Weihnachtsmarkt Meilen

They say the best things come in small packages, and that is true of Meilen’s Christmas market. It takes place on the first Sunday of Advent in the sleepy streets of Meilen on Lake Zurich, and is nothing if not an antidote to some of its larger, commercialised counterparts. For a start, it takes place for one day only. Variety is not sacrificed, however. At the 200 stalls, expect to find traditional handcrafts – from ceramics and jewellery to wooden toys and unusual Christmas gifts – as well as an array of food and drink, including crepes, mulled wine and warm apple punch. The market runs along Dorfstrasse, Kirchgasse and Schulhausstrasse and through the new Dorfzentrum Mezzetino shopping centre, where all shops stay open for the afternoon and offer discounts to Christmas market visitors. It’s a great afternoon out for families, with plenty of attractions for children – including the opportunity to hang baubles on the village Christmas tree.