You can hit the Christmas markets without taking a flight (Image: Getty Images)
The season is just around the corner, which means across the world will be launching a plethora of Christmas markets to get you into the festive spirit.
To help you find your next festive destination, experts have unveiled the top Christmas markets for that don’t require a flight.
Byway, specialists in flight-free travel, has recently introduced a range of sustainable Christmas market mini-breaks designed to make this festive season the most enchanting and eco-friendly yet.
With these breaks, you can jump on a and speed off to a winter wonderland, without causing too much harm to your carbon footprint.
Here are the top five Christmas markets you can access via railway.
Strasbourg Christkindelsmarik
The Strasbourg Christmas market is home to 300 stalls (Image: Getty Images)
The Christkindelsmarik in Strasbourg, , established in 1570, is one of the oldest in Europe.
The streets are adorned beautifully and lit up throughout December.
Each year, a 30-metre Christmas tree is erected at Place Kleber, making it the tallest decorated in
The market consists of 300 chalets with vendors selling everything from unique gifts to traditional Christmas biscuits known as bredle, reports .
A four-day holiday in Strasbourg between November 24 and December 24 starts from
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Cologne Christmas Market
The Cologne Christmas market will host over 100 free events (Image: Alamy/PA)
In the heart of Cologne, you’ll find the Christmas market at Cologne Cathedral (Weihnachtsmarkt am Kolner Dom), where every year, thousands of visitors browse through the market for handcrafted items and culinary treats.
As Europe’s largest market, spanning the entire city, it’s a must-visit.
The Christmas stage programme for 2024 will feature over 100 free events.
To reach the market, you’ll need to take a two-hour Eurostar journey to Brussels, then change trains for another one hour and fifty minutes to Cologne.
A three-day trip, including accommodation, to Cologne between November 23 and December 23 starts from
York’s St Nicholas Fair
York Christmas market is an award-winning market (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
The award-winning Christmas market in , England, is set to return from November 14 to December 22.
Visitors can explore 75 alpine chalets scattered along Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, offering a range of artisan products from local traders.
Most businesses at the market are Yorkshire-based, adding a unique touch to the event.
The train journey from London takes two hours and thirty minutes.
A three-day trip, including accommodation, to York between November 16 and December 23 starts from
Bruges Christmas Market
In Bruges, the buildings get decorated as gingerbread houses (Image: Shutterstock / kavalenkau)
Bruges in , with its fairy-tale setting, is the perfect place for a cosy Christmas market.
Unlike many other Christmas markets, the streets of Bruges are adorned like gingerbread houses.
Adding to the enchanting atmosphere, horse and carriage rides are a regular sight in this predominantly cobbled stone city.
A Christmas holiday in Bruges is more accessible than you might think, with a journey time of just three hours 30 minutes from London, including a swift change in Brussels.
A three-day excursion, with stays in Bruges between November 22 and January 5, starts at
Brussels Christmas Market
For five weeks, the Christmas market in Belgium takes over the city’s charming cobbled streets and picturesque squares.
The 2km stretch of chalets houses pop-up restaurants, bars, craft stalls and more.
Romantic souls will appreciate the Ferris wheel, which provides a stunning bird’s eye view of the entire market.
With the Eurostar journey to Brussels taking just under two hours, it’s the perfect destination for a weekend trip.
A three-day visit, including stays in Brussels between November 24 and December 31, starts from