Christmas markets

The spicy aroma of hot mulled wine, the twinkle of a thousand fairy lights, a giant Christmas tree against a dark winter sky: the countdown to Christmas doesn’t really begin until you’ve weaved your merry way among the stalls of a festive market.

To help you get your Christmas market break on the calendar, we’ve compiled a list of the world’s best. Pack your winter woollies and come with us as we tour the most festive Christmas city breaks.

Munich

Top festive fun at the heart of Bavaria

In Germany, Christmas markets don’t come much more traditional than they do in gorgeous Munich, where Gothic architecture and cobbles underfoot lend a certain fairy-tale sparkle to the festivities.

Finding the large market at Marienplatz is easy: look for the five-tonne fir tree festooned with 3,000 lights or listen for the choirs and bands that fill the city square with the sounds of the season.

Prague

Christmas cheer in the Czech capital

With a centuries-old castle, a statue-laden bridge and an astronomical clock that comes to life on the hour, the attractions of Prague feel like the perfect fit for one of Europe’s best Christmas markets.

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square host the main markets. Families should definitely visit Old Town Square, where children can stroke the animals of the Nativity scene.

Berlin

History, culture and nightlife meet Yuletide shopping

From its landmark attractions to its legendary food and nightlife scenes, the German capital has more up its on-trend sleeve than its beloved Christmas markets.

Book a Christmas market deal in Berlin and take your pick from the markets of Alexanderplatz, near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, in Spandau, or under the gas lamps of Richardplatz; there’s even a “British” market in St George’s Episcopal Church, complete with mince pies and bagpipes.

Brussels

Winter wonders in this pretty city

Belgians produce amazing chocolate and beer. What better credentials could you ask for of a Christmas market break?

With your taste buds taken care of, get your skates on at the ice rink or see Brussels from above on the Ferris wheel. This city offers the full Christmas market package.

Hamburg

Add a side of maritime flavour to your festive platter

The trendy German port city of Hamburg dishes up a Christmas market with a twist. Hosted by a famous circus, you can enjoy a drink served by a clown alongside spicy Aachener Printen (it’s a bit like gingerbread).

Carousels whirl, gluhwein steams, Saturday parades liven the scene and every day, Santa Claus and his reindeers fly above the huts to tell Rudolph’s tale.

Vienna

Musical heritage and magical architecture

A dusting of snow is all it takes to transform the capital of Austria into a winter wonderland. It already offers rides on horse-drawn carriages, sumptuous chocolate cakes and drinks that steam up café windows.

Warm your fingers with a bag of roasted chestnuts as you amble between the Viennese Christmas market at City Hall, the Schönbrunn Palace market, and the Christmas villages at Belvedere Palace, Maria-Theresien Platz and the former general hospital.

Krakow

Step back in time at this Polish market

Traders have been haggling between the ancient buildings of Krakow’s huge public square for centuries, so it’s fitting that Rynek Glowny hosts the city’s main Christmas market each year.

Save space in your luggage to bring home hand-painted glass baubles – a speciality of Poland’s Christmas market traders.

New York

The Big Apple offers a huge bite of festive pie

Christmas in New York is iconic. You’ve seen it in the movies: skaters gliding across ice rinks, carollers on the steamy streets, toy stores crammed with goodies and twinkling trees that compete with the skyscrapers.

The best markets are at Bryant Park, Union Fields and in a railway station like no other: Grand Central Terminal.

Barcelona

A splash of Mediterranean sizzle

You’re more likely to see the sun than in more northerly destinations, but the festive season in Barcelona is no less alluring.

The Santa Llucia market has been a tradition since 1786. Locals visit to buy pieces for their pessebres (nativity scenes). You can see some for yourself at City Hall and Plaça Sant Jaume, with real-life versions (pessebres vivents) in places such as Poble Espanyol.

London

A flavour of the Continent on home soil

Hot gluhwein, wooden huts, gingerbread and ketchup-drizzled bratwurst – you don’t have to hop across to Continental Europe for a taste of a traditional Christmas market.

Buy Bavarian baubles and other trinkets in Leicester Square, at the Southbank Centre and in Hyde Park’s sprawling Winter Wonderland.