Christmas market season is nearly upon us, and if you're plotting a festive city break, a few names keep coming up. Strasbourg earns its 'Capital of Christmas' nickname with roughly 300 wooden chalets spread across the historic centre of the French city, and the tradition there goes way back — the market dates to 1570, making it one of the oldest on the continent. Expect Alsatian treats, handmade crafts and enough decorations to keep even the grumpiest travelling companion happy.

Germany, where the whole Christmas market tradition began (credit the German-speaking world of the Late Middle Ages, when markets first filled town squares and courtyards), packs a serious punch too. Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Nuremberg all host enormous markets, though there's no official ranking of which is biggest. For sheer atmosphere, though, it's hard to beat Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The Bavarian town is so picturesque — cobbled lanes, half-timbered houses, intact medieval walls — that it looks like a Christmas card before the lights even go up. Its Reiterlesmarkt fills the old town with wooden stalls selling crafts, decorations and seasonal food.

If your budget is the deciding factor, head east. Warsaw comes out as the cheapest Christmas market destination in Europe, with December accommodation averaging around £110 per person per night. Kraków isn't far behind in fifth place at roughly £131 a night, and Budapest and Berlin are both solid affordable picks. Prices do shift depending on when you book, so travelling earlier in December (or midweek) generally stretches your money further.

One thing worth remembering: you don't have to freeze. While mulled wine and rich hot chocolate are part of the appeal in the colder north, southern options exist too — Spain and southern Italy both run markets where a light jacket will do. And the food is the real reason to go beyond the classics of sausages, fondue and mince pies. Each region has its own festive specialties you won't find anywhere else, like the fried doughnuts known as cullurielli in southern Italy, available only at Christmas time.

So who is this for? Anyone after a long weekend that feels like a proper holiday without requiring a flight across the world or a big budget. Pick Strasbourg or a German giant for the full classic experience, Rothenburg for fairytale charm, or Warsaw and Kraków if you'd rather spend your euros on glühwein than on the hotel.