Where to spend Christmas
 

On our first European vacation, we have no idea yet where to start or finish, flying in from a hot Australian summer just before Christmas, and flying home again 3 weeks later.
We figure we will visit England, France, and Italy possibly Germany. We know the pace will be frantic and we will certainly do our homework via this wonderful site.
I would like some suggestions on ways of spending a truly memorable Christmas Eve/Christmas Day - obviously it will be vastly different to the ones we always spend on the beach in sweltering heat!
Any ideas - not fussed where - just want scenery or local activity that is going to "wow" us - self, husband, 21 yo and 16 yo sons.
And maybe some ideas of what else can be achieved in that region in the days before or after Christmas. We are loosely thinking of one week per country visited.
Cheers.

I'm not an xmas person and have spent the last 2 xmas's in Bangkok shopping, where it is just another day. But if you go to Europe, be aware that many places shut from Dec 24th till Jan 2nd or 3rd and that on Dec 25th, 26, Jan 1st there will be no public transport and banks and just about everywhere else are shut. Germany and some countries hold christmas fairs which often start around November.

My dream is to spend Christmas in Salzburg... or Germany. It just sounds so "postcard perfect" and very traditional. The winter weather is supposed to be wonderful (with snow!), skiing, ice skating...

I second Salzburg. If any city can call me in winter (outside of Florida) it's Salzburg.

There is absolutely no guarantee at all for snow at Christmas. We haven't had a white Christmas for several years. In fact, you're more likely to experience a "green" (i.e. grey) Christmas in Central Europe unless you spend the holidays in a ski resort high up in the mountains.

If you want to see the German Christmas markets, keep in mind that they take place before, not during the holidays. Visit places like Munich or Nürnberg or Dresden before Dec 24.

How long before Christmas? If 6 or 7 days - then hitting London/England first would be great. The Pantomimes, concerts, etc are so festive. BUT you need to plan so you are somewhere else Dec 24 - 26. So if you are arriving just a few days before - I'd start In Italy or France and not go to London after the holiday.

Everything shuts down (like <u>everything</u> including the tube, buses, etc.) on Christmas Day. Boxing Day is better but still a lot of things are shut (and the things that are open are mobbed) And w/ Christmas Eve being a Monday this year - I'd guess many places will take a looooong holiday and shut from the 23rd through the 26th.

So Christmas Eve evening, Christmas Day, and to some extent Boxing Day are great for those living in the UK - not so much for visitors.

Hi Susi - I've spent the 10 days up to Xmas in the Dolomites (Ortisei, Val Gardena) for the last 4 years - and will probably do so again this year :)

Spectacular mountain scenery and a picture-postcard setting for Xmas. It's hard to beat IMO ...

Steve

Some typical Dolomite views:
http://www.dolomitigallery.com/inverno/

oh - sheesh! Really should preview. What I meant to say was &quot;So if you are arriving just a few days before - I'd start In Italy or France and go to London after the holiday.&quot;

I live in Germany, and I have to say the Christmas markets are amazing. That being said, most of them end around December 15 (usually the last day will be a Sunday). If it's going to be after that, then most markets will be over. A previous poster said that most places will be closed for Christmas...that is definitely true. Almost all major tourist sites are closed at the time. There are still many things to see (castle ruins around every corner...many towns have multiple ones), but if you are looking for shopping or main tourist sites, I would suggest London or another major city, not typical German ones.

You can look at dates and locations of Germany's Christmas markets online. Here is one site:
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/index1.htm
We have found that many/most markets remain open until December 22, 23 or 24.

I'd advise that you go to a sizeable city for Christmas, as restaurants, etc. in smaller towns might well not be open. You will want to make reservations for your dinners on Christmas Eve (which is the BIG day of celebration in Germany, and probably much of Europe) and Christmas Day. Christmas itself is usually celebrated in homes as a family celebration, rather than as a tourist attraction. We were in Regensburg for two different Christmas holidays. In 2002 our hotel had a wonderful special schedule of meals in the restaurant. When we returned 3 years later, the same hotel closed its restaurant for the 24th and the 25th. We were able to make reservations elsewhere in town for the 25th, but on the 24th we had a 'picnic' in our room with things we picked up in town before EVERYTHING closed at 1:00 in the afternoon on the 24th. (A few pubs were open in the afternoon) Things stayed closed for the 25th (a Sunday that year) and the 26th. That being said, we attended the most wonderful church service in the Dom on Christmas Eve night, with the 1000 year old boy choir singing (arrived 2 hours early for seats). We also enjoyed walking the town's old streets in the snow on Christmas day.

I know that several different Fodorites were planning to spend Christmas 2006 in Salzburg, where I think more things are open on the holiday (I think the fortress is open, for example, and I'm assuming some restaurants also) You might be able to locate some trip reports.

We almost went to Salzburg for Christmas 2006 (work commitments prevented) but it didn't turn out to be a white Christmas there, unless you counted the snow way up on the mountains (which was still beautiful).

Given the OP's itinerary, Christmas in Paris would be fun, esp. if they opt to stay in an apartment so they could shop at the local markets beforehand for a cozy Parisian Christmas &quot;at home&quot;. Or perhaps Christmas in the south of France (Avignon).

We have spent Christmases in central Germany and they were lots of fun, if green.
How about Christmas in Venice? Sure it could be wet and grey, but it would still be Venice and it's high up on most people's list for scenery with a wow factor.

Thank you so much everyone for your fantastic contributions. I can't wait to get to the travel agent on the weekend to get the ball rolling. And I imagine over the next few months I will be kicking the kids off the internet at every opportunity!
Cheers

If you are considering Paris for Christmas, do read Maitaitom's excellent report;
http://tinyurl.com/2lyv3q