Christmas markets, what’s there not to love? Cosy up in your winter warmers, breathe in the background smells of warm pretzels and sizzling German sausages, hum along to the yuletide tunes and pretend that you’re going to purchase the free cheese that you keep “sampling”. Warm your cockles with currywurst, wash it down with mulled cider and pick up handmade festive gifts for yourself or your fussy family members.
This year, Christmas markets are returning to Glasgow and you’ll be in for a large dose of Christmas cheer.
Glasgow
George Square in Glasgow will be full to the brim with festive gifts, street-food, fairground rides and family-friendly street performers from 25th November to 31st December this year. While St Enoch Square will serve up its own traditional offering to get you in the Yuletide spirit.
© Christopher Heaney Photography
If you're looking for something a little quirkier, there’s plenty of independent markets taking place throughout the city. Nestled just off Buchanan Street, Sloans Market will become a magical place over the festive period. From piano playing elves, Christmas Ceilidhs, Christmas movie nights, discos, lunches, dinners and quizzes in their Grade A listed building to bevvies in their fairy-lit beer garden, Sloans has everything you need for a festive gathering. Every weekend, their cobbled, festoon-lit courtyard is filled with Scotland’s best independent crafters, making it a hidden gem for your holiday shopping.
Less than a mile from Euro Hostel Glasgow, you can stroll through the Merchant Square Weekend Craft & Design Fair, where stalls of cupcakes, candles, handcrafted goodies and photography are lined up under the covered courtyard’s twinkly lights.
If that wasn’t enough, SuperMarket at Argyle Street Arches is a 5-minute walk from Euro Hostel and will be putting on 7 days of the finest, festive independent shopping. Starting with Saturday 25th November, there’ll be a calendar of activities for adults, kids and pets alike! You can expect vintage fashion, beauty products, plants, vinyl, homeware, prints, art and loads more. Enjoy Christmas entertainment for the whole family while foraging for those perfect, unique gifts and treating yourself to some of Scotland’s best street-food.
The Country Living Christmas Fair is visiting only 3 lucky locations this year, which includes the SEC Centre in Glasgow. Discover unique gifts that you won’t find on the high street, hand-crafted decorations for the tree, or a selection of artisan snacks for the Christmas table. Stock your festive fridge with food and drink from farmers and artisan producers, get in the mood for Christmas with live music, or chill in the Drunken Duck Champagne Bar with a glass of bubbly. Talks, demos and hands-on workshops will be on offer to flex your creativity, or cook up a festive frenzy in the Country Living Kitchen. The event will be running from Thursday 15th til Sunday 18th November.
If you fancy doing your bit for charity and burning a few calories in anticipation of the festive season’s over-indulgence, Glasgow’s annual Santa Dash sets off from George Square on 9th December at 9:30am. Join thousands of Santa lookalikes on the 5k course that transforms the city-centre into a red sea of festivity. Adults, children and even dogs are welcome. Last year saw 7,500 Santa’s take part. With such a mammoth amount of food-filled festive events taking place over the winter months, we think a dash is the least we should be doing! Although, watching from the side-lines with a mulled cider does sound slightly more appealing.
Staying with Euro Hostel this Christmas
With a central location, affordable prices and cozy beds, Euro Hostel Glasgow is a perfect place to stay this winter. We offer a range of clean and modern private rooms for friends, families or solo-travellers, VIP suites for groups and dorm rooms solo travellers. Book today and save your budget for bratwursts, bubbly and beautiful, unique Christmas gifts.