christmas marketcreativecommons.org/Graham Hills

Are you craving the whiff of roasted chestnuts, a mug of mulled wine and twinkling lights strung between booths selling fine handicrafts and tempting treats? Well, we can’t instantly transport you to one of Germany's town squares, but we can show you how to enjoy the next best thing...

The home page of the German National Tourist Office’s website lists 150 Christmas markets in its ‘Special’s category, under Christmas. Web visitors get a first impression watching a slideshow of various markets, and each photo links through to the particular market and town. The ‘Please Select’ menu, lists the markets alphabetically by city, complete with a brief description of the specialties available at that market.

However, for the finest taste of the German Christmas market spirit, check out the GNTO website’s video promotion – it’s perfect for avid armchair travellers sitting by a fire, preferably with a glass of mulled cider at hand.