5 Destinations for Your Christmas Holidays

The Christmas season brings with it a unique atmosphere filled with decorations, lights, music, and traditional dishes. But what if, this year, you celebrated differently – by discovering Christmas in another country?

Whether you’re travelling as a couple, with friends, or as a family, this guide presents five destinations to consider for an unforgettable Christmas. Pack your bags and get ready to be amazed!

 

Key Takeaways:

• Strasbourg (France): The undisputed capital of Christmas, this Alsatian city enchants visitors with its historic markets, magical lights, and delicious treats such as bredles, gingerbread, and mulled wine.
• Rovaniemi (Finland): In the heart of Lapland, experience the magic of Santa Claus’s official village, with reindeer sleigh rides, northern lights, and hearty dishes like reindeer stew or joulutorttu.
• Copenhagen (Denmark): Under the warm spirit of hygge, the Danish capital glows at Tivoli Gardens and Nyhavn, where you can enjoy gløgg, risalamande and æbleskiver in a cosy, festive atmosphere.
• Kraków (Poland): With its vast market on Rynek Square and its colourful nativity scenes listed by UNESCO, the city combines tradition, music, and gastronomy through the Wigilia feast and classic pierogi.
• Prague (Czech Republic): With glittering markets, baroque concerts, and snow-covered bridges, the “City of a Hundred Spires” offers a romantic Christmas setting where you can savour trdelník, svařák, and roast ham beneath the illuminated castle.

 

Located in the heart of Alsace, Strasbourg is often considered the world’s Christmas capital. Its Christkindelsmärik, founded in 1570 and famous worldwide, is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe.

The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provides a truly magical setting throughout December. For your Christmas holidays, Strasbourg is undoubtedly a must-see destination.

Strasbourg’s Christmas market is the perfect place to soak up the festive magic of the city.
In the city centre, you’ll find plenty to do, including:

• Admiring the 30-metre Christmas tree on Place Kléber (26 November 2025 – 5 January 2026).
• Strolling through the Carré d’Or Christmas market in the historic centre.
• Taking a photo beneath the illuminated arch on Place Broglie.
• Tasting Alsatian delicacies at the Marché des Délices.
• Visiting Strasbourg Cathedral and its spectacular 14-metre nativity scene.
• Enjoying organ and Christmas carol concerts inside the cathedral.
• Ice-skating at the rink on Place du Château.

Strasbourg’s festive treats will delight every palate – sweet or savoury, hot or cold:

• Mulled wine: Made from red or white wine with spices, sugar, and citrus – the ultimate winter warmer.
• Christmas beer: Local brewers craft special festive editions, available at markets throughout the city.
• Foie gras: Invented in Alsace in the late 18th century and found at the gourmet market on Place du Marché-aux-Poissons.
• Bredles: Small biscuits made with butter, aniseed, or almonds – a December staple.
• Christstolle: A loaf-shaped cake filled with dried fruit, spices, and icing sugar – perfect to take home.
• Gingerbread: A beloved Alsatian classic and symbol of the festive season.
• Mannele: Little brioche figures with raisins or chocolate chips, traditionally eaten on Saint Nicholas Day.

 

Head to Lapland for an unforgettable Christmas in the official hometown of Santa Claus! The festive spirit reigns here all year long, but December is when the true magic happens.

In Rovaniemi, you’ll be immersed in a fairytale world of lights, garlands, Christmas markets, and snowy landscapes on the Arctic Circle.

Unmissable experiences include:

• Visiting Santa Claus Village – meet Santa in person and explore his workshop, a dream come true for young and old alike.
• Taking a reindeer or husky sleigh ride – an unforgettable adventure for couples, families, or friends.
• Watching the northern lights.
• Snowshoeing through Lapland’s forests.
• Joining a Christmas decoration workshop.
• Visiting Snowman World for snow mazes, living snowmen, and the Snowman Disco!

During the festive season, Rovaniemi offers many traditional Finnish dishes:

• Poronkäristys: Reindeer stew served with mashed potatoes.
• Loimulohi: Salmon nailed to a wooden board and flame-cooked over an open fire.
• Joulutorttu: Star-shaped pastry filled with prune jam.
• Joulupuuro: Rice pudding eaten on Christmas morning – tradition says finding the hidden almond brings luck.
• Glögi: Spiced mulled wine with almonds and raisins, a Finnish festive favourite.

 

The Danish capital, with its Scandinavian charm, becomes a winter wonderland during the Christmas season. Expect warmth, light, and the cosiness of hygge throughout your stay.

Thousands of fairy lights illuminate the streets, and Christmas stalls pop up on every corner.

• Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, hosts a spectacular Christmas market with 100,000 lights, festive shops, food stands, and an open-air ice rink.
• Wander through the old town and the colourful Nyhavn harbour, where boats are decorated for the holidays.
• Stroll down Strøget, one of Europe’s longest shopping streets, for souvenirs and gifts.
• Visit the Kongens Nytorv Christmas market, filled with family entertainment and Danish delicacies.
• Admire the 20-metre Norwegian spruce in City Hall Square, illuminated on 30 November – a must-see event.
• Go ice-skating on the Frederiksberg canal, a classic Copenhagen winter experience.

Christmas in Denmark is a feast for the senses:

• Æbleskiver: Fluffy dough balls similar to doughnuts, served with icing sugar or jam.
• Risalamande: Creamy rice pudding with almonds and hot cherry sauce.
• Flæskesteg: Crispy roast pork with red cabbage and caramelised apples.
• Smørrebrød: Open sandwiches with herring, smoked salmon, or pâté, beautifully garnished for the season.
• Gløgg: Denmark’s spiced mulled wine, often served with almonds and raisins.

 

Located in southern Poland, Kraków is the country’s second-largest city and a blend of medieval architecture and vibrant culture.

During Christmas, the city transforms into a truly magical spectacle – perfect for anyone seeking a festive fairy-tale destination.

Don’t miss:

• The Christmas Market on Rynek Square, the city’s most impressive, with stalls selling food, crafts, and decorations from across Poland.
• Classical music concerts in churches around the city (bring warm clothes – most churches aren’t heated!).
• The Kraków Nativity Scene Contest (Szopki), held on the first Thursday of December. Participants display intricate nativity scenes, paraded to the Historical Museum, where winners are announced and later exhibited until February. Listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Visiting Wawel Castle, perched on a hill 15 minutes from Rynek Square, offering panoramic winter views of the city.

The traditional Wigilia Christmas Eve dinner consists of 12 meat-free dishes, symbolising the apostles and months of the year. Typical plates include:

• Barszcz czerwony z uszkami: Beetroot soup with mushroom-filled dumplings.
• Pierogi: Dumplings filled with cabbage, potatoes, mushrooms, or cheese.
• Karp smażony: Fried carp – the centrepiece of the Christmas table.
• Kutia: Sweet wheat pudding with honey, nuts, and dried fruit.
• Makowiec: Rolled poppy seed cake with dried fruit and nuts – a Polish festive favourite.

The Czech capital is a true fairy-tale city, with cobbled streets, gothic towers, and its grand castle overlooking the snow-covered rooftops. During the festive season, Prague’s charm is simply irresistible.

Christmas in Prague offers plenty to do for couples, friends, and families alike:

• Join the St Nicholas Eve celebration on Na Kampě Square (5 December), where children dress up and sing traditional songs.
• Explore the Old Town Square Market, with its giant Christmas tree, artisan stalls, and life-sized nativity scene.
• Walk across the Charles Bridge under the snow – a breathtaking experience surrounded by baroque statues and festive lights.
• Attend a classical concert in one of the city’s many churches.
• Go ice-skating at popular rinks such as Harfa Shopping Centre or Letná Park, which offers views of the castle.

Don’t miss Prague’s festive treats:

• Trdelník: Spiral chimney cake baked over an open flame, coated in sugar and cinnamon.
• Svařák: Czech mulled wine with cloves, cinnamon, citrus peel, and honey.
• Pražská šunka: Traditional Prague ham, thickly sliced and served with bread or sauerkraut.
• Medovina: Honey wine (mead), a sweet and warming alternative to mulled wine.

These five destinations each capture the spirit of Christmas in their own unique way.
We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect place for your next festive getaway.
Wherever you decide to go, one thing is certain – you’ll return home with unforgettable memories and arms full of Christmas treasures.