As the festive season approaches, families could be jetting off to Europe for a Christmasadventure without even needing to book time off work or splurgeon hotel stays, thanks to extreme day tripping. This travel trend sees holidaymakersspending 24 hours or less in a destination before heading back home.

Travel gurus at Iglu Cruise have pinpointed three of the top European destinations for yuletide celebrations, all within two hours by plane or train from London, and they've even crafted the perfect itinerary to make the most of your Christmas escape.

Cologne, Germany

This captivating city is home to some of the world's most famous Christmas markets, and it's just an hour and 20 minutes by plane from London. The experts suggest kicking off the day exploring Cologne's museums, such as Museum Ludwig and the Fina Frangrace Museum.

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Next, pop over to Ehrenfeld for a quick cafe stop and an afternoon Kölsch before embarking on a boat tour along the Rhine River to soak up the Christmas magic of Cologne.

Come evening, Heinzels Christmas Market comes alive with ice skating, shopping and the KölnTriangle observation deck offering stunning views of Cologne's illuminated cathedral and twinkling Christmas lights.

Basel, Switzerland

Just an hour and 40 minutes away from London by plane, this snow-dusted fairytale town awaits, boasting a charming medieval old town that serves as the ideal starting point for your extreme day trip.

From the old town, visitors can admire the beautifully decorated courtyards, called "Magische Höfe" or "Magical Courtyards". The city hall courtyard features a Wish Book where guests can record their Christmas wishes.

The experts then recommend visiting the Barfüsserplatz Christmas Market to sample Swiss cheese or the famous local gingerbread biscuit, followed by Christmas shopping and mulled wine from the 13-metre high Christmas Pyramid.

There's also a free Advent production at Basel Theatre worth catching. These daily performances, running from 1st to 23rd December at 5:00 PM, feature a varied programme of small opera, drama and ballet productions.

During these dates visitors can also climb St Martin's Tower for a small fee to enjoy a bird's eye view of the market and the illuminated old town.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Just an hour and 10 minutes' flight from London brings you to Amsterdam, where you can begin your day trip admiring the city's iconic canals and bridges in the Jordaan district whilst enjoying breakfast.

The Museum Quarter provides plenty to occupy your morning before heading to the Winter Paradise RAI festival, where you'll discover indoor and outdoor ice rinks, a Ferris wheel, live music, Dutch waffles and cosy winter bars.

Amsterdam's Light Festival also transforms the city at this time of year, and the experts suggest taking an evening cruise for the best views as the spectacular decorations shimmer across the water.