This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)
Tons of great ideas to find the best places for a white Christmas in Europe! We’ve listed here the very best European cities where you can enjoy the perfect Christmas atmosphere, to get the once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ve always dreamed of! Get ready to plan your next Christmas holiday in Europe: you’ll be packing before you even realize it!
Vienna Christmas markets
We have already talked about Vienna: in our opinion, it’s one of the European cities that becomes even more beautiful during the festivities and in my opinion one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe. If you have already read our article about the best Christmas markets in Vienna and you are wondering if it’s one of those places where you can live a fairytale white Christmas, the answer is … yes! You will also easily find here the best Christmas markets in Austria.
Vienna in December is very cold, but not as much as January. At many markets in the Austrian capital (but not only there) you will be able to taste the traditional Christmas street food. Typically, it’s hot stuff as roasted chestnuts or mulled wine, that the Austrians use to fight the temperatures generally going down below zero.
If you were looking for snow, you definitely won’t be disappointed. In fact it might snow nearly every day with just a few hours per day of sun. But don’t worry, you just have to be prepared to make sure the low temperatures won’t ruin your Christmas vacation. Pack your luggage with the right Winter clothes and bring a raincoat with you, so you won’t get your hair wet because of the snow (it’s quite unpleasant, been there, done that!).
You might also like:
Insider tips for visiting Italy in winter
What to pack for a trip to Europe in winter
Why Prague in winter is absolutely amazing
Italian Christmas food you never knew existed
How to visit Vienna Christmas markets
The best of Bratislava Christmas market
15 awesome trip ideas to visit Europe in winter
Where to find the most amazing Christmas markets in Europe
Incredible travel gift ideas for women – have a smart Christmas!
20 awesome Christmas markets in Italy
On bank holidays restaurants and hotels will be open, but the shops are always closed. However, you won’t miss too much your shopping session. At Christmas you will in fact be able to attend (mostly for free) Christmas carols and events not only at the Christmas markets in Vienna, but also in many of its magnificent Churches.
The best way to visit Vienna is using the public transport. Here you can buy a discounted Vienna City Card for unlimited rides on metro, buses and trams. It also offers over 210 discounts at popular attractions, museums and shops!
I strongly advise you to book a table in advance at the restaurant where you want to eat at Christmas, or you won’t find place anywhere! Vienna can get pretty crowded during the holidays.
In our opinion, Vienna is one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe: it’s a holiday the Austrians seem to love, therefore you will always find the best decorations, the best Christmas gifts and the best events during the holidays. If you are looking for a tour of the Christmas shops and markets in Vienna, with a local guide that speaks English, you can click here to book the best one.
Budapest and the Danube
The spectacular Budapest (Hungaria) offers several Christmas markets, at the city center and in the outskirts.
You will find them from mid-November to the end of December. Two of them are the most awe-inspiring and loved by tourists from all over the world.
The Christmas market in Vorosmarty square is situated in Budapest city center and dates back to 1998.
It’s generally open from the 10 November to the 31 December.
The second one is the one situated in front of St. Peter Basilica and it’s open from the 24 November to the 1st of January. These are two of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe because no matter what, the atmosphere will never disappoint.
The first one is often believed to be the only Christmas market in Budapest, maybe because it’s the one that has a nice fairytale atmosphere, and it’s also very colorful… and crowded. The air is full of Christmas scents, cinnamon above all, because it’s largely used in the traditional Hungarian pastries.
Even if it’s a fairly touristy Christmas Market, it has an almost vintage feel. You won’t find plastic lights or huge (and horrible) Santa’s at every corner. They tried in fact to preserve the beauty of the historical buildings in the area, so on the front of Cafe Gerbeaud, a building that dates back to the 19th century, there’s a laser light show every night.
It represents the traditions that this Budapest Christmas market wants to show to its visitors. Here you can buy a discounted Budapest Card for unlimited free public transportation.
The Christmas market in front of St. Peter Basilica, one of the tallest buildings in Budapest, is managed by the National Association of Folk artists.
Its members come here to sell high quality crafts representing Hungarian history, culture and traditions. It’s the perfect place for you if you intend to buy souvenirs or Christmas presents!
I added Budapest (here you can read a useful guide on what to do in the city) to my list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe because not only you will surely find lots of snow, but the two markets are within walking distance and thus it feels like the whole city becomes one huge Christmas village.
Just think that the Christmas market in front of St. Peter Basilica has over 100 stalls, street food… and a beautiful ice skating ring in St. Istvan square! In case you want to book something special for Christmas eve, by all means, treat yourself to an unforgettable Christmas dinner cruise!
This cruise down the Danube on a luxury boat includes a buffet dinner with Hungarian food, live music and Budapest sightseeing from the Danube. Check out the menu and book here!
The magic of London’s lights
Full disclosure: snow in London is not 100& sure in December. With the global warming the temperatures aren’t as cold as they used to be, so it’s much more unlikely than it was a few years ago. Yet I couldn’t just skip London. The City is gorgeous during the Christmas holidays (even more than it usually is!) due to all the lights and decorations.
Planning a weekend in London in December might be expensive, which is why we prepared a very useful article on a budget trip, and a useful list of the best London photography spots, with alternatives for the crowded places and a printable map!
One of the things you absolutely can’t miss during a Christmas vacation in London is Winter Wonderland. Hyde Park not only has a nice Christmas market, but also the most decorations (festive lights, mostly). If you go over there, be prepared for lots of Christmas carols, handmade gifts… and crowds. Sad but true! Yet it still is one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe, crowds or not!
You might also like:
Ultimate itinerary – 4 days in London
The best London souvenirs you should buy
How to spend a cool night in Soho
The most instagrammable spots in London
Plan a fabulous weekend in London
20 awesome fall trips in Europe
Leicester Square also dresses up for the holidays. They generally have the usual Christmas market stalls, Santa’s grotto and a vintage Speigeltent, which is a velvety, wooden, mirrored place where you will be able to assist to a very busy programme of Christmas cabaret by the Underbelly team.
If you want something even bigger, Southbank Center is the right place for you. Sweet treats, seasonal Christmas shows, lights and lots of fun, especially (but not only!) for the little ones.
London is a multicultural city and thus they found a place also for Christmas markets representing history and traditions from other countries.
Just like the Scandinavian Christmas market, in front of Rotherhithe’s Finnish and Norwegian Churches, with Scandinavian treats, decorations, musical performances and gifts.
Or the Danish Christmas market, at Hampstead villa, which turns into a little piece of Denmark, with Danish carols, hot dog stalls (the real stuff!), Danish crafts and lots of delicious food.
And let’s not forget the Jolly Hobbies Japanese Christmas market at Crouch end! So many Christmas markets from all around the world in one place… which is what makes it one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe, right?
If you’re tired of walking around, here you can book an awesome tour of the Christmas lights in London with an open top bus. It includes the help of a local guide, film clips, sound effects and an awesome soundtrack! Check out prices and availability by clicking here.
December in London is also the time of the year where you can find the best festivals. Like the Greenwich Wintertime Festival, the one place where you will find snow in London. At the Old Royal Naval College, beside the Cutty Sark, there will be in fact artificial snow, a covered ice skating ring and of course also a Christmas market.
Two more highlights of this period are the Massive Arts Christmas Fayre at the Ritzy and the Portobello Winter Festival at Portobello Green.
There’s also the chance to buy tickets for a magnificent tour that will pick you up from your hotel in London to attend the Christmas day service at Canterbury Cathedral, and after a tour of Rochester, you will have a traditional Christmas lunch with al the trimmings. Before to return to London, you will be taken to Dover to see the famous White Cliffs. You can click here to get a discounted price for this Christmas tour!
Another interesting activity is attending a Christmas tea in London. I asked for info to David Angel of Delve into Europe, as he’s a London expert, and here’s what he told me.
Afternoon tea in London should be on every London bucket list. Most of the luxury hotels offer it, as do some of the city’s grand department stores. And they don’t come much grander than Fortnum & Mason, which has been open since 1707.
Fortnum & Mason’s venue for afternoon tea is the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, which was opened in 2012 by Queen Elizabeth II. It was built 307 years ago and has been an apartment, an antiques department and a restaurant in its time.
The store has been selling tea since 1720, and they even have tearistas to guide you through the extensive tea menu.
The food is just scrumptious – a mixture of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, jam and lemon curd, and a selection of patisseries and cakes.
Their afternoon tea doesn’t really change in the run-up to Christmas, but the store does very much. It’s beautifully decorated for Christmas, and full of great Christmas gifts including some delicious hampers. They also sell tins of special Christmas spiced tea to keep you warm during the festive season.
Have you already visited London a few times before? How about you try a new, fun and out of the beaten track tour? The London Unexpected Christmas tour will make you discover unique Christmas gems in London, while power walking to the rhythm of the best Christmas tunes! Click here to check out rates and availability.
How could I not add London to this list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe? After all… there will be artificial snow anyway, and so many things to do!
Besides, last Christmas we had snow even on Mount Vesuvius in Naples (Italy) so… fingers crossed!
Prague: cinnamon, beer and Christmas
In Prague you have more chances to find snow if compared to London. We have visited Prague some times in December, January and February. While February was super-snowy, there was still a good amount of snow at Christmas!
In my opinion, because this city is so evocative at Christmas, there’s plenty of reasons for you to decide you want to spend your holidays there.
If you’re planning to spend a couple of days in the area, here’s a Prague itinerary you can use to get the most out of your trip.
The most important feature of Prague is the true Christmas atmosphere, scented with cinnamon and clove. Wherever you go for your self guided walking tour of the city you will find mulled wine, delicious trdelnik (sweet pastry), hot mead and the famous juicy ham they cook here.
The Bohemian Capital can be delicious during the holidays, so you can read our guide in case you want to taste the best traditional dishes in Prague. Here you can get a discounted price for a Prague Card for 2, 3 or 4 days, to get unlimited use of public transport, discounts and free entry to several monuments.
You might also like:
Where and what to eat in Prague
Prague districts – where to find lodging
How to spend 2 days in Prague
Why Prague in Winter is awesome
Visiting Europe in October: 20 awesome fall trip ideas
The best destinations in Europe for a Fall trip
The Christmas markets in Prague are in fact the most impressive in the Czech Republic: they lit up the city, bringing locals and tourists together in what feels like a Winter Wonderland setting.
They are open from 2nd December to 6th January, including on Christmas Eve, Christmas day and New Year’s day.
The most popular and largest one is usually held on Old Town Square, which becomes one huge Christmas village and the main centre of Christmas celebrations for the whole December. There are a lot of reasons why visiting Prague in Winter can be a great idea, so keep it in mind if you’re still not sure of where you want to spend the Christmas holidays.
Old Town Square in Prague is dominated by a huge Christmas tree that every year is selected from a different region of the Czech Republic. At the stalls you will easily find great Christmas gifts, souvenirs and traditional arts and crafts such as sword making. Kids especially love to pet goats, sheep and donkey at the animal stable here, representing the Bethlehem scene, with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the Three Kings.
Because Prague can be particularly expensive during the holidays, we prepared an in depth guide to Prague districts to help you find a good hotel according to your budget.
White Christmas in Bratislava
Just like Vienna, Bratislava deserves a special mention in our list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe. Here is where you’ll find lots of ice and snow!
If you already read my guide to Bratislava Christmas market, you will know that to save a lot of money and visit more European capitals during the festive period, you can decide to find a hotel in Bratislava and move to Prague and Vienna by train.
If you go to Bratislava during the Christmas holidays, beware: it might be even too cold so make sure you pack accordingly!
Yet Bratislava looks like a fairytale city when it’s covered in snow and ice, all lit up with the Christmas lights and decorations. In front of the town hall there’s always a huge Christmas tree and some of the biggest hotels also have awesome trees or wintery scenes to decorate the hall.
In case you prefer to visit Bratislava by booking a tour with a local to make sure you hit all the best parts of this amazing city. Away from the crowds as much as possible. Check out rates and availability by clicking here.
Bratislava smells like good food and mulled wine. Locals here like to eat a slice of fried bread with a generous serving of caramelized onions on the top, while drinking a cup of mulled wine.
At the Bratislava Christmas Market you will also be able to buy handmade Christmas gifts without spending a fortune. I bought a bunch of wool scarves for just a few Euros!
Tallinn and the first Christmas tree
Another one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe is Tallinn, in Estonia, where snow during the holidays is always guaranteed!
The Tallinn Christmas Market is colorful and with a touch of fairy tale. It’s held every year at the Town Hall Square, where you will also find a huge Christmas tree, the most important one in Estonia.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in the Town Hall Square dates back to 1441, making it the first one of its kind in Europe!
The Christmas market is open from the 17 November to the 6 January, with about 40.000 led lights and a stage decorated with over 600 Christmas stars: it’s simply majestic!
If you intend to spend a few days here, you can book a 3 hour medieval walking tour to see the best sights of the city: with all the Christmas decorations and the snow it’s even the more beautiful!
Click here to check rates and availability.
The cobblestone streets and the rooftops in Tallinn are layered in white and the whole town has this vibe that makes you feel like you are walking through an animated postcard.
Strings of lights illuminate cafe windows and little shops, and candles flicker on the tables as you sit for a traditional dinner, while outside the snowflakes fall lazily on the singers who perform Christmas carols.
If you are a foodie like us, you can book a food tour of Tallinn to taste the best dishes and wine, or let a tour to explore the Estonian craft beers in a cozy cafe near the Town Hall warm you up.
Christmas in Tallinn is always an unforgettable experience, so much so that Tallinn has been named the number one best value destination in the world to visit in 2018 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel, featuring the best destinations in the world that should feature on every wanderluster’s bucket list.
So it’s not only one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe but for a trip throughout the year, according to the experts!
Christmas Fairs and festivals in Berlin
Christmas markets in Berlin are a huge deal. From the end of November (generally the 25th) to the early days of January, tourists and locals get spoiled by the awesome scent of food, mulled wine and colorful lights.
If you want to save on public transport, your best bet is to buy a Berlin Welcome Card to get unlimited transport options for the AB or ABC zones. Click here to buy your Berlin Welcome Card.
In the evenings the streets are busy with people from all over the world who come here to enjoy the festivities, even if it’s cold and there are good chances at snow every year.
Yet this isn’t the only reason why I added Berlin to my list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe. December is in fact full of fairs, festivals and Christmas markets.
From the Arts and Crafts Christmas market Frohnau, with approximately 140 artists who sell their creations, to the Fairy Tale Christmas Market at Jagdschloss Grunewald, in front of a Renaissance palace, the oldest surviving one in Berlin, there’s something for everyone.
They even have an environmental Christmas market, with trendy hip Berlin designer pieces, not to mention all the fun rides, ice skating rings, Christmas choirs and shows.
In case you are planning to explore Berlin at Christmas in an unusual but fun way, you can opt for a 4.5 Christmas boat tour on the Spree river. You will be able to opt in (or out) for a delicious dinner and party hard with people from all around the world.
If you don’t have too much time to visit Berlin, you should at least explore the city the hip way on a legendary VW T1 Samba bus on a 2 hour tour. It covers about 50 of the best sights in Berlin!
Berlin is indeed the place you should visit if you are looking for a busy Christmas, but I suggest you to either plan well in advance where you want to go, or to add a couple of nights to your stay, just to make sure you won’t miss anything!
It might be one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe, snow and all, but you won’t want to regret not having visited somewhere you really wanted to go to!
Fairytale Christmas markets in Hamburg
Hamburg is quite famous for its food markets, but it’s also the second most important city in Germany for the Christmas markets tourism. While snow isn’t guaranteed in December, experiencing the Winter magic in Hamburg is a once in a lifetime thing.
I decided to add it to my list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe because, just like Berlin, it offers you the chance to do and see so much. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a cold European city to spend your Christmas holidays.
The best way to explore it is by using public transport: you can book here a Hamburg Card at a discounted price to save money and get free access to buses, trams and metros.
The beautiful architecture offers the perfect backdrop for awesome and romantic trips, especially when it’s all lit up with led lights and Christmas decorations.
The prettiest Christmas market in Hamburg is in fact set in front of the Town Hall, and it’s been lovingly designed by Roncalli director Bernhard Paul. You will find woodcarvers from Tyrol, gingerbread bakers from Aachen and Nuremberg, silversmiths, sword makers and many others in this Christmas market that mixes history, tradition and heritage: it’s one of those places where both kids and adults will have so much fun!
Christmas season in Hamburg is full of parades, festive shows, but also shopping, sightseeing and activities. This is the one city that that never forgets that there are so many children attending. If you’re visiting with your little ones, they sure won’t get bored.
Christmas Market in Rynek Glowny – Krakow
Truth be told, I fell in love with Krakow at first sight. Unexpectedly, too, since I thought that Warsaw was the place I liked the most in Poland!
While maybe a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau isn’t exactly something you want to add to your Christmas schedule (or is it?), I can tell you that Krakow offers so many nice things to do for the holidays.
If you are staying a few days, in fact, I strongly suggest you to also visit Zakopane and the Tetra mountains on a guided tour. The locals also love to visit during the Winter season, when it’s snowy. Click here to book a day tour with pick-up service from your hotel to Zakopane. It includes insurance, English speaking guide and lunch!
Krakow Christmas market generally opens the last week of November and lasts at least until December 26th. Sometimes they keep it open until January 6th, just like when we’ve visited the city, but it’s not a given thing.
You will find it on the evocative Rynek Glowny, in the Old Town, where all the major events in Krakow take place. At the wooden stalls you will find a wide range of Christmas decorations, gifts, sweet treats and traditional Polish food.
Eating in Krakow is very cheap, and the food is to die for: with the Christmas market in Krakow this rings even the more true.
The street food will warm you up, together with the mulled wine, and you will be surprised, just like us, at how inexpensive it is. There’s even the chance to learn how to cook a few traditional Polish dishes with a 3.5 hour home cooking experience! Click here to find out if the cooking lesson is available when you’re visiting Krakow.
It always snows in Krakow in December, so it’s one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe, especially if you are planning to visit on a budget!!
Unforgettable Christmas in Frankfurt
Frankfurt Christmas market is one of the most beautiful markets in Germany, and even if snow isn’t always a given at Christmas, I can tell you that it’s worth the trip. Mostly because it’s one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, and it has a breathtaking backdrop.
Let’s face it, Frankfurt is a pretty town. Add wooden stalls, lights and decorations to that and you’ll have the perfect place to put you into an especially festive mood.
The markets are open at Römerberg, St Paul’s Square, Mainkai (Main Quay), Hauptwache and Friedrich-Stoltze-Square from November 27 to December 22.
The one thing that some people just don’t like is that almost everything will be closed at Christmas. The locals truly believe in spending the holidays with their beloved ones, so they’re just not going to work.
Because it might be difficult to find a table at any restaurant for Christmas, make sure to either book one well in advance or to book a hotel room with a rate that includes dinner.
Many pubs will open after the Christmas dinner, because Frankfurt is a lively city, so you might find lots of young people going out after the family dinner.
The best way to explore Frankfurt is by using public transport. Buying a a Frankfurt card will help you to save quite some money. It includes free public transport during your stay and also discounted rates at museums, shops and restaurants. Click here to buy the Frankfurt Card at a discounted price.
If you are history nerds like us, let me suggest two amazing day trips from Frankfurt that you will absolutely love.
The first one explores Rothenburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval towns, Rothenburg.
The second one will show you the majestic Eltz Castle on the Moselle.
Both are perfect for Christmas, which is why I had to add Frankfurt to my list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe!
Baroque Christmas in Dresden
Yet another German city made it to our list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe: Dresden.
One of its Christmas markets, the Dresden Striezelmarkt, is the oldest in Germany (over 500 years!) and probably the most popular one. You can find it at Dresden Altmarkt square from November 29 to December 24.
If you like Christmas, you will fall in love with Dresden. This baroque city is in fact the perfect backdrop for the perfect Christmas: you will find eleven Christmas markets in this city, from the most traditional ones to the medieval market. To make it short, it’s yet another European city where it’s difficult to decide what to add to the itinerary: make sure you plan well in advance so you can decide all the activities you don’t want to miss!
The Dresden City Card is super cheap, and it will help you to plan a self-guided tour of Dresden also if you’re visiting on a budget. It’s the best way to save on public transport because it includes unlimited rides and a few discounts on activities and restaurants. You can click here to buy it at a discounted price.
The Christmas season in Dresden is particularly awesome, because of all the decorations, the snow and the special festive events that introduce the visitors to Saxon Christmas traditions and culture, through food, arts and crafts.
If you are into classical music, you absolutely have to treat yourself to a Festive Christmas Concert in the Marble Hall in the Zwinger. You will listen to melodies written by Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart, in an impressive venue.
Click here to check rates and availability.
Copenhagen and the hygge markets
Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word that can’t easily be translated.
Usually it’s desribed as cozyness and “feel good” vibe that you get when you are very happy.
Christmas in Copenhagen embodies this concept: both locals and tourists enjoy themselves in a cozy and easygoing setting. They even organize foodie tours of the city, at some of the best restaurants, which will teach you a lot about the hygge culture (and food. Did I mention the lovely food?).
Click here to discover rates and food stops included in the guided tour.
Tivoli Gardens is a must visit place in Copenhagen, especially during the festive season, because it becomes a white Winter Wonderland. This Copenhagen Christmas Market is probably the most crowded one during the holidays but you just can’t help going there, it’s too beautiful!
Copenhagen is an expensive city, so to save lots of money, the best option is to buy a Copenhagen City Card. It includes free public transport rides and also free entrance to over 73 museums and attractions, as well as discounts on many restaurants.
Here you can buy it at a discounted price.
Kronprinsensgade is a narrow street in Copenhagen, decorated with thousands of small led lights which look like a starry roof over your head. It’s a good place not only for some seasonal shopping, but also to take a few pictures: this is one of the most Instagrammable places in Copenhagen, especially at Christmas!
My favorite place in Copenhagen is Kogens Nytorv square, where you can see the best Christmas displays.
Hotel D’angleterre always offers a themed display with light curtains that transform its facade in a theater, but almost every shop and hotel here shines with lights and decorations.
Did I mention that it’s my favorite part of Copenhagen during the Christmas season? No wonder that I added the Danish capital to my list of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe!
The Rabbit village in Riga
Among the very best places for a white Christmas in Europe you can find Riga, in Latvia. With its Old Town Christmas fair, the roasted almonds and the local handcraft, it offers the visitors the chance to find their Christmas miracle every day.
The seasonal program is always stuffed with workshops and concerts (there is some classical music, but mostly Christmas carols) and the city is tiny enough that you can visit just using public transport or walking around.
In the city center there are Christmas markets on Dome Iakumus and Līvu laukums, two beautiful squares, and at Esplenāde Park. I’d pay a visit especially to the last one as it has a cute “village” populated by rabbits: let’s face it, not only kids love this kind of things!
They are all open from early December to early January.
The traditional treats include mulled wine, gingerbread, roasted almonds, but also smoked meats. At the Christmas markets you will also find nice – and locally produced – presents and souvenirs. Patterned mittens, candles, but also Latvian honey, socks, hats and scarves.
Spending the Christmas holidays in Riga also means learning about the Latvian traditions, that don’t only include food and crafts but also things like log dragging and local Christmas songs.
Helsinki – Christmas City
Helsinki is officially considered the “Christmas City“. After all, here they are used to substantial snows in time for the holidays, making it one of the best places for a white Christmas in Europe and it’s also one of the most beautiful.
While it will be very cold, Winter is probably one of the best seasons to visit Finland, because Christmas is a the most heartfelt festivity here. To the point that, to be able to spend Christmas with their family and still have fun during the holidays, Finns have a “pikkujoulu“.
It’s a traditional party that anticipates Christmas in a highly festive, informal way.
The Christmas markets in Helsinki bustle with energy, and because of pikkujoulu, they don’t stay open for long. Generally only for 10-15 days and never after December 22.
Yet they’re not the only place where you can actually soak in the Christmas atmosphere. If you walk over at Aleksanterinkatu, named the “official Christmas street“, you will find beautiful shop windows and lights decorating the whole area.
It’s the place where the locals go to do their Christmas shopping so chances are that you will find beautiful souvenirs and presents as well! You can buy a discounted Helsinki City Card to discover Helsinki with free public transportation. It includes a free sightseeing tour and discounts on restaurants, shops and tours. Click here to check the updated rates.
The traditional drink for Christmas in Finland is Glögi, made from spiced wine with a sprinkle of almonds, raisins and, if you want, a dash of vodka. After all, the sun is reluctant to rise as Winter starts to grip Helsinki, so you’ll have to keep warm somehow!
Italian beauty: Milan
Being Italian I couldn’t help myself: I had to add Milan to the list of the best places for a white Christmas, even if it doesn’t snow every year.
My sister lives in Milan, so I’ve had my fair share of snowy Christmase holidays with her, but it really depends. Again… global warming and pollution aren’t helping. Every year seems to be different from the previous one!
Here you can find a lot of useful information on Italy winter weather for your trip.
The traditional Christmas markets in Milan are called “Oh Bej! Oh Bej“, which is dialect and means “Oh beautiful!“. The name seems to recall the time when kids were all screaming “Oh Bej!” back in 1510, when the papal envoy Giannetto Castiglione was sent to Milan to give gifts to the kids there.
Around the Sforza Castle there’s a huge Christmas market with almost 400 stalls. Many of them are traditional of Milan, so you will find artisans, florists, book sellers or toy makers, among others. They represent the ancient arts and craft of this beautiful city, with the castle that makes the perfect backdrop.
You might also like:
A taste of Italy – The best regional food in Italy
Italian Christmas food you should eat on your next trip to Italy
Another Christmas market is located at the Public Gardens Indro Montanelli, where you will also be able to taste the traditional “Firunatt“, smoked chestnuts only sold during the holiday season.
Lately they have even opened a “Green Christmas“, a Christmas market that celebrates a green lifestyle, held at the Fonderia Napoleonica Eugenia, an archaeological site.
Milan at Christmas is a sight to behold, with all the lights and the decorations. And if you spend the New Years here, there’s a huge concert near the Duomo, which is completely free! This year there will also be a beautiful laser lights show. Mind you, it will be crowded but worth it! Besides, you can visit the best of Milan in one day if you don’t have much time.
If you want to try something new, you should treat yourself to a day trip to St. Moritz on the Bernina Express train. The Swiss Alps are usually snowy and absolutely gorgous in December so you are in for an unforgettable trip! Click here to check rates and availability.
If you’re traveling with your significant other, make sure to also visit the most romantic spots in Milan on a free, self guided tour of the city. They will love it!
If Europe isn’t enough, have a look at these unusual Christmas travel ideas!
