Where would you go in December?
 

It sounds like you really aren't interested in going to the UK again -- but a country house hotel in the countryside either Christmas Eve through Boxing Day or a few days over the New years holiday. You could combine it with a few day city break in London or York or almost anywhere

I'd go to Morocco, Egypt, the Canaries or Cape Verdi Islands

Amsterdam is open over Christmas and New Year. The museums I mean, and pretty much everything else too.

You could embrace the season and head north, cold,yes, dark, yes, dog sledding, possibly, saunas certainly, and a good chance of aurora.

Otherwise south as bilbo suggests, or maybe Madeira or the Azores.

It's not a resort type of place but Prague's Christmas market extends into January, there is a lot to do, and the city itself is gorgeous in wintery weather.

We spent a week in Antwerp and Amsterdam this past holiday season - arriving after Christmas and staying over New Year's. Antwerp's markets were open and things were pretty festive. There's also a big fireworks show on NYE. It was a little chilly, but we just dressed for it.

Have a look at southern Andalusia - Cadiz, Tarifa, etc., or Gibraltar. There are white villages, Roman ruins, beaches for sunning or windsurfing, ferries to Morocco... Pretty reliable sunshine, open roads, oranges on the trees.

Pictures from February but could have been earlier - not much difference.

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https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b71af06b5e.jpg

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I went to Provence at that same time of year. It was wonderful.

I've always found Salzburg a good place to spend Christmas.

I'm working on a trip for the same time period and also wondering where to spend Christmas Day. It's between Switzerland and northern Italy at the moment.

If you decide on Rome consider Naples afterwards. Near to Pompeii and Herculaneum. The Amalfi Coast will be very quiet, but the drive would still be spectacular.

I begin with this opening line so often, but I think it has merit.

We lived in Austria for many years. Those Christmas/Ski Break holidays not spent at home or in Paris/Prague/Budapest/Warsaw/Munich/Salzburg were spent in the South. That is, Croatia and Italy.

Happy Travel Planning!

I agree with both Rome & Naples (Sorrento, Pompeii, Herculaneum). I spent time in both just before & over Christmas, cool & pleasant, after arriving from a couple of December weeks in Malta where it was really quite nice, light jacket weather. For something completely different go to Malta.

Fourfortravel - any specific suggestions for Northern Italy? A bit worried about places (smaller towns) completely shutting down.

Yes, why not head up north and experience the artic winter in the north of Sweden? Stay at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, with dog sledding, reindeer sleigh excursions, snowmobile rides and the Northern lights. For inspiration visit icehotel.com

Combine the ice hotel with a tour of the underground iron-ore mine in Kiruna. It is the largest mine of its kind in the world.

Ice Hotel and Sami in northern Sweden
 

I second the Ice Hotel in northern Sweden. It would be a unique winter experience. You could stay one night in the actual ice hotel and the other nights in warm accommodations. https://www.icehotel.com/icehotel-original
There's also eco tourism at a Sami Village https://nutti.se/

but in December, it is just night time, all day. Better to go in February or March

I'm afraid I can not be of much help. The post Christmas/pre New Years break we spent in Italy was divided between a friend's house in Trieste and a couple of days in Venice. Our friends knew what would be open or closed and we could plan accordingly.

Thanks anyway forfortravel; I think we've got a few ideas now.

I will always love Christmas in Paris or London. My other choices would be Florence, Rome, and San Sebastián.

There was a thread on here recently about Christmas markets open after Christmas, as there are quite a few dotted around. That might be helpful for you. To this I would also add Brussels, which has a market (Winter Wonders) that is open until 6 January.

Lavandula