If you’re like most of us, you won’t have started thinking about Christmas shopping yet. Part of the fun is the mad dash around the shops in December, or spending hours browsing online for that perfect present. But why not try something a bit different for your gift-buying this year? Budget airlines and Eurostar mean that many European cities are more accessible than ever, and many of them offer a much better shopping experience than you can find anywhere in the UK.

German Christmas Markets

All large German towns and cities host Christmas markets which run from the end of November through to just before Christmas. The markets are full to bursting with stallholders selling everything from beautifully carved wooden toys to candles and other gifts and you’re guaranteed to find something unusual for that perfect present. And that’s before you get tucked into the mulled wine, sausages and gingerbread. Nuremberg hosts one of the best known and oldest Christmas markets, and there are other large markets in Cologne, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart. Germany can be cold in December so dress warmly, remember your sturdy footwear and look out for the special delicacies and products which are only sold in the run up to Christmas. Many people will speak English, but a few words of German will make purchasing more fun.

Lille

One of the main attractions of the Northern French city of Lille is that it is so easy to get to on Eurostar, with trains taking just 90 minutes from London. Lille hosts a similar outdoor event to the German Christmas markets in December, but is also a foodie heaven with shops selling a wide range of artisan made products which are perfect gifts for any member of the family. All of the major French retail brands have outlets in Lille, and you can even do some window shopping before leaving home by browsing through their website.

Stockholm

A wintery, Christmassy feel is guaranteed if you head over to the Swedish capital for your Christmas shopping, and the main market in the city dates back over 500 years. The beauty of the Swedish markets is that the focus is heavily on locally produced crafts and food items, which means you can buy pretty glass, jewellery or items of pottery which just aren’t available in the UK. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could even buy some local sausages or smoked reindeer meat to take home for your festive feast.

Bruges

Belgium is synonymous with chocolate for many people, and you’ll certainly find plenty of handmade chocolate gifts in the markets and shops in the medieval city of Bruges. Bruges is easy to get to from the Channel ports, and taking your car gives more flexibility over what you can buy and easily get home. It’s not just chocolate which is sold in Bruges, and this is a great place to look for handmade jewellery, leather goods, toys and accessories. If you’ve driven to Belgium, don’t forget to check out the discount champagne, wine and beer available to make a merry Christmas even merrier.