USA – Shopping at the best Christmas markets
Europe isn’t the only continent that comes alive with charming holiday markets this time of year. At these seven U.S. holiday markets, you can stroll from stall to stall while you shop for gifts, watch live entertainment, and indulge in delicious homemade treats and warming beverages. And because it matters where you stay, book one of these Hilton hotels to make your season even brighter.
Philadelphia
It’s the most wonderful time of the year when the City of Brotherly Love creates its authentic German Christmas Village in Love Park and surrounding City Hall. More than 80 vendors can be found with handcrafted goods just ripe for gift-giving from Nov. 19 – Dec. 24. Enjoy wine, beer and spirits tastings along with German Bratwurst, schnitzel, spätzle and more as you take in traditional German dances, fun activities and Ferris wheel and carousel rides. Within walking distance of all the fun is Motto by Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square. This unique property offers smartly designed and technology-forward rooms for every type of traveler and a fully immersive food and beverage experience highlighted by El Techo, its 11th floor taqueria with a glass retractable roof providing a vibrant rooftop dining scene where, who knows? You may even forget it’s winter outside.
New York
Home to not one but dozens of charming Christmas markets spread across the city, Manhattan is always magical during the holidays and you’ll find it especially charming at its two biggest holiday markets in the heart of Midtown. Visit Union Square Holiday Market (Nov. 17 – Dec. 24) to shop amongst 200 vendor stalls or stop by the Christmas Market in Bryant Park (Oct. 27 – Jan. 2, 2023), where 125 boutiques create an intimate Winter Village around an outdoor ice skating rink. When you are ready to remove yourself from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps, take in the sights and sounds from your own private balcony at the new Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square North in the heart of Times Square. Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members can now enjoy automatic upgrades at this property and all Hilton Garden Inns.
Washington, D.C.
For nearly 20 years, District of Columbia residents and visitors alike have made their way to the annual Downtown Holiday Market, which runs Nov. 18 – Dec. 23. The outdoor market takes over two streets of Washington to feature more than 70 exhibitors, delicious food and drink vendors and, new in 2022, a live stage with regional performers providing all-day entertainment. Just six blocks from the festivities awaits the newly renovated Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington, D.C. Convention Center, where every room is a suite and every guest is welcome with complimentary made-to-order breakfast and evening receptions daily.
Chicago
Inspired by the 16th century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, and partnering with German vendors, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is one of the most authentic Christmas markets in the U.S. Located in Daley Plaza, this staple event totally sleighs it with shops, family-friendly entertainment and traditional German food and beverages that will ensure your season ‘tis jolly. After shopping well into the evening, Nov. 18 – Dec. 24, stroll a few blocks to the Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel, which has served as a stunning home to guests for more than 150 years. In addition to its Christmas tree, the hotel’s impressive lobby combines holiday lights with its 21 historic and awe-inspiring frescos. Enjoy the warm glow of the Tiffany candelabras at the hotel’s famed Lockwood lobby bar, which will have seasonal cocktails on hand.
Arlington, Texas
Although you may not experience a white Christmas in the Lone Star State, the annual Bavarian-themed Texas Christkindl Market will put you in the spirit. Taking place Nov. 25 – Dec. 23 near Globe Life Field, the nearly 70-year-old holiday market is a result of a partnership between Arlington, Texas, and its sister city, Bad Königshofen, Germany. Visitors will find handcrafted collectibles and gifts from Germany, along with live entertainment and authentic German fare. After elfin’ around the Christmas trees, enjoy a silent night at Hilton Arlington, just two miles from the shops and featuring its own cozy gatherings around the fire (pit) at R Bar & Grill.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
You cannot find more Christmas than in the heart of Christmas City itself. Located under two hours from Philadelphia and New York City, the little town of Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt has consistently been ranked one of the best holiday markets in the U.S. Find the ring-ting-tingling of Christmas music accompanying the 60+ vendor market held at PNC Plaza at SteelStacks every weekend from Nov. 18 – Dec. 18, as well as more holiday stalls along the streets of Historic Bethlehem, where horse-drawn carriages clip-clop their way down the streets. When it’s time to tuck in for the night, Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown Bethlehem Center Valley will provide a home away from home with roomy suites outfitted with kitchens providing plenty of space for travelers and their pets.
Atlanta
Meet and mingle in Atlanta’s own German-inspired Christkindl Market, held in the Southern city’s stylish Buckhead Village, Nov. 25 – Dec. 24. Kids can meet Santa, and everyone can check gifts off their list with a visit to more than 50 vendor shops. More traditional gifts can be found in this “Beverly Hills of the South” at Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square shops, just a five-minute walk from Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead. After shopping, the hotel’s spa will make your day holly and jolly with its variety of massages and pampering treatments. Plus, Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members can enjoy space-available complimentary room upgrades 72 hours before arrival.
