Nuremberg:Perhaps Germany's most famous Christmas market is opened by the Christmas Angel on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. Two million visitors enjoy the city's famous Bratwurst and "Nuremberg Plum People", little figures made from prunes.
Where to stay
Holiday Inn.12 Engelhardgasse, 00-49-911-242500 www.hi-nuernberg.de. This is better than you might imagine, and is located right beside the old town. Rooms from €135.
Etap. 52b Ulmenstr. For those on a budget, this is basic and a little outside town, near the Autobahn, but the price is unbeatable at €55.
Where to eat
Alte Küch'n Im Keller. 3 Albrecht Dürer Strasse, 00-49-911-203826, www.alte-kueche.de. Delicious German food in a medieval cellar that dates back to the 13th century.
L'Osteria. 116 Pirckheimer Strasse, 00-49-911-558283, www.losteria.info. A busy Italian restaurant with huge pizzas and reasonable prices.
Berlin:A new arrival in the Christmas market stakes is the market on Gendarmenmarkt, near the Brandenburg Gate. More upmarket than other markets in the city, this has high-quality crafts, artisan and traditional foods and an entertaining stage show.
Where to stay
The Regent. 49 Charlottenstrasse, 00-49-30-20338, www.theregentberlin.com. A five-star hotel with a fantastic view over Gendarmenmarkt and the pretty Christmas market. Rooms from €200.
The Honigmond. 11 Tieckstrasse, 00-49-30-2844550, www.honigmond-berlin.de. This former hub of East German dissident activity is now a small but pretty hotel in the eastern city centre. There are two hotels here (the cheaper is the Garden Hotel). Rooms from €59.
Die Fabrik. 18 Schlesische Strasse, 00-49-30-6117116, www.diefabrik.com. Budget hostel in a popular part of Kreuzberg. Dorm rooms from €12, private rooms from €38.
Where to eat
Toca Rouge. 195 Torstrasse, 00-49-173-6131556. A cheerful, inventive Chinese restaurant with quick dishes of incredible quality.
Grill Royal. 105b Friedrichstrasse, 00-49-30-28879288, www.grillroyal.com. An instant hit since its opening last year. Great steaks, great view, unfussy service.
Dresden:The Striezelmarkt is one of Germany's oldest and largest, and has a huge array of decorations, toys and foods. The nearby town of Seiffen offers a Christmas wonderland of handcrafts.
Where to stay
Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski. 3 Taschenberg, 00-49-351-49120, www.kempinski-dresden.de. One of the city's most beautiful hotels, in a historic building, with an unbeatable view of the old city. Rooms from €156
Pension am Zwinger. 27 Ostra-Allee, 00-49-351-89900100, www.pension-zwinger.de. Centrally located, with traditional rooms as well as beautiful apartments. Ideal for families. Rooms from €60.
Where to eat
Planwirtschaft. 20 Louisenstr, http://planwirtschaft.de, 00-49-351-8013187. Hearty German food in this East German theme bar in the new city (Neustadt), across the river from the historical sights.
Vapiano. 26 St Petersburgerstrasse, 00-49-351-4824864, www.vapiano.de. An Italian self-service chain offering unfussy food at great prices.