The city with 'magical' Christmas markets a £47 flight from Manchester Airport

The arrival of November can only mean one thing: Christmas is just around the corner. Festive treats are appearing on shop shelves, part of Manchester’s Christmas markets have already opened and it’s only a matter of time until Mariah Carey starts playing on the radio.

For those looking to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of the season, a trip to a European Christmas market is guaranteed to deliver the festive magic. Although dozens of cities across the continent offer fairy-tale market experiences, there’s one country which takes the crown when it comes to Christmas - Germany.

The nation is famous for its Christmas celebrations - after all, it's the place where our tradition of putting up a tree comes from. Christmas markets mainly originate from German territories, with some German markets today tracing their roots back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

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One of the best markets to visit in Germany are those in Cologne, a major city which spans the Rhine River. It’s only a 90-minute flight from Manchester Airport and Skyscanner shows flights available from £47 on Friday November 24, with returns available on Monday 27 for £130.

The markets have received rave reviews on TripAdvisor, with one reviewer describing them as “one of the best Christmas markets I ever went to.” Another said: “Magical experience! The Cologne Christmas Market was like something straight out of a storybook.”

It’s no surprise that Cologne packs a punch when it comes to festive cheer as the city plays host to not just one but several