In contrast to most Polish cities, which turn their public squares into crammed Christmas fairs at this time of year, Warsaw flexes its capital city credentials by turning practically its entire Old Town district (plus most of the Royal Route) into a winter wonderland of festive sights, sounds and smells, illuminated with thousands of decorative lights. Arguably the most magical Christmas market in Poland, the handsome wooden huts of Warsaw's holiday fair stretch from Plac Zamkowy, along ul. Podwale and the city's old defensive walls, all the way to the Barbican, and then onto the Old Town Square, which also hosts market stalls and an ice rink around the Warsaw Mermaid. That's quite a lot of ground to cover, and along the way you'll find plenty of unique propositions for presents and gifts, from holiday decorations and handicrafts to toys, sweets and local food products. Also don't miss trying some traditional Polish dishes, served hot around the market - oscypek (smoked cheese), kiełbasa and kaszanka (black pudding) to name a few, and make sure you treat yourself to some grzaniec (hot mulled wine) or miód pitny (mead). Once you've exhausted yourself walking around the frosted gingerbread village of the Old Town, and taken a spin on the ice as well, Warsaw's festive decorations continue all the way down ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście and the Royal Route.