CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN FOCUS
your stall set out
Winter break: It’s easy to combine a city stay with a Christmas market break
Great gifts: Christmas markets have some of the most unusual gift options,
often at reasonable prices
Mull it over: Christmas markets are great places to try out local and regional specialities
Backdrop: The markets are often held in historic or unusual settings, which add
to their appeal
Point clients to the continent – from Stockholm to Stuttgart – to recapture the magic of Christmas and to bag some great seasonal gift ideas says Anna Maria Espsater
T
he popularity of European Christmas markets has been steadily increasing in recent years,
perhaps because the annual season of giving has become so blatantly commercial and bland in the UK. On the continent the variety of
Yuletide markets on offer today is vastly more varied than compared to even just 10 years ago. Now, from Berlin to
Budapest to Bratislava, there’s a range of cosy local fairs to grand festive markets that take over large areas of a city. Germany has one of the longest standing Christmas market traditions, dating back to the Middle Ages. Come late November German towns of all shapes and sizes get into the festive spirit and embrace the season, perhaps more than anywhere else in Europe. Nuremberg, Cologne, Dresden and
Stuttgart have Christmas stalls aplenty, but there are many others. Although Germany might have the most established markets, other parts of the continent also embrace Santa Claus on a grand scale. Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen offer good Christmas shopping opportunities, and often against a seasonal snowy setting.
Recent years has seen Eastern
Europe emerge as a popular Christmas destination, with Tallinn, Krakow, Riga, Prague and Budapest among the cities whose markets attract many visitors. Closer to the UK, the Netherlands,
Belgium and France are other options for a taste of the Xmas vibe, while for those wanting to stay even closer to home, several cities in the UK, such as Winchester and Nottingham, now also organise Christmas markets (but beware promises of ‘an authentic Santa’s Grotto and genuine reindeer from Lapland!’). Christmas markets usually have a very
wide appeal – there is something for all ages; you can find unusual gifts at reasonable prices; you’re usually buying local produce; the atmosphere is friendly and cosy even in the larger markets and
the settings are a central part of the overall attraction.
Many markets are held in the heart of
some of Europe’s grandest and oldest places, making this a great opportunity to combine a Christmas break with a city break and include the markets in the sightseeing programme.
Low-cost carriers cover the majority of the Christmas market destinations and hotels often do special deals around this time of year, making it easier to put together dynamic packages. Alternatively book a package
option direct with a tour operator – like DERTour or Regal - that include Christmas markets in their programmes.
Main picture: An atmospheric seasonal scene in Tallinn, Estonia
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www.shortbreaksholidays.com • Autumn 2010 25
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