city breaks

Top 5 Christmas Market City Breaks

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so If you’re planning a city break this winter, then December is the ideal time to get away and the European Christmas Markets are the perfect festive destination. Get into the Christmas spirit and explore the cities bedecked in twinkling lights and scattered with market stalls.

Berlin

Germany has a long tradition of Christmas markets and the atmosphere in the city squares where they are held is enchanting. Berlin is playing host to sixty Christmas markets this year, but without doubt, the Charlottenburg Castle Christmas market is the most bewitching. The castle and the surrounding park are bathed in a soft light from the vendors’ stalls, which glow pink and orange. The romantic ambience is perfect for a couple looking to spend a magical weekend away together this winter.

Krakow

Poland’s spectacular Baroque architecture lends Krakow’s Christmas markets a breath-taking backdrop, particularly so when the snow is twinkling under the Christmas lights. The market takes place on the Rynek Glowny Square, which sits centrally in the historic Old Town. The wooden stalls swell with rustic charm and offer a wide range of festive decorations, food and drink, gifts and other treats. Carol singers and folk dancers entertain visitors as they stroll amidst the stalls and the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts drifts on the breeze.

Prague

Make Christmas 2011 extra-special and spend the big day with your loved ones at the Prague Christmas markets. There are three large markets, all of which run daily, including Christmas Day, that are within a few minutes walk from each other at Republic Square, Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. If you’re planning to spend Christmas away from home this year, a Prague city break is a great destination. The city boasts the most impressive Christmas tree of all the European Christmas markets. It’s specially transported from the Krkonose Mountains, north of the Czech Republic, and the huge Yule tree stands at 88ft tall! No matter what your age, your jaw will drop when the cloak of lights are turned on at 5pm every night and the glow covers the surrounding buildings in a deep orange hue. You can’t get more Christmassy than that!

Brussels

The heart of Brussels becomes a cosmopolitan hub when the Christmas market comes to town. The vendors’ chalets line the streets of Marche aux Poissons, Bourse and Place St. Catherines, from a distance they look like they could be gingerbread houses with snow-topped roofs. You can buy products and cuisines from around the world, perfect to tickle the taste buds or take home as a unique Christmas gift. This Christmas market extends past the rows of stalls, here you can take to the ice and skate! Brass bands fill the air with music and children laugh as they ride the Ferris wheel.

Copenhagen

The Tivoli Christmas market’s downtown location makes it ideal for those who want to visit the market, but not base their holiday to Copenhagen around it, as it’s close to the best restaurants, bars and hotels in the city. The stylish city is vibrant and modern and at Christmas, it is dressed in its festive finery. At the twinkling Copenhagen market, you can sample the local Danish delicacies, such as glogg & aebleskiver, a hot spiced drink similar to mulled wine, which is traditionally accompanied by cakes covered in sugar and jam. Or for the more adventurous gastronomist, you can try pickled herring or spicy meatballs.

If you’re looking for a European winter wonderland, you could close your eyes and pick one of the destinations above at random, you’re Christmas market city break would certainly make winter 2011 hold a special place in your heart.