A visit to the capital of Christmas

Chris Carter takes a stroll around Hamburg to find out why the northern Germany city fancies itself as northern Europe's "new Christmas capital".

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Hamburg's selection of Christmas markets will leave you spoilt for choice
(Image credit: Joerg Modrow)

Ever since Queen Victoria's husband, Albert, pitched up on these shores clutching a pine tree, many of our most beloved Christmas traditions have had a distinctly German flavour. So perhaps it's only fair that Hamburg, in northern Germany and just a short flight from London, has declared itself "Northern Europe's new Christmas Capital". A grand boast, maybe. But the old Hanseatic port on the Elbe is laying on 16 fantastical festive markets this year from Monday until 6 January.

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Chris Carter
Wealth Editor, MoneyWeek

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

You can follow Chris on Instagram.