Strolling the fairy-lit stalls of a traditional Christmas market on a crisp, dark December evening is a magical experience.
The buzz of shoppers, stalls aglow with colourful toys, gifts, jewellery and arts and crafts, and the frosty air heavy with the aromas of festive foods and the sound of carols create a mood that is simply infectious.
In many European towns and cities they have been popular for centuries; Dresden’s in Germany, for example, began in 1434.
A major attraction for visitors the wonderful food that can be found at these festive fairs.
Looking beyond the usual mulled wine and Christmas cake, the specialists at AlphaHolidayLettings.com suggest the best Christmas markets in Europe for food.
Half-timbered buildings festively decorated in Colmar.Colmar, northeast France
At Yuletide each year, the beautifully preserved, historic town of Colmar in France’s Alsace wine region hosts its annual market.
Amid the half-timbered buildings of the Place Jeanne d’Arc, visitors are treated to a feast of local specialities such as bredle aniseed – round butter biscuits flavoured with aniseed – or the gourmet foie gras for which Alsace is renowned.
Brussels’s Christmas market is relatively new but pulls in the crowds. Photo: CRM/Shutterstock.comBrussels, Belgium
It may be a newcomer to the scene but Brussels’s Christmas market, established in 2002 and located in the Bourse financial district, offers visitors as much festive fun and frivolity as they can handle.
Wooden chalet-style stalls are festooned with gifts and decorations, and as visitors browse they will find ample opportunity to try Belgium’s famous beer, chocolates and waffles as well as shellfish specialities including fresh mussels and whelks.
London, England
London has quickly asserted itself as a must-visit Christmas market destination for foodies.
Locations throughout the city mean it is possible to combine sightseeing with shopping to create a memorable winter break.
Special mention goes to the Real Food Christmas Market at Southbank, where visitors can sample freshly baked, traditional mince pies, and to Hyde Park’s German-style market, at which the gingerbread just has to be tried.
Nuremberg’s Christmas market started in the 16th century and is one of the finest in Germany. Photo: Perati Lomson/Shutterstock.comNuremberg, Germany
Germany’s Christmas markets have attained almost legendary status and Nuremberg’s, started in the sixteenth century, is one of the country’s finest.
Drink in the heady atmosphere of mulled wine and spiced punch, listen as a local band and choir play carols and admire countless stalls of locally-made handicrafts, decorations and gifts.
Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy some traditional Christmas lebkuchen (decorated biscuits, often ginger-flavoured), a Drei im Weckla – three bratwurst sausages in a bread bun, or some freshly toasted almonds.
Prague, Czech Republic
At the beginning of December, two of Prague’s most beautiful medieval public plazas – Wenceslas Square and the Old Town Square – are filled with fairy lights and frivolity as Santa himself sets up home in the city’s vibrant Christmas markets.
When a break is needed from browsing endless stalls of Bohemian crystalware, hand-crafted wooden toys, Christmas decorations, jewellery and many other potential gift items, little can beat a glass of warm mead and a couple of vosí hnízda – rum cookies – to restore that glow of seasonal joy.
Hamburg, Germany
Standing in the square before Hamburg’s stunning town hall, the city’s charming Christmas market provides a feast for all the senses.
Carved Tyrolean wood decorations, ceramics from the Lausitz region and jewellery and silverware are among the many trinkets and gifts that tempt almost two million visitors to this most traditional market each year.
Stopping to admire the magnificent Christmas tree that dominates this nostalgic yuletide fair gives visitors the chance to enjoy local specialities such as chocolate-dipped fruit, printen cookies sweetened with honey and gluhwein (spiced mulled wine) to which, if desired, a shot of liqueur can be added to provide that little extra ‘Christmas spirit’.