venturesome4

Hi, I have received so many good tips over the years from this group ,I thought I would ask about advice for a 2 week vacation over Christmas, 2016. My daughter is at college in Copenhagen and her last final is 12/22/16 ;we would plan to arrive that day from the US. She has expressed an interest in staying in Europe for Christmas . We just got back from a 2 week trip to visit her in Copenhagen, also visiting Luxembourg, Belgium during this time.We have traveled a good bit through Europe but never during Christmas time. We are a couple, in our mid 50's, fit and adventurous, like to do a variety of things including museums, outdoor activities , eating well. We like a variety of places including big cities and small towns. I would really appreciate any thoughts you might have or trip reports to direct me to. Thanks so much!
Evelyn

crefloors

My niece was in College in Copenhagen for a year in either 2005 or 6, can't exactly recall. Her parents and I went to see her for two weeks right AFTER Christmas. We left US on Dec. 27, were in Copenhagen through New Years and then flew to Stockholm on Jan 3, and then flew home from there.

It was very festive. Their holiday goes until the 13th Jan. Lights, decorations were up. Tivoli was open with it's Christmas Market until New Years. We also saw a very funny play there, in Tivloli, put on by a British Theater troup and it was really funny. It's was a parody on Hans Christian Andersen called No Hans. Very fun.

IF you are planning to be there over the New Year be SURE you have a reservation for dinner. We didn't and had a very interesting dinner. Very good, VERY expensive but I didn't expect to be eating in an Argentinian restaurant in Copenhagen. LOL

We took the 99 bus to Malmo and shopped, all Christmas stuff was on sale. I still enjoy the ornaments and linens I got. They come out every Christmas.

I have a trip report at http://europetogo.yuku.com/forum/vie...5#.V-NGy8n2S_t

It was such a fun trip, one of the best. We still talk about the fun we had.

I posted the report on a different site and it's not typical of what you see here. It has some "inside jokes" with people that were long time posters on this site.

So there may be something of interest but if not, you won't hurt my feelings.

Odin

I've spent several Christmases in CPH and Southern Sweden. The period between Christmas and NY means that alot of restaurants are closed for the season, so if there is a particular one you want to eat at, make sure it is open. Christmas itself is a family time and there is not much activity between the 22nd December and 26/27 Dec when things are pretty much closed. You might find the odd restaurant open for Christmas. 22/12 is too late to sample the traditional julebord (Christmas Buffet) The weather was great last year, very cold but sunny and dry.
I've spent couple of Christmases in Russia too. Everything was open during December since the Russian Orthodox Christmas does not start until January so that worked in my favour. It was not particularly festive although things will have changed now, it was alot of fun esp at NYE in Red Square.

hetismij2

Museums in Amsterdam are open on Christmas day.
You would need restaurant reservations during that period no matter where you spend it I suspect.

venturesome4

Thanks so much for responding to my questions. I also really enjoyed the trip report,creflors. I had a difficult enough time getting reservations during our time there recently ,in mid Sept. , so I can only imagine how much more challenging it will be at Christmas time. thanks also to hetismij2 and Odin. I think we will go for it and plan the trip!
Evelyn