PRAGUE: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Opening times: November 27–January 1, 2011, Monday to Friday, 9am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-8pm.

The Christmas market in Prague takes place in Old Town Square, against the fairytale backdrop of the city’s Gothic architecture.

The stalls here sell a variety of Czech crafts, including carved wooden sculptures, beeswax candles, pottery and straw ornaments, but there’s also a strong emphasis on food and drink.

Look out for festive Czech foods such as trdelnik, a sweet pastry made from rolled dough topped with sugar and walnuts, and keep warm as you wander around with a cup of hot grog or mead.

How to get there: Easyjet flights from London to Prague start at £28.99 one way.

BERLIN: Gendarmenmarkt. Opening times: November 22-December 31, Sunday to Thursday 11am-10pm, Fridays and Saturdays 11am-11pm; December 24 11am-6pm; public holidays 11am-10pm; December 31 11am-1am.

Berlin is the ultimate Christmas market city, hosting more than 50 markets this year, ranging from the very large and commercial to the smaller, local fairs. For beautiful surroundings, head to the Gendarmenmarkt, where visitors to the handicrafts tent can learn about old school skills such as flax embroidery, wood carving and stonemasonry. There’s also a varied musical and entertainment programme on all 38 days, including classical performances, gospel choirs and jazz, plus jugglers, acrobats, fire artists and dance groups. There's a charge of one Euro to enter, children up to 12 go free.

How to get there: British Airways and Lufthansa flights from London to Berlin start from about £90 return; train fares from London to Berlin from £315 return on day services, or £161 return on overnight services with Rail Europe.

HELSINKI: Esplanade Park. Opening times: December 7-22. Monday to Friday 11am-7pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-6pm.

For a Scandinavian Christmas experience, head to St Thomas Christmas market in Helsinki.

More than 120 wooden stalls will be selling handmade crafts at this boulevard-style park, surrounded by classical buildings on either side and with a view of the market square and the sea at one end.

As well as stocking up on knitted hats and scarves, visitors can sample baked goods and Finnish Christmas specialities, see a blacksmith at work and possibly bump into Santa Claus.

How to get there: Flights from London to Helsinki with British Airways start at £75 one way.

BUDAPEST: Vorosmarty Square. Opening times: November 19-December 29, 10am-8pm daily, closed December 24 from 2pm and December 25-26.

Budapest’s Christmas market has over 100 wooden stalls and it’s an authentically Hungarian affair, featuring folk arts and gift products approved by the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists.

But it’s not just about the crafts, there are also stalls serving national festive delicacies such as kurtoskalacs (conical pastries covered in sugar and cinnamon), strudels, roast meats and mulled wine, as well as live traditional folk music.

For kids, there are puppet theatre performances and a children’s craft tent, plus the grand Gerbeaud coffee house turns its many windows into an advent calendar, revealing a new picture every day from December 1 to 24 at 5pm.

How to get there: Easyjet flights from London to Budapest from £34.99 one way.

BRUSSELS: Grand-Place, Bourse, Sainte-Catherine and Marche aux Poissons. Opening times: November 26-January 2, 2011, Monday to Thursday noon-9pm, Friday to Sunday 11am-10pm; December 24 12pm-6pm, December 25 2pm-10pm.

Brussels’ blockbuster of a Christmas fair, Plaisirs d’Hiver, stretches through the city centre with 240 chalets, fairground attractions, a sledding track and a light show in the Grand Place.

The market – one of the biggest in Europe – offers seasonal gifts and treats, including an array of festive Belgian chocolates. The highlight of the fair is the 1050m sq ice rink, set against an illuminated big wheel.

How to get there: Eurostar rail fares from London to Brussels start at £69 per person. Shearings offers a five-day tour of Christmas markets in Lille, Brussels and Bruges, departing November 28, December 2 and 12, from £234.

JERSEY: St Helier. Opening times: December 2-12, open every day until 8pm, Sundays until 6pm.

The streets of St Helier light up as the annual Fete de Noue gets under way. Attractions include a Victorian market, Christmas crafts and a fish market selling locally-caught fish and seafood.

This year visitors can also take in a movie at the mini-film festival from December 11-12, and the island’s traditional Christmas parade takes place on Sunday, December 12.

How to get there: Flybe serves Jersey from nine UK airports; prices from around £73.60 return from London Luton.

TALLINN: Old Town Square and Rotermann Square. Opening times: November 27-January 9, 2011. Old Town Square 9am-7pm daily; Rotermann Square 10am-7pm daily.

Tallinn’s pre-Soviet tradition of Christmas markets was revived 10 years ago and this Christmas, the city is hosting two markets.

The Old Town’s market is surrounded by picturesque cobblestoned streets, medieval buildings and gothic spires, while the newcomer at Rotermann Square takes place among old brick warehouses and glass office buildings.

Both markets will feature Estonian craft products. Expect felt slippers, buckwheat pillows, wooden bowls, hand-sewn quilts and knitted jumpers, as well as typical Christmas foods from the region, which include blood sausages, gingerbread, marzipan and honey.

How to get there: Flights from London to Tallinn start at £36.99 outward with Easyjet and from £18.99 from Tallinn to London.