Christmas Markets Round-Up

So maybe it is time to do something different by heading for one of the dozens of excellent Christmas Markets in Europe. It is a tempting alternative way to shop for family and friends and it doesn?t have to cost you a fortune. By taking a long weekend and coming back with everything you need ? including all your presents beautifully wrapped at the shop by someone who knows what they?re doing! - the whole retail marathon can be done and stored until Christmas and you can relax knowing you?ve had a great away-break as well. Now that does sound appealing.

Where to go?
At the top of the shopping list are Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Lille and Cologne ? all within easy distance and all with great Christmas markets and enticing Christmas atmosphere. But there are other lovely places to re-capture your enthusiasm for Christmas too.

And why go to Europe?
The advantages of a continental Christmas shopping expedition include some surprising extras:

Gift wrapping
Choosing a European city for your Christmas shopping has many advantages. Apart from making a short break out of it as a time of year when such trips are a great reward for the long, dark nights you can benefit from a completely different attitude to shopping. Most retailers simply assume you are buying gifts and will expertly wrap your presents for you.

Christmas twice over!
In addition, throughout Flemish Belgium and the Netherlands celebrations for Sinta Klaas as a present-bringer is marked on St. Nicholas? Day (December 5th), so the festive spirit is genuinely everywhere early, but these days continues on until Christmas itself. You may even have a close encounter with Sinta Klaas and his mischievous assistants. It?s a doubly satisfying experience to be part of an ancient European traditional. That is why Brussels and Amsterdam are top picks for places to shop this Christmas.

Chic and stylish
Of course, if you want to make the most of chic and stylish shopping, then Paris is the ultimate for a glamorous weekend of retail therapy. Its department stores like Printemps Galleries Lafayette and boutiques will inspire some great gift ideas.

It's a short hop
Lille and Ghent have a different attraction. They have special Christmas Markets and a smaller feel about them. But they are also just across the English Channel making them readily accessible for the shortest of forays ahead of Christmas.

Christmas Market Dates

Brussels -1 -31st  December
Europe?s most original Christmas Market ? Amazing Electrobel Nights entertainment in the Grande Place, an ice rink and Fairground including a big wheel. Open Daily

Ghent - 7-31 December
St. Baafsplein in the medieval centre of Ghent is transformed into a Xmas market. Ice Rink. Open Daily.

Antwerp - 7-28 December
Groenplaats and Market Square feature a magical Xmas market. Ice Rink. Open Daily

Lille - 22 Nov - 27 December
70 stalls of craft, produce and original ideas for Christmas. Big Wheel. Open Daily 

Reims - 24 Nov - 24 December
125 stalls, magicians, singers and Santa. Jazz afternoons on Wednesday and Friday.

Amsterdam - 22 Nov - 24 December
The Dutch celebrate Sinta Klaas on St Nicholas Day (5th Dec) and as a result today have a double focus to their festive season. It starts early and just keeps going. Ahead of St Nicholas? Day Sinta Klaas and the Schwarte Piets can be seen almost everywhere throwing sweets to children and playing pranks. No specific Christmas Markets, but the charming shops in the central nine streets area are full of great presents and there is the excellent department store Bijenkorpf in Dam Square.

Aachen - 24 Nov - 23 Dec
Market square, cathedral and town hall are bathed in a festive light for the Christmas market. Variety of entertainment ? especially at weekends. There is a special Christmas village which has small booths where Christmas decorations, crafts and spicy gingerbread - Aachen Printen ? can be bought.

Cologne - 23 Nov - 23 Dec
A city which loves Christmas. There are 6 separate markets. The best are at the Cologne Cathedral, on the Alter Markt, on the Neumarkt and on the Rudolfplatz. Attracting 2 million visitors a year the city also has heaps of seasonal entertainment including a temporary ice rink on Heumarkt.

Dortmund - 23 Nov ? 23 December
One of the biggest in Germany, with over 300 stalls. Its central feature is a massive Christmas tree built from 1,700 individual fir trees, standing 45 metres tall. It is decorated with 13,000 lights ? and is the biggest in the world. 

D?sseldorf - 23 Nov - 23 Dec
D?sseldorf's Christmas market opens its "gingerbread houses" market close to K?nigsallee. There is a free outdoor ice rink with instructors and childcare facilities.

Essen - 23 Nov - 22 December
Essen has an International Christmas Market with exotic products from all over the world: sculptures from Africa, craft from Russia, cheerful figures from Cuba, Greek lighthouses and Xmas gifts for all US fans. There are world foods to taste as well. In the Santa House you?ll find Father Christmases from all over the world describing Christmas customs and traditions in their various countries.

Frankfurt - 23 Nov -21 December
One of the oldest and most popular Xmas markets in Germany, it is over 600 years old. You can enjoy wonderful baked apples, roasted nuts, gingerbread and mulled wine - The Christmas market is located throughout the city-centre at Roemerberg, Paulsplatz, Liebfrauenberg, Fahrtor, and Mainkai.

4 October 2006