Anyone for daylight 24 / 7?
Christmas Markets
Hearty and hoppy
6 TIPS for your European Holiday
Anyone for daylight 24 / 7?
Christmas Markets
Hearty and hoppy
If you want to cram more into your holiday, consider a destination north of the Arctic Circle. Come summer and in the very north, the sun shines for a full 24 hours a day. You’ ll have more time, and daylight, to roam and explore.
In Norway’ s Svalbard, the sun doesn’ t set from April to August, allowing for midnight barbecues that continue well into the early hours. In Stockholm the sun sets at 11.30pm and the city’ s famed open-air museum, Skansen, is open all evening. Midsummer Eve falls on 24 June, where in some places, the sun momentarily falls into the horizon- before rising again just minutes later.
While in Finland, the locals love to celebrate this occasion with bonfires, dances and games. Venture to Helsinki’ s Seurasaari Island for a full 24-hour day of celebrations.
A sensory overload awaits at the Christmas markets. From fairy lights and snow, to warm crepes dripping in Nutella, the air is rich with gingerbread and spice.
In Munich, the world renowned Christkindlmarkt is characterised by novel wooden stalls serving piping hot wine( Glühwein), gigantic Bratwurst and roasted chestnuts. In Prague the sweet scent of creamfilled pastries and pretzels waft through the ornate squares, notably Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, while traditional Trdelnik( sugar dusted tuiles of dough) crackle as they grill.
Bite into a just-baked wasp nest and savour the gluttonous mix of cookie, nuts and a generous splash of rum. If you’ re in Zurich, the Zürcher Christkindlmarkt features a spellbinding Christmas tree, complete with 700 Swarovski crystals.
If ever there was a meal to warm your bones, it’ s hearty Hungarian goulash. There’ s nothing light about this one. Some call it soup, others a stew, but the rich mix of meat, vegetables and paprika is a no-nonsense recipe which is nothing short of grunty.
In the Netherlands you’ ll find their favourite comfort food is stamppotten. Not dissimilar to British bubble and squeak, this traditional Dutch dish combines mashed potatoes, vegetables and rookworst; a smoky Dutch sausage. Of course, when it comes to snags, nothing beats a German Bratwurst, or any other delicious varietal they love to concoct.
Wash it all down with a hoppy beer at the famed Oktoberfest, or if you’ re passing Brugge, try one of their extensive beers; this city has more than 400 different varieties to work through.
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