If stocking up on festive gifts and trimmings in the madness of a mall takes the ‘merry' right out of your Christmas, pack your largest piece of Lagerfeld luggage (leave a lot of room) and prepare to shop yourself silly. From mid-November until late December, Germany's squares light up as Christmas stalls open, bursting with decorations, spicy scents and irresistible treats that festive folk, it seems, have spent a year rustling up. Fill your stocking at these star-lit spots...

How to get there

Ahlan! flew to Germany with Emirates Airline. Go to emirates.ae to book your festive expedition.

Three city shop

Dusseldorf

After chomping on chocolate truffles from the decadent Heinemann sweet shop, put your gloves back on for an afternoon in the Old Town. You'll spend a good few hours getting through the Rennaissance-style market on the Marktplatz and the stalls of Schadowplatz, umming and ahhing over sweet santa decorations and even sweeter gingerbread men. And when the stars come out, make your way to the sparkling Angel's Market for a truly magical vibe.

Designer stop: Head to the nearby famous Konigsallee, where designer stores jostle for space on the beautiful canal-side boulevard.

Frankfurt

Amid over 200 stalls, a skyscraping 30-metre Christmas tree and the shouts of children on the merry-go-round, sip hot apple wine and soak up the atmosphere that makes Frankfurt's colourful market - which dates back to the 14th century - a bustling hotspot.

Designer stop: Get to Goethe Street for Frankfurt's boutiques and stop for a hot chocolate in one of the cafes on "eat street".

Munich

Start at the ice rink on Karlzplatz and then meander down to Marienplatz, where the sound of carol singers floats over the stalls straining under their spicy decorations. Warm up with some of the traditional Bavarian fare or brave the Medieval Market where you can buy anything from mulled wine to your own suit of armour!

Designer stop: You'll wish you had millions when you're on Maximilian Street, which boasts some of Munich's most exclusive boutiques.