Three trips worth taking, picked every Friday, plus a 48-hour plan for every city worth the journey.
23–25 October
Until Sun 25 Oct
Amsterdam Dance Event: the world's biggest club and electronic music week, in its 30th edition.
23–26 Oct
Bram Stoker Festival: Dublin's gothic Halloween festival, with free outdoor events.
Until 1 Nov
Halloween at Tivoli: pumpkins, lanterns and scare houses in the historic gardens.
Full write-up on FridayPast weekends
Christmas marketsMulled wine, carols and lights in the old town28 weekends
Winter sunBlue skies when home is grey9 weekends
Food and drinkCities worth the trip for the table alone33 weekends
By trainWeekends you can reach without flying20 weekends
Romantic weekendsCandlelight, views and long dinners22 weekends
Beaches and coastSand, sea air and harbour lunches17 weekends
Castles and historyFortresses, ruins and Roman stones18 weekends
Wine weekendsVineyards, cellars and the regions behind the bottle19 weekendsSpain48-hour guide
Two days in Andalusia's capital: Moorish palaces, the Giralda, tiled Plaza de España, tapas in Triana and flamenco in a 15th-century courtyard, with mild winter sun.
Latvia48-hour guide
Wooden stalls on Dome Square, the city that claims the first decorated Christmas tree, Art Nouveau façades and Zeppelin-hangar food halls, plus a two-day plan.
Estonia48-hour guide
A medieval square with a tree tradition Tallinn traces back to 1441, Toompea's rooftop views, Kalamaja's wooden houses and a plate of verivorst with sauerkraut.
Malta48-hour guide
Two days in Malta's honey-stone capital: Caravaggio, the Grand Harbour guns, the ferry to Birgu and a quiet half day in Mdina, with mild winter weather to match.
Poland48-hour guide
Wooden stalls on Europe's grandest medieval square, glittering szopki nativity cribs, grilled oscypek and grzaniec, then Wawel Hill and the lanes of Kazimierz.
Denmark48-hour guide
Tivoli's lit-up gardens, chalets on Højbro Plads and along Nyhavn, gløgg with æbleskiver and a calm, candlelit kind of Christmas, plus a two-day plan.
Closures, new rules and openings that change a weekend plan.
In the order they open.
Bristol Christmas Market
Cardiff Christmas Market
New reels every weekday: 48-hour routes, food worth the trip and what’s on this weekend.
