European town is 'literal dream' at Christmas – with cute markets and flying Santa

Montreux, Switzerland
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Stop being a scrooge and get into the Christmas spirit early this year. While many Brits will use the Xmas break as an opportunity to get some much needed winter sun - jetting off to balmy destinations like the Canaries - swathes of travel lovers are now hyping up a real-life winter wonderland. If you're wanting cute Christmas markets filled with snow-capped stalls selling souvenirs, comforting food, and mugs of hot chocolate - look no further as Montreux Noel attracts more than 400,000 tourists every December thanks to its acclaimed festive markets.

Nestled just an hour's drive or train journey from Geneva, the Swiss town is the next best thing to being invited to Santa's grotto in the North pole. Every year, the municipality decks up with Christmas lights and festive statues, including a zip-wired Mr Claus that flies through the sky on his sleigh every night. If you're lucky, you might also wake up to snow, and can spend Christmas morning unwrapping presents while looking out at a blanket of white (before swapping your Sunday roast for a steaming pot of fondue).

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Travel addict Abena recently documented her time at the Hallmark-movie-style town, impressing millions of Brits. "Just a reminder that this is what Switzerland will look like in three months," she captioned the now-viral post. Thousands of viewers rushed to the comments section to hail the destination, with many tagging their friends and suggesting a city break to Montreux this year. "Suddenly I need to be in Switzerland," raved one user.

Another agreed, commenting: "Oh Lord let me experience [a] Switzerland Christmas. This is my dream place to travel." A third added: "I went a few years ago and it was so magical, if you get a chance, do it!" while a fourth described the place as a 'literal dream'.

Most major airports, including Liverpool, offer direct flights to Geneva in December, which will take around one hour and 45 minutes. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab a return fare for as low as £41 - just make sure you pay for extra baggage if you want to make the most out of the Christmas markets.

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