Christmas is a joyous moment each year, and no place does it better than Europe. Christmas lights glitter and Christmas trees are filled with decorations, transforming even the blandest buildings into something beautiful and vibrant. The winter also brings a white Christmas to Northern Europe, allowing you to indulge in a sleigh ride or go skiing. Snow does not fall as much in Southern Europe. During festive periods you will experience the warm sun and other notable Christmas customs.
Here are the best places in Europe you could consider to spend Christmas with family and friends.
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The 10 best places to spend Christmas in Europe
There are various places you can choose to spend your Christmas holidays in Europe, but here are the 10 best places to choose from:
1. Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is located in France’s Alsace region. It has the country’s oldest Christmas market and is regarded as a top Christmas region in the world. From the charming Gothic cathedral to a UNESCO-listed Old Town and elegant displays adorning the city’s half-timbered houses. This place has everything you will need for a delightful holiday destination. The Main Square is crammed with wooden huts selling Nativity miniatures and tree ornaments. You can stroll through the spectacular cobblestone streets to find classical shops and restaurants that serve hearty traditional dishes.
2. Nuremberg, Germany
Christmas is the best time to visit Nuremberg because this is when the city transforms into a winter fantasy world. This beautiful tiny village in Bavaria welcomes visitors with a fest of Christmas goods, customs, and events. It is also home to one of the most remarkable and famous Christmas markets in Germany, if not the world. The nicely decorated stalls that comprise the city’s gothic squares sell everything from the famous local gingerbread (lebkuchen) to old-fashioned wooden Ferris wheels and glühwein booths, as well as high-quality handmade crafts like candle chimes. Nuremberg is known for its toy-making tradition in the city’s toy museum.
3. Vienna, Austria
Vienna is a city that celebrates Christmas with elegance. This city has a magical attraction due to its dazzling, elegant Christmas markets, iconic café traditions, and old-world charisma. Its royal architecture provides marvelous scenery for an enjoyable Christmas holiday. Indulge yourself in sausages and freshly baked desserts at Vienna’s popular Christkindlmarkets. You can also visit the Snow Globe Museum in the 17th District and book a ticket to one of the city’s luxurious churches during this period of the year. The most renowned performance during Christmas in Vienna by the Vienna Boys Choir at the Wiener Konzerthaus, but there is a wealth of classical music available.
4. Wroclaw, Poland
Wroclaw, Poland’s fourth largest city, entices visitors during the winter holidays with its lovely Christmas market. The streets are decorated with colorful ornaments, the Old Town exudes vitality and pleasure, and Christmas carols ring out in the Rynek, a spectacular candy-colored square with Hungarian, German, and Italian influences that reflect the city’s uniqueness. Wroclaw was recognized as the European Capital of Culture in 2016. This means you can expect to find a city rich in history and culture, as well as an energetic vibe, a pleasant atmosphere, and impressive social and cultural values. Nonetheless, there are fewer tourists, making it one of Europe’s most captivating Christmas vacation spots.
5. Copenhagen, Denmark
Christmas finds Copenhagen brimming with the celebratory spirit and sparkling lights, where creative design and historic Danish coziness mix harmoniously to create great moments. Because of its Christmas markets and exquisite accessories, the entire city exudes a wonderful atmosphere. But no other place in town is as engulfed in Christmas magic as the world-famous Tivoli Gardens. Every year, the world’s second-oldest amusement park is transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with remarkable Christmas twinkle lights, thrilling rides, and adorable little stalls selling a variety of Christmas presents.
6. Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius is considered one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, with a UNESCO-listed Old Town and marble streets leading to stunning temples, cathedrals, and castles. It is also one of the finest locations in Europe to visit during the holidays, with festive window displays and a fairytale-like Christmas market where you can buy locally made gifts. Its stunning Christmas tree in Cathedral Square is usually more of a work of architecture than a traditional ornament. Active tourists can dress up and participate in the annual Christmas Run, while everybody can enjoy the city’s vibrant food scene, which includes everything from Michelin-starred dining to traditional dishes.
7. London, England
London is known for shining during the holiday season, making it an exciting travel destination. You can visit the ice rinks at Somerset House and the Natural History Museum before heading to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, which features a Bavarian-style village. You can visit Tate Modern’s Christmas Market to buy handmade stuffed toys and eat festive gingerbread. Also, you can stop by Harrods to see its extravagant holiday decorations.
8. Bruges, Belgium
Christmas in Bruges is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although this medieval town is beautiful all year, it really comes alive in the winter when the city is transformed for the Winter Glow Christmas celebration. Light trails, a winter bar, and even an ice skating rink bring the city to life. Gliding across the ice is an excellent means of working up an appetite for those delightful hot Belgian waffles and rich chocolate, providing energy to tour some of the city’s other smaller locations.
9. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm transforms into a lovely winter wonderland during the holidays. You can sample some of the region’s most popular dishes, such as the customary julbord, the Yuletide equivalent of a smorgasbord. You can also check out Stortorget Square, where you may find glogg, smoked reindeer, and a wide range of holiday arts and crafts at the town’s market.
10. Valkenburg, Netherlands
Valkenburg, the Dutch Christmas capital, is located close to the German border and hosts its Christmas market in a cave. It is Europe’s largest and oldest subterranean Christmas market, established in a maze of cave passages beneath the community. It also serves as Santa Claus’ home, where tourists can see his reindeer sleigh and a room full of Christmas gifts. There are many rare gifts, such as Marlstone products and traditional Polish arts and crafts, as well as artworks, an 18th-century chapel, and preserved Roman mural illustrations.
