Snow, markets, mulled wine, ice-skating - if your Christmas break just wouldn't be the same without these fun festive frills, look no further than our pick of the top city breaks, packed full of Christmas spirit.
Christmas shopping in Berlin
With over 50 different Christmas markets to browse, even Scrooge would find the festive charms of Berlin hard to resist. From its wide boulevards and squares, to its narrow lanes and museums – in December the capital is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, perfect for a Christmas shopping city break.
Browse an impressive range of handicrafts or ride a Ferris-wheel under a blanket of fairy lights at the famous Gendarmenmarkt Square Christmas market, or sample the Christmas traditions of other countries at Brandenburg Gate, another beautiful city landmark, which holds a European Christmas market.
Once your stockings are stuffed, test your skills at Boccia on ice (ice-bowling) at the Sony Center, go tobogganing in Potsdamer Platz and take in a festive show at the Wintergarten Varieté. When all that activity has tired you out, curl up with cake and coffee in one of Berlin's top cafes – Christmas is as good an excuse as any to have a second slice.
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A fairytale family Christmas in Copenhagen
Famous for high-quality toys and children's fairytale-author, Hans Christian Andersen, what better choice than Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, for your family Christmas city break? This magical place was a site of great inspiration for Walt Disney and is the perfect spot for a fairytale family Christmas.
Wrap up warm on a harbor tour and catch a glimpse of the city's landmarks like the Little Mermaid statue, along with other top waterfront sights. Be inspired by The Nutcracker-themed tables at the flagship Royal Copenhagen store and experience an alternative approach to Christmas among fortune-tellers at the bazaar in Christiania, Copenhagen's only Kasbah.
No Christmas break in Copenhagen would be complete without a visit to the dreamlike Tivoli Gardens - the city's impressive amusement park is spectacularly illuminated by more than 3,000 light chains in December. Visit pixie town, meet Santa Claus, ride the carousel, then relax with a large glass of mulled wine in the Christmas village before dining at one of Tivoli's top restaurants.
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The complete Christmas in New York
From the ceremonial tree-lighting and ice-skating at the Rockefeller centre to the festive Broadway shows and Christmas windows at the city's top department stores, New York is renowned for its variety of Christmas break activities and suitably wintry scenes.
While there's no guarantee of snow, temperatures in December often dip below zero, so be prepared to wrap up warm and stay active. Practise your pirouettes on the ice-rink in Central Park; browse the beautifully-designed holiday windows at Macy's and Barney's; take in the famous Christmas spectacular at Radio City and kick-back with anything from eggnog to caviar at one of the eclectic cafes lining the streets of Greenwich Village.
Young or old, male or female, a break in New York – with its world-famous landmarks, great museums, shops galore and a healthy dollop of festive trimmings – has something for everyone, especially at Christmas.
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A traditional Christmas in Vienna
Experience a truly traditional Christmas city break in Vienna, where historical churches, impressive palaces and musical heritage help to keep all the Christmas pomp and circumstance of a bygone era truly alive.
Snuggle down in a horse-drawn carriage and explore the imperial grandeur of the Ring Boulevard, including the beautiful State Opera House, then stretch your legs with a walk to the beat of Mozart down the famous Karntner Strasse – an elegant boulevard popular with string-quartets and lined with chic boutiques.
Pause to re-fuel with coffee and cake or a hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream at one of Vienna's top cafes before browsing the stalls of the Ristkindlmarkt - a traditional Viennese Christmas market housed in the grounds of the Renaissance-inspired Rathaus. Trees, dressed in a variety of themes – from Japanese lanterns to Angel cherubs – dot the grounds of the market and a Viennese carousel and traditional steam organ keep Christmas-shoppers entertained.
Viennese cuisine is the perfect remedy to a cold winter's day sightseeing – the Austrian speciality felspitz (boiled beef with horseradish and roast potatoes) and hot apple cider, served at the city's top restaurants, will soon warm you up in truly traditional Austrian-style.
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A best of both worlds Christmas in Montréal
Old world meets new in Montréal, meaning a wintry Christmas in this beautiful riverside city will satisfy even the fussiest group of travellers. Nowhere is this blend more evident than in the Musée Pointe-à-Callière – a seamless mix of cutting edge technology and historical artefacts and a great place to escape to when the temperatures plummet.
This French Catholic city is packed with snug hideaways; from its hundreds of churches and museums to its world-renowned restaurants and lively nightlife options. But why stay indoors on your break? Ice-rinks and outdoor markets ply the streets and squares in the run-up to Christmas and the regional cheeses and maple candies on offer make ideal rewards after a day ploughing the slopes at the nearby Les Laurentides.
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