Five of the best: Christmas markets

Relish the winter splendour of Prague's beautiful Christmas markets in Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. You'll find traditional Czech arts and crafts as well as seasonal foods and treats like mulled wine to keep you warm while you shop. For children, the Old Town Market has live animals and a nativity scene to complete the magical atmosphere.

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Aachen is home to a brilliant Christmas-themed village. The market is vividly decorated with lights and holiday charm, and has shopping as well as a traditional carousel. Try some of the renowned Aachen Printen, a local speciality much like gingerbread, or enjoy other German treats like fresh marzipan bread or spekulatius, a type of ginger cookie.

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Helsinki is home to several markets, but one of the more popular ones is the Woman's Christmas Market in the Katajanokka district. Finnish women have been displaying their handcrafted leather, jewellery and knitwear here since 1922. Homemade sweets are definitely a highlight, and unique savoury delights fill many stalls.

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Located in the Liseberg Amusement Park, the Gothenburg Christmas Market is truly a winter wonderland. In addition to traditional shops and stalls, the park also offers skiing and ice skating. Adults and children alike will enjoy the Christmas magic of this Scandinavian setting. Restaurants and food vendors offer Swedish Christmas smorgasbords to warm you up.

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Brave the cold temperatures to discover the gastronomic wonders of Cracow's Christmas market. Stalls offer traditional crafts from local merchants, but the highlight of this market is the food. Fight the frost with a delicious Polish sausage or sip on some mulled wine from giant wooden barrels. Fried oscypek cheese is another speciality that will delight your taste buds while you wander through the quaint stalls.

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