Radisson Blu Hotel Leipzig

Wandering around in the freezing cold is much improved by the addition of hot alcoholic drinks. (Canada could learn something from this...). We visited Weihnachtsmarkts in several small towns, and in Dresden, and the equivalent Christmas market in Prague, and I think Liepzig's is the best. It takes up street after street downtown - kiosks selling food and crafts and Christmas decorations and hot mead and hot spiced wine. If you want to, you can keep your (often chintzy) cup as a souvenir. There are a few little rides and a petting zoo for kids, and a Christmas story (fairy tale) park too. Note that it's only open until about seven or eight at night, so it's not a late-night party scene.