Best European City Breaks This Holiday Season

A short city break can be the perfect present for yourself and a loved one in order to experience the festive spirit in a different European city.

Christmas traditions vary widely across the continent and there are a number of fascinating destinations worth your attention. The city of Bolzano, Italy, is situated in the German-influenced region of South Tirol, and offers a fascinating mixture of Italian and German cultures. Take a trip up into the snowy hills around town before warming up at one of the many markets upon your return.

For more picture-postcard scenery, head to Salzburg, Austria, where a blanket of snow makes the historic city even more beautiful than usual. Over the border in Germany, the Bavarian city of Munich has a deserved reputation for hosting some of the best Christmas markets in Europe, which add to the charms of the thriving, modern metropolis.

If you are on a tighter budget, head to the Hungarian capital of Budapest, which was recently found to be the cheapest European destination for a two-night festive city break, closely followed by the Czech capital Prague. It may have found unwelcome notoriety as the venue for raucous bachelor parties, but Christmas brings out the best in Prague.

Brussels is the cheapest western European city to visit and its markets and light displays can be reached via Eurostar from London or Paris, making it an attractive choice.