Feel the magic at Ireland’s enchanting Christmas markets
For the perfect Christmas experience head to Ireland’s lively Christmas markets filled with fabulous artisan food, crafts, entertainment and festive cheer.
Belfast Christmas Market, Belfast City Hall, Co Antrim
Where better to soak up the festive vibe than at a sparkling Christmas market. Here are some of the top choices across the island of Ireland.
Waterford
Bigger and brighter every year, Waterford Winterval (15 November to 23 December) brings the magic of Christmas to Ireland’s oldest city which this year holds the crown of the European City of Christmas. As well as the Christmas market where stalls will be laden with festive food and gifts, Winterval presents live music events, an ice-skating rink, the Winterval Train, illuminations and the Waterford Eye Ferris wheel. For those who want to visit Santa, you can do so in the atmospheric setting of the 12th-century caverns that lie beneath the city’s Medieval Museum.
Belfast
Located in the grounds of the impressive City Hall, Belfast’s Christmas market (16 November to 22 December) offers a top-class continental Christmas experience with over 100 stalls selling artisan food and crafts. Traders from across Europe will offer food delicacies ranging from hot Glühwein, to Belgian chocolates, baklava, crêpes, Lebanese street food and more. And alongside the food chalets will be a wonderful array of gift ideas to make your Christmas shopping easy.
Christmas Market, Galway City
Galway
Over on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Galway city gets the most out of the festive season with its Christmas market running from 8 November to 5 January 2025. Eyre Square in the city centre will once again be the setting for a wide variety of entertainment, food and gift stalls, amusement rides and the ever-popular Big Wheel. Santa’s Polar Express train will be trundling around the square and the enchanted light gardens will provide the perfect place for a seasonal photo.
Kilkenny
The beautiful medieval city of Kilkenny will stage Yulefest Kilkenny kicking off on 30 November with Santa’s arrival in the city. A Christmas market takes place each weekend until 22 December set against the spectacular backdrop of 800-year-old Kilkenny Castle. Alongside stalls selling festive treats and local crafts, there will be family entertainment and live music. Beyond the market there will be lots of seasonal events culminating in the festival finale fireworks on 21 December.
Yulefest, Christmas Market, Kilkenny City
Derry~Londonderry
The Guildhall in Derry~Londonderry will be the setting for the annual Christmas Craft Fair (22–24 November). This event showcases an exquisite range of handmade craft items created by design-makers and artisan food producers throughout Ireland. It’s the perfect place to pick up a special Christmas gift and an opportunity to explore this historic walled city.
Wicklow
In Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wicklow Christmas Market creates a sustainable winter wonderland. Running every weekend from 23 November to 22 December, it will have over 40 stalls selling artisan crafts and international cuisine. The market is a green event created using recycled materials and with a ‘leave no trace’ policy. Young visitors to the market will be entertained by the elf Christmas show, can drop into Mrs Claus’ kitchen, enjoy a ride on the Jingle Bell Express and, of course, visit the big man himself in Santa’s cabin.