20 | FESTIVE GETAWAYS
www.nitravelnews.com
July/August 2025
BY ERIN ENGLISH
erin@nitravelnews.com
BAGS packed, sunglasses on, and beach towels at the ready,
it’s
undeniable that Summer 2025 is underway.
However,
with the countdown and prep already kicked off for that much-needed sunshine getaway, why not set your sights on sorting a christmas market mini break? Across Europe, there are plenty of Christmas Market hot-spots to choose from, whether that be in the much-loved Krakow, or the charming streets of Budapest.
Witness
picturesque scenes of steaming mulled wine, twinkling
Christmas
lights, and the smell of chimney cakes this festive season,
and
prepare to have yourself a merry little Christmas city break in 2025. Budapest
Budapest has seen steady growth as a popular destination city break with a direct route from Belfast International
Airport.
Originally two separate cities, ‘Buda’ and ‘Pest’ merged to create Budapest in 1873, with the aim of creating a modern Hungarian capital. Nowadays, tourists visiting the city can enjoy the urban life ‘Pest,’ and travel across the Danube River to witness the historic might of ‘Buda.’ At Christmas, Budapest packs double the punch with a range of festivities on both sides of the Danube. The square
in front of St Stephen’s Basilica transforms into a Christmas Market, with a range
of stands including festive food and drinks, festive decorations and artifacts, and other items such as jewellery and collectables. In the evenings, attendees can enjoy a light show which is projected onto the magnificent basilica every 30 minutes.
the
outside Basilica,
It is expected that Christmas St
market Stephen’s Budapest will
commence on November 15th 2025 and run through until January 1st 2026. In the historic Buda, enjoy a Christmas celebration architecture.
surrounded by
breathtaking At Fisherman’s Bastion,
located in the Buda Castle Hill district, there are a range of events to enjoy. From a Christmas Market which offers jewellery, pottery, and festive trinkets to a range of events scheduled over the weekend, including live music, dance performances and children’s programmes.
The Magical Advent in Buda is expected to run from November 29th, 2025 until December 24th 2025. Krakow
A much-loved favorite destination for Northern Irish Holidaymakers, Krakow is a jam-packed city break with plenty to add to your travel guide.
Direct routes from
Belfast International Airport to Krakow John Paul II International are available. From the stunning greenery surrounding
Wawel Castle, and the range of historic highlights dotted throughout the city, Krakow is a tourist gem all-year-round. However, the Polish city truly sparkles in winter, with picturesque squares and glistening lights from the Wieza Ratuszowa, known in English as the Town Hall Tower.
Alongside Easter, Christmas is the most important date in the Polish calendar, with an array of events planned from November until Christmas Eve.
Christmas arrives on Krakow’s main square in true style with market stalls propping up across the main square. These markets spread out from the centre point of Krakow’s main square, the Cloth Hall market. Stalls at the Christmas Markets consist of mulled wine, vodka, souvenirs and toys, nativity decorations, and an array of food and dessert stands. The atmosphere is only amplified by the glistening lights of the nearby town hall Christmas tree. Not far
from
Krakow’s Main Square,
just outside of the Galeria Krakowska shopping centre, tourists can take to the ice on Krakow’s festive ice rink. Open from December, equipment is available to rent alongside snacks and other festive goodies. Krakow’s Christmas Markets typically open in November and run until January 1st.
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