Poland48-hour guide
Kraków Christmas Market 2026: Rynek, Szopki and a Weekend Plan
Wooden stalls on Europe's grandest medieval square, glittering szopki nativity cribs, grilled oscypek and grzaniec, then Wawel Hill and the lanes of Kazimierz.
Where to go this weekend
Three trips worth taking, picked every Friday, plus a 48-hour plan for every city worth the journey.
Next weekend in Europe
23–25 October
Until Sun 25 Oct
Amsterdam
Amsterdam Dance Event: the world's biggest club and electronic music week, in its 30th edition.
23–26 Oct
Dublin
Bram Stoker Festival: Dublin's gothic Halloween festival, with free outdoor events.
Until 1 Nov
Copenhagen
Halloween at Tivoli: pumpkins, lanterns and scare houses in the historic gardens.
Full write-up on FridayPast weekends
What kind of weekend?
- Christmas marketsMulled wine, carols and lights in the old town23 weekends
- Winter sunBlue skies when home is grey7 weekends
- Food and drinkCities worth the trip for the table alone29 weekends
- By trainWeekends you can reach without flying19 weekends
- Romantic weekendsCandlelight, views and long dinners18 weekends
- Beaches and coastSand, sea air and harbour lunches17 weekends
- Castles and historyFortresses, ruins and Roman stones16 weekends
- Wine weekendsVineyards, cellars and the regions behind the bottle19 weekends
48 hours in…
Denmark48-hour guide
Copenhagen Christmas Market 2026: Tivoli, Nyhavn and a Weekend Plan
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.
Germany48-hour guide
Munich Christmas Market 2026: Five Markets and a Weekend Plan
Marienplatz under the New Town Hall, a medieval market, a Christmas village in a royal courtyard, Pink Christmas and Tollwood, plus a two-day route through the old town.
Luxembourg48-hour guide
Luxembourg Christmas Market 2026: A Winterlights Weekend
Winterlights fills Luxembourg City's squares from late November into January. A two-day plan with the old town, the Grund, free trains and buses, and Trier's market.
France48-hour guide
Colmar Christmas Market 2026: Six Markets and a Weekend Plan
Six small markets among canals and painted houses, the Isenheim Altarpiece, white wine and bredele, plus Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Eguisheim a short ride away.
Portugal48-hour guide
Madeira in Winter: a Funchal Weekend of Gardens, Levadas and Lights
Two winter days in Funchal and the mountains above it: the market, Monte by cable car, Madeira wine, a levada walk, a mountain sunrise and the Christmas lights.
Travel news
Closures, new rules and openings that change a weekend plan.
- Vienna’s Café Central: still closed, reopening now set for winter
- New trains for winter: London–Antwerp direct and a Brussels–Milan sleeper
- Halloween weekend 2026: six European trips worth booking
- EES and ETIAS: what UK travellers need this autumn
- Christmas markets 2026: confirmed opening dates
- Lisbon moves to suspend shared e-scooters
Christmas markets 2026
In the order they open.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Bristol Christmas Market
Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace
Christmas Village Stephansplatz
Cardiff Christmas Market
Where to next?
New reels every weekday: 48-hour routes, food worth the trip and what’s on this weekend.