Cracking Christmas markets for all budgets

<p> Munich's festive market at&nbsp;Marienplatz&nbsp;is one of Europe's oldest - and it's big on keeping things traditional: Christmas shopping Bavarian-style is an experience to remember. <strong>Stock up on</strong>&nbsp;baked apples and spiced mulled wine,&nbsp;handmade pewter and straw decorations, wooden toys and gingerbread.&nbsp;<b>When:</b> November 30 to December 24.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.louis-hotel.com/site/index.php" target="_blank">The Louis</a><a href="http://www.louis-hotel.com/site/en/louis-hotel.php" target="_blank">&nbsp;Hotel</a></p>

<p> The people of Vienna know how to do Christmas markets - after all, they've had plenty of practice. The city has been running 'krippenmarkts'&nbsp;since the Middle Ages, when the city's citizens were first granted permission to trade. Every December, traditionalists gather around the City Hall, underneath a 40ft advent wreath, and warm up with toddies of gluewhien and roasted chestnuts. <strong>Stock up on&nbsp;</strong>hand-decorated Christmas candles, traditional basketware and hot punch.&nbsp;<b>When:</b>&nbsp;November 17 to December 24.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.altstadt.at/de/altstadt-vienna/index.html" style=" " target="_blank">Altstadt Hotel</a></p>

<p> During&nbsp;<a href="http://www.christmasmarkets.com/France/lille-christmas-market.html" target="_blank">Lille's Christmas Market</a>, the square at Place Rihour is transformed into a winter wonderland dominated by an 18 metre high Christmas tree and a spectacular ferris wheel. <strong>Gorge yourself on </strong>crepes and chocolate doughnuts. <strong>When:</strong> From 21 November to 30 December. <strong>Stay:</strong> <a href="http://www.hotelup.fr/fr/" target="_blank">Hotel UP</a></p>

<p> Tallinn's Christmas Market is a child of the Noughties, having only been running annually since 2001. But with its Medieval architecture, Tallinn was built for Christmas card cosiness. More than 50 stalls pitch up in the Town Hall Square to offer traditional Estonian crafts and festive food. The likelihood is it will snow too! <strong>Stock up on&nbsp;</strong>quilts, sea-grass animal ornaments, felted hats and slippers.&nbsp;<b>When:</b> 1 December to 8 January.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.threesistershotel.com/" target="_blank">The Three Sisters</a></p>

<p> Prague is icily spectacular in winter, and at night it lights up with brightly decorated wooden huts selling all sorts of traditional Czech products.&nbsp;<strong>Stock up on&nbsp;</strong>Bohemian Crystal, wooden toys, traditional puppets and hot wine (svarak).&nbsp;<strong>When:</strong> 1 December to 1 January. <strong>Stay: </strong><a href="http://www.clarionhotel.com/hotel-prague-czech_republic-CS004" target="_blank">Clarion Hotel Prague</a></p>

<p> Hosting one of the UK's largest Christmas markets, Manchester goes into full-on festive mode with several markets popping up in the city. <strong>Stock up on</strong>&nbsp;international food, traditional crafts, amber jewellery and ornaments. <strong>When:</strong> 17 November to 23 December.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.abodehotels.co.uk/manchester" target="_blank">Abode Hotel</a>.</p>

<p> Bringing a touch of Alpine charm to the south west, <a href="http://www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bath Christmas Market</a> plays host to more than 120 little wooden chalets, brimming with locally made gifts and festive food. Set against the backdrop of Bath's Roman architecture, the city makes for one of the most atmospheric Christmas destinations in the UK. <strong>Stock up on: </strong>everything from pewter jewellery to embroidered children's books.&nbsp;<b>When:</b> 22 November to 9 December.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.brooksguesthouse.com/" target="_blank">Brooks Guesthouse</a></p>

<p> Organisers of Budapest's Christmas Market are on a drive to give visitors the most authentic Hungarian experience they can. Expect local folk musicians, puppeteers and lots of traditional crafts. <strong>Stock up on</strong>&nbsp;hand-made festive decorations, local food. The grand dame of Budapest's fine cafes, the Gerbeaud, even turns into a giant advent calendar for the occasion.&nbsp;<b>When: </b>18 November to 30 December.&nbsp;<b>Stay:</b> <a href="http://www.lanchid19hotel.hu/" target="_blank">Lanchid 19</a></p>

<p> Take the fairytale romance of Hans Christian Andersen and all the fun of Europe's oldest amusement park and what do you get? Set in the faded kitsch of Tivoli Gardens amusement park, Copenhagen's annual festive market hosts around 60 stall holders. The thousands of fairy lights and miniature 'pixie land' really set the scene.&nbsp;<strong>Stock up on</strong> Danish souvenirs, food and plenty of glogg. &nbsp;<b>When:&nbsp;</b>November 16 to December 23.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.tivolihotel.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Tivoli</a></p>

<p> Germany is famous for its Christmas markets, and the city of Cologne bursts into light every evening during December, with a total of eight festive markets altogether. Don't miss the festivities at the Alter Markt in the heart of the old town.&nbsp;<strong>Stock up on&nbsp;</strong>gingerbread, wooden handicrafts and mulled wine.&nbsp;<strong>When:</strong>&nbsp;November 26 to December 23.&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.stern-am-rathaus.com/" target="_blank">Stern Am Rathaus</a></p>

<p> At Christmas, the Slovakian capital<b>&nbsp;</b>comes into its own. The <a href="http://www.vianocnetrhy.sk/EN/" target="_blank">Bratislava Christmas Market</a>&nbsp;has all the hallmarks of a classic European one: the emphasis is firmly on celebrating local produce. <strong>Stock up on</strong>&nbsp;traditional honey cakes, strudel and mugs of mead.&nbsp;<b>When:</b> From November 17 November to 21 December&nbsp;<b>Stay: </b><a href="http://www.hotelmamas.sk/" target="_blank">Mama's Design Hotel</a></p>

<p> Set in Edinburgh's city centre against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Christmas markets include the ever-popular Traditional German Christmas Market with its delightful gifts and treats, and the Highland Village Christmas Market which offers delicious food and lovely presents. <strong>Stock up on</strong> woolly hats and quirky clothes at the Highland Village Christmas Market and hearty sausages and potato cakes at the Traditional German Christmas Market. <strong>When:</strong> From November 29 to January 6. <strong>Stay:</strong> <a href="http://www.therutlandhotel.com/" target="_blank">The Rutland Hotel</a></p>

<p> Mixing a warm sense of tradition with contemporary Swedish design, Gothenburg lights the way to Christmas &ndash; literally. Liseberg Amusement Park hosts Scandinavia's biggest Christmas market decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights and with nearly 100 stalls for you to browse. <strong>Stock up on</strong> glogg, smoked sausages and reindeer meat. <strong>When:</strong> November 16 to December 23. <strong>Stay:</strong> Book a package with <a href="http://www.best-served.co.uk/" target="_blank">Best Served Holidays</a></p>

<p> Head to the beautiful town of Valkenburg in Holland and discover the unique Velvet Cave Christmas market. During the festive period the historic cave is filled with stallholders selling everything from Christmas wreaths to children's gifts. While you're there, check out the impressive mural paintings, sculptures and romantic 18th century chapel in the cave. <strong>Stock up on</strong> Dutch pancakes and mouth-blown glass decorations. <strong>When:</strong> November 16 to December 23. <strong>Stay:</strong> <a href="http://www.hoteltummers.nl/" target="_blank">Hotel Tummers</a></p>

<p> This year Exeter Cathedral will be hosting its first ever Christmas market on the Cathedral Green. There will be plenty of festive treats available, from handmade gifts to decorations and warm food, and although it will be inspired by Continental markets, it will represent the best of what Britain and the South West has to offer. <strong>Stock up on </strong>quirky Christmas presents and decorations.<strong> When:</strong> November 23 to December 16. <strong>Stay: </strong><a href="http://www.themagdalenchapter.com/" target="_blank">The Magdalen Chapter</a></p>

<p> With snow-capped mountains as its backdrop, Innsbruck plays host to one of the most magical Christmas Markets in Europe. The medieval Old Town provides the perfect setting with stalls laid out beneath Innsbruck&rsquo;s famous &rsquo;Golden Roof&rsquo; and next to the giant, festively lit Christmas tree. Weave your way through the stalls to browse unique Christmas tree decorations and embroided table linen. <strong>Stock up on </strong>traditional wooden toys and gingerbread. <strong>When:</strong> November 15 to December 23. <strong>Stay:</strong> <a href="http://www.deradler.com/xxl/_lang/en/_area/home/index.html" target="_blank">Romantikhotel Schwarzer Adler</a></p>

<p> Held in Fusterie Square every year, the International Geneva Christmas Market features hand-made folk arts and crafts from all over Switzerland, as well as numerous tasty food stalls. The market is set in the heart of the city's central shopping centre among jewellery shops and chic cafes, and housed in quaint wooden chalets. <strong>Stock up on</strong> figurines, paintings and culinary specialities from around the world. <strong>When:</strong> late November to December 24. <strong>Stay: </strong><a href="http://www.bristol.ch/uk/hotel-luxe-geneve-official-site.php" target="_blank">Hotel Bristol</a></p>

<p> Savour a warm spiced mince pie and browse the traditional market stalls of Jersey. The Christmas markets showcase some of the best local arts, crafts, food and drink on offer. Enjoy a glass of hot mulled wine as you stroll through the Victorian market at Hamptonne in the heart of St Lawrence. <strong>Stock up on</strong> locally-crafted Christmas gifts and Jersey cider. <strong>When:</strong> December 1 to 16. <strong>Stay:</strong> <a href="http://www.theatlantichotel.com/" target="_blank">Atlantic Hotel</a></p>

<p> Few places scream Christmas like Stockholm. There are Christmas markets all over the archipelago and the best two are Skansen, with its cobbled streets, stocking fillers and stallholders dressed in 19th century outfits; and the old town&rsquo;s daily Stortorget, a lantern-lit food fair with homemade sausages, spices, mustards and jams. Gorge on saffron buns, gingersnaps and glogg (mulled wine) as you go. <strong>Stock up on</strong> candy, cheeses and spices. <strong>When:</strong> November 24 to Christmas. <strong>Stay:</strong> <a href="http://www.berns.se/hotell?lang=en" target="_blank">Berns Hotel</a></p>

<p> Each winter the beautiful market square of Bruges is transformed into a Christmas market full of colourful lights and illuminating festive stalls crammed with festive goodies. Around 30 traditional stalls sell gifts, chocolates, sweets and unusual hand-made decorations and an open-air ice rink and Christmas Hobby and Toy Fair offer plenty of family fun. <strong>Stock up on</strong> Belgian chocolate! <strong>When:</strong> November 25 to December 31. <strong>Travel</strong> with <a href="http://www.eurostar.com/" target="_blank">Eurostar</a> from &pound;81 return</p>

<p> Germany is rightly known for its Christmas markets and Nuremberg's 'Little Town of Wood and Cloth' is probably the most famous. Be among the expected two million visitors to <strong>stock up on</strong>&nbsp;bratwurst and gingerbread. <b>When: </b>30 November to 24 December.&nbsp;<b>Stay:</b><strong> </strong><a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/" style="font-weight: ; " target="_blank">Le Meridien Grand Hotel</a>.</p>