One other coat I adore is this one from Quince as well. You will not get cold in this coat. Whether you want to or not, a serious winter coat is necessary for traipsing around these markets all day. Maximum warmth is a must.

My Hat from Salzburg

5. Hat - One that Covers Your Ears

It goes without saying that covering up your head is important. When I looked up to see if we really lose most of our heat through our head, it seems like an old wives tale. But it’s much cozier to have our head and ears covered up when you are in below freezing temperatures. A baseball style hat will not suffice, so when deciding what to wear at the European Christmas markets, leave the baseball hat at home, and don't be cutesy with those wide brimmed hats you see in Aspen. We're going for practical. Fleece or wool or cashmere are your best bet. You’ll be able to shop till you drop at the market with the right warming accessories. I ended up buying a hat there that was wool-blend because mine wasn't drying fast enough. Not mad about my new hat, but could've prepared better.

Leather Gloves

6. Gloves

Gloves keep your hands from going numb, right? The temperatures at the markets were cold and I’m so glad I brought a couple of pairs with me. Even my dinky gloves I bought in Paris on a cold day were better than nothing, but I learned from my first trip and on my second brought more robust choices. The three I brought were: leather with cashmere lining, Hestra ski mittens, (I also have my eye on these linked), and Smartwool gloves. Another great option is from Quince, linked here. My first trip I overlooked the importance of this when choosing what to wear at the European Christmas markets, and I didn’t make the mistake again. A good pair of gloves aren’t cheap, but you can wear them forever if you get a quality pair.

Spanx Bodysuit - Perfect for an Under Layer

7. Undershirt

A base layer is so dang important. I have several tank tops that I take with me on all cold weather trips. For this trip, it was no different. An undershirt is a must when packing for what to wear at the European Christmas markets so it decreases the wind getting to your core body. I’d recommend long sleeve shirts, so if you don’t have any, Quince has a great base layer one you can buy. If you opt for short sleeves, T-shirts, tank tops, wife beaters, anything will do. Some of mine are the ones that snap underneath (a bodysuit) and some are a tight-fitting tank. They both serve me well on my trips when it's freezing degree weather.

Electric Handwarmers Are Clutch

8. Electric Hand Warmers

One thing I wish I had even known about before my first trip to the European Christmas markets were electric hand warmers. The ladies that had them had nice, warm, toasty hands. And I was jealous, so I got my own pair for my next trip. The fact that you can recharge these is awesome, as I can’t stand the waste of the ones that come in disposable packs. There are tons to choose from on Amazon, but here are some that looked good for a good price. I can confirm they work and they are worth the price. While this isn’t what to wear at the European Christmas markets, it’s certainly something you want to take with you.

Silly Picture - But That Scarf!!!

9. Scarf

A non-negotiable item we all agreed on was a solid scarf. Wool, cashmere, or in my case, fur (which I've had forever and would not buy ever again because...animals). Protecting your neck and being able to wrap yourself up in it when the wind is gusting is key. A few of the ladies had scarves that were not sufficient and commented that it would've made a huge difference in the cold. Rather, the freezing cold. Another option is a neck gaiter, and those are great for pulling over your mouth and nose. I've used one for skiing for years. Take something warm to wrap around your neck for what to wear at the European Christmas markets.

Disney Has Nothing on This Magical Time

By taking these tips, packing for a European Christmas market trip will be simple. You will ensure that your time outside at the markets is enjoyable. The worst thing in the world is to get to a place you’ve always wanted to go but can’t enjoy it. Being cold is miserable. The temperatures and conditions can be quite brutal for those of us who are not used to weather that cold and/or snow. You won’t have to guess what to wear at the European Christmas markets because you have expert advice right here. Don’t skip any of these items for a very delightful and magic-filled experience there. Packing for Christmas has never been so delightful. Enjoy!

If you thought this blog was helpful, you might also like to read how to stay warm at the European Christmas markets. There's also the best boots for the European Christmas markets blog, which I continue to add to as I test them out.

For an extensive packing list for the European Christmas markets, click here.

For a summary of each of the German Christmas markets I've been to, here is the link.

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