Christmas Markets in Scotland

There’s nothing quite like a Scottish Christmas market to get you in the festive spirit. Each one is a blend of twinkling lights, steaming cups of mulled wine, and the scent of sizzling street food drifting through the air. Stalls are piled high with handcrafted gifts, local produce and quirky decorations you won’t find on the high street. Add in the buzz of live music, ice skating under fairy lights, and the backdrop of historic streets and castles, and you’ve got a holiday experience that feels straight out of a Christmas card. From Edinburgh’s world-famous celebration to Glasgow’s lively Winterfest and Aberdeen’s cosy village feel, Scotland’s markets are an essential stop on any festive trip.

Edinburgh

Where & Setup

This festival is spread across several sites: East & West Princes Street Gardens, George Street, St Andrew Square.
The main Christmas market is in East Princes Street Gardens, with about 70 or so stalls.
George Street hosts the ice rink (covered or semi-covered).
St Andrew Square has “Santa’s Stories” and a Christmas tree maze.

Stalls & Shopping

At the market in Princes Street Gardens you’ll find:

• Handmade gifts, homewares, ornaments, jewellery

• Textiles, scarves, knitted goods

• Seasonal decorations & festive items

• Local & international crafts

• Food & drink chalets - mulled wine, hot chocolate, sausages, sweet treats

You may also see pop-ups for Santa’s grotto, letter writing to Santa, etc.

Things to Do / Attractions

• Ice skating on George Street - sessions (40 mins or so) with options such as toddler / relaxed / adult-only times.

• LNER Big Wheel in East Princes Street Gardens (enclosed pods, views over the city)

• StarFlyer ride (80 m) in certain years, offering a tall swing experience.

• Festive Family Funfair in West Princes Street Gardens - smaller rides, amusements for kids.

• Christmas Tree Maze in St Andrew Square.

• Santa’s Stories in St Andrew Square (storytelling, meet Santa).

Prices & Tickets

• Entry to Edinburgh’s Christmas sites is free.

• But for attractions (ice rink, rides), you pay per session.

• For the George Street Ice Rink (2025-26), sessions are 40 minutes.

  • Adult: from £15 (concessions lower)

  • Child: from £11

  • Penguin skating aid: £5

• Edinburgh residents (EH postcode) often get 20–25% discount on tickets.

Amenities & Logistics

• Baby change / family facilities, lost & found, accessible provisions are available.

• Food & drink are available at each site.

• It’s quite busy, especially evenings and weekends - booking for ice rink/rides is advisable.

• Some community tickets or free ride/ice skating tickets are distributed via charities or community groups.

Glasgow

Where & Setup

Glasgow’s festival is concentrated in George Square and St Enoch Square.
St Enoch is a more compact market; George Square tends to be the main hub for big rides, ice rink etc.

Stalls & Shopping

• Over 50 chalets are typical, offering crafts, gifts, ornaments, decorations, local artist pieces.

• Food & drink stalls are a core feature: bratwursts, German sausages, wraps, crepes, traditional festive fare.

• Festive bars, drinks (mulled wine, spiced ciders) and “street food hub” styles appear often.

Things to Do / Attractions

• Ice Skating - there is a rink in George Square. Tickets usually need booking in advance.

• Rides / Fairground Attractions

  • Ferris wheel (to take in views)

  • Victorian carousel, wave swinger, helter skelter, “flying chairs”.

  • Thrill rides like booster towers, drop towers, etc. In recent years, George Square’s Winterfest has included high rides (e.g. Booster Maxx).

• Santa’s Train, snow dome or themed photo zones for festive pics.

• Live entertainment - singers, performers, stage acts during the evenings.

Prices & Tickets

• Admission to the markets is free.

• Rides / attractions are individually priced.

  • Example: ice skating cost - £13 (adults) and £10 (children) on weekdays in some recent years; weekends higher.

  • Weekend ice skating: - £15 for adults, £13 for children.

  • Other rides (ferris, etc.) may cost £5-£10

Amenities & Logistics

• The markets are centrally located, well served by public transport.

• Because rides are popular, queueing is to be expected in evenings / weekends.

• Booking for popular attractions recommended.

• St Enoch often has slightly earlier closing or quieter hours.

Aberdeen

Where & Setup

• The “Christmas Village” in Aberdeen typically runs for about six weekends (often starting mid-November) in Marischal Square / Broad Street / Upperkirkgate.

• There is also a “Curated in the Quad” market in the Marischal College Quadrangle with rotating traders.

Stalls & Shopping

• Focus is more on locally made gifts, arts & crafts, jewellery, homeware, clothing, and decorations.

• Food and drink chalets offer festive eats, hot drinks and local specialties (e.g. venison burgers, haggis bon bons, sweet treats).

• Bars or pop-up bars are also included where visitors can sit and take in the market ambiance.

Things to Do / Attractions

• Outdoor ice rink - in recent years, Aberdeen has had a rink, often placed near Marischal College or Broad Street

• Fairground attractions - smaller rides, carousel, bumper cars, etc.

• Live music / stage events - some weekends have musical acts, entertainment in the market.

• Santa / children’s activities - meet Santa, themed fun for kids.

• Because of the “Curated in the Quad” layout, the stall lineup often changes weekly, which helps keep it fresh.

Prices & Tickets

• The market and stalls are free to enter.

• Attractions like skating or rides require tickets. (Exact recent ticket prices vary year to year).

• Food & drink at market stalls follow typical festive premium pricing (higher than standard cafés).

Amenities & Logistics

• Being in the city centre, the venue is accessible, with nearby restaurants etc for breaks.

• Because the stall line-up changes, visiting across multiple weekends gives variety.

• It’s a bit more “local” and less sprawling than Edinburgh’s, so it feels cosier and less overwhelming.

• As with any outdoor market, weather may affect stall operation or attendance.

Smaller / Local Christmas Markets & Fairs in Scotland

(always check dates of these yearly as they tend to only be on for a short while)

Cawdor Castle Christmas Market

Dates (2025): Saturday & Sunday,13–14 December, 10 am–4 pm
What to expect: artisan stalls, local food & drink, treats from the castle café, festive entertainment.

Stirling Castle Christmas Shopping Fair

Date: 2 December 2025 in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle
Features: local Scottish brands, crafts, fine food & drink, brass music, mince pies & mulled wine.
Ticket: starts from £1 (for entry)

Winter Market / Open Studios – Perth

These pop up early December, within Perth Creative Exchange and other venues.

Loch Lomond Christmas Festival / Market

Often includes market stalls, festive rides and entertainment.

Ayr Collective Christmas Market

A more local market in Ayrshire, part of an overall festive setup in the town with light installations and craft stalls.

Inverness Winter Market / High Street Market

On Inverness High Street during December, with locally produced gifts, festive food and live entertainment.
Also, traders sometimes gather for a “Pre-Christmas Market” in Inverness.

Drumlanrig Castle Christmas Fair

In Dumfries & Galloway - indoor marquee in front of the castle. Local crafts, food, music.
Plus horse-drawn carriage rides (Clydesdale) are sometimes part of the experience.