If you’re tired of the commercialism of Christmas in the UK, a short Xmas break to a Christmas market on the continent may be just the job. Every December in town squares across Europe, miniature villages spring up selling Christmas treats.
Christmas Market Breaks
Gingerbread, arts and crafts and traditional Christmas presents and local specialities are all on sale, alongside traditional Christmas decorations, bright fairy lights and, of course, glühwein or vin chaud for extra Christmas cheer when you get cold!
Lille’s Christmas market takes place for the whole month in the picturesque city’s Place Ribour, and features a theatre and activities for children. It’s also easily accessible on the Eurostar.
Cologne in Germany, meanwhile, has six Christmas markets, including a medieval Christmas market outside the city’s Chocolate Museum, and another market on a boat!
Basel hosts Switzerland’s oldest and most traditional Christmas market, while Copenhagen’s market takes place near the magical Tivoli Gardens. Antwerp’s Christmas market, like Copenhagen’s also boasts an open-air ice rink.
You can also take the Eurostar to Lille, or to Antwerp via Brussels – booking here
You can fly with Brussel Airlines to Brussels or there’s also the Ferry
And once you’re out there you might want to arrange Car Rentals and book your own hotel