christmas escape ! Where?
 

We are thinking about getting away this Christmas to someplace in Europe ( a major city) I know some might suggest Spain but we'll be there in October.
If you have done it and have any suggestions it would be appreciated.

Venice? Quieter than at other times of the year, but depending on how long you are planning on staying also a fun place for new year.

Christmas Day itself most, if not all, the tourist attractions are shut and you will need to book a restaurant in advance, but otherwise its fun to wander without too many crowds.

I'm spending Christmas in Rome this year!

Prague, its cold but beautiful especially with the christmas markets,

London, always things going on there.

Berlin another city with Christmas markets and plenty to do

When I think Christmas I think of cities or places that are known for their Christmas markets. With that said, Munich, Prague, Vienna? On a smaller scale Strasbourg, Vienna or a tour of some of the larger Christmas markets in Germany (Rothenburg ob der Tauber/Nuremberg, etc)

If you say "Christmas" do you mean the Christmas holidays or just December?
If it's the holidays, keep in mind that at least the German Christmas markets do not take place during the holidays, they terminate on Dec 23 or perhaps Dec 24 around noon.

Years ago we flew to Switzerland on Christmas Day and home on New Years. We spent the week in Lucerne. At first we were surprised there was no snow (although we found out snow on Christmas would be fairly unusual), but there was a wonderful holiday spirit, including the nightly lighting of the real candles on the lobby tree every night. Zurich was very festive. And of course the real benefit was going off to the mountains daily if we wanted where there was LOTS of snow. We also stopped early one morning in the wood carving village of Brienz, and it was simply magical with light snow falling.

Thanks for suggestions. We are not interested in shopping,
just would like to avoid same old, same old...

We are flexible, so it could be News Years included.
Has anyone 'done" Paris at that time?

Amsterdam? Museums such as the Anne Frankhuis are open at least part of Christmas Day. There are usually a couple of ice rinks in the city too. You would need to book a restaurant for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

We'll be in Venice for Christmas this year.

Yes, we went to Paris for Christmas 3-4 years ago. It was wonderful. As you might expect, a big city has plenty to keep you occupied, plenty of restaurants and other things open, pretty holiday lights, shopping, ice skating if you're so inclined, etc., etc.

The Beaubourg is open Christmas Day, as is the Jewish History Museum (that is not the official name, I'm afraid) in the Marais...and other things as well, I bet. I would defintitely go to Paris for the holidays again.

Sintra, Portugal. Pretend you are Lillian Hellman and you are pissed off at Mary McCarthy so you stomp around in your mink coat and chain smoke. Don't arrive at your hotel without Louis Vuitton trunks, sweetie darling.

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus

Switzerland, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice

Danon,
Have you been to Paris, Amsterdam, or Venice? If not, I would choose one of these. You cant go wrong....

Ironically enough, I have been to Paris over the holidays and will be there this year as well. We fly on the 26th and will be there until Jan 1. Honestly, it's wonderful but as you may have figured out, I'm biased. :*) Paris at any time of year is fabulous as far as I'm concerned!

I've got to be honest with you though, I can't say that Paris exudes everything Christmas. It's not like you'll get there and say, "WOW...this place is over the top with Christmas lights and decorations!", it's just not. The Champs is very festive but nothing else stands out as being really decorated. We plan to spend a day in Strasborg because we've never been to a European Christmas market. I have been to Strasborg, just not at Christmas. Now with the high speed train, you can be there in 2 hours from Paris. I think it's a great place to spend the holidays and there's lots to do!!

For something different.. St Petersburg?

We are staying in an apartment in Nice for Christmas. Lots of nearby towns and villages to visit by bus/train or car.

Kay

I have been to St. Petersburg and it will be FREEZING BITTER WINDY in December. You will feel like you are about to die when you venture outside!!!!!!!!!

I thought that might be part of the charm :-)

Vienna/Salzburg

Another vote for Salzburg for Christmas, Vienna for New Years. That's where we'll be, flying into Munich and taking the train.

Salzburg.....it's magical during the holidays.

We are three families with 4 17 yr olds looking to spend a few weeks in Europe in Dec 2008/Jan 2009. I would appreciate any thoughts on our current plans.

We are considering spending a week in Paris over Christmas and a week in Samoëns in the French Alps over New Years.

We've found a few apartments that can accommodate us in Paris and chalets in Samoëns.

We have a chef in our group who has spent Xmas in Paris before and will be cooking Xmas dinner. He likes the markets and the range of food available. I don't know anyone who has been to Samoens before but it appeals because it is a medieval village rather than a full on ski resort. Several of the adults won't be skiing but the kids can take the lifts to some excellent skiing, the remainder want to do some touring. Geneva is only an hour away.

Oops - I didn't mean to post. I'm actually looking for any comments on our thoughts but also some ideas on how 11 people can most efficiently travel from point A to point B in Europe.


We do have family in Salamanca so we may go to Salamanca earlier in December and travel from there to Barcelona and up to Paris.

After New Years in Samoens, some of us also want to spend a few days in Lucca before we fly home to Sydney Australia.

I will also repost in a separate thread.

We visited Prague 2 Christmases ago, and it was lovely, the Christmas markets were great. Last year was my favourite though, in the Tyrol, Austria. Very festive :-)

I've lived in Florida so long, the ideal Christmas seems like it would involve sitting in a wonderful lodge by a roaring fire somewhere in the snowy mountains. (And do I see Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby singing at the piano?) That sounds like a ski resort. The only problem with that is, they get jammed with those bloody skiers at Christmas.

;It's not like you'll get there and say, "WOW...this place is over the top with Christmas lights and decorations!", it's just not."

That is exactly right for us!

Portugal is in our plans for Oct. 2008
( BTW, love Lilian Hellman : " The Little Foxes"," The Children's' hour" - she was a real dame!. Don't have LV luggage, but do have Ferragamo shoes!)

I have visited Paris more than 20 times, but never at Christmas .
It is probably best to go to a city
that offers so much any time of the year.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.