Christmassy city breaks under £300pp

Prague

The Christmas season in Prague is a step back in time. Gas lamplighters illuminate Charles Bridge each evening from 1 December and on 6 December, locals flock to Stare Mesto (the old town) to celebrate Mikulas Day, the Czech folkloric version of Santa Claus.

Of course, you’ll also get all the modern festive trimmings – Christmas markets and lights take over the city this time of year – and there are an array of recitals and ballet performances to attend.

Prague really is utterly enchanting in the build up to Christmas and the whole city is decidedly merrier despite the cold. If you’re lucky, you may even score a snowy day or two.

Budapest

All your pre-Christmas stress will float away as you relax in Budapest’s thermal baths – the ultimate gift to yourself this holiday season.

December in the Hungarian capital may be brisk, but that’s what makes a dip in the world-renowned pools all the more rewarding. Elsewhere, you can cosy up beside a fireplace in one of the many merry pubs and get acquainted with Hungarian Christmas delicacies such as roast pork knuckle, goose thigh, or even rooster testicle stew (kakashere pörkölt), if you’re feeling adventurous.

Finish off your meal with a decadent, chocolate-filled kürtös kalács chimney cake and a quiet stroll around the markets. You’ll feel festive in no time!

Amsterdam

You won’t find garish Rudolphs prancing across rooftops in the Dutch capital this time of year; instead, Amsterdam celebrates a distinctly modern Christmas.

Expect a contemporary and surprisingly un-festive light fair installed across the city from 28 November, and traditions with a twist everywhere you look.

The Christmas Village at the Museumplein hosts artisanal markers and one-day pop-ups with names like Funky Xmas Market (15 December) and the Sustainable Christmas Market put the spotlight on local wares, not festive trinkets. Plus, you’ll find roaming a cappella choirs covering the latest chart-topping tunes.

A taste of Christmas is perhaps best found in the city’s festive treats. Pick up some spiced pepernoten cookies and jingle all the way home after sampling some Dutch craft beer.

Krakow

Only one word is needed to describe a Christmassy break in Krakow: food.

Hearty sausages, tender roasts, grilled cheese (oscypek) and tastier-than-it-sounds bread with lard – Polish cuisine is just made for the cold months.

And with average December temperatures hovering around a chilly -1C, you won’t even feel guilty escaping into a cosy pub for a bite and a generous glass of traditional mulled wine (grzaniec).

That’s not to say that seeing the sights is out of the question. In fact, fewer crowds mean better experiences all-round, and your snaps of Wawel Castle and the Wieliczka Salt Mine will be fabulously tourist-free.

Milan

Milan certainly lives up to its reputation as Italy’s finest shopping destination come Christmastime.

There are markets galore across the city but of all the set-ups, it’s the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! fair that takes the panettone. The four-day event (on 5-8 December) is the epitome of festive cheer, with market stalls flogging everything from bric-a-brac and handcrafted homewares to warming mulled wine and roast chestnuts.

Christmas spirit flows throughout the rest of the city, too. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, strikingly beautiful at the worst of times, becomes even more impressive when decked out in lights and decorations, while the Duomo dusted in snow – if you’re lucky enough to score some – is almost otherworldly.