Discover Europe’s lesser-known Christmas markets

29 October 2024

Vilnius, Lithuania

Every November, this city transforms into a winter wonderland, offering a cosy and intimate Christmas market experience. The city is renowned for its spectacularly unique Christmas trees, with the centrepiece in Cathedral Square earning accolades across Europe. Take a stroll through the city centre, where traditional wooden chalets and glass igloos create an enchanting setting, and feast on traditional Lithuanian delicacies like kisielius (a sort of berry jelly) and šližikai (small pastries usually eaten on Christmas Eve). Don’t miss the 3D light show at Cathedral Square, a magical spectacle that brings the spirit of Christmas to life after the sun sets.

Wrocław, Poland

Set amongst the picturesque architecture of the Market Square (Rynek), this beautiful Christmas market is truly a hidden gem. The colourful buildings and fairy-tale Town Hall provide the perfect backdrop for a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, providing a more intimate experience compared to the bustling scenes in larger cities. During your stay, keep an eye out for the charming Wrocław Dwarfs hidden around the city and make sure you and the children sample plenty of gingerbread (there’s delicious mulled wine for the adults, too).

Trento, Italy

Nicknamed 'Città del Natale' or 'Christmas Town', Trento is nestled within the majestic Dolomites, providing a stunning backdrop for its traditional Christmas market. From mid-November, wooden huts line the Piazza di Fiera and Piazza Cesare Battisti, selling artisanal products and local Italian foods that celebrate the region's rich history. Celebrate your surroundings with regional favourites like apple strudel and pretzels, sip on mulled wine as you watch the festive light show at Piazza del Duomo, and don’t forget to take a ride on the Christmas train.

Wrocław, Poland

Gothenburg, Sweden

This city transforms into a snow covered (if you’re lucky) winter wonderland come December, hosting some of the best Christmas markets in Scandinavia. For visitors and locals, Liseberg Theme Park is the standout attraction, combining thrilling rides with festive delights, ice skating shows, and traditional Swedish treats like Glögg (hot, spiced wine) and Pepparkaka (thin ginger biscuits that are incredibly Moorish). Embrace the fairytale feeling further with a treasure hunt in the medieval village in Liseberg and indulge your sweet tooth with largest cinnamon rolls in Haga, a picturesque district in Gothenburg known for its wooden houses.

See another side of Africa beyond the safari parks

27 April 2026

Africa is often introduced through safari, but that’s only one part of a much wider experience. Across the continent, you’ll find coastlines, cities, mountains, and food scenes that feel completely different from one another. South Africa is a good example of this variety, where you can move from beaches to vineyards to historic sites within a relatively short distance. It’s a destination that works just as well for a multi-stop trip as it does for a single base with day trips.

Set-jetting: The world's most cinematic destinations to visit right now

22 April 2026

More than half of all travellers now research a destination after seeing it on screen, and the results are genuinely exciting: set jetting is sending curious travellers to places they might never have otherwise considered, taking them deeper into destinations than a standard itinerary ever would. The best set-jetting trips aren't just about ticking off a filming location. They're about using a story you love as a way into somewhere real. Here are the destinations doing it best right now - and the shows that are sending people there.

This resort is the most striking place to experience Mount Fuji

22 April 2026

Most people see Mount Fuji from a distance – either from the Shinkansen window or briefly between buildings in Tokyo. Hanz Outdoor Resort, set directly on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, offers something meaningfully different. Here, the mountain dominates the view from your villa terrace, from the lake at dawn, and from the open-air thermal baths fed by natural waters sourced from Fuji itself. It's a base that works both for first-time visitors who want to understand why this mountain holds such significance in Japanese culture and for repeat travellers ready to explore the less-visited corners of the Fuji Five Lakes region. The resort has also been featured in National Geographic, Time Out, and described by Metro UK as “the most beautiful campsite they had ever seen”. Here are a few reasons why…