Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada

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All information in this post is accurate as of the publishing date, however it is always best to check timetables, pricing, or opening hours before visiting a destination or venue.

Coming from Australia, Christmas Markets are so exciting for us. Visiting them was something we really looked forward to when visiting the Northern hemisphere in winter. We were lucky enough to visit five cities in Canada and went to many great Christmas markets. Of course, there must be hundreds of incredible markets in places we didn’t get to in Canada. For where we visited, we’ve put together a list of our favourite Christmas markets in Canada.

Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada. Three wooden German style huts with green plants and Christmas lights on top at the Québec city Christmas Markets in Canada. Inside the huts they're selling clothes and food and behind the huts is a huge stone building with a green roof. The photo is also taken at night so everything is lit up and there's a bit of snow on the ground.
Christmas markets look so magical at night

Montreal Christmas Markets

There are two Christmas markets that we visited and can recommend in Montreal. The first is the Great Montreal Christmas Market which is in the city in the Quartier des Spectacles. It runs for about a month from late November to late December and is totally free to visit. There’s live music and lots of chalets with local food, drinks and arts and crafts.

The second is the Montreal Christmas Village which also runs for a month from late November to late December. It’s a bit further out of the city than the other market, but is still easily accessible by public transport. The village has about 60 stalls with both hot food, drinks and local products and is free to visit. Outside there’s a little Christmas tree market which is cool to wander through. It’s also located outside Marché Atwater which is worth visiting as well. It is an all year round market with spices, fruits and vegetables and other speciality food.

Of course there are so many other markets around the holiday season in Montreal that we didn’t visit. Firstly there’s the Verdun Holiday Market which is free and runs for a week in one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Canada. Then there’s the free Holiday Market at Locoshop Angus that runs over two weekends in November. There’s also the Montreal Craft Show or the “Salon des Métiers” which runs for 10 days in December but does cost $10 CAD each. Lastly there’s the Vegan Christmas Market over one weekend in December that also has free entrance!

People walking through the Christmas village in Montreal, Canada. On either side of the path people are walking are wooden huts with green plants on top and city buildings in the background "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
Walking through the Christmas Village
A bunch of Christmas trees of various sizes in lines outside the Christmas Village in Montreal, Canada. Above the trees are lights and behind them are some city buildings "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The cute Christmas tree market

Ottawa Christmas Market

While Ottawa didn’t have as much to do as other places in Canada, it did have one of our favourite markets. The German themed Ottawa Christmas Market runs for around seven weeks from late November to early January. It’s completely free but the opening times change every week so check out their website if you’re visiting. The market has over 50 vendors in cute wooden cabins where you can find arts, crafts, food and delicious warm drinks. There’s also workshops, live entertainment, a visit from Santa and so many great decorations.

Even better is that the Christmas Market is right next to the Ottawa Farmers’ Market. This market runs every Sunday from 9am to 3pm all year round (although when we visited in December, it was definitely on more frequently). It’s held outside from May to October but during the colder months is held in the Aberdeen Pavilion. The whole pavilion is full of fresh hot and cold food, crafts and produce all from within 100km of Ottawa. There’s also live music and it’s definitely worth a visit after checking out the Christmas Market.

In terms of other markets we didn’t visit in the city, there’s the Ho Ho Holiday Craft Market. This is held in the Glebe Community Center for one day only in December and has free entry. Slightly out of the city in the Ray Friel Recreation Complex you’ll find more markets. First is the free Local Delights Holiday Market for one day in November. And the Merry Mingle Christmas Market for one day in December that also has free entry.

A big paved section at the Christmas Market in Ottawa, Canada. There are wooden huts around the edge of the paving with snow on top and on the right is a pole with many strings of lights coming off it above the huts. On the left is a little Christmas bauble style seating area and on the left is the Aberdeen Pavilion which is a big yellow building with a big grey roof "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The Ottawa market has so much space
Inside the Aberdeen Pavilion in Ottawa, Canada. It has a high arched roof and is packed with people inside with a shelf of big fresh pies and a sign saying "local honey" and a bunch of green crates holding local produce "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
Delicious food inside the Aberdeen Pavilion

Toronto Christmas Market

Previously named one of the best Christmas Markets in the World, the Toronto Christmas Market was definitely one of our favourites. Held in the historic distillery district it runs between mid November and late December. The market is open from midday everyday running until 9pm during the week and 10pm on weekends. It has free entry during the week if you can get there then. However from Friday at 6pm until the end of Sunday, it costs $8-$12 CAD for entry. So definitely worth it to visit during the week if you can, and it’s much quieter too!

As the market is held in an already established shopping area, there are so many places to shop. The distillery district has lots of craft shops that sell things like candles, soap, clothes and local food and drink. There are also temporary wooden chalets put up for the Christmas Village that sell more of that stuff. The actual area is huge and has a main stage for performances, lots of lights and a huge Christmas tree. Definitely one of the best Christmas markets in Canada and worth a visit!

Some other markets we didn’t get to but still might be worth visiting in Toronto are the Holiday Fair in the Square. This food and entertainment market has free entry, runs most of December and also allows dogs! The One Of A Kind Winter Show is held in Exhibition Place over 10 days at the end of November but entry does cost $20 CAD. Lastly there’s the Riverside C’mon Holiday Market which is a free market in a park with more than 20 vendors selling holiday gifts.

The distillery Christmas market in Toronto, Canada. The ground is paved and there's a big brick building on the left with a sign on it that says "Countdown to Christmas, 7 days". On the paved section are a couple of wooden huts selling Christmas goodies with people walking around and the blue sky above it all "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The distillery market is amazing
A big green Christmas tree at the Christmas Market in Toronto, Canada, with yellow and white baubles on it and a sign that says DIOR with a white platform at the bottom that also says DIOR. Around the tree is a rope barrier and behind it is a brick building with the blue sky above it "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The huge tree they have every year

Québec City Christmas Market

Easily one of the best Christmas markets in Canada is the Québec City German Christmas Market. From late November to late December, the market is open all day Thursday to Sunday and is completely free. For the month, five spots in Old Québec have wonderful German themed stalls, an ice rink, and a puppet theatre for kids. The 90 stalls spread across the five locations sell hot food and drinks, baked goods, local produce and arts and crafts.

Even better, every stall that sells drinks will charge you $2 CAD for a cute reusable holiday cup, which can then be returned for a refund or taken home as a souvenir. Walking around the cute old city with these beautiful stalls around and all the Christmas decorations is truly magical.

A market we didn’t end up visiting but might be worth checking out is the Grand Christmas Market. This is held at the Le Grand Marché or The New Grand Market slightly out of the city from late November to early January. It is open every day and is free to visit with over 200 stalls with food, house bits, gifts, and live entertainment. Lastly, no Christmas visit to Québec city would be complete without going to Rue du Petit Champlain. This fairy-tale street is decorated so beautifully for Christmas during the holiday period. It also has many great shops that are great to look through so this street is definitely worth checking out.

Inside part of the Christmas Market in Québec city, Canada. On the left are some wooden huts selling Christmas goodies with green plants and snow on top. Above the huts are some brown trees and a building outside the market and on the right is a big metal structure for people to stand under with green plants and big metal candle sculptures and on the top of it is a red and green flower looking structure. There's snow on the ground and people walking around the market "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The Québec markets were our favourite
Krissie's hand and Katherine's gloved hand holding red and blue plastic cups with hot chocolates with whipped cream on top. Behind the cups is part of the Christmas Market in Québec city, Canada, with wooden German style huts, lights strung up, people walking around and snow on the ground. So magical! "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
VERY needed hot chocolates!

Vancouver Christmas Market

We didn’t actually visit the Vancouver Christmas Market as we were in the city a bit early, and the price was a bit out of our range. Tickets are between $16.63 – $23.77 CAD depending on how early you buy them. The market is open from November 13th to December 24th and the hours change weekly so be sure to check the website. It is held indoors in the city and has over 90 German style huts. You can find food, drinks, clothing, accessories and lots of fun holiday gifts. There is heaps to see and do so definitely worth a visit if it’s in your budget.

That’s the main Christmas market in Vancouver, but there are definitely others you could visit too. The Shipyards Christmas Market is located in North Vancouver, is open from late November to Christmas eve, and is completely free! The European themed market has more than 75 stalls selling gifts and food, with a large Christmas tree, ice rink and live music. For the craft lovers there’s the Port Moody Christmas Craft Fair that’s held for one day in late November. Slightly outside of the city, this market costs $2 CAD and is great for anyone looking for local handmade gifts.

Lastly, make sure to head to Granville Island from mid November and throughout December for some holiday lights. The whole 40 acre site has lights strung up and shining from sundown and there are also bigger light up pieces dotted around too. Apart from the lights, the island is full of some wonderful artisan shops and eateries, parks and live music. It is absolutely worth a visit, especially as access to the island is always free.

Inside a building in Vancouver, Canada. The building has a big glass window with doors down the bottom, and on the left you can see 2 levels of the building. Hanging from the roof in the middle of the photo is a giant model of the Earth lit up yellow and there's people walking around under it "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The Christmas Market is in this building
A road under a road bridge leading onto Granville Island in Vancouver, Canada. There's a big sign that says Granville Island above the road and on the right are some plants and a path also leading to the island "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
Granville Island is worth a visit!

Final Thoughts

As we said earlier, we’re sure Canada is full of so many incredible Christmas Markets. We were lucky enough to visit five cities during the Christmas period and experience just some of what was on offer. If you’re also going to be visiting multiple different Canadian cities, we recommend getting around on Flixbus. They go between Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and many more cities in Canada so getting around is super easy! We really hope our list has given you some great ideas and made you super excited for Christmas in Canada. It really is magical!

Looking up Rue du Petit Champlain in Québec city, Canada. The street has shops on either side with Christmas trees outside every one. Above the shops are garlands hanging and snowflake decorations and snow is blanketing the ground. The street looks really European and all the buildings are so cute "Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada"
The famous Rue du Petit Champlain in Québec city decorated for Christmas

If you want to see our visits to any of these markets or more of what we got up to in Canada, we have a playlist from our time in the country on our YouTube channel:

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4 responses to “Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada”

  1. […] Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada […]

  2. […] Centre is also where the Vancouver Christmas Market is held, something you can read more about here. It’s definitely worth a visit and is a lovely part of the […]

  3. Carina Avatar

    The Ottawa Christmas Market is one of my favourites! I usually go to it every year. I actually wrote about my experience visiting, if you’re interested in giving it a read.

    https://www.onegirlandthebigworld.com/2024/11/30/experience-the-magic-of-the-ottawa-christmas-market/

    1. Travelling Gleefully Avatar

      Oh amazing! We LOVED that whole Christmas market area in Ottawa. We’ll have to check out your post!

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