Top European Christmas Market City Breaks from Swissôtel

From the traditions of the original German markets to singing trees in Switzerland – there’s much to discover this festive season…

Basel, Switzerland

Basel’s Christmas market is the largest – and perhaps prettiest - in Switzerland. Opening on 24th November 2016, the quaint Christmas market can be found on Barfüsserplatz, right in the centre of the city and at the heart of the festively decorated Old Town. Over 180 traders and artisans offer their goods for sale in small, rustic wooden chalets and there are culinary delights aplenty - waffles, glühwein, ‘Basel Läckerli’ (a kind of gingerbread), delicious Swiss raclette or the popular grilled sausages…

Stay in the heart of the city at Swissôtel Le Plaza Basel, a perfect base for a festive weekend, with 238 elegant guestrooms offering an ideal retreat to wind down after days exploring the city. The Pürovel Sport, with its sauna and steam room, will allow guests to relax and unwind, whilst the renowned Grill25 restaurant – voted amongst the top 5 best trendsetter restaurants in the city, by the food magazine Basel Geht Aus – offers delicious, contemporary bar & dining.

Classic rooms at Swissôtel Le Plaza Basel from £200 per night, on a bed and breakfast basis, based on double occupancy.

Zurich, Switzerland

There’s a singing Christmas tree in the market in Werdmühleplatz, Zurich… Or to be more precise, in pride of place there’s a vertical stage that looks like a Christmas tree, and with their red hats on, the singers on stage are the baubles on the tree! Or course there’s gühwein and fondue too…

In close proximity to all the market’s sights and sounds stands Zurich’s tallest hotel - Swissôtel Zurich. Guestrooms feature panoramic views of Zurich and across to the Swiss Alps – a perfect backdrop for winter break. Cosy in at Le muh Bar, or start the day with a few laps of the spectacular rooftop infinity pool…

Classic rooms at Swissôtel Zurich from £164 per night, based on double occupancy.

Berlin, Germany

This year Berlin will host sixty Christmas markets in the German capital, but the very largest takes place in the Spandau Old Town. There are 250 stalls during the week and up to 400 at weekends; on Reformationsplatz younger visitors will be enthralled with the live animals at the nativity scene. Alongside the handicrafts market along Alte Potsdamer Straße, the Winter World also has the largest mobile toboggan run in Europe - over twelve metres high and more than seventy metres long...

Art is at the heart Swissôtel Berlin, which is home to a large and remarkable collection of private art. The hotel is also ideally located - in the centre of West Berlin - for exploring the city’s numerous galleries and museums. After a day of exploring the city, guests can unwind and enjoy an evening drink and dinner on the roof of Restaurant 44, which provides guests with incredible views over the Kurfuerstendamm.

Classic rooms at Swissôtel Berlin from £129 per night, on a bed and breakfast basis, based on double occupancy.

Dresden, Germany

The historical city of Dresden is the birthplace of ‘Stollen’ and plays host to Germany’s oldest, magical Christmas market. The world-famous Striezelmarkt opens at the end of November through to mid-January and has stalls, attractions and foodie delights stretching for miles from the main railway station to the banks of the Elbe. Winter is the ideal time to see the city’s most beautiful and historical sights when the stunning glass outdoor ballroom of the Zwinger twinkles in the snow and the Brühl's Terrace offer picturesque views of the “balcony of Europe”.

Set in the very heart of the Old Town, Swissôtel Dresden Am Schloss is a stylish, five-star hotel and winner of TripAdvisor 2015 Travellers’ Choice® hotels in Germany. Behind the ancient façade, the hotel’s stylish and contemporary interiors are teamed with state-of-the-art technology, and the warmth of Swiss hospitality. The hotel’s renowned Pürovel Spa & Sport is the perfect hideaway after a busy day out in the cold - in the hotel’s historic vaults, it’s a fascinating mix of medieval construction and modern design.

Swiss Advantage rooms start from £93 per night, on a bed & breakfast basis, based on double occupancy.

Moscow, Russia

Christmas casts a magical glow over Moscow’s – the grand palaces and cathedrals are cloaked in white and the famous Red Square dances with festive illuminations. Celebrating both the Christian Christmas on 25 December and the Russian Orthodox Christmas on 7 January, Moscow’s festive season lasts well into the New Year. Moscow’s Christmas markets also start later than their European counterparts – but they’re worth the wait. Visitors can stock up on traditional Russian handicrafts like ushanka (fur trapper hats), lapti shoes or brightly colored babushka dolls, along with hand-crafted Christmas ornaments and an array of seasonal delicacies like sbiten (a traditional hot honey drink) and honeybread cookies.

At 34 floors tall, the award-winning Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, Moscow captures one of the Russian capital’s most breath-taking views of the city from its renowned rooftop bar, City Space. The bar is the place to see and be seen and serves an impressive range of tasty signature cocktails and exquisite Japanese cuisine, for when guests have had their fill of gingerbread.

Swiss Advantage rooms start from £179 per night, based on double occupancy.