 Riga
Home to the world’s first Christmas tree (there’s a plaque in the Old Town marking the spot where it stood), Riga’s winter festival traditions stretch back even beyond Christmas. Mixing Christian and pagan traditions, Latvians celebrate with roaring bonfires, hearty singing and tasty winter food – it’s the perfect winter warmer. Riga’s Christmas market in the heart of the picturesque medieval Old Town is a great place to find traditional Latvian crafts – wooden toys, beautiful wrought iron, linen and hand-knitted woollies. While you’re browsing, keep the cold at bay by munching on "Piparkukas" (Latvian gingerbread) and sipping the warmest of winter drinks – potent Latvian Black Balsams, mixed with hot blackcurrant juice. The market opens in the beginning of December and finishes with a flourish – with Christmas concerts on the 24th and 25th December.
Fly to Riga with airBaltic from 37 cities in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Munich
Germany is rightly famous for its Christmas markets, which have possibly the longest pedigree of any in Europe. Munich’s is one of the most celebrated – the city’s historic Marienplatz is filled with tempting market stalls, the scent of spicy cakes and sweets, and lit by thousands of candles decorating a huge Christmas tree. You can shop to your heart’s content accompanied by live music – which is played every day the market’s open. Follow the stars from Marienplatz to Rindermarkt, where you’ll find the Crib Market, a truly traditional German experience. Here you’ll find anything and everything you could possibly need to furnish a nativity manger – from hand carved figurines to fodder for your donkey! Munich’s not afraid of the modern either – nearby at Thereisenwiese (home of the famed Oktoberfest) there’s an international winter festival full of music, drama, art, food and handicrafts from across the globe. With celebrations not just at Christmas, but on 6th December (St. Nicholas’ Day) too, Munich brims with festive cheer all winter long.
In December airBaltic flies to Munich from Riga every day except Tuesdays, and five times a week from Vilnius.  Zurich
Zurich’s Christmas markets fill the city, from the romantic Old Town, to the bustle of the shopping district. It even has a singing Christmas tree near Banhofstrasse, where each day of advent choirs and musicians serenade the city. If the nip in the winter air gets too chilly for you, you won’t miss out, because Zurich boasts Europe’s largest indoor Christmas market – which runs from late November until Christmas Eve. It’s a sight to behold – more than 150 chalets bursting with goodies fill the market hall – all presided over by a 15 metre high Christmas tree, hung with 5,000 Swarovski crystal ornaments. As in Germany, the Swiss celebrate St Nicholas’ Day too, with a lantern procession through central Zurich. Or wait until Christmas Eve for a magical celebration – when Zurich’s church bells peal to call people to midnight mass – after which they start the feasting with giant ’Ringli’ doughnuts and steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
In December airBaltic flies to Zurich twice a week from Riga and Vilnius.
Brussels
Brussels in winter is a feast for all the senses. Whether you go for pre-Christmas shopping or a January break, the city celebrates throughout December and into the New Year. Brussels’ Christmas market runs from 1st December until New Year’s Day, filling the streets from the Place Sainte Catherine, around the Bourse to the Fishmarket. Nibble while you browse - on marzipan treats or Belgian gingerbread biscuits called ‘Speculoos’ – traditionally given to good children on St. Nicholas’ Day. Get a bird’s eye view of the festive bustle from the top of the Big Wheel on the Fishmarket, or take a turn on one of the beautiful traditional fairground carousels at its feet. Then work up an appetite again on the ice rink, where, with a special skating rink for toddlers too, every member of the family can enjoy the winter fun.
airBaltic flies to Brussels from Riga and Vilnius every day except Saturdays.  Stockholm
In Stockholm a whole island is devoted to celebrating the festive season! The Skansen outdoor museum is a world within a world – step onto the island of Djurgården in the heart of the city, and you‘ll travel through time, to see Sweden through the ages. Throughout December and into the New Year, the whole island is buzzing with events and activities – it hosts a Christmas market, where you can buy traditional Swedish sausages, sweets, crafts and decorations – as well as luxuriant Christmas trees. Why not try having a Swedish-themed Christmas of your own? This is the perfect place to find out how – you can taste a traditional Christmas meal, try making decorations, and learn Swedish Christmas songs and games, dancing around Skansen’s Christmas tree. You won’t want to leave – at least until after New Year – Skansen’s New Year fireworks are shown on national television, and attract thousands of visitors to the island.
airBaltic flies to Stockholm from Riga up to three times a day and from Vilnius up to twice a day.
 Copenhagen
Right in the heart of the Tivoli Gardens (Europe’s oldest amusement park), Copenhagen’s Christmas market is a true fairyland – bedecked in thousands of lights, which swathe the trees and buildings around the Tivoli lake. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d entered another world, as throughout the Christmas season (or ‘Jul’ as it’s known here), Danish ‘Nisser’ – red-hooded pixies – roam the streets and can be found hiding around almost every corner. Even if the winter weather bites, you needn’t worry about feeling cold in Copenhagen – Danish brewers make special Christmas ales – sold from horse-drawn carriages which ride through town, or, for a sweeter treat, sip on a glass of ‘gløgg’ – mulled red wine, accompanied by an ‘aebleskiver’ – a pan-fried cake sprinkled with sugar and a dollop of jam – delicious!
airBaltic flies to Copenhagen from Riga and Vilnius up to three times a day and from Liepaja daily except Saturdays.
|
