1. Tallinn, Estonia
Good for: a huge tree
Photograph the gabled buildings of Town Hall Square while you can. After the sun goes down and the lights blink on at Tallinn's market at 3 pm, it’s all about the massive Nordic tree, a feature since 1441 – years before any other European nation began putting them up. Between hot wine, Baltic cheese and the traditional black pudding with sauerkraut, you can pay a visit to Santa positioned fireside in his plush grotto. Bonus twofer: hop the No 19 ferry at the port, and you could be at Helsinki’s Christmas market in Senate Square within two hours.
Raekoja Plats, 10146 Tallinn. Dec 1-Jan 7.