CHRISTMAS SHOPPING BREAKS

Forget the internet trawl and high-street dash doing the shopping should be just as exciting as the big day itself

- SAM MURRAY

LISBON, PORTUGAL

With average daytime temperatures around 12C in December, Lisbon offers a welcome break from the chill. Hit the Praça do Comércio square to crane your neck at one of the tallest Christmas trees in Europe, then pop into Confeitaria Nacional, a patisserie founded in 1829, to sample bolo rei, a traditional cake filled with nuts and fruits. You could even catch the Christmas market at the Campo Pequeno bullring.

What to buy: Pick up a present for the literary lover in your life at Bertrand, the oldest operating bookstore in the world. It now has a selection of English-language reads.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

The namesake sprouts may not be for everyone, but the capital of Belgium is a surefire Christmas smash. Start with a stroll to the UNESCO-listed La GrandPlace, a cobbled square home to baroque guild halls and the town hall. It's impressive at any time, but winter brings a 250-stall Christmas market and spectacular light and sound shows.