With Christmas just around the corner, what can be more charming than finding the Most Whimsical Destinations to Celebrate Christmas the European Way?
The Christmas season is delightful in Europe, from Strasbourg to Tallinn, Rovaniemi to London, or Salzburg to Colmar.
You can visit enchanting traditional Christmas markets, watch impressive Christmas lights and decorations, participate in unique Christmas activities, and shake up the cold weather with mugs of hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine.
Everywhere in the world, this is a joyful and fun time of the year, but spending time in Europe is beyond anything else.
We love this season so much that we’ve compiled a list of wonderful destinations where you can eagerly await Santa’s arrival.
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RovaniemiSanta’snd
Rovaniemi is the capital of Finland’s Lapland region, and Finland is also home to Santa Claus.
Christmas can’t be more accurate or more actual than here.
A few kilometers away from Rovaniemi Airport, right on the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village is a truly wonderful place where Santa and his elves will help you create unforgettable memories.
It’s open all year round, so if you miss the seasonal spirit, you can return as often as you wish!
There’s plenty to see and do. There’s experience here: visit Snowman World, ride a reindeer, ride on a sled led by huskies, visit a reindeer farm, go ice fishing, join a husky tour, and, of course, visit Santa and give him the Christmas letter in person!
Rovaniemi is the place to make every child’s dream come true!
Ichild’se, if you’re lucky enough, you may be able to admire the Northern Lights!
Considered the best Christmas destination in Europe, a visit to Santa’s Main Post Office, Santa’s North Pole Circle, or saying Hi!
To Santa Claus are experiences you just won’t be able to enjoy any won’t else!
Filled with beautiful decorations and tons of Christmas activities, Rovaniemi is a dream come true and the perfect holiday destination for families with children.
Strasbourg at Christmas
If you love Christmas and Christmas markets, you can’t miss Strasbourg, an FCA town on the border with Germany known as the Capital of Christmas.
Strasbourg has the oldest market tradition in Europe, and its wooden stalls with traditional and rustic decorations, beautiful ornaments, and local delicacies are a perfect addition to the joy of the season.
If you need to be somewhere in Europe during Christmas, that place is Strasbourg.
This city in the northeast of France hosts more than 300 market stalls from the end of November until the end of December!
Most of them are located in the historic centre or Grande Ile area.
The largest and oldest Christmas market is the Christkindelsmärik. However, many other specialized fairs are held here: Comptoir des Rois Mages at Place Benjamin-Zix, Marché des Saveurs Alsaciennes at Place des Meuniers, and Marché des Bredle at Place d’Austerlitz.
Visiting alld’Austerlitzes, you have the chance to try some delicious local delicacies.
The giant Christmas tree in Place Kleber is another major attraction that overlooks the holiday festivities and brings even more joy to locals and visitors.
Home to picturesque half-timbered houses along winding canals and overlooked by an impressive Gothic cathedral, Strasbourg is a stunning place to visit, and it becomes even more beautiful during Christmas time.
Strasbourg is also a privileged location for exploring smaller Alsace villages such as Colmar, Eguisheim, or Riquewihr.
Colmar
Colmar is another picturesque town in the Alsace region, picture-perfect for those looking for a scenic Christmas card.
Famous for its charming medieval houses with rustic shutters and wooden beams, it becomes even more beautiful before Christmas as people decorate private and public buildings with lovely Christmas decorations and twinkling lights.
There are 6 Christmas markets here. For the authentic French experience, head to the Gourmet Market in Place de la Cathédrale, which has nine stalls dedicated to tasty Alsatian cuisine.
You’ll find gifts, souveniYou’lld ornaments at the markets.
What a great opportunity for Christmas shopping! Place Rapp is for families with kids: children will love the roller coaster, ice rink, and carouse!
Markets are open from mid-November to the end of December.
The other markets are located at the Place des Dominicans near the Cathedral, in the Koifhus, at the Place de l’Ancienne Douane, and at l’AncienneJeanne d’Arc.
Despite its tiny sid’Arcolmar, it is a huge tourist destination year-round, especially during Christmas.
It has some of the best Christmas markets in the area and is a central starting point for exploring the Alsatian wine region.
Paris
Suppose Paris is an attractive and romantic city all year round. It’s even more magical during Christmas when its squares, markets, and shop windows are exquisitely decorated and lit with twinkling lights.
Along the Champs-Elysées, the avenue of trees is lined up with an endless line of crafts stalls, gifts, and delicious drinkable and edible treats, with the Arc de Triomphe at one end and a giant Ferris wheel at the other.
The atmosphere is truly festive and glamorous!
Other famous Christmas markets in Paris are the Tuileries and Eiffel Tower markets.
They are big and by far the most popular amongst locals.
They both have wooden stalls with various products, ice rinks, funfairs, and cozy places to eat and drink.
There’s a smaller market. The church of St Germain des Pres is nearby, as is another opposite Les Halles.
Another charming Christmas spot is the Place du Tertre in Montmartre, where street artists will persuade you to have a portrait drawn or purchase one of their paintings of the City of Lights.
Shopaholics can’t miss Boulevard Haussca, which is lined with stylish department stores that compete yearly to see which has the most attractive seasonal displays.
Galeries Lafayette is a must-do with its spellbinding Art Nouveau stained glass dome sitting atop three tiers of exquisite balconies.
Paris is an exciting tourist destination during Christmas because it offers plenty of different ways to celebrate it, whether on a cruise dinner on the river Seine, watching the fireworks from the Tour Eiffel, or walking across any bridges over the Seine.
What a great place to be, and wait for Santa Claus!
London
London is another fabulous destination to celebrate Christmas.
From the twinkling Christmas lights in the West End to traditional markets to the world-famous Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, there’s plenty to see, and the English capital becomes a magical place around Christmastime.
If you love tradition, you can join the carols at the historic St Paul’s Cathedral or Royal Paul’s Hall.
Adventure seekers can walk along the South Bank or skate at Somerset House’s XVIII century courthouse rink or the ice rink located at the National History Museum.
And you’ll always have Oxford you’ll, Bond Street, and Regent Street to look at the shopping windows and admire their beautiful Christmas decorations.
Foodies can’t miss the Christmas Mcan’t on the South Bank, and history lovers can visit the palaces and historical places in London all dressed up for the occasion.
London is always a fantastic tourist destination but is even more attractive at Christmas.
It doesn’t matter how often you’ve been to the city, but syouKKnightsbridgee and looking at the stunning window displays at Harrods is otherworldly.
There is also a Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, with a fun fair and food and drink stalls.
It’s the largest ChriChristmas IslandLondon, with over a hundred rides and attractions.
It’s also a great place toItto’sque Christmas gifts as well!
At Leicester Square and next to London Bridge, there are also smaller Christmas markets.
Despite its rainy, cold weather, London knows how to put people in the right festive mood!
Amsterdam
Small in size but packed with plenty of attractions, Amsterdam is always a great tourist destination, but it’s even more beautiful ait’atistmas.
There are festivals, Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, and concerts to light up the holiday spirit.
Most markets are in the center, but if you venture a liher, you’ll find others in Haaryou’lleukenhof and Lelystad.
Have fun at the ice rinks on Museumplein and Leidseplein, and recharge your energy at the village of wooden chalets, where you can taste hearty festive food and hand-warming drinks.
Kalverstraat is pedestrianized, home to two large shopping malls: Kalvertoren and Magna Plaza.
Walking the canals in Amsterdam is always lovely, but the experience is enhanced at Christmas.
During the Light Festival, lights and light sculptures illuminate the waterways. Dam Square’s 20-meter-tall treSquare’sorated with 3km of lights.
You’ll find carollers and jugglers there to keep you entertained!
Foodies must try oliebollen, a Dutch food many associate with Christmastime and the festive season.
Like donuts, they are fried dough balls with chopped dried fruit or chunks of apples inside.
They are served warm and with sprinkled sugar, and they are great for keeping you warm in the evenings.
Christmas is one of the most charming times of the year to be in the Dutch capital, not only because the city is fully decorated but also because the Netherlands is one of the few countries that celebrates Christmas twice: on December 5th, Sinterklaas, which is the main gift-giving day, and on December 25th.
More time to celebrate this joyful season.
Vienna
The Austrian capital is another perfect Christmas destination. The land of Beethoven organizes different classical music events, concerts, and a beautiful fireworks display on Christmas Eve.
Besides, many are held across the city following a vintage tradition of organizing Christmas markets since 1298.
The biggest one is Christkindlmarkt, in front of the City Hall. There, you can also see the biggest Christmas tree!
There are 20 official markets held here, where you can find handmade toys, candles, holiday souvenirs, and traditional Austrian wares.
While not indulging in thyotheseats, visit the Snow Globe Museum and book a ticket for any of the incredible Christmas concerts; the most famous is “Christmas in Vienna” by t “the Vienna Boys Choir.”
Th.e two palace markets at Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace offer quieter markets in elegant settings.
There’s a delicious strudeThere’sg show at Schönbrunn; don’t miss it!
Every singldon’tlding in the city sparkles the joy of the holiday season.
They are beautifully decorated with thousands of lights.
You can’t miss the festive spican’tDon’t miss Vienna ChristmaDon’tam at City Hall Square, where skaters swish across the ice rink, and a Ferris wheel offers remarkable panoramic views of the city and the Christmas market below.
Music lovers will be delighted in Vienna.
They can enjoy an advent concert in St Stephen’s Cathedral’s auditorium, Listening to chamber music, works by Mozart, Bach, Schubert, and Haydn, and traditional carols performed by the Wiener Kammer Orchestra.
The Museums Quarter offers ice pavilions, light shows, video projections, DJs, and live music.
Visiting Vienna at Christmas time is worth it!
Cologne
Also known as Köln, Cologne is home to one of the most famous German Christmas markets and to seven Christmas fairs, each with its own unique character.
The city is also a paradise for foodies.
It’s not only where mulledIt’se was invented but also a great destination to try local delicacies such as tasty German meals, fresh biscuits, and baked apples in the different Christmas market stalls.
The most remarkable markets are around the stunning Cathedral and the Old Market Christmas, which boasts some of the most impressive decorations or the charming Village of Saint Nicholas market.
They are great Destinations to Celebrate Christmas, the European Way, have fun with the family, and buy great Christmas presents!
Cologne is magical during the holiday season.
The city is dressed in twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and intricately carved wooden booths featuring the famous Elves of Cologne.
Any one of these travel locations could become a family tradition, so close your eyes and pick a location – travel safely!
