Christmas Day in Europe- where to go? Share your experiences!
 

I know, I'd talked about going next summer to the U.K. But my work and family event schedule is looking like winter travel again rather than a summer vacation. And I've got to admit, I do love the Christmas season. I was thinking two weeks split between Edinburgh and London. It might be fun to add on time elsewhere though. I'm not sure about spending Christmas Day in London because of the lack of transit. My flight home options are December 25, 27, or early January. 25 has proven complicated. Jan. would give me time to visit another destination, so I may go with that.

Last year, if you didn't follow my trip report, I was in Venice for Christmas. Wonderful, but I think I'd like to try somewhere new. Where have you been that you enjoyed?

Ideas so far are Prague, Belfast, Glasgow, Copenhagen, Vienna, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Barcelona. Have not been to any of those. I could visit Paris or Rome again, but that would be less about Christmas festivities and more about the sights that I didn't get to see last time. I'd like somewhere festive, interesting and easy to wander around (that's what I did in Venice) and easy to reach from London. And somewhere on the less expensive side- not Switzerland, for example. Tags are random, feel free to suggest elsewhere.

Thanks!

I spend most of my Christmases in southern France on the Riviera. Cooking my meat on a barbecue in Tshirt with temps above 20C for Christmas is something I love.

Walked around Paris one Christmas Day after landing and expected it to be a ghost town but no it was alive with strollers and some shops were open - even a few museums - seems the French celebrate Christmas the Eve before and on Xmas Day go for strolls, etc.

Good to know, PalenQ. Would not have expected that, and I do love Paris!

What...that probably would sound more tempting if I wasn't roasting at the county fair this week:)

I love Paris at Christmas. It is not dead at all on Christmas only a bit quiet Christmas Eve. The Jacquemart-Andre museum is open on Christmas and you will find lots of other things to do. We enjoyed a late AM omelette at Cafe Marly on Christmas day overlooking the Louvre pyramid a few years ago.

Here's a little video of our Christmas 2006 trip to Paris. We were there the week before Christmas, and we found it to be a great time to visit. If you skip to 5:20 of the video, it shows Paris (and a little of Reims) decked out for Christmas. There's also a trip report..."France 2006."

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/paris-video-2006/</B?

((H))

I've spent Christmas Days in both Munich and Switzerland and will spend Christmas Day in Switzerland again this year.

My idea of a festive Christmas Day might be different than yours.

In Munich we visited a church, drank eggnog lattes, explored and had lunch in the English Garden, watched river surfers on the Eisbach, and watched the Christmas Market vendors pack up on the Marienplatz.

In Scuol, Switzerland we walked to Hof Zuort, Switzerland’s most remote historic hotel situated in an alpine triangle consisting of Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

There we enjoyed a relaxing lunch in their small rustic restaurant, then walked/hiked back via Val Sinestra and Sent, a nine mile trek.

This was followed by a lovely dinner at a restaurant in Scuol, a walk through town - deserted and very festive, church bells ringing up a storm - and a Tuorta Da Nuschwe left by our apartment owner, which we heated in our apartment oven and devoured. Then we watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original of course) on our laptop.

This actually will work...I hope.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/paris-video-2006/

((H))

I once had a memorable Christmas in Maastricht, NL - the city is small but beautiful because it is lit up with lights all through the shopping district. We had a very memorable, grand lunch on Christmas Day in our hotel with Kir Royales, and in the afternoon went for a stroll through the district. There is nowadays a Christmas market which is open until 1 January but in those days, which is some time ago now, there wasn't anything open. You could probably combine with a trip to Aachen but I don't think their market stays open as long.

You can get there by train from London St Pancras but you would have to change trains a couple of times.

Lavandula

Lavandula- no,Aachen shuts down the 23rd unfortunately! If the German markets ran later, that's where I'd go- I loved Germany and didn't get to see nearly enough! Maastricht wasn't on my radar, thanks!

It sounds like you had a lovely Christmas in Scuol, Melinq8! Thanks!

Tom- thanks for the link, loved slide show. Paris is so tempting. I'm leaning towards Prague but may change my mind. I want to see the astronomical clock and budget hurt a bit last time in Paris. All those pastry shops!

Although I've not been in Prague for Xmas I don't think you could go wrong. Such a beautiful city. Enjoy!

Lavandula

I've spent Christmas Day in Prague (landed on Christmas Eve; then went to Vienna three days later) and enjoyed it (the castle was open and a lot of the restaurants too), although very cold. The year after that, I went to England and Wales for the holidays, but took the Eurostar to Paris on Christmas Eve and stayed there until Boxing Day, precisely because there is no public transport in London on Christmas Day. Went to Chartres for a day trip on Christmas Day and then Vaux-le-Vicomte on Boxing Day.

Oscarandpenelope- how long did you spend in Vienna? I'd like to see it and it's tempting to include it in this trip.

I'm feeling like the world is my oyster again and probably need someone to talk me down. So much to see, so little time! I don't want to to spend too much time in transit though.

Where else would be good to see in the U.K. at this time of year?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-vienna.cfm If you scroll down to the bottom of that page, I posted my itinerary. Sorry I remembered it wrong; we arrived on Christmas Day in Prague, not Christmas Eve.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...p-planning.cfm Near the bottom of that page has my itinerary for England/Wales/Paris.