Craiova Romania's Christmas Market Is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Romania, travelers will find Craiova, one of the nation's larger cities. It's also where they'll discover one of Europe's largest Christmas markets. And this year, the Craiova Christmas Fair has a special theme inspired by the Christmas classic "The Nutcracker."

"Craiova will be illuminated with over two million lights, and the new gingerbread houses with snow roofs will bring the charm of a world taken from fairy tales," the city wrote in a statement, adding "Craiova becomes, again this year, the place where Christmas comes to life."

The market is so renowned, it was just voted the best Christmas market in Europe by European Best Destinations.

This year, visitors can expect to find six different thematic squares, including a "'Candy Land' kingdom of sweets," a "traditional Christmas" area complete with carols, crafts, and tasty Romanian dishes, and “Santa Claus's Country” where carousels, trains, VR films, and a Ferris wheel await.

A highlight is Santa's Flying Sleigh complete with special effects, ballerinas from the Romanian Opera, and more.

In the market, guests can linger at the traditional wooden chalets and grab fantastic bites in the food stalls celebrating the flavors of Eastern Europe. There's also plenty of entertainment to enjoy, including weekly concerts and carol performances.