insideKENT Magazine Issue 56 - November 2016 | Page 129

CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS MARKETS cont.

Vienna Christmas Markets, Austria
12th November – 24th December
In Vienna, you get a number of markets for the
price of one, as the ‘main market’ is actually a
few smaller ones linked together to create one
impressive and festive marketplace. The stalls
contain arts and crafts (Viennese beeswax candles
are a fixture here), food and drink (such as
vanillekipferl, special Christmas biscuits), and
clothing too amongst other things. And to make
it even more magical, the market in front of the
City Hall has one floor dedicated to the children
– toys and games galore!
The 100-year-old Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof
has large, spacious rooms with Baroque style
décor, a massive spa with two saunas and a
steam room, and it’s right in the middle of the
most historic district in the city – St Stephens’s
Cathedral (and the Christmas market) is about a
five-minute walk away. Slightly (but only very
slightly) further away is the Hotel Sans Souci
Wien. It’s an extra 10 minutes to the market on
foot, but the fact that the hotel has an indoor
pool and a well renowned restaurant makes up
for that.

Zurich Christmas Markets, Switzerland
24th November – 23rd December
Zurich is home to the biggest indoor Christmas
market in Europe (it’s located in the main train
station and has over 150 different stalls), so if
you aren’t so keen on the cold, this could well
be the ideal place for you to shop ‘til you drop.
The centrepiece of this market is the enormous
Christmas tree which is decorated with over
7,000 Swarovski crystals. Munch on roasted
chestnuts, sip mulled wine, and admire the sights,
sounds, and smells of Christmas all around you.

Verona Christmas Market, Italy
18th November – 26th December
The Verona Christmas market is more German
than Italian in looks and style, with wooden huts
that are decorated with fairy lights and twinkle in
the night air. There is plenty of German food and
drink to be had too, including bratwurst, stollen
cake, and lebkuchen (soft gingery cookies –
delicious!). This market always has a special
guest star too – Father Christmas himself! He
always enjoys meeting the children, giving them
a small gift, and receiving a cookie in return!

The immediate area around the Christmas market
is surrounded by hotels, and so finding one
shouldn’t be too onerous a task. The Townhouse
Boutique Hotel is nice and close to the action,
and it has all the mod cons you might want to
make your time in Zurich comfortable. For
something a little more luxurious, there is the
Zürich Niederdorf – Grossmünster. This hotel is
stylish and stunning, and will certainly make your
stay more memorable.

The hotels in Verona are top class, so why not
look out for something like the Palazzo Victoria
with its gorgeous architecture and history, or the
more modern Hotel Milano and Spa?

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Strasbourg Christmas Market, France
25th November – 31at December
One of Europe’s longest running markets,
Strasbourg has been drawing the crowds since
1570. For a truly authentic and breathtaking
festive treat you’ll love strolling around the wooden
chalets enjoying a warming hot drink and nibbling
at street food, all within the shadow of the