Krakow, Poland
Kraków’s huge Thirteenth-century city sq. is the right venue for its yuletide bazaar, with the retailers flanked by superbly restored townhouses and church buildings, most notably Fabric Corridor, which was rebuilt in 1555 within the Renaissance type. The highest buys on the market are the hand-painted glass baubles (you’ll want to pack in loads of bubble wrap earlier than loading into your suitcase) and embroidered tablecloths. If you’ve had your fill, within the early night go to Krakow’s cathedral and fortified fortress on Wawel Hill. Fantastically lit at night time, they overlook the Wisla river on one facet and the city on the opposite.
Dates: November 29 – December 26
How one can do it: EasyJet Holidays (easyjet.com) provides three nights on the Puro Krakow Kazimierz, departing December 8, from £191pp, together with flights. This forward-thinking resort within the outdated Jewish quarter has an industrial type and in-house bakery – attempt the cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
Gothenburg, Sweden
Few Scandinavian cities really feel fairly as festive as Gothenburg, which provides all method of Christmas markets, from the standard (Kronhusjul) to extra design-led markets like Röda Sten Konsthall and the Academy of Design and Crafts. Nonetheless town’s (and certainly Sweden’s) largest is Liseberg, which is held at a well-liked amusement park and pulls in round 500,000 guests annually, due to its assortment of retailers, winter-themed rides and collection of concert events. The park goes all out with a dizzying 5 million Christmas lights and 700 timber. And for these craving for Austria, there’s even a Tyrol-themed restaurant serving schnitzel and that includes reside yodelling performances.
Dates: November 10 – December 30 (Liseberg)
How one can do it: British Airways and Ryanair fly direct to Gothenburg from Heathrow and Stansted, respectively. Clarion Hotel Post, usefully positioned subsequent to the central prepare station, is a smooth and energetic design resort with high-rise rooms that supply views of the hustle and bustle under. Doubles from £99.
Zagreb, Croatia
Croatia’s capital comes into its personal within the run as much as Christmas with an enormous introduction pageant scattered throughout 20 city-centre places. Prime picks embrace Park Zrinjevac, the place you’ll discover native delicacies akin to krpice sa zeljem (pasta with cabbage) and paprenjaci (peppery gingerbread cookies) and Oktogan passage for its uncommon mild installations. Households ought to make a beeline for Ilica 49, the place kids could make ragdolls and little wood toys at a particular workshop, or just benefit from the enormous toy shows. There’s been a push to showcase ‘Made in Zagreb’ merchandise, so it’s straightforward to search out high quality handmade decorations. Different points of interest embrace the 100 musical concert events that happen over the festive interval, plus a number of theatre productions and exhibitions.
Dates: November 29 – January 2
How one can do it: Expedia (expedia.co.uk) provides three nights on the Esplanade Hotel, departing December 2, from £370pp, together with flights. The Artwork Deco resort was initially inbuilt 1925 as a suitably glamorous stopover for passengers on the Orient Categorical and stays town’s high place to remain.
