At the base of the Mound, next to the Royal Scottish Academy, you'll find Edinburgh's two traditional Christmas Markets. One's a genuine import from Germany; the other's from the Highlands here at home, and both offer a mix of unusual gifts and truly irresistible food. The German market, in particular, is a great place to gather for mulled wine and tasty hot treats on a chilly winter night.

German Christmas Market

Tight-packed, bustling and homely, the timeless German Market is the very definition of good Christmas cheer. Whether gift-hunting, house-dressing or just in search of a snack, the market's pretty wooden stalls always turn up the goods. And the whole thing's authentically Deutsch - it closes early on Christmas Eve so the traders can fly home to their families.

Be warned, though: you're unlikely to leave with your wallet untouched. For your home, there are quaint wooden decorations and gorgeous ceramic candle houses. For those hard-to-buy-for relatives, try the quirky, lovable metal figurines. Bored of the same old Christmas cake? Pick up some genuine German Stollen. With each of 20-odd stalls selling a different type of goods, you can while away a happy hour or more in shameless seasonal browsing.

Eating and drinking: Alongside the Christmas trinkets, the German market thrives on its wide range of food stalls. There are, it goes without saying, many types of sausage; the more adventurous could try Bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes and bacon, served with a herby sauce) or, of course, Sauerkraut.  On the liquid side there's a small bar selling German beer, but the most popular stall of all is the one with the Gluhwein: mulled wine with schnapps, the perfect way to unwind with friends on a crisp winter's day.

The Highland Village Market

Go through the gate into the gardens, towards the Christmas wheel, to find the city's second Christmas market - this time a recreation of a Scottish Highland village, arranged around a spacious central "square".

Perhaps understandably, the newer zone hasn't yet achieved the atmosphere or coherence of its German neighbour. Still, it's a chilled-out place to mooch around: the emphasis is on local crafts, with knitwear, jewellery and glassware among the treats on offer. 

Eating and Drinking: In the heart of the Highland market, the Scottish theme continues with stands selling "stag" (venison) burgers and home-reared beef rolls. Hunt out the hot mead stall for an unusual departure from the usual mulled wine. To enjoy your food, the benches in the middle of the "square" are one of very few places in the markets or fair you can get a proper sit-down.