10 Best Festive City Breaks In Europe

When the holiday season comes around, there’s nothing quite like the festive cheer to be found in European cities. From vibrant Christmas markets and sparkling lights to delicious seasonal cuisine, Europe offers many magical experiences for travellers looking to find new ways to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Let me take you on a journey through some of the best festive city breaks in Europe, each offering a unique take on the Christmas spirit.

Edinburgh, Scotland – Ho ho ho and Hogmanay

Edinburgh is an ancient city in Scotland with bags of charm at any time of year but is a particularly great choice as one of the best festive city breaks in Europe. At Christmas, the city ups the ante with Christmas markets, stunning street lighting and a warm Scottish welcome. The Christmas Market in Princes Street Gardens offers a wide array of food, drinks, and crafts. Don’t miss the chance to take a stroll along the Royal Mile, adorned with festive lights.

What to see and do in Edinburgh

The festive season at Edinburgh Castle starts in November with the opening of the Castle & Light Experience. Enjoy an enchanting sound and light display with dramatic scenes projected on the castle walls. Tickets should be purchased in advance.

A visit to Scotland in the winter offers a great opportunity to sample traditional food and drink. Here are a few worth a try. Mince pies (nothing to do with meat) are small pastries filled with a sweet mixture of dried fruits, spices, and suet. A big favourite throughout the UK. A hearty and warming soup, Scotch broth is often made with lamb or beef, barley, and root vegetables. It’s perfect for keeping warm on a cold Scottish winter’s day. While shortbread is enjoyed year-round, it’s another sweet favourite at Christmas, buttery crumbly cookies in different shapes. Scotland is famous for its high-quality smoked salmon, and it’s a popular appetizer with Christmas lunch.

Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the Scottish term for New Year’s Eve and when it comes to NYE, nobody does it better than the Scottish people. Revellers flock from far and wide to experience Hogmanay in Edinburgh and it’s easy to see why. Enjoy the best street party of your life with spectacular firework displays, live music concerts, food & drink, a torchlight procession and family fun. Tickets are required to enter Princes Street where the main celebrations take place and cost around 30 euros.

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Edinburgh can be quite expensive for hotel accommodation, especially close to the festive season. A good city centre hotel will cost between 200 and 350 euros per night. You can stay outside the city for a lower cost but you will need to weigh up the pros and cons, price vs convenience. Staying in the city will give you the best chance to enjoy everything Edinburgh has to offer day and night.

Savvy Suggestion – Check out the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh, a stylish hotel with rooms featuring city views, in a great central location.

Vienna, Austria – A Classical Festive City Break

The Austrian capital transforms into a classical Christmas wonderland during the festive season and is the destination for one of the best festive city breaks in Europe, especially for those who enjoy a traditional feel to the holiday season. The city’s stunning architecture provides a magnificent backdrop to delightful Christmas markets, such as the Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt. Visitors can indulge in delicious pastries and rich warm Glühwein while enjoying the festive atmosphere. Music lovers will enjoy the Viennese Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s Concert, a tradition dating back to 1939.

What to see and do in Vienna

Don’t expect to see gaudy coloured Christmas lights, less is more when it comes to decorating the streets in Vienna. The lights are usually turned on mid-November and remain on until mid-January.

Vienna is famously a city of music and throughout the festive season, there are more classical concerts than you can shake a baton at. Churches, cathedrals and music halls host events throughout the season. Bundle up in warm clothes, stroll along the streets of the city and simply follow the sound of the music.

The hop-on-hop-off bus is a great way to see the city and pack in all the sights.

Vienna is a city that will appeal to all your senses, as well as the wonderful music, and the tempting aromas of baked goods in the air during the festive season. Stop by one of the many food stalls and try a piece of traditional Stollen, a cross between bread and fruit cake, wash it down with a warming glass of Glühwein, spiced red wine that will warm you from head to toe despite the cool temperatures.

Where to stay in Vienna

City centre hotels cost an average of 200 to 300 euros per night on the weekend for a mid-range hotel. Prices are lower further outside the city. Public transport in Vienna is excellent, you can travel around the city and beyond by bus, streetcar (tram) and subway. Download the WeinMobil travel app when you arrive.

Amsterdam – Go Dutch at Christmas

Amsterdam is famous for its canals and rich cultural heritage, but the friendly locals also know how to celebrate the holiday season. The city’s Light Festival illuminates buildings and waterways with fascinating artworks, while the Museumplein ice skating rink offers a fun activity for all the family.

What to see and do in Amsterdam on a festive city break

The Amsterdam Winter Paradise is one of the largest winter events in Europe. Here you can ice skate under the stars outdoors or under the twinkling lights indoors. Try cross-country skiing on real snow or reach new heights on the huge Ferris Wheel.

Children will love to see the arrival of Sinterklaas, he looks like Santa Claus, except a little skinnier, but this guy is also known as St Nicholas, the patron saint of Children.

Sinterklaas allegedly lives in Spain in the summer, (pretty sure I’ve seen him with a cold beer on the beach) and travels to The Netherlands for the holiday season! The dude with the beard arrives in Amsterdam on December 5th when he gives out presents to the children, after this he can be seen throughout December before he heads back to warmer climes.

Where to stay in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a vast amount of hotels in the city centre, many overlooking the famous waterways. Expect to pay between 150 and 250 euros per night on a weekend in a mid-range hotel.

Strasbourg, France – The original festive city break destination

Strasbourg boasts a heritage dating back to 1570 when it hosted its first Christmas market. The city’s historic centre, La Petite France, is a picturesque setting with stalls selling Christmas ornaments, local food, and crafts. Don’t forget to visit the Strasbourg Cathedral, with its magnificent Christmas tree. It’s not hard to see why this French city is named as a location of one of the best festive city breaks in Europe.

What to see and do in Strasbourg

Christkindelsmärik is one of the oldest Christmas markets in France and the city is known to be the most illuminated in France during the holiday season. Strasbourg provides a sensory overload with smells of ginger, cinnamon and the unmistakable aroma of mulled wine. The lavishly decorated streets and buildings are a treat for the eye and to tuck into some of the delicious festive snacks on sale is a taste sensation. Book a special Christmas market tour to ensure you don’t miss anything.

The Christmas tree on Place Kléber stands more than 30 metres high, one of the tallest in Europe and is a wonderous sight to see.

Enjoy an alternative Christmas experience at Place Grimmeissen where you’ll find the Marché Off or Off Market. Marché Off features activities, stalls, and events with solidarity as its theme along with respect for the environment. You’ll find organic and local foods, vintage thrift stalls, toy manufacturing workshops, and more. Enjoy a friendly atmosphere with a diverse programme of events embracing conscious consumerism.

Where to stay in Strasbourg

Strasbourg is incredibly popular during the festive season and prices reflect this. Expect to pay around 300 to 350 euros per night, based on weekend prices in December.

Prague – A top destination for a festive city break

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is a popular city break destination at any time of year with its cobblestone streets and Gothic architecture, it has an irresistable old-world charm. During the holiday season, the city’s charm is at full throttle with Christmas Markets in abundance and the crisp winter weather just adds to this winter wonderland.

What to see and do in Prague

As with many festive city break destinations, Prague has an open-air ice skating rink, open throughout the holiday season with a huge Christmas tree as its centrepiece.

Take a romantic river cruise along the Vitava River. Stay warm and cosy under the glass top and enjoy the beautiful sights while you enjoy drinks, buffet and music.

Shop at a Christmas Market, Prague has no fewer than three in the city, one at Old Town Square, another at Prague Castle and the other at Wenceslas Square. Enjoy a day of shopping and indulging in tasty treats before seeing the Christmas lights being lit every evening.

Celebrate Hanukkah in Prague. With a large Jewish community, the city celebrates the Festival of Lights in style, starting with the lighting of numerous Menorah accompanied by orchestra music and the handing out of delicious jelly doughnuts.

Where to stay in Prague

Prague has plenty of reasonably priced hotels in the city centre. You can easily find an excellent hotel for under 200 euros per night. Price is based on a weekend night in December.

Barcelona – For A Mediterranean Festive City Break

For a slightly warmer experience in a choice of the best festive city breaks in Europe, Barcelona offers a unique Mediterranean Christmas charm. While you’re unlikely to see snow and the chilly weather usually associated with a traditional Christmas, Barcelona celebrates the festive season with markets and other celebrations.

What to see and do in Barcelona

The biggest Christmas market in Barcelona is the Fira de Santa Llúcia by the city’s Gothic Cathedral. You will also find one in front of the famous Sagrada Familia Basilica. Combine a visit to this Gothic Gaudi masterpiece with shopping for souvenirs. The newest Christmas market in Barcelona is the Port Vell Fair where you will find the city’s largest Christmas tree.

For a visit to the Sagrada Familia Basilica at any time of year is is important to book in advance.

Visitors to Barcelona at Christmas may be shocked to find in many shops and on market stalls, small statues of a man pulling his pants down! This cheeky chappy is the Caganer (literally the crapper or the shitter!). Legend has it that in days gone by if a farmer did not include a Caganer in his nativity display, the following year he would have a terrible harvest. These days the fun cheeky characters can be found everywhere, some in the likeness of famous faces such as Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Nothing heats up a winter night more than a firey Flamenco display. Enjoy an evening enjoying this passionate dance to the tune of dramatic music and easily combine it with local wine and tapas for a real taste of Spain.

Christmas Eve is celebrated more than Christmas Day in Spain so in some parts of the city, the evening might be quieter than you are used to as establishments close to allow their staff to enjoy time with their families. If you’re still around in January, the Three Kings parade is another big event in Spain and takes place on January 5th. The Three Kings will parade the streets handing out sweets to the children and Barcelona goes one step further with the arrival of the Kings by boat in the city port.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Hotel accommodation is plentiful in the Catalonian capital. A good base to ensure you get the best out of a short visit is the La Rambla area or the adjacent Gothic Quarter. Hotels are good value and prices for a good mid-range hotel start at around 150 euros per night.

Savvy Suggestion – A personal recommendation from me is the Hotel Petit Palace Boqueria Garden. Located in the Gothic Quarter, the hotel is ideally located for exploring Barcelona and is close to the popular La Rambla area. The pretty patio bar is a great place to enjoy pre-dinner drinks.

Tallinn – History & Mystery In A Festive City Break

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, boasts a medieval Old Town that transforms into a fairytale setting during the holiday season. The Christmas market in the Town Hall Square is renowned for its handicrafts, mulled wine, and vibrant atmosphere. Steeped in tradition the city’s medieval streets provide the perfect backdrop for one of the best festive city breaks in Europe with a difference.

What to see and do in Tallin

The Tallinn Christmas markets begin at the end of November and the largest is in Old Town Square where you will find rows of wooden chalets selling an array of goods and tasty food items.

The Christmas lights in Tallinn are nothing short of spectacular, ranging from colourful and extravagant to understated and traditional, a favourite for the latter is the display on Viru Street.

Christmas has a particular meaning for Estonians as during decades of Soviet occupation and rule Christmas as an official holiday was banned. Estonia gained its independence only as recently as 1991. Every year on Christmas Eve the mayor of Tallinn declares peace from the balcony of the medieval city hall.

Where to stay in Tallinn

Hotel prices in Estonia are very reasonable. You can easily find an excellent hotel for under 100 euros per night even during the popular festive season.

Savvy Suggestion – The Hotel Hestia Europa is located by the port in the old part of town, rooms have either views of the city or of the Baltic Sea. Offers excellent value.

Lapland – Visit Santa’s Homeland

It wouldn’t be an article about the best festive city breaks in Europe without including Lapland. Located in the northernmost part of Finland in Scandinavia, this remote and enchanting region, is renowned for its pristine winter landscapes, the ethereal Northern Lights, and, of course, being the official home of Santa Claus.

What to do in Lapland

Lapland’s biggest claim to fame is Santa Claus himself, and you can’t visit Lapland at Christmas without a stop at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Here, you can meet Santa, hang out with his elves, and even cross the Arctic Circle. The village is adorned with festive decorations and it doesn’t get much more Christmassy than this.

As Lapland lies almost entirely above the Arctic Circle, the area is the best place to see the Northern Lights. Visible between the end of August and the end of March, Christmas time is the ideal time of year to experience. The best time to see the lights is between 10 pm and 2 am.

Make the most of this winter wonderland and take in the stunning scenery with a snowmobile trip or husky sleigh ride. For a slower pace make like Santa on a reindeer-pulled sleigh.

Where to stay in Lapland

Despite its popularity, Lapland has many highly-rated hotels for under 200 euros per night. If you want to push the boat out you can choose from the numerous Igloo hotels where you can gaze at the night sky from the cosy comfort of your room.

Savvy Suggestion – With a name like Santa’s Hotel Aurora and Igloos, this hotel just oozes Christmas spirit! Most rooms are north-facing, the ideal orientation for seeing the Northern Lights. The hotel has a spa and a cosy restaurant with a log fire. All rooms have a private sauna, Igloo rooms are available at a premium.

Copenhagen – For The Merriest Of Festive City Breaks

It’s impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit in the Danish capital. It’s a place where old traditions meet modern fun times. Art, markets, culture and friendly locals make it a festive city break destination for all ages and tastes.

What to see and do in Copenhagen

Castle and more castles. Worth a visit at any time of year, Copenhagens castles, Christiansborg, Rodenborg and Kronborg are particularly stunning with the backdrop of a snowy landscape.

Museums and markets, combine culture and retail therapy in Copenhagen. The city boasts numerous museums and art galleries and the Christmas markets are famed throughout Scandinavia. Nyhavn, the iconic canal district of Copenhagen, is lined with colourful houses and during the festive season, it is utterly charming. The waterfront hosts a fabulous Christmas market, where you can shop for unique gifts, sip Danish mulled wine and sample sweet and savoury Danish treats.

The iconic statue of The Little Mermaid is a must-see when you visit Copenhagen, and it’s especially lovely when dusted with a touch of frost and snow. While not a traditional Christmas attraction, this symbol of the city takes on a unique charm during the winter months. Gifted to the City by Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen, sits on a rock at Langelinie Pier. The brewer was so captivated by Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale about the mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land, that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid.

Where to stay in Copenhagen

Visitors to the Danish capital can choose from modern hotels or accommodation in traditional buildings. Prices for a mid-range hotel start at 200 euros per night. Waterfront hotels are particularly popular.

Munich – A Bavarian Christmas

Munich at Christmastime is quite magical and this Bavarian city offers a wonderful mix of traditions, festive markets, and seasonal activities. Expect to see many Christmas markets, and beautiful lights adorning the buildings and don’t forget to try the delicious food and drinks on offer. A perfect option when thinking about festive city breaks in Europe.

What to see and do in Munich

The main Christmas market in Munich is the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, in front of the stunning Munich Town Hall. Here, you can enjoy the festive atmosphere and shop a wide array of crafts and gifts.

Bavaria is famous for its sausage, known as Bratwurst, made from a mix of pork, veal, and a blend of seasonings. Enjoy other traditional Bavarian Christmas dishes like roast duck or goose, delicious potato salad, and finished off with a slice of stollen. Don’t forget to sample the seasonal mulled wine – Glühwein and gingerbread cookies.

Munich is known as a very cultural city and during the festive season, you will find many venues hosting classical music concerts, plays and other events.

Where to stay in Munich

Munich has a good amount of city centre hotels to choose from, the average per night price in December for a highly rated hotel is around 200 euros.

Festive City Breaks in Europe Summary

European cities celebrate Christmas in style and it’s not hard to see why visitors from across the globe flock to these places in their droves every festive season. There’s something about the crisp temperatures, stunning Christmas lights and quaint Christmas markets that make European cities extra special during the holidays. I could make this article double the size as there are so many other cities worth a mention but here you have a good selection of destinations, many of which are easy to fly to or have good rail and road connections. If you’re travelling from a long distance you could even fit more than one city into the same trip.

Festive City Breaks in Europe Q&A

What is the most Christmassy city in Europe?

Berlin is ranked as the most Christmassy city in Europe, followed by Vienns, Prague and Munich. The study is based on the amount of snowfall and the number of Christmas markets.

What is the most romantic city in Europe at Christmas?

Vienna is known as the most romantic city in Europe at Christmas. The ambience simply oozes romance and the beautiful decorations and market in the City Hall square add to the romantic festive feel.

What’s the most Christmassy thing to do in Europe?

By far the most Christmassy thing to do in Europe is visit Lapland and Santa’s village. Not just for the young, this destination will bring out the child in everyone, with sleigh rides, hot mulled wine and festive treats, it is a top Christmas destination for any bucket list.

Where is the warmest place in Europe at Christmas?

Let’s face it, snow isn’t for everyone. Although the white stuff is associated with Christmas, the cold weather doesn’t suit all travellers. If you are looking for a warmer destination, yet still with a festive feel, Malaga in Andalucia, Spain is a great option. The Christmas lights are famous throughout Spain and the nightly sound and light display is not to be missed.

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