Wonderful Wanderings shares tips on things to do, where to eat and where to stay around the world - plus useful travel gear reviews.
NYC Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Bryant Park & Dates
The NYC Christmas markets run from 28 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, led by the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park Winter Village. Union Square runs 12 November to 24 December, and all 5 main markets are free to enter.
Chicago Christkindlmarket 2026: Dates, Hours & Locations
The Chicago Christkindlmarket on Daley Plaza runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, open daily from 11am. Wrigleyville stays open to 31 December, Aurora opens Thursday to Sunday, and entry is free at all three.
Luxembourg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Winterlights Dates
The Luxembourg Christmas Market runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 as part of Winterlights, with the main market on Place d'Armes and 4 more across Luxembourg City; all 5 close on 25 December.
Tallinn Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Tallinn Christmas Market runs every day from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 on Town Hall Square in the Old Town, from 10:00 to 20:00, with free entry and hot drinks served until 22:00 or 23:00.
Copenhagen Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Copenhagen's Christmas markets run from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: Christmas in Tivoli from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and the free Nytorv and Gammeltorv market from 6 November to 21 December 2026.
Amsterdam Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Amsterdam Christmas Market, Christmas Village, runs from 3 to 27 December 2026 on Museumplein in front of the Rijksmuseum, with free entry. Amsterdam Winter Paradise at the RAI follows from 17 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.
Frankfurt Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Frankfurt Christmas Market runs from 23 November to 22 December 2026, with more than 230 stalls from the Römerberg and Paulsplatz to the Hauptwache, Roßmarkt and Mainkai. Entry is free.
Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Edinburgh Christmas Market runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 in East Princes Street Gardens, below Edinburgh Castle. Entry is free and it opens daily from 10:00 to 22:00, except on Christmas Day.
Innsbruck Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & 7 Markets
The Innsbruck Christmas Market runs from 13 November to 23 December 2026 in front of the Golden Roof, and 2 of the city's 7 markets, Maria-Theresien-Straße and Hungerburg, stay open until 6 January 2027.
London Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets
London's Christmas markets run from late October 2026 to 3 January 2027. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed Christmas Day) with entry from £1, and the free Southbank Centre Winter Market opens on 2 November.
Munich Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets
The Munich Christmas Market on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, closed on 22 November, open 10:00-21:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00-20:00 on Sunday. Several other Munich markets run into January 2027.
Basel Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Basel Christmas Market runs daily from 26 November to 23 December 2026 on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, 11:00 to 20:30, with free entry. The Basler Wienachtsdorf on Theaterplatz stays open until 3 January 2027.
Zurich Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Zurich Christmas markets run from 19 November to 23 December 2026, or 24 December at the main station and Münsterhof, across 6 free city-centre markets including the new Bellevue Noël at Sechseläutenplatz.
Salzburg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Salzburg Christmas Market runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027 on Domplatz and Residenzplatz in the old town. Entry is free, and the Hellbrunn, fortress, Mirabellplatz and Sternadvent markets run alongside it.
Vienna Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets
The Vienna Christmas Market on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily 10:00-22:00. Schönbrunn and Stephansplatz open first on 6 November, and Schönbrunn stays open until 6 January 2027.
Colmar Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & 6 Markets
The Colmar Christmas Market runs from 23 November to 29 December 2026 across six themed markets in Colmar's old town, with the Gourmet Market and Ferris wheel open until 3 January 2027.
Strasbourg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets
The Strasbourg Christmas Market runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026 across 8 markets in the Grande Île, open daily 11:00-21:00. It dates back to 1570, making it the oldest Christmas market in France.
Guylian Chocolate: History, Products, Facts and Tours
Guylian is the Belgian chocolate brand behind the marbled seashell pralines, made in Sint-Niklaas since 1958 and sold in more than 100 countries. Here is its history, its products, where to buy it in Belgium and what changed when Lotte bought it.
Wales Holidays Guide: Trip Planning, Costs and What to Pack
Planning a holiday in Wales comes down to five decisions: how you get in, which of the 22 principal areas you base yourself in, when to go, what to pack for weather that changes inside an hour, and whether to hire a car.
Traditional German Food: 32 Dishes to Try in Germany
Germany has no official national dish, so the food to try changes by region: currywurst in Berlin, weisswurst in Munich, Maultaschen in Swabia and Labskaus on the North Sea coast. Here are 32 traditional German dishes and when to eat each one.
Wise Review (Formerly TransferWise): Is It Worth It?
TransferWise renamed itself Wise in February 2021 and has been publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange since July 2021. Here's what its multi-currency account, card and fees actually offer today.
Fjallraven Keb Jacket Review: The Keb Touring Down, Tested
The jacket tested here is the Fjallraven Keb Touring Down Jacket W, not the Keb Jacket, and the two do opposite jobs. How the 470 g down layer sizes, how warm it is, why it is not waterproof, and what it costs now.
Pacsafe Review: The Citysafe Anti-Theft Travel Purse, Tested
The Pacsafe Citysafe 100 GII is a small anti-theft travel purse with a locking zip, a slashproof strap and an RFID pocket, and it carried everything two of us needed for 4 days in Barcelona. The Citysafe CX has replaced it.
Salomon Outline GTX Review: Hiking Sneakers Tested in Australia
The Salomon Outline GTX is a low Gore-Tex hiking shoe that looks like a trainer, grips well off wet rock and weighs 290 g per shoe. Salomon has discontinued it; the X Ultra 360 Gore-Tex is the closest current model.
Gaasbeek Castle: Tickets, Opening Hours and What to See
Gaasbeek Castle opens from 1 April to 15 November, closed Mondays, with the castle 10am to 6pm and last entry at 5pm. Adults pay 12 euros for the castle, 7 for the Museum Garden and 15 for both. The 50-hectare park is free all year.
Museums in Münster: 5 Worth Visiting, Hours and 2026 Prices
The 5 museums worth visiting in Münster are the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, the Picasso museum, the new PAULUS Museum, the Stadtmuseum and the Archäologisches Museum. Three of the five are free, and all five close on Mondays.
Things to Do in Tournai, Belgium: UNESCO Cathedral and Belfry
Tournai holds two UNESCO sites 200 m apart: Notre-Dame Cathedral and Belgium's oldest belfry, which reopened on 14 July 2026. The cathedral opens afternoons only at weekends, and the belfry admits individuals only from 1pm.
Stuttgart Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location
The Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt runs 25 November to 23 December 2026 across Schlossplatz, Schillerplatz, Karlsplatz and Marktplatz, with about 250 stalls and free entry.
Riga Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Riga Christmas Market runs on Doma laukums (Dome Square), not Town Hall Square, from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. This guide covers the confirmed dates and Riga's disputed 1510 first-Christmas-tree claim.
Louvain-la-Neuve Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Hours
Louvain-la-Neige, the Christmas market of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, runs from 27 November to 20 December 2026 on the Grand-Place and Place de l'Université, with up to 180 exhibitors in 85 chalets.
Heidelberg Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Hours
Heidelberg's Christmas markets run 23 November to 22 December 2026 across six Altstadt squares, with the Kornmarkt and ice rink open into January 2027. Entry is free.
Braunschweig Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Hours
The Braunschweig Christmas Market runs 25 November to 29 December 2026 around Dom St Blasii and the Burgplatz. Its 2026 closing date is later than most German markets, and entry is free.
The Best Beef Tartare Recipe – My Mom’s
For such a simple recipe that takes next to no time to prepare, steak tartare certainly packs a punch! This is a classic dish with a…
14 Best Cafés and Bars in Antwerp
The city of Antwerp in Belgium is known as a hip place. So it won't surprise that there are tons of cool coffee bars where you can get re-energized, take a break, read a book or grab some cake. The list below consists of the Antwerp coffee bars I've already been to. Whenever I visit a new one, I'll add it here, so make sure to check back!
What to Pack for South Africa: Packing List for September
Pack layers for South Africa in September rather than winter clothes. Cape Town averages 19°C/66°F by day and 9°C/48°F at night, so a windproof jacket, a fleece and long trousers cover the Western Cape at the end of winter.
Is the Sagrada Família Worth It? Inside, Towers and Tickets
Yes, the inside of the Sagrada Familia is worth it: branching stone columns, a 60 m vault and coloured light. Tickets are online only, from EUR 26, and the basilica finished its last tower in 2026.
Leipzig Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location
The Leipzig Christmas Market runs 24 November to 23 December 2026 across seven city-centre squares. It dates back to 1458, making it Germany's second-oldest Christmas market, and entry is free.
Nuremberg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt runs 27 November to 24 December 2026 on Hauptmarkt Square, with around 168 stalls plus two satellite markets on Rathausplatz and Hans-Sachs-Platz.
Rüdesheim Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Nations
The Rüdesheim Christmas Market of Nations runs from 19 November to 23 December 2026, with stalls from more than 20 countries. See confirmed dates, hours and what to expect.
World War 2 Sites in Belgium: Museums, Forts and Tours
Belgium's World War 2 sites split into three clusters: the Battle of the Bulge museums in the Ardennes, the Liege fort belt broken through in May 1940, and the camps, transit barracks and Atlantic Wall bunkers in the north and on the coast.
Trier Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Trier Christmas Market runs from 20 November to 22 December 2026 on the Hauptmarkt and Domfreihof, next to Trier Cathedral. See confirmed dates, hours and what to expect.
Park Abbey Leuven: Tickets, Opening Hours and What to See
Park Abbey is a Norbertine abbey founded in 1129 south of Leuven and the most completely preserved abbey complex in Belgium. Walking the 42-hectare site is free; the buildings are seen on a guided tour, in English on Fridays and at weekends.
Hergé Museum: Visiting the Tintin Museum in Belgium
The Herge Museum, the Tintin museum, sits at Rue du Labrador 26 in Louvain-la-Neuve, 30 km from Brussels. Allow two hours, download the free audio guide app before you go, and note that entry is free on the first Sunday of the month.
Gravensteen Castle in Ghent: An extended Traveler’s Guide
Gravensteen Castle in Ghent costs €15 for an adult, includes a choice of two audio guides in that price, and opens daily 10am to 6pm with last admission at 4.40pm. Allow an hour to an hour and a half.
Floralia Brussels at Groot-Bijgaarden: Tickets and Dates
Floralia Brussels is the annual spring bulb show in the private park of Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, 7 km west of Brussels, running for about a month from early April. Adult entry is €18. It is not the Ghent Floraliën, which is held every four years.
Coloma Rose Garden: Hours, Free Entry and Bloom Season
Coloma Rose Garden is free to enter and open all year, Tuesday to Sunday, with more than 3,000 rose varieties in a castle park near Brussels. The roses flower from June to October, and the commune names the end of June as peak bloom.
Rothenburg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Rothenburg's Reiterlesmarkt runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026 in the walled old town. See confirmed dates, hours and how it differs from the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum.
Cologne Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Location
Cologne runs 6 separate Christmas markets in 2026, from the cathedral-front Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom (16 Nov-23 Dec) to the harbour market and its New Year sequel.
Ghent Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & What to Expect
The Ghent Christmas market runs from Thursday 3 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, with more than 150 chalets from Sint-Baafsplein to the Korenmarkt. Entry is free, and the city no longer closes it on 31 December.
Münster Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & What to Expect
Münster's Christmas markets run from 23 November to 23 December 2026 across five old-town squares, each with its own dates, hours and character, from the Aegidiimarkt's wooden pyramid to the Lichtermarkt's lights.
Düsseldorf Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Düsseldorf's Christmas markets run from 19 November to 30 December 2026 across seven sites in the Altstadt and along the Königsallee. See confirmed dates, market locations, food and how to get there.
Dresden Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location
The Dresdner Striezelmarkt, the 592nd edition, runs 25 November to 24 December 2026 on Altmarkt, alongside Advent auf dem Neumarkt and Dresdner Winterlichter on Prager Strasse.
Brussels Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Brussels Christmas Market (Winter Wonders) runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 across six squares in the city centre, and entry is free.
Beaches in Hungary: 10 Best Lake and River Strands
Hungary is landlocked, so every beach in the country sits on a lake, a river or a flooded quarry. These are the ten best, from the warm shallow strands of Lake Balaton to Budapest's Danube shore, the naturist beach at Balatonberény and Lupa Beach.
16 Best Beaches in Poland, From the Baltic to Warsaw
Poland's beaches line roughly 500 km of sandy Baltic coast, with the sea at 18-22°C from mid-July to late August. Warsaw's four Vistula beaches are for sunbathing only, because swimming in the river inside the city is forbidden.
18 Best Beaches in Croatia: Pebble, Sand and How to Get There
Croatian beaches are pebble and rock rather than sand: of the 18 beaches ranked here, only one is genuinely sandy. This guide gives each beach's real surface and which ones you can reach without a car or a boat.
Climbing Sigiriya Rock up to the Lion Fortress in Sri Lanka
Climbing Sigiriya Rock means about 1,200 steps to a 5th-century palace 180 m above the plain, and takes 1.5 to 2 hours up and down. The foreign-visitor ticket is US$35 in 2026, and the counters open at 07:00.
18 Things to Do in Zurich: Prices, Museums and Churches
Eighteen things to do in Zurich, from the Old Town and the Chagall windows to Uetliberg, the zoo and the Lindt chocolate museum, with every 2026 admission price checked against the venues' own ticket pages.
Things to Do in Lucerne: 14 Sights With 2026 Prices
Lucerne needs two days: one for the Chapel Bridge, the old town and the Musegg wall, one for Mount Pilatus or Mount Rigi. Here are 14 sights worth your time, with 2026 prices, opening seasons and how long each takes.
15 Best Beaches in Switzerland: Lake and River Swimming
Switzerland is landlocked, so a Swiss beach means a lake shore or a river bathing station. These 15 are genuinely swimmable, from free river swims in Bern and Basel to the ticketed lidos of Ticino, with 2026 entry prices, season dates and water temperatures.
15 Best Things to Do in Bern: 2026 Prices and Hours
Bern's UNESCO old town, its 6 km of arcades and a CHF 6 climb up the Minster tower are the core of a day here. These are the 15 things worth doing, with 2026 prices, closed days and the two cards that cut the cost.
17 Things to Do in Basel: Museums, Art and Travel Guide
Basel is the art city on the Swiss, German and French triple border, and two days covers it: the Old Town and the Rhine on one, the museums on the other. All 17 things to do, with 2026 prices and free-entry hours.
Switzerland Prices in 2026: What It Really Costs to Visit
Switzerland is the second most expensive country in Europe, with household prices at 171 against an EU average of 100. Here are the 2026 figures in francs for rail passes, the motorway vignette, fuel, groceries and eating out.
14 Best Castles in Switzerland: 2026 Tickets and Hours
Chillon on Lake Geneva is the Swiss castle to see first: CHF 15 for an adult, open every day except 1 January and 25 December, with bus 201 stopping at the gate. Here are 14 castles with 2026 tickets, seasons and closed days.
Interesting Facts About Switzerland: Sourced Guide
Switzerland isn't "doubly landlocked," a claim repeated across fact lists but true only of Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan. This guide checks that claim and dozens more against UNESCO, Swiss government data and official banking figures.
18 Things to Do in Geneva: Museums, History and Travel Guide
Geneva fits into two days on foot: the lakefront and the Jet d'Eau on the first, Old Town, the cathedral towers and a museum on the second. The City of Geneva museums are free, which takes some of the sting out of Swiss prices.
17 Things to Do in Montreux: Lake Geneva and Jazz Guide
Montreux is a Lake Geneva resort with two draws: Chillon Castle and the jazz festival. Two days covers it. All 17 things to do, with 2026 prices, the free guest card and the Rochers-de-Naye line closure.
10 Best Things to Do in Thun: 2026 Prices and Hours
Thun is a half-day town: the castle at CHF 10, the two-level old town for free and a boat on Lake Thun. Here are the 10 things worth doing, with 2026 prices, closed days and how to reach each from the station.
Traditional Swiss Food: 16 Dishes and Where to Eat Them in Bern
Traditional Swiss food is built on cheese, potatoes and cured meat. Fondue, raclette and rösti are the three worth crossing a border for, and the other 13 dishes here follow Switzerland's four language regions rather than its border.
17 Places to Visit in Switzerland and How Long Each Needs
Switzerland's valleys are dead ends, so pick one region rather than the map. These 17 places to visit in Switzerland are ordered as you would meet them, and each one says what it is for and how many days it needs.
30 Most Famous Swiss People: Scientists, Artists, Chefs
The most famous Swiss people are Leonhard Euler, Carl Jung, Le Corbusier, Alberto Giacometti and Albert Hofmann. Here are 30 famous Swiss scientists, artists, architects and chefs, with dates and what each is actually known for.
9 Best Things to Do in Gruyères: 2026 Tickets and Hours
Gruyères is a half-day town: the castle at CHF 13, the cheese dairy by the station, the HR Giger Museum and the Tibet Museum, with combined tickets cutting the cost. Here are the 9 things worth doing, with 2026 prices and hours.
17 Things to Do in Lausanne: Olympic City on Lake Geneva
Lausanne is the Olympic capital on Lake Geneva, and two days covers it: the Olympic Museum and Ouchy on one, the cathedral and the Plateforme 10 museums on the other. All 17 things to do, with 2026 prices.
16 Things to Do in Interlaken: Jungfrau Region Guide
Interlaken is a base, not a destination: three days, and most of them on trains into the Jungfrau region. All 16 things to do, with 2026 railway fares, the free guest card and which seasons things close.
Things to Do in Newcastle: A 2-Day Weekend Itinerary
A weekend in Newcastle upon Tyne splits into two days: the Quayside, BALTIC and the Ouseburn Valley on day one, then Grainger Town and the city centre on day two. Here is the full itinerary, with every venue re-checked in 2026.
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