Wroclaw , Poland Dates : 18 November – 31 December 2022 One of the most exponentially growing cities in Poland , Wroclaw is also home to one of its finest Christmas market offerings . Centred on Market Square , Wroclaw ’ s Christmas markets are amongst Europe ’ s most picturesque , with stalls and decorations surrounded by colourful architecture . Here you ’ ll have the opportunity to try Polish favourites such as sausages , bigos ( hunter ’ s stew ), potato pancakes and , one of my personal favourites , Oscypek ( smoked sheep ’ s cheese served with cranberry sauce ). Wroclaw is perfect for a weekend break , and aside from the markets you can enjoy a selection of great restaurants and bars , stop by the University of Wroclaw ’ s Aula Leopoldina to check out its grand Baroque interior and head up the Cathedral of St John the Baptist for the best views of the city . Make sure to also keep your eyes peeled for Wroclaw ’ s Dwarfs . Dotting doorways , alleys and streets all over town , these little statues ( of which there are officially 163 ) can be found doing anything from guarding public spaces to toasting with a beer in hand . Originally started to commemorate an anti-communist movement in 2001 , today the Wroclaw Dwarfs are a tourist attraction and symbol of the city . Get there : Fly Ryanair from Liverpool or Manchester
Budapest , Hungary Dates : 4 November – 31 December 2022 I don ’ t think it ’ s a stretch to be of the opinion that Budapest is Europe ’ s greatest city break . This all-round adventure town truly has something for everyone . Young , wild and free ? The nightlife is fantastic ! You ’ re a history and culture buff ? There ’ s no shortage of fascinating museums and architecture . Perhaps you yearn for a more relaxing pace ? Head over to the Danube to Buda – the city ’ s leafy , green half . It ’ s also somewhere to be enjoyed in all seasons , and winter is no exception , when the city comes alive with Christmas decoration . Its main market can be found at Vörösmarty Square , which runs from 4 November until New Year ’ s Eve this year and features more than 100 stalls selling everything from authentic , mouthwatering goulash to handmade local crafts . Get there : Fly Wizz Air from Liverpool or easyJet , Jet2 and Ryanair from Manchester good measure . One of the most important Christmas markets in Germany , Frankfurt ’ s offering features elaborate and creative stalls and decorations against the setting of Römerberg – the square at the heart of “ New ” Old Town . Frankfurt ’ s not solely about banking and currency , though , and there ’ s a wealth of things for visitors to experience including Kleinmarkthalle , a local food market , Main Tower , which serves up 360-degree views over Frankfurt and the Städel Museum – an art museum which contains works from Rembrandt , Beckmann and Renoir . Get there : Fly Lufthansa from Liverpool or Manchester
Copenhagen , Denmark Dates : 4 November – 31 December 2022 Copenhagen is a city that is ideal for getting into the spirit of holiday season , with several Christmas markets located throughout the Danish capital . The magical Tivoli Gardens sees glistening lights , snow-covered trees and cute wooden houses coming together to create the perfect Nordic atmosphere . The world ’ s oldest amusement park , Bakken , holds its own market with Santa Claus , Pjerrot and the signing reindeer performing cheery shows all season long , whilst the Christmas market at Copenhagen Zoo offers visitors a unique setting , with more than 400,000 Christmas lights illuminating the attraction , craft workshops and stalls serving up Danish Christmas treats . Copenhagen isn ’ t just about the markets , however , and its rich royal heritage makes for many fascinating attractions including Amalienborg , Frederik ' s Church and Rosenborg Castle . Nyhaven is where you ’ ll find colourful houses and canalside cafés , The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue tribute to Hans Christian Andersen ’ s famous 1837 fairy tale and stop by Freetown Christiania to visit Copenhagen ’ s self-governing society with eclectic street art and an intriguing counterculture . Get there : Fly Ryanair from Liverpool and Manchester , or easyJet and SAS from Manchester
Whether you ’ ve never visited a Christmas market before , or you ’ re a seasoned veteran of the festive circuit , winter breaks in Europe are amongst the greatest travel experiences money can buy . The difficulty ? Deciding where to go .
Frankfurt , Germany Dates : 21 November – 22 December 2022 Less than 90 minutes from the North West , enjoy a short break in Germany ’ s financial centre with some festive fun thrown in for wirrallife . com 65