Christmas is around the corner, and the most beautiful European cities are waiting for you to visit, with the best Christmas markets, mulled wine, gingerbread and Christmas lights.
If you’re ready to enjoy a European Christmas getaway, here are the best destinations in Europe:
Prague
Prague does Christmas well, and you’ll notice that even the malls are in the Christmas spirit, with holiday lights throughout.
You’ll also find Christmas markets with handmade Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, gingerbread, and more, and if you head up to Prague castle you can take gorgeous photos of Prague in winter and visit the interesting Lobkowicz museum.
Dorset
Dorset is a great place to see the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, along with natural landmarks and scenery such as Chesil Beach, the Isle of Purbeck, Old Harry Rocks and Durdle Door. You’ll also be able to visit cute villages such as Worth Matravers and Milton Abbas, along with historic towns such as Wareham and Sherborne. There are a wide range of Dream Cottages to choose from, so you can take a few days out from the stress of preparing for the holidays and relax in Dorset.
Budapest
Budapest is often overlooked in favor of more popular destinations such as London, but the city is an excellent place to enjoy a Christmas getaway. Be sure to visit New York Cafe which is absolutely gorgeous, take a bus tour to get an overview of the city, walk across the many bridges to see amazing views of the city lit up at night, and walk up to Buda Castle for great photo opportunities.
Be sure to visit the central park Varosligeti Mujegpalya which has a huge outdoor skating rink, before warming up in one of the many thermal baths in the city.
Copenhagen
If you’re looking for a fairytale Christmas getaway, you can’t get much better than the place where Hans Christian Andersen was born. Sure, the Little Mermaid is much-visited, but you’ll be more likely to enjoy a trip to the cozy cafes and bars in the city while you watch the snow flurrying outside. The Tivoli amusement park can be found in the heart of the city, and you’ll find cute illuminations and plenty of mulled wine.
Venice
After the holidays, a post-Christmas trip to the Carnival in February is a highlight in Europe. You’ll find spooky and elaborate costumes and masks which bring the city’s colorful and interesting history to life. If you have some cash to spend, a costumed dance is a must, otherwise you can also enjoy some of the many free events after buying a mask on the street, although you can expect to be rubbing shoulders with thousands of people.
Abisko
Don’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of anyone visiting Abisko, as this is for serious winter lovers. Located in Lapland, Abisko is a place where you won’t even see the sun for a few weeks during December and January, but this darkness also makes it one of the best places in the world to see the incredible aurora borealis. There are also many other fun winter activities such as husky mushing and cross-country skiing to choose from.
