Don't miss the chance to grab a quick December break and enjoy the magical world of the Christmas Market, you can snap up a bargain and enjoy a warming glass of gluhwein at the same time!

 

Imagine the faces of your friends on Christmas Day when you give them some small hand made trinket and tell them how you picked it up in Berlin or Zurich - they will be green with envy!

 

Nearly all the markets are open right up until December 31st, so don't despair if you can't sneak away before Christmas because you can still catch a bargain.

 

These are some of the picks of Europe's Christmas Markets

 

Basel

 

Basel has probably the most beautiful and largest Christmas market in Switzerland. The town square in transformed into a winter wonderland and especially at night the lighting is spectacular with 100 brightly lit pine trees creating a ribbon of light in the crisp December nights. There is a full range of handicrafts with baubels and decorations, delicious cheeses and of course plenty of gluhwein.

 

Click here to check availability for your Basel Christmas Market break

 

Berlin

 

You will be spoilt for choice in Berlin which has around 50 markets running at this time of year.

 

One of the most popular is the market next to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. This is a smallish market, around 100 stalls, but the quality is high and because it is in the bustling shopping area of Kurfustendamm there will be plenty of other shopping distractions too.

 

Gendarmenmarkt Square is the historical setting for the 'WeihnachtsZauber', one of Berlin's prettiest and most magical Christmas markets. A selection of wonderful treats and warming mulled wine will make the stresses of normal Christmas shopping just melt away.

 

Potsdamer Platz is the venue for another sprawling market around the Sony Centre which boasts Europe's largest mobile toboggan run. There are plenty of hand made crafts and good quality knitted goods to help you wrap up warm, if the gluhwein is not enough!

 

Also close to the easyHotel Berlin is the large  'Great Berlin Christmas Market' which stretches from Alexanderstrasse all the way to Alexanderplatz. This includes not just stands and bars but also a skating rink, fairground rides and other entertainments plus the obligatory currywurst vendors.

 

Click here to check availability for your Berlin Christmas Market break

 

Budapest

 

Located in Vorosmarty square there are over 100 wooden pavilions with a fantastic range of things to tempt you including decorations, woollen hats, gloves and some regional food specialities that you just won't find anywhere else. This is a market that is trying to maintain it history and give a focus to typical Hungarian food and crafts, and doing it very successfully. Very well organised and a real treat for young and old.

 

Click here to check availability for your Budapest Christmas Market break

 

London

 

There hasn't been a great tradition of Christmas Markets in the UK, but London is catching up fast!

 

Aside from the Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights and the traditional shopping, there has been an expansion in recent years of festive entertainment with skating rinks popping up, the most well know at Somerset House and the Natural History Museum. This is now beginning to be followed by Christmas markets, and this year the South Bank Centre and the London Eye and playing host to a Cologne Christmas Market. Further afield there is a festive market at St Katherine Docks, next to the Tower of London.

 

Hyde Park is the place to head for 'Winter Wonderland' which is on until the 4th of January. This event features London's largest Ice Rink, an observation wheel and and not one but two Circus attractions. Entrance in free, with tickets available for the various attractions and the shopping opportunities are in the Angels Market just next to the Hyde Park Corner entrance and tube station.

 

Click here to check availability for your London Christmas Market break

 

Zurich

 

Sometimes it feels like the whole of Zurich is just one big Christmas market. Each shopping area competes to create a festive feel and the lighting and decorations in the street just add to the fairy tale feel.

 

The oldest market is in the town square and for most this will be the first place to head. Zurich's main railway station is transformed by over 100 stalls into a immense under cover market, and the market at Werdmuhleplatz has a famous singing Christmas Tree, where choirs of adults and children add to the festive cheer with carols.

 

Click here to check availability for your Zurich Christmas Market break