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 .
4