This magical holiday presents romantic German Christmas markets with twinkling lights along with the sweet scent of mulled wine and gingerbread filling the air. First up is Dusseldorf, a city transformed into a winter’s tale with a themed market featuring festively adorned huts radiating with colourful lights around a sparkling ice-skating rink in its storybook old town. Next day, explore the ancient alleys of captivating Cologne, where the magnificent cathedral makes a glorious backdrop for the city’s yuletide fayre, and you’ll find wooden pavilions, traditional music and a festive ambience along with a huge Christmas tree. Our festive extravaganza continues in Aachen which oozes a unique blend of medieval charm where a lovingly adorned Christmas village nestles around the cathedral. We return to our ferry via the Hague for free time at the Netherlands’ most beautiful market. Staying at the four star &Repeat Koln Hotel in the district of Wahnheide to the south east of Cologne.