Christmas market in front of Bern Minster

For decades, the square in front of Bern's Gothic Minster has hosted a Christmas market that's all about handmade work. Around 30 artisans sell what they make in their own workshops: pottery, turned wood, textiles, glass, jewellery, candles, soap, dolls, paper goods and hats. It's the place to look for a gift with a maker behind it rather than a mass-produced one.

In the six Mix-Häuser, young makers take over a hut for a week at a time, so the line-up keeps changing. The market is run by its own stallholders as an association, and the lights run on green electricity.

At Dreierlei, the market's own pub, there's barbecue and fresh bread outside, and fondue, platters and soups inside the wooden hut, with red or white mulled wine. It stays open until 22:00 every day. On several weekends the Handwerkermärit on the Münsterplattform next door adds more craft stalls.

Getting there: 10 to 15 minutes' walk from Bern station, or take the tram or bus to Zytglogge and walk through Münstergasse. Nearby car parks are Metro, Casino and Rathaus.