Check out our guide to the best Christmas markets in Dublin. It’s a great way to combine two festive pastimes – shopping and sampling tasty Christmas treats.

12 Days of Christmas

Where: Docklands, Dublin.

Dates: 12th of December to the 23rd of December 2008 from 12 noon to 8pm daily.

A relatively new event to Dublin, this festive market is sure to kick-start your Christmas preparations into action. Over 80 traders will be taking part, each offering a wide variety of gift ideas for family and friends. Choose from craft jewellery, stained glass giftware, beautifully carved wooden toys, leather goods and home accessories.

You’ll have plenty of opportunities for a quick bite, as you happily make your way through the stalls. Be tempted by continental pastries, mince pies and hot snacks to keep those energy levels up. The food stalls also provide some nice ideas in the way of food presents, for example: fine cheese and cake (not eaten together of course!)

Adding to the festive atmosphere will be bands and carol singers performing familiar Christmas music and songs.

Find out more about the 12 Days of Christmas.

Farmleigh Christmas and Food Market 

Where: Farmleigh Estate, Dublin’s Phoenix Park

On Saturdays and Sundays from the 6th of December 2008 (on the lead up to Christmas), Farmleigh House opens its doors to its annual event of Farmleigh Christmas and Food Markets.

At the markets you enjoy fresh Irish produce including organic vegetables, chutneys, award winning cheese, fish, confectionary and much more.

Your Farmleigh Christmas events programme includes a live crib and kids Christmas room, Christmas puppet show, story telling for kids, Carol singing (with different choirs performing on different dates), barbershop harmonies, magic show, and horse and carriage rides.

Even the house itself is getting into the festive mood. It will be adorned with traditional Edwardian Christmas decorations!

Find out more at Farmleigh.

Temple Bar Markets

Where: Temple Bar, Dublin City Centre.

You really could have your Christmas sorted at Temple Bar!  Three different markets in the 1 area – a true shoppers paradise!

The Cow’s Lane Designer Mart takes place every Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

Not just specific to Christmas, this market may hold the key for that tricky Christmas present that you’ve run out of ideas for. Here you’ll find a wide array of goods, for example, hats, photography, sculpture, ceramics, accessories, kids clothes and toys.

The Food Market takes place every Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm.

Stock up on some gorgeous fresh produce for the festive season. There are some fabulous ideas here for a tantalizing Christmas meal. With a variety of stalls to choose from, you’ll soon have your Christmas day menu in order. What a gourmet’s paradise – shellfish, fine cheese, gourmet sausages, cakes, pastries, farm fresh fruit and vegetables, fish olives and farm meats. As if all that wasn’t enough you can also buy some fresh flowers for that wonderful table arrangement.

The Book Market takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

Choose from new, second hand, fiction, non-fiction, antique and specialist subjects. 

For those of you old enough to remember pre-cd/dvd times there is a stall, which stocks 7″ and 12″ vinyls (or as we used to call them – “records”). You never know, you could strike it lucky here and come across some extremely collectable music.

Find out more about the Temple Bar Markets.

Blackrock Market

Where: Blackrock Village, County Dublin.

The Blackrock Market takes place every Saturday from 11am to 5.30p.m, Sunday 12 noon to 5.30pm and Bank Holiday Mondays from 11am to 5.30pm.

At Blackrock Market, you have over 50 shops to browse through for your Christmas gifts.  What a treasure trove, rare collections of coins, notes, stamps, maps and prints. Book lovers will also be at home here with a fine array of old and new books. Fashionistas may find that quality piece of vintage clothing and of course the ideal accessories to go with it.

Shopping can be very hungry work, so fill that gap with some tasty international dishes, such as Indian, Italian, or Polish fare, or perhaps you may be happy with a wholesome smoothie!

Find out more about the Blackrock Market.

Red Stables Market

Where: Clontarf, County Dublin

The Red Stables Market takes place every Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

The Arts and Crafts section of the market features works by Irish and International artists. Why not make a trip out to Clontarf and see what’s on offer. That Christmas List is all but laid to rest after spending a day here. There’s such a vast array of goods on offer here including jewellery, sculpture, kids toys, stained glass, mosaics, handbags, knitwear, needlecraft, pottery, mirrors, etc.

The food market on the other hand may hold some good suggestions for some exciting Christmas menus.

Get those taste buds going with a fine selection of pies, crepés, handmade sausages, Italian food, cakes, coffee, homemade ice-cream, organic fruit and vegetables, vegetarian foods, olives and Mediterranean produce.

So it looks like a trip to the capital may be in order to sort out that Christmas Shopping list!

Happy shopping!

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