Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE MARKET LEADERS
With cute wooden chalets, spirit-lifting light displays and all the stollen and mulled wine you can sink, these European Christmas market trips have got the festive season all wrapped up. By Vicky Lissaman
Do Christmas on the Danube
What better time to cruise one of Europe’s most iconic rivers than when Christmas markets are in full swing on atmospheric shore stops?
This four-night, full-board cruise with Jules Verne sails from Vienna to Budapest on board MS Vivaldi, visiting both cities, as well as Slovakian capital Bratislava, for escorted sightseeing, plus ample time soaking up the Christmas festivities in each location.
As well as the skating rinks and seasonal stalls, in Vienna you’ll get to see the architectural showcase of the old Austrohungarian monarchy along the famous Ring, including the Vienna State Opera, Hofburg
Palace and Natural History Museum. Sightseeing in Budapest starts in Buda and the castle district, followed by Pest to view the Parliament building, St Stephen’s Basilica and Heroes Square.
Don’t miss the Christmas markets of Vorosmarty Square and Basilica, where lasers are projected onto the church.
■ Get there: Christmas Markets on the Danube from £1,455pp (two sharing), including flights from Heathrow on December 1, four nights’ full board and drinks with meals, excursions, UK tour manager, expert guides. vjv. com
Jingle bells in Germany
Contiki, the social travel brand for 18 to 35-year-olds, offers a fun-filled German Christmas market tour featuring six cities and three quaint towns and villages starting in Frankfurt, then on to Koblenz, Cologne, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Rothenberg and Munich.
Highlights include LGBTQ+ friendly Frankfurt Christmas market with pink sparkling Christmas trees, Wilhelma – Stuttgart’s twinkling Christmas Garden lights trail – and ice-skating at Cologne. You’ll sample local delicacies and join in a gingerbread-making class along the way.
■ Get there: From £1,067pp sharing, five nights’ B&B accommodation (plus further two meals), transport in destination, sightseeing, experiences as per itinerary and trip manager. Departs December 3. contiki.com
Seasons greetings – Scandi-style
Add Scandi chic to your shopping with a festive short break in Sweden’s third largest city of Malmo. Browse for handicrafts at the stalls in Gustav Adolf Square, take a ride on the carousel and spin around on the ice rink, before feasting on local delicacies such as smoked sausage,