GRAZ, AUSTRIA

November 23 – December 24

FORWARD-THINKING Austrian town Graz is regarded as one of the best places to celebrate the advent season.

Markets are held in the central squares of the old town, selling arts and crafts, while a special children’s market has a big wheel, train ride and carousel.

Graz has a thriving cultural scene, and in the run-up to Christmas a number of concerts and events take place. Choirs and folk music groups perform in the streets.

Special hotel offers can be found at weekend.graz.at. Ryan Air (ryanair.com) flies to Klagenfurt from London Stansted from £19.24 one way. Graz is a 90-minute drive.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY

November 26 – December 27

GERMANY is the home of Christmas markets, and arguably one of the most popular takes place in Frankfurt. Merchants have been selling festive wares since as far back as 1393, when only locals were allowed to trade.

There’s still a strong emphasis on regional produce: look out for gingerbread, Bethmannchen (an almond and marzipan biscuit loved by Goethe) and Quetschemannchen (a candied figure made of prunes).

Other attractions include an unusual honey shop in St Paul’s Square inside a 300-year-old timber house.

Guided tours of the market take place daily.

Christmas market weekend packages are available.

Search for Christmas Market at frankfurt-tourismus.de/cms/ tourismussuite/en/home.html.

British Airways (british airways.com) flies to Frankfurt from London Heathrow from £66 one way. Or contact family-run North-East coach firm Gardiners NMC. Tel: 01670-520577 or nmctours.co.uk.

VALKENBURG, HOLLAND

November 16 – December 23

RAIN, snow or shine, a festive show takes place at the cosy Velvet Cave in Dutch town Valkenburg.

Europe’s largest and oldest underground Christmas market definitely scores high on wow factor, with festive decorations supplemented by murals and sculptures.

And what better setting than a cave for Santa’s grotto? Visit his living space, piled high with presents, sleigh and reindeer. Above ground, a Christmas parade takes place in the city on Wednesdays at 7pm and Saturdays at 7.30pm.

Stena Line’s Superferries (stenaline.co.uk) offers a Dutchflyer rail and sail ticket from £39pp one way, including train travel from London to Harwich and onward travel to any Dutch city. Two nights B&B at the Parkhotel Valkenburg (parkhotel valkenburg.nl) from 99 euros pp.

AALBORG, DENMARK

November 23 – December 23

COPENHAGEN may have the glitz and glamour, but smaller town Aalborg offers an intimate and novel experience.

On November 24, Santa Claus arrives from Greenland by ship, and is met at the city docks by the local mayor.

The pair then take a sleigh ride through town, ending up at Gammeltorv, where the main Christmas market is held. Local specialities on sale include pepper cookies and fiery spirit aquavit. Later that day, the Christmas tree will be lit to the sounds of an elf orchestra. Afterwards, go ice-skating on CW Obels Plads or enjoy a Christmas ale at microbrewery Sogaards Bryghus.

Norwegian Airlines (norwegian.com) flies to Aalborg from London Gatwick, £36 one way.

Accommodation options range from £80 to £120 per room. See visitaalborg.com.

YORK

November 8 – December 23

CELEBRATIONS start early in the cobbled streets of York, with a mouth-watering festive food market running from November 8 to 18. St Nicholas Fayre will sell alternative suggestions for the Christmas table, including wild boar, ostrich and even kangaroo.

The full-blown Festive Fayre takes place from December 6, with highlights including a Farmers’ Market (December 14) and the Festival of Angels (December 15 and 16), when the city will be transformed into a winter wonderland.

York Wrapped Up Christmas packages – including discounted accommodation, train fares and access to attractions – can be found at visityork.org/wrappedup.