But all those extra bobbles and balls do not mean you can’t still find some affordable cheer around town.

It’s not too late to book one of the best cheap hotels in Paris and head to the City of Light for a holiday getaway as 2019 turns into 2020.

More Paris budget tips

• Paris on the Cheap: The top 25 free things to do
• A guide to finding the best time of year to visit Paris
• 10 ways to prepare for your Paris vacation

How to celebrate the holiday season in Paris

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Paris in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve? Here are six easy ways to celebrate in Paris à la Cheapo.

1. Bask in the glow

Through early January, the city’s iconic streets are aglow with holiday lights, Christmas window displays and the sounds of the holidays. Of special note are the trees and lights at Place Vendome (through January 2020) the festive decorations hanging across rue Montorgueil, and of course, the ever-campy but always appreciated displays on the historic Champs-Elysées (November 24 to January 8, 2020).

Ladling up a mulled mug at the Christmas market along the Champs-Elysées. Photo: anniemole

2. Stroll with mulled wine

To appreciate the lights, be sure to grab a cup of hot wine (vin chaud) to go while strolling the streets. The Christmas markets, while selling plenty of trinkets, do manage to provide enough of the sweetened, spiced wine to make them worth a trip. Once the holidays are finished, the wine is still available in most cafés, and is often a bit tastier — and it doesn’t get cold as quickly.

Check out the official Paris tourism website for the 2019 list of markets and holiday activities.

A classic and affordable French dining experience awaits at Chartier. Photo: shufgy

3. Feast for less

Holiday eating in Paris can be tricky because many places close on December 24, 25, and January 1, but diners won’t starve, even on a budget. A simple yet exceedingly affordable meal can be had at old favorite Chartier while those looking to drop a bit more can have a four-course Christmas meal (including Champagne!) at the famed Coupole for €75. Though it may seem steep, it’s a lot cheaper than many holiday menus around town!

Ice skate under the spectacular dome of the Grand Palais. Photo: Le Grand Palais des Glaces Facebook Page

4. Hit the rink

Winter is here, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your time in Paris huddled away. Strap on your skates or rent a pair and hit the largest rink in the world at Le Grand Palais from December 13 to January 8, 2020. You can also skate at the Christmas Market at Champs de Mars right under the Eiffel Tower (through January 2020). If it’s a bit too frigid outside, the Patinoire Pailleron by the Parc de Buttes Chaumont is a bit more tolerable with its indoor rink and costs just a few euros to take hit the ice.

Ring in the New Year with a twinkling Eiffel Tower. Photo: tonyjcase

5. Toast the New Year

Although there haven’t been fireworks for several years in Paris on New Year’s, the Eiffel Tower does offer a lively light show, and the Champs-Elysees is the place to be if you want to join the throngs. Otherwise, don’t expect much more than a Champagne toast at midnight and some rabble-rousers in the streets.

A cake fit for a king. Photo: lesteph

6. …and cut the cake

There is more to look forward to in early 2020. On January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, you’ll see bakeries decked out with the galette des rois, the frangipane-based cake that ushers in the New Year. A small figurine of the baby Jesus is hiding inside each cake, and French tradition holds that he or she who finds the token in their slice buys next year’s cake.

Did you find the baby? Congratulations! You can start off the New Year in debt — vive la France!

Your tips

Have you been to Paris during the holiday season? Tell us what you like to do during your visit!

The post Paris: 6 ways to celebrate the holidays (without blowing your budget) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Dublin is no exception. This compact, walkable city is ideal for budget travelers looking to experience the holiday cheer without emptying their wallets. Keep reading for some of my favorite things – old and new – to do in Dublin in the lead up to Christmas.

1. Christmas windows at Brown Thomas
88 Grafton Street
Web site

Grafton Street, the pedestrianized center of Dublin, is brilliantly lit up for the holidays. Beyond taking in the sparkling lights and huge Christmas tree, one more (completely free) thing to do here is to check out the Christmas windows at Brown Thomas.

This super fancy department store might not be where you will stock up on Christmas gifts, but they always do an incredibly creative job with their festive store windows. As a bonus, many street performers sing holiday carols at this time of year on Grafton Street.

2. Holiday concert: December 19, 2011
Web site

Throughout Dublin there are plenty of opportunities to hear holiday music in the month of December, but what if you want to hear some live music? There is one annual performance that locals look forward to as a Christmas tradition each year.

The Key Notes are an Irish group that perform mostly acapella music, including classic, Irish, and Christmas tunes at the RDS Concert Hall on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 8 p.m. Tickets are only €20 and available through Ticketmaster.

3. Christmas Market at Christ Church Cathedral
Web site

Another holiday tradition, the Christmas market, showcases everything from local arts and crafts to jewelry to local souvenirs. The market at Christ Church Cathedral allows visitors to check out one of Dublin’s best known landmarks, and do a little cheap Christmas shopping at the same time. Expect Christmas tunes, holiday-themed snacks, and some great affordable gift ideas at this market set inside the 12th-century Cathedral. The Christ Church Market is open Saturdays only.

4. The Dun Laoghaire Christmas Festival
December 9, 2011 – January 8, 2012
Web site

Dun Laoghaire is a seaside village located south of the city center of Dublin, and is easily reached (for cheap) on the DART commuter train. This year Dun Laoghaire is throwing its first Christmas festival, including a German-style Christmas market located on Marine Road with booths full of jewelry, gift ideas, and food. In addition, there is an ice rink for adults and kids who want to try out their skills on skates.

5. Tasting the holiday spirit

Each culture has its own culinary traditions of dishes that evoke a festive spirit. In Dublin, those items are mince pies and mulled wine.

Mince pies are individually sized fruit pies with seasonal spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Mulled wine is a hot drink, consisting of red wine, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Both items are available at all the Christmas markets and are a local (and cheap) way to dive into Dublin Christmas traditions.

Bonus: Impromptu performance?

If you happen to be in Dublin on Christmas Eve, go ahead and take a stroll on Grafton Street during the afternoon. In years past some of Dublin’s biggest stars have shown up for an impromptu street performance, including Bono, Damien Rice, and Glen Hansard.

Also in our guide: Budget travelers heading to Dublin at Christmas or any other time should check out our reviews of our favorite cheap hotels in Dublin. Each hotel has been visited, inspected, photographed and reviewed by our editors. Read more in our Dublin guide.

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Related: When’s the best (and cheapest) time to visit Europe?

Summer vacation dates

In Denmark and Finland, for example, children head back to the classroom over the next few days, and that leaves plenty of capacity in vacation hot-spots in those two countries which mainstream on the domestic market. And Denmark, ever-popular for family vacations with folks in northern Germany, will also see a slump in visitors from Germany. School resumes in Hamburg this week, and in Berlin classes are back next Monday.

Many countries have regional variations. For example, while many German schools have started the new school year, children in Germany’s two southernmost states – Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg – still have another month of vacation.

Four European countries that have notably late summer vacations are Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Malta. Indeed, school’s out in Malta until 26 September. The other three countries dispatch their kids to the classroom in mid-September.

Fall breaks

Looking ahead to Fall, it pays to know the pattern of school vacations. The period from late September generally offers a feast of low-season rates on travel and accommodation right across Europe. But beware the last week of October and first week in November. Almost two thirds of schoolchildren in the European Union have a fall break in one of those two weeks, and it’s a time when hotels and resorts which have been empty for some weeks are suddenly full to overflowing for a spell.

Sometimes just shifting your travel dates a few days forward or back can have a dramatic influence on fares on intra-European flights in the Fall. And that same shift in dates may mean you benefit from low-season hotel rates rather than the premium tariffs that apply during school holidays.

The run-up to Christmas

Generally, the period from around 10 November thru mid-December is the cheapest of the year for European travel. But note the Advent effect in those European cities which are noted for shopping or Christmas markets. Cities like Augsburg, Dresden, Paris and Milan are judged by many as fine spots for a weekend break in the run-up to Christmas, so those low-season weekend hotel rates can quickly evaporate in such places.

The post Watch out for European school holidays when picking travel dates appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

With so few tourists walking down the city’s quiet calli (small streets), this is the quietest time to savor the city. How lovely it is to see the Rialto Market all lit up day and night. The restaurants propose scrumptious menus, while the hotels decorate themselves in their finest. Thousands of lights reflect onto the canals and create a magical environment. Even without tourists, the city feels alive.

Christmastime also offers holiday markets in the small towns and cities of the Veneto region. These markets, with their lively colors and goods for sale, attract thousands of tourists and locals.

Here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate the season in Venice:

Santo Stefano Christmas Market
Campo Santo Stefano
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Through December 24
Vaporetto n. 1/82 stop Accademia

From the beginning of December through December 24 in Campo Santo Stefano the city holds a Christmas market that offers a traditional Venetian atmosphere. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves into a magical world of lights, colors and flavors while experiencing the handicrafts of the Veneto Region.

The market offers its visitors the perfect balance of art and folklore. Walking amongst the wooden market stalls (similar to those used in northern Europe) alongside the magnificent Venetian buildings is an unforgettable experience. Check out the typical Christmas offerings, including Christmas ceramics, dolls, candles, decorations, necklaces, masks, handmade soaps and Murano glass balls. Of course, you’ll also be able to taste the city’s seasonal treats.

Murano: Glass Christmas
Vaporetto n. DM Stop: Murano
Through the end of December

Another lovely market, the “Natale di Vetro,” or “Glass Christmas,” takes place in Murano from the December 5 till the end of December. Murano Island is located a couple of vaporetto stops from Venice.

On December 6, the island celebrates Saint Nicholas (San Nicolo), the patron saint of glass makers, with a glass Christmas market. Stalls offer hundreds of glass Christmas decorations, all of which are produced on the island by master glass makers. The market also includes an exhibition of handmade Murano chandeliers, which light up the ancient portico of the San Pietro Martire cloister.

There are all kinds of entertainment offerings, from concerts to glass-blowing demonstrations.

Jesolo Lido: Sand Nativity
From December 8

In Jesolo Lido (the famous seaside resort only an hour away by bus from Venice) you can admire the Jesolo Sand Nativity, one of the finest in the world. The show is open from December 8 onward, from 10 a.m.-noon and 2 p.m.-7 p.m. and takes place in one of the city’s nicest squares. This year one of the sculptures will be dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

Jesolo Lido: Father Christmas Run
Piazza Mazzini, Jesolo
December 19

Another of Jesolo’s events is the “Babbo Natale Run 2010” (the Father Christmas run). Held on December 19 the run starts at the Piazza Mazzini at 2:30 p.m. and features athletes running while dressed as Father Christmas.

The post Venice Holiday Events: Markets, Glass Christmas and more appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Santa is secondary in Barcelona. The big day for the Spanish, and Catalans, is King’s Day, January 6. Still, there is plenty of festivity going down this month in Spain’s second-largest metropolis. Here are some of the best events to look for this holiday season:

The Santa Lucia Christmas Market
December 3 – December 24, 2010
Barcelona Cathedral
Web site

It may pale in comparison to the lavish Christmas Markets of northern Europe, but the Santa Lucia Market has a Barcelona twist that makes it unique and well worth a visit. It is not common to buy a real tree in Spain, but those who do get them at this market. I love walking through Santa Lucia just to smell the scent of fresh pine needles.

You’ll also find everything you might need for your miniature Christmas Village or Nativity Scene here: wise-men, Mary, Jesus, the donkey and a little figure called Caga Nen, who appears, pants down, doing his “business.” No Catalan Nativity Scene is complete without a Caga Nen. I’m not joking. Draw your own conclusions to the “Why” behind this Catalan tradition.

Santa Lucia also has a fantastic line up of artists selling their crafts from booths around the edges of the markets. Find shawls, jewelry, soaps, oils, foods, wines, and other wonderful ceramics. I always try to buy from these vendors, as I like supporting the arts. Plus, as you are buying directly from the source, there are great deals to be had.

Shopping Drap Art at the CCCB Museum
December 17, 2010 to January 9, 2011
Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)
Web site

Support European artists while getting a unique hand-made gift that is also recycled. Too good to be true? The International Recycling Art Festival of Catalonia and Drap Art craft fair returns this Christmas, with exhibitions open at CCCB and other venues. Drap Art has been displaying Europe’s funkiest designs for over thirteen years and will be in Barcelona just in time for the holidays and King’s Day.

I went to this festival last year, which is held in Barcelona’s center of contemporary-cool, the CCCB. I found quite a few things that I wanted to buy at Drap Art, including a purse made of tires and earrings made of pop cans. Very creative. Drap Art goes to show that where some see garbage, others see gold.

Drap-Art’10 group exhibition: December 17 – January 9, 2011, Recycled art and design fairs: December 17, 18 and 19, 2010 and January 3, 4 and 5, 2011.

New Year’s Eve…
7 Sins Bar, Muntaner 7
Web site

The most expensive night of the year? Just about. Restaurants and bars charge huge covers for New Year’s or “Noche Vieja,” as it is called here. Still, who wants to stay home (or in the hotel)? Consider a night out at 7 Sins Bar for New Year’s and music by local DJ, Glass Hat.

It may be best to be at dinner for the countdown, as is the tradition here. For the party, which kicks off at 1 a.m. after the ball drops, Glass Hat brings his signature mix of ’80s, ’90s, pop, rock and disco, plus a little salsa. I’ve heard through the grapevine that this event should sell out, so grab tickets in advance. Along the same thread, if you are planning to go out to dinner on New Year’s, make sure you have reservations ahead of time.

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When it comes to holiday festivities, Rome doesn’t exactly turn into tinsel town. That’s partly because the holiday season in Italy is focused on the religious aspects of the celebration, rather than on leaving presents under the Christmas tree.

Christmas traditions in Italy

Italians wait to give gifts to children until January 6 when La Befana, a witch on a broomstick, delivers presents to children. If Roman children have been naughty, tradition has it they should receive carbone (coal), so you’ll notice pastry shops selling confections of witches with baskets and caldrons of coal-shaped candy.

Despite these differences, you can still easily get into the holiday spirit in Rome. The city offers several “winter wonderland” activities for you to marvel at and enjoy. Seven of my favorite spots are:

Traditional Christmas Market (Centro Storico)
Piazza Navona
Through January 6, 2011

Each year, Rome’s most beautiful piazza hosts a traditional Christmas market where you can find stands of candy, trinkets, ornaments and other bric-a-brac. And yes, you can pick up one of the famous witches mentioned earlier with her caldron.

Ice Park Christmas Village (San Giovanni)
Piazza Re di Roma
Through January 11, 2011; 10 a.m.-midnight
Web site

People of all ages can enjoy skating on ice at the Ice Park Christmas Village in the San Giovanni neighborhood. It doesn’t cost you a thing to get in. All you have to do is pay for the rental of the skates. The park also puts on daily shows and ice-skating exhibitions.

The Immaculate Conception – Papal Procession
December 8, 2010; 4 p.m.
Near the Spanish Steps

Every year on the day of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), the Pope pays homage to the Virgin Mary with a procession to Piazza Mignanelli near the Spanish Steps at around 4 p.m. The tradition, which dates back to 1958, calls for the Pope to leave a floral wreath on the statue of the Madonna after he has knelt for prayer.

Chanukkah – Light of the Menorah (Centro Storico)
Piazza Barberini

Starting on December 1, every evening just before dusk you can celebrate the candle lighting of a large menorah at Piazza Barberini.

Nativity Scene at the Vatican
St. Peter’s Square
December 24, 2010-January 9, 2011

The nativity scene at St. Peter’s Square is one of the most beautiful things to witness around Christmastime in Rome. Each year, a gargantuan presepe (nativity scene) is constructed in the center of Piazza San Pietro. The scene is open to visit day and night for free.

Christmas Midnight Mass at the Vatican
St. Peter’s Square
December 24, midnight

For those who wish to attend the midnight Papal Christmas Eve mass at the Vatican, you can try to score tickets for the service by sending a request through the Vatican’s Web site. By now, however, the chances of getting tickets are pretty slim, but you can still try.

Alternatively, if you don’t land tickets, you can stand among the thousands of worshipers, pilgrims and onlookers in Piazza San Pietro around 10 p.m. when Pope Benedict XVI gives his Christmas Eve Mass.

Christmas Tree in Piazza Venezia (Centro Storico)
Piazza Venezia

The lighting of a beautiful Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia traditionally takes place late November. Due to this year’s torrential rainfall and ongoing student protests in the city center, however, the traditional lighting has been postponed. Once the lights are hung, she’s definitely a beauty. City workers should finish the decorating of the Christmas tree by December 8, as per tradition. So, keep your eyes peeled.

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Here are some of my favorites spots to go skating in London:

Best for location

Somerset House
Open through January 23, 2011
Price: Adults £10.50-15, children £8.45-9.60
Web site

An extravagant outdoor ice-skating rink, the Somerset House rink is now in its 11th year. The stunning 18th-century courtyard at Somerset House is dramatically lit and over-shadowed by a vast Christmas tree, making it one of the most atmospheric spots for outdoor ice skating in London. On selected Friday and Saturday evenings, DJs provide a soundtrack for the icey moves and frosty nights.

Tower of London
Open through January 9, 2011
Price: Adults £10-12, children £7.50-8
Web site

If it’s impressive locations you’re after, then you can’t quite beat skating around the history steeped surroundings of the Tower of London. With Tower Bridge and the River Thames a snowballs throw away, you really will feel like a true tourist skating within the historic grounds.

The Natural History Museum
Open through January 9, 2011
Price: Adults: £13, children £8.50
Web site

Start or end your skating experience with a visit to the Natural History Museum, as the rink is a mere walk away in the magical east lawn. The Ice Rink at the Natural History Museum is complemented by their Christmas Fair, so there’s no shortage of things to do.

Best for views

London Eye Ice Rink
Open through January 5, 2011
Prices: For London Eye and Eye Skate, adults £28.45, children £17.00
Web site

For the first time ever, the London Eye will open its very own ice skating rink offering the opportunity to celebrate the festive season taking in the best views of London–both from the London Eye and from the Southbank’s first ice rink. After twisting and turning on the ice, warm up on a mulled Wine Flight on the London Eye or a Champagne Flight (which allows you to sip Pommery Champagne while enjoying the  breathtaking views from the London Eye). Happy Eye-skating!

Kew Gardens Ice Rink
Open November 29, 2010 – January 4
Price: £10, children £7.50
Web site

Forget springtime; winter is spectacular at Kew Gardens as Christmas lights and decorations adorn the trees and gardens and a large ice skating rink is constructed in front of the glass house. To get you into the spirit, there’s also festive evenings on December 13 and 14 when the shops stay open late and carol singing is on offer.

Best for all round Entertainment

Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park
Open through January 4, 2011
Price: Adults: £10, children from £8. Combination tickets which include entry to all the other attractions are also available.
Web site

Winter Wonderland, held annually in London’s famous Hyde Park, features an ice rink, toboggan slide, traditional German-style Christmas market, cafes and bars, Ferris wheel, carousel, helter-skelter, various fairground rides, Santa Claus and the Santa Express, a Zippo circus and more festive goodness than you can shake a stick at.

Westfield London
Westfield, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GF
Open through January 2
Price: Adults £9.50-10.50, children £6.50-7.50

Setting up shop under the glass roof of the Atrium in the huge Westfield mall, this skating rink could be the best way to unwind after a shopping spree. (Or perhaps you could just leave the little ones here while you head off to buy their presents.) There are offers at several Westfield eateries for skaters, too, if you feel like some food after your spin.

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Take a look at photos we hunted down of recent festive happenings at the Salzburg Christmas markets. These are truly a few of our favorite things…

Hand-painted egg ornaments

Hundreds of thousands of hand-painted egg tree ornaments are available at the annual Christmas markets. The fragile gems come in various patterns and designs, but traditional holiday symbols, like poinsettias and ivy, seem to be the most popular.

Photo courtesy of jon gos)

Santa Clauses on the march!

Photo courtesy of Savannah Grandfather

Ok, who doesn’t love a good Santa costume, especially when it’s a legitimate throwback to another era entirely, and worn by an enthusiastic teenage boy? (Or is that Harry Potter?) Bonus points if you can figure out what he’s handing out. Anyone want a coupon for a shave?

Carriage rides through the streets of Salzburg!

Photo courtesy of Savannah Grandfather

Horses and garland, and riding, OH MY! We love that Salzburg dresses up its carriages just in time for Santa’s sleigh ride.

Tell us, Cheapos: What are your favorite things about Salzburg Christmas markets?

See also: Our list of recommended budget hotels in Salzburg.

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Ready for a quick (virtual) visit? We grabbed the images below at about 5 PM Munich time today. Click them to visit the webcams and see what’s happening now!

I spy Christmas Markets in Munich!

Above, Muenchen.de offers a birds-eye view of Marienplatz, site of the city’s largest Christmas market. At 4:45 PM, Munich time, we spotted a fair number of people visiting booths and an unusually large number of white sedans parked in the market zone. Look at that Christmas tree!

The webcam at Global-Christmas.com nearly brings you down to street level, showcasing many of the buildings lining Marienplatz. This photo, grabbed minutes after the top photo (this one at 4:54 PM, local time), shows night is falling fast and the crowds are turning out.

It also looks like the festive holiday lighting might be too much for the poor webcam, as the image is slightly bleached. One nice thing about Global-Christmas, by the way, is that you can enlarge their webcam for a closer look!

Finally, Marienplatz-Muenchen.de, offers its view of the Christmas market at Marienplatz. This cam is in line with the Christmas tree, looking out from what we’d estimate is the fourth floor. We grabbed this image at 4:58 PM, local time, and you can see that things have gotten darker yet, and perhaps more crowded. (This cam also has a creepy surveillance-camera quality to it, which lends a certain intrigue to the market.)

Check out even more webcams from Munich and our round-up of Christmas markets in Europe. Also, if you’re heading over, be sure to read our list of recommended budget hotels in Munich.

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The Christmas Market Tradition

Europe’s holiday market tradition began in Germany and Austria. Today, many well-known markets, like those in Nuremberg and Munich, draw record crowds. Heck, there’s even a company that specializes in European Christmas market tours around the holidays.

The most popular markets can still be found in Germany and Austria, but cities in our other countries, like Copenhagen, Denmark and Prague, Czech Republic, throw their own festive fairs. Markets typically open during the last week of November and remain open until the day after Christmas.

Here’s a very merry round-up of the most notable Christmas markets In Europe. If you happen to be nearby, we recommend a browse-through.

Salzburg

The annual “adventmarkt,” filled with stalls, good eats, and more, takes place in Julius-Raab Platz. Check out the fantastical “Christkindlmarkt” web site for more info, or simply visit the Salzburg Tourism Info site here.

Vienna

Mozart’s main stomping ground is the veritable creme de la creme for Christmas market gurus. Fairs are open in multiple locations and feature live DJ music, petting zoos, gospel choirs, and authentic handicrafts. Visit the Vienna Tourism Board for info, dates, and directions to the markets.

Munich

Another mother lode when it comes to Christmas markets in Europe, the Munich Advent “markt” is expansive, boasting concerts, traditional food, and free historical tours of the market. The tourism board has more info, including how to get there, and where to park if you’re arriving by car. (Anyone who wants to offer their own caption for the photo that appears on this page, please pass it on. “Nordic vikings attack unsuspecting child at Munich Christmas market“?)

Berlin

Whether you like your markets authentic or chock full of special effects, Berlin’s the place to be if only for the number and sheer size of some of its markets. Most notably, the market in Potsdamer Platz, titled “WinterMagic,” features a 4,000 square-foot outdoor space with a Ferris wheel, Legoland structure for kids to play in, and more. A comprehensive list of all markets can be found here.

Bonus: Download a FREE PDF history of the markets here, or watch this YouTube video for more info on the tradition of the German Christmas market. You can also visit the ‘markt’ section of the Berlin Tourism site for more info (in German only).

Copenhagen

The largest market can be found in Tivoli Gardens and has become an infamous go-to spot for getting into the spirit. Here, elves in full costume bounce among revelers and the light displays -orchestrated by the lead designer for Tiffany & Co – hang overhead. Games, ornaments, and much more are available. Check out the “Visit Copenhagen” site for info on this and many more Copenhagen markets.

Brussels

This year, the Christmas market in Brussels, Belgium kicks off in Place St. Catherine. Ice skating is available. Be sure to buy some chocolates, and don’t forget to stop to see Manneken Pis in full Santa regalia. The “Visit Belgium” site has more info.

Prague

The Czech city really does it up with major fests in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Smaller fairs occur elsewhere throughout the holidays. Check out the “Prague Experience” site for info, dates, and more.

Stay tuned this week as we take you through the European Christmas market circuit in daily photo montages.

Tell us: And, if you’ve been to a holiday market in Europe, tell us about it! What was it like? What did you buy or sample?

Happy Holidays, Cheapos!

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