Get Festive: The Best Christmas Markets in Melbourne in 2025

Christmas isn’t ambling toward us anymore — it’s sprinting, tinsel flying. Yet there is still time to shop in a way that feels calm, charming and lightly festive rather than panicked. These Christmas markets in Melbourne bring small pleasures to the rush: mulled spices drifting through the air, local makers gathered in bright pockets across the city, and the joy of finding a present with a bit of soul.

Alliance Française Christmas Market

French charm returns to the Abbotsford Convent as the Alliance Française brings its much-loved Christmas Market back for 2025. Over two elegant spring days — Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November — the Convent fills with artisanal gifts, buttery pastries, thoughtful wines and that unmistakable Paris-meets-Melbourne atmosphere. It’s relaxed, indulgent and perfectly placed within one of the city’s most beautiful cultural precincts.

Saturday 22nd to Sunday 23rd November, 10am to 6pm

Tickets $8

1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

German Christmas Market

Step into a European-style evening where gingerbread houses perfume the air and stalls glow beneath strings of warm light. Hosted by Deutsche Schule Melbourne, this Christmas market blends handcrafted treasures with traditional festive treats and cups of warming wine. A lovely way to open the season.

Friday 28th November, 5pm to 9pm

Deutsche Schule Melbourne, 96 Barkly Street, Fitzroy North

Eastland Christmas Market Series

Ringwood Town Square comes alive across three festive Friday nights, as Eastland hosts its Christmas Market Series on 5th, 12th and 19th December. Local makers, twilight music and an easy, cheerful atmosphere fill the square beneath the evening lights. Handcrafted decorations, artisan sweets and small-batch treats make this a relaxed, family-friendly stop for crossing a few more gifts off your list.

5th, 12th & 19th December, 5pm to 9pm

The Park & Ringwood Town Square, Ringwood

The Big Design Market

Melbourne’s design lovers treat this weekend like a sport, and honestly, fair enough. The Big Design Market lands at the Royal Exhibition Building with more than 250 of the country’s sharpest makers — jewellery for the magpies, homewares for the aesthetes, fashion for the chronically excellent. It’s the one place where you can do all your Christmas shopping without breaking a sweat, then reward yourself with something delicious from the food stalls because, well, you’ve earned it.

28th to 30th November

Friday, 11am to 8pm; Saturday, 10am to 7pm; Sunday, 10am to 5pm

$6 entry (kids free)

Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton

Good Food & Wine Show Christmas Market

If your gifting style leans heavily towards edible, drinkable or just hand it over before I nibble it myself, this is your moment. More than 150 producers set up shop at MCEC with artisan treats, boutique drops and clever festive finds. It’s Christmas shopping with snacks — the superior way to shop, really.

5th to 7th December, 4pm to 9pm

Tickets from $15

MCEC, South Wharf

Lygon Street Market

Piazza Italia hosts an open-air market that brings a touch of European ease to early summer. Browse a curated mix of handmade art, thoughtful design and gourmet produce while the scent of cannoli and small-batch bites drifts through the square. Local makers anchor the experience, offering pieces with character and charm, and the pet-friendly setup means your four-legged sidekick can join the wander. It’s a relaxed, culture-rich way to spend a Sunday — a little Euro-style browsing in the heart of Carlton.

7th December, 10am to 3pm

Piazza Italia, Carlton

St Kilda Esplanade Christmas Countdown Market Series

The Esplanade leans into the season with its Countdown to Christmas series, running every Sunday as the big day draws closer. Each week brings a fresh mix of local makers, handcrafted gifts, artwork, jewellery, homewares and small-batch treats, all set against sea breezes and that laid-back St Kilda spirit. As December deepens, the energy lifts, building to Santa’s special visit on 21st December. It’s an easy, sunlit way to shop local, support makers and soak up a little coastal cheer before the holidays arrive.

Every Sunday until 21st December, 10am to 4pm

Free entry

The Esplanade, St Kilda

Trust Makers’ Market

Rippon Lea’s gardens set the scene for a beautifully relaxed makers’ market, stalls stretching across the lawns beneath grand old trees. Marquees brim with handmade art, jewellery, design pieces, small-batch treats and thoughtful giftware; a gentle, charming way to spend a Sunday. Bring a picnic rug, wander the grounds, and make a day of it; the mansion will also be open for those keen to explore a little further.

Entry to the gardens and market is by gold coin, with the mansion accessible for $10 at the door.

Sunday 14th December, 10am to 3pm

$10 entry (can be purchased at the door)

192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick

Loved reading about Melbourne’s best Christmas markets? You might also enjoy our guides to clever Kris Kringle gifts for the office and chic Christmas decor worth bringing home.

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

21 November 2025

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.