patkars

We are planing a trip to Europe between December 24th through January 3rd. Any suggestions regarding suitable destination for a good family vacation? We have no interest in skiing, but like absorb culture and enjoy good cuisine.

Thanks

Jay

Underhill

Head to Vienna/Salzburg/Bavaria so as to take in the wonderful Christmas markets. You will also find good restaurants in those cities/regions and learn a great deal about the culture.

danon

southern Spain.

nytraveler

If you;re arriving on the 24th you'll be too late for the Christmas market - since they will close early that day.

If you want good food and culture I would head for Italy.

Southern Spain will be a little warmer and have lots of culture - but the food is OK - not great.

Also, Food in Austria/German can be find - but can be very heavy - defiintely a mixed bag. And while there is culture you will definitely be in heavy duty winter.

KayF

What about Nice, in southern France? My husband and I spent a week there last Christmas there and really enjoyed it. Lots of good day trips. We didn't have a car, just used buses and trains - cheap and easy.

http://www.justfrance.org/france/nice/

Or maybe Strasbourg, near the German border in Alsace (France). I believe the Christmas market in Strasbourg goes until 31 December, you could check on that.

http://www.otstrasbourg.fr/?lang=en

Kay

suze

(perhaps stating the obvious) Paris?

zeppole

What is the composition of the "family"? Toddlers? Teens? Grandparents?

What is your tolerance for snow, ice or chill?

Italy has great culture and good cuisine, but the most popular destinations often jam up during that week because Italians like to take holidays -- although a good many of them like to vacate the city to go skiing.

Rome might be a lot of fun.

patkars

we are family of three. We have a teenage daughter. We are fine with cold weather as long as it doe snot snow or there is no freezing rain.

zeppole

If you can't tolerate snow or freezing rain you have to rule out almost all of Europe, including those parts of Italy that have high elevation.

Rome almost never gets snow or ice -- and if it does, the Romans will be out dancing around in it and taking pictures,and you'll have a special experience.

Barcelona is likely to be less than freezing, although I think it is a bit more humid than Nice.

All 3 places have distinctly different cultures and food and ambience, with lots to do if it rains.

If you want something less intensely urban, check out Girona, Menton and Sorrento for smaller town feel (and with the latter, the chance to do some spectacular day-tripping if the weather turns lovely, or you enjoy warm hot springs on the isle of Ischia).

zeppole

By the way, I wanted to contradict the statement that the food in southern spain is "ok". What people like to eat is pretty subjective. If you know where to go and what to order in southern spain, you can have excellent food. Whether or not you like it is another matter!

suze

You need to look to the south (for no possibility of snow or freezing rain in December/January).

cherrybomb

Barcelona is nice that time of year--not too cold, "culture" and excellent food can be had.

Cowboy1968

Lisbon and surroundings, or Sevilla with the White Villages nearby.

blackduff

I would vote for southern Spain. The Andalucia can be very nice in the last part of December. And another poster mentioned, the food in Andalucia is wonderful. The seafood is great there but pheasant, partridge, and other "game" birds are well superb. You can find goat and lamb which is very well cooked.

But with all of the culture sites needed, don't go past Paris. For a week in the city is easily passed and you're going to be wishing for more time in Paris. Christmas is beautiful in Paris.

Blackduff