TEN Christmas crackers
COSY IN ESTONIA
THE MARKET in Tallinn’s beautiful Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square) opens in midNovember until the first week of January.
This is partly because the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Day on January 7, and partly because Estonians are mad keen on Christmas and its traditions.
The market’s wooden chalets sell handicrafts, knick-knacks, and all things cosy; felt slippers, woollen gloves, mittens, hats, jumpers and socks.
For food, expect sauerkraut and sausages, served with glasses of glögg — sweet, hot wine. Tallinn has a delightful medieval centre.
STOCKING FILLERS: Mittens and woollen gloves at super-low prices.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Telegraaf is in the heart of the Old Town with smart rooms from £130 B&B ( telegraafhotel.com).
EAGER FOR RIGA
RIGA, the capital of Latvia, is a lovely city with a mish-mash of styles from medieval to Baroque. Its Christmas market in Dome Square runs from late November to early January and is small and alluring.
As well as candles and carved-wood handicrafts, there are all sorts of goodies to devour: gingerbread, huge cuts of pork cooked on open fires, and hot wine.
Also visit the famous food markets housed in vast former Zeppelin hangars with fish, eels, Russian caviar, pomegranates and mountains of sauerkraut.
STOCKING FILLERS: Caviar and handmade jewellery. WHERE TO STAY: Neiburgs is a stylish familyowned hotel in the Old Town with doubles from £100 ( neiburgs.com).
VILNIUS ON THE CHEAP
THE LIGHTS twinkle in the Lithuanian capital at its busy Christmas market, which is in the main square with chalets doing a roaring trade in amber and tree decorations.
Enjoy the smells of roasted almonds and pick up honey-flavoured cakes, cheeses, sweets, pastries and gingerbread. Santa Claus, elves and the Three Wise Men are usually in attendance for photos.
The markets are simple and authentic, run by local traders, with reasonable prices and delicious hot wine. Also check out the openair art gallery on Literatu Gatve.
STOCKING FILLERS: Amber and gingerbread. WHERE TO STAY: Mabre Residence Hotel has comfortable rooms and a pool by a sauna; B&B doubles from £66 ( mabre.lt).
FONDUE IN BASEL
MORE than 160 stalls are spread across Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz in the centre of Basel, home to one of the oldest Christmas markets in Switzerland, running from November 28 to December 23.
This is one for foodies, with rustic wooden stalls offering fondue, Swiss raclette (melted cow’s cheese served with potatoes, gherkins, dried hams and pickled onions), grilled sausages, waffles, gingerbread and glühwein.
Handmade toys, jewellery, ceramics and handicrafts are for sale, while activities for children include candle-dipping and roasting schlangenbrot (snake bread) over open fires — so named because dough is wound round a stick for cooking and looks snake-like.
STOCKING FILLERS: Wooden toys. WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Krafft offers elegant doubles from about £180 ( krafftbasel.ch).
FRENCH TRADITION
THERE has been a Christmas market in Strasbourg in north- eastern France since 1570.
This year’s runs from November 22 to December 30 comprising more than 300 wooden chalet-style stalls celebrating food and wine from the Alsace region and selling Christmas gifts including wooden toys, jewellery and perfume.
Stalls are set up around the cathedral and at a dozen other sites. A superb 30- metre- tall Christmas tree towers over Place Kléber. Special concerts and exhibitions are organised.
The official name is Christkindelsmärik, which translates as ‘Market of the Christ Child’. It attracts about two million visitors each year.
STOCKING FILLERS: Wine and perfume. WHERE TO STAY: BOMA hotel has a hip cocktail bar and colourful, comfortable doubles from about £163 ( boma-hotel.com).
BEER & BRATWURST
NUREMBERG’S market, which dates from 1530 and is known as Christkindlesmarkt, is one of the most popular in Germany with more than 180 stalls lit up with fairy lights.
There’s plenty of festive cheer with beer, mulled wine and rum punch, while the delicious smells of gingerbread, bratwurst and roasted almonds fill the air. It begins on November 29 and runs until Christmas Eve.
Pick up traditional Christmas ornaments, cuddly toys, music boxes, candles, pewter figures, ceramics and jewellery.
Children will enjoy the carousels and mini Ferris wheel.
STOCKING FILLERS: Music boxes and pewter figures.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Deutscher Kaiser is in the city centre with stylish rooms with modern art; doubles from £197 ( deutscherkaiser
VIENNESE DELIGHT
BELIEVED to be Europe’s oldest Christmas market, Vienna’s was established by Albrecht I, who granted the privilege of holding a Krippenmarkt, ‘December Market’ in 1298.
This year’s runs from November 15 to Boxing Day, with 20 Advent markets dotted about the city. Expect carol singing, stalls for learning to make candles and cookies, a huge ice rink, carousels and a children’s ‘reindeer train’ railway.
Handicrafts, glass decorations, gingerbread, cheeses, wines, cured meats and much more are for sale. STOCKING FILLERS: Handicrafts and cheeses. WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Rathaus Wein is a hip hotel with arty double rooms from £136 ( hotel-rathaus-wien.at).
ICE SKATE IN BELGIUM
ANTWERP’S Christmas markets run from December 7 to January 6 featuring stalls on the Grote Markt, Suikerrui, Steenplein and Groenplaats.
There’s a massive ice rink with an adjoining bar as well as a Ferris wheel with heated gondolas. Try spekpatatjes (fried potatoes with bacon) or waffles with a mug of hot chocolate or glass of glühwein.
There are more than 100 market stalls selling handicrafts, toys, Christmas decorations, candles, wines, beers and sausages. STOCKING FILLERS: Sausages and beer. WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Les Nuits, a design hotel in the city centre, has cosy doubles from £120 ( hotellesnuits.be).
BRILLIANT IN BATH
MORE than 150 wooden ‘chalet’ stalls will line the Georgian streets in Bath during its popular Christmas market, which begins on November 28 and runs until December 15.
Handmade jewellery, original art, Christmas decorations, scarves, ponchos, toys and much else will help fill stockings. Hog roasts and burgers will keep meat eaters happy, while there will also be a dedicated vegan food chalet this year, too.
Expect carols and plenty of making merry with mulled wine and West Country craft beers. Visit bathchristmasmarket.co.uk. STOCKING FILLERS: Art and jewellery. WHERE TO STAY: Dorian House has elegant B&B doubles from £120 ( dorianhouse.co.uk).
MARVELLOUS MANCHESTER
MANCHESTER’S Christmas market started yesterday and will be open until December 21 with more than 300 wooden stalls to tempt you.
If you’re looking for gifts, there’s plenty to choose from including everything from bonsai trees to Belgian kitchenware, leather bags and amber jewellery.
Food is equally varied with curries, Hungarian goulash, bratwurst, paella, hog roast and lots of vegetarian options.
Albert Square will be at the heart of the action.
Other market sites will be at Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, King Street and St Ann’s Square. An ice rink and ice sculptures will feature in the Ice Village. STOCKING FILLERS: Jewellery and kitchenware. WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Indigo has comfortable modern double rooms from £112 ( hotelindigo.com). n All room rates are for December.
TRAVEL FACTS
KATE travelled with Baltic Holidays ( balticholidays.com — 0845 070 5711) which offers a six-night Baltic Christmas Market group tour departing December 3 taking in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius from £579pp including Stansted flights, four-star hotels, transfers and walking tours.