Nothing shuts down at Christmas in Paris. On the contrary.

I absolutely LOVED Paris at Christmas! It was simply wonderful. Magical. I can't wait to go back, but I'll have to wait a few years.

HIGHLY recommend!

Not sure about Bulgaria and Romania, but Greece celebrates Christmas on the 25 th....

Have you asked this question in the forum before? I have a response but I think I have a memory of giving the same answer before.

At risk you will remember: I vote for Maastricht in the Netherlands. It's a small city which is beautiful with lights over the shopping streets. There is a small Christmas market which is uncompelling (mostly children's rides and van selling oliebollen (which are yum)), but the atmosphere on the streets is wonderful. I have been a couple of times at that time of the year, but it's been many years since I actually stayed there over Christmas and I assume the city still pretty much shuts down. Perhaps you should take a visit right before Christmas - that way everything is open and you can enjoy the shops, restaurants and the festive atmosphere, and not the 'down' that is Christmas closure.

I also like Germany for similar reasons but again, everything closes for the three Christmas days. To really appreciate German cities at Christmas you need to be there in the lead-up to Christmas and not on the actual days as the markets don't tend to stay open over the festival days, with the exception of a few places, but I confess I don't know what they are.

Lavandula

You've a better memory than me, apparently! I checked my posting history and yes, I did ask something very similar, it's just my focus has changed a bit. I was definitely interested in the Christmas thing, then, (ended up in UK), and this time it's more that I'm looking for R&R, and I'm not necessarily for sure tied to December. I could go in February or March as well. Maybe even later, although I don't really want to run into summer crowds or summer prices.

Have stalled planning, though, because of the weather here--if I bought a ticket tomorrow, it would be a tropical paradise. Brr.

Thanks. I'm very tempted to return to Germany, and I'd love to visit the Netherlands. I'm just not sure if I want to go in December.

Hope you find what you're looking for - even in Feb or March you will get cold weather.

Have been reading about the cold weather in the US - stay warm!

Lavandula

We had an awesome Christmas trip two years ago where we spent time in Prague and Salzburg. Both places had wonderful Christmas markets and the entire atmosphere was amazing (especially for us as Aussies where Christmas = hot summer!). At Salzburg we even elected to do a horse-drawn sleigh ride in the Austrian mountains on actual Christmas Day which our two young children (aged 10 and 8) aren't likely to forget anytime soon - neither are my wife and I.

This might sound a bit counter-intuitive, but do you have any interest in Israel? Obviously Christmas isn't a big deal (except in Bethlehem, duh) but it's a great time to visit the country. Jerusalem is always fabulous, the Galilee is always lovely, and it's warm and swimmable in Eilat or (floatable) at the Dead Sea. Apparently Christmas is also becoming an increasingly popular (if secular) holiday among Israeli Jews, evidence this recent article in Haaretz - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...tmas-1.6781457

We spent Christmas some years back visiting family who live on the first kibbutz (on the River Jordan at its exit from the Sea of Galilee, aka Kinneret.) We stayed at the Scots Hotel in Tiberias, owned by the Church of Scotland. This is a marvelous property, which of course was all decked out for the holiday. It's a wonderful place at that time of year. https://www.scotshotels.com/

Paris at Christmas was simply magical. One of my best trips ever!

Oops! I already posted on this thread.

(Back to following denisea around the board. I'm in search of Paris recommendations.)

HI Starrs - what kind of Paris recommendations can I help with?

Starrs, she is the best. I love reading all of denisea's trip reports. We booked Germany for this Christmas. No flight yet but booked an apartment for the week. We want to go somewhere before and after. If flights were cheap to Paris or Milan we would book. I just want to be somewhere magical looking. I learned that the Zugspitze has an ice bar and hotel in the winter. Travels with my Father is hysterical on Netflix and they went there.