Telegraph: Europe's top Christmas markets - Tim Jepson and Nicola Skrbic
Europe's top Christmas markets - Tim Jepson and Nicola Skrbic
The Christmas market (December 7 to December 26, excluding December 8) takes place in the Grote Markt, with dozens of stalls and a temporary ice rink in the shadow of the cathedral and evening carol concerts.
HotelConnect (0845 230 8888; www.hotelconnect.co.uk) has a section on its homepage dedicated to Christmas market packages, including one for Antwerp, staying at a four-star hotel in the old town. Cost is from £33 per person per night for b & b. Travel to Antwerp isn't included, but if you book tickets to Brussels on Eurostar (08705 186186; www.eurostar.com; from £69), you get free onward travel to any station in Belgium.
There are some 50 markets in Berlin; the main ones are at Gedächtniskirche (November 24-December 28), Unter den Linden (November 24-December 28) and Alexanderplatz. Newmarket Holidays (0845 226 7236; www.newmarketholidays.co.uk) has a number of four-day breaks, departing on November 30, December 3, 7, 10 and 14, from £229, which includes return flight from regional airports, three nights' b & b at a three-star hotel, transfers and a guided city tour.
