Magical Christmas Journey

Austria

Set in the Austrian Alps, Hallstatt is a lovely village in Austria. Christmas is magical here with one of the highlights being the Christmas Market.

The Christmas Market has a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. There are wooden stalls from which traditional handicrafts, festive decorations, and local delicacies are sold. You can feel the spirit of the season by enjoying a mug of Gluhwein, a mulled wine made to warm you up.

Another highlight is the Christmas Village located right in the heart of Hallstatt. Here you’ll find lovely decorated stalls.

The scents of Christmas are all around and you can indulge in treats like Kaiserschmarrn, fluffy shredded pancakes. There is also delicious Lebkuchen, a tasty gingerbread. You can also enjoy carol singing and live performances.

White blankets of snow make this village even more picturesque and you can take a stroll along the lake. All around are snow-capped mountain peaks, snow-covered trees, and nature.

A funicular will take you up to the Hallstatt Skywalk. This is an elevated platform that offers spectacular views of the village, the lake, and the Dachstein Mountains.

Saltzburg, Austria became popular with tourists after it became the filming location for the film “The Sound of Music”. The city is located in the Austrian Alps and is known for its Baroque architecture, musical heritage, and fantastic natural landscapes.

Christkindlmarkt is a traditional Christmas market located in Cathedral Square. It offers a fairytale-like setting with sparkling lights and festive decorations. There are stalls selling handmade crafts and wooden toys.

You can enjoy Austrian delicacies such as Morzartkugel, a small, round sugar confection that consists of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat covered in dark chocolate, and Lebkuchen a delicious gingerbread.

Another wonderful experience is the Stern Advent Saltzburg set against the backdrop of Hohensalzburg Fortress, This market showcases local artisans and craftsmen. You can enjoy a warming, spiced glass of Gluhwein. There is live music.

Throughout the Christmas season, there are a variety of concerts and performances. Visitors can see Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Salzburg Marionette Theater.

Hellbrunn Palace is adorned with sparkling lights and there is a carousel to ride.

The capital Vienna, Austria is a magical place during the holiday season. Every church has concerts.

Schonbrunn Palace has several concerts during the holiday season. It has a Christmas market selling traditional decorations and handicrafts.

The most famous is Christmas in Vienna with the Vienna Boys Choir at the Wiener Konzerthaus.

The Christmas Market in front of Belvedere Palace has booths with lights.

In front of the City Hall is the largest Christmas market beneath a giant Christmas tree. There is a skating rink to enjoy and a carousel for children. There are also cabins where children can create their own gifts.

You can enjoy the many different Viennese seasonal specialties like krapfen, deep-fried pastry filled with jam, kartoffelpuffer, potato pancakes, and reclette, bread coated with melted mountain cheese.

Belgium

Bruges, a medieval town in Belgium offers a magical Christmas holiday. The city’s official name for its holiday celebrations is “Winter Glow”.

The biggest and best-known market area is Market Square with a Christmas Market and nearby Simon Stevinplein Square with a market and an activity area for children.

Minnewaer offers ice skating where the rink floats on the water.

You can take a canal cruise to see all the city lights and decorations.

There are traditional spiced Christmas cookies, speculaas to enjoy as well as the world-famous Liege waffles, and Brussels waffles.

Czech Republic

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is a wonderful holiday destination.

The most iconic Christmas Market is located in Old Town Square. The stalls sell traditional Czech handicrafts, wooden toys, and many culinary delights. The centerpiece of the Old Town Square Christmas Market is the gigantic Christmas tree.

You can enjoy hot mulled wine or traditional Trdelnik, a sweet pastry coated with sugar and filled with warm Nutella or cinnamon. The centerpiece of the Old Town Square Christmas Market is the gigantic Christmas tree.

Across the Vltava River is Prague Castle with a lovely Christmas Market on the castle grounds. You can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. The market offers live music performances, unique gifts, and traditional Czech cuisine.

Take a walk along the lovely illuminated Charles Bridge decorated with lights and decorated statues.

At Petrin Hill Observation Tower you can walk to the top to get breathtaking views of the city in its Christmas splendor. Historic churches give concerts during the holiday season.

England

In the capital of England, London there are banners of lights forming a sparkling canopy over the streets of Mayfair, Sloan Square, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and other shopping districts.

Everyone enjoys the magical scenes displayed in department store windows with workshops of busy elves to futuristic fashions. See the wonderful displays in the windows of Selfridges, Harrod’s, Liberty, and other stores.

Hyde Park becomes a Winter Wonderland with trees covered by sparkling lights. There is the city’s largest outdoor skating rink, Christmas carolers, a Ferris Wheel, and a German Christmas Market.

At the Docklands you’ll find a Christmas Market dedicated to Japanese crafts, performances, music, and food.

The Tower of London goes back to 1284 with recreated scenes from the court of Edward I during its Medieval Christmas at the end of December.

St. Paul’s Cathedral and other churches and concert halls host concerts and musical events among them Christmas carol sing-alongs.

People enjoy taking a day trip from London to experience the sunrise at Stonehenge during the Winter Solstice.

Estonia

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia becomes a winter wonderland during the holiday season.

Among the main attractions is the Tallinn Christmas Market in the heart of the Old Town. Stalls brightly lit sell traditional crafts, local delicacies, and hot mulled wine. Joyful music plays and you can smell the scent of freshly baked gingerbread in the air.

The decorated Christmas Tree stands over Town Hall Square.

The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site is adorned with twinkling lights and lovely decorations.

Christmas Markets offer entertainment and activities for everyone. There are live performances, carol singers, reindeer rides, and ice skating.

Finland

Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland is a magical destination during Christmas. It is located on the Arctic Circle and this lovely village is known as the official residence of Santa Claus. It is the place where everyone can meet the big, jolly man, Santa Claus.

At his post office, you can send letters to loved ones with the official Arctic Circle postmark on them. See Santa’s cozy cabin and take a photo with the man in red.

Visitors can take a reindeer sleigh ride through snowy forests led by Sami reindeer herders. The shops are full of handmade crafts and special Christmas souvenirs.

There are Finnish delicacies to enjoy like reindeer stew and gingerbread cookies.

A memorable adventure is taking a husky sleigh ride. The huskies pull you through snow-covered trails for an unforgettable winter holiday adventure.

France

Strasbourg, France is known as the Capital of Christmas. The city has lovely decorated streets, festive markets, and a holiday atmosphere.

Among the highlights is Christkindelsmarik, one of the oldest and largest Christmas markets in Europe. It is in the historic center with more than 300 stalls offering crafts, ornaments, and delicious things to eat. There are strolling carolers spreading holiday cheer and mulled wine to keep you warm.

The Great Christmas Tree is located at Place Broglie.

Strasbourg is famous for its themed Christmas villages. Each village is designed to highlight different holiday traditions or regions of the world. The Alsatian Village has traditional wooden chalets and the Offenburg Village offers German delights among others.

The iconic Strasbourg Cathedral is illuminated during the Christmas season and there is an elaborate nativity scene inside.

Germany

Munich, Germany has a wonderful Christmas Market in Marianplatz beneath the neo-Gothic City Hall. There are stalls selling decorations and gifts. They’re decorated with Christmas lights and hung with frosted gingerbread hearts.

Kripperlmarkt is devoted to creche scenes, their people, animals, and buildings, There are lovely hand-modeled figures and carved wooden figures from nearby Oberammergau and Alpine villages in Bavaria.

The Medieval Christmas Market showcases arts from the Middle Ages among them blacksmithing, leatherworks, fine bookbinding, and calligraphy.

Tollwood Cultural Festival has designers and contemporary craftspeople displaying their art, jewelry, fashion, décor, and other creations. You can hear traditional Christmas carols.

Christkindlemarkt in Nuremberg, Germany is the best-known Christmas market in Europe and first gained status as a major tourist attraction. The large square is surrounded by Medieval buildings highlighted by an illuminated cathedral. On one side is an illuminated fountain. The entire scene is filled with rows of cabins each with its own wonderland.

Taste delicious holiday treats like Nuremberger Lebkuchen, spicy gingerbread cookies in various shapes like hearts and gingerbread houses. Nuremberg Bratwurst is great grilled and served in a crusty bun.

Sister Cities Market has goods from partner cities all over the world.

You can tour the Old City in a horse-drawn carriage.

Hans-Sachs-Platz has a children’s area with a double-decker carousel, a small Ferris Wheel, and a children’s steam railway. There are booths where children can bake and decorate their lebkuchen or make candles or Christmas cards.

Stuttgart, Germany in the Black Forest region has one of the biggest and oldest Christmas markets in Germany. It has nearly 300 decorated booths selling gifts, food, and other Christmas things,

For children, there is a train ride through a miniature village and a Ferris Wheel.

In the first week of December, the Medieval town of Tubingen becomes a giant chocolate shop for Chocol’ART the largest chocolate festival in Germany. Over 100 of the top chocolatiers in the world sell and offer samples of delicious chocolates.

Netherlands

Amsterdam hosts the Amsterdam Light Festival each year from November through January. Dozens of light installations illuminate buildings, decorate bridges, and reflect upon the canals. There is a different theme each year. Most of the displays are in the Canal Ring and the Amstel River areas.

Some of the displays are static like a twinkling spider poised over a bridge, butterflies hovering over a canal, and others sweeping in patterns over the front of buildings.

Historic Zwolle north of Amsterdam hosts the Netherlands Ice Sculpture Festival from late December to January. Artists from around the world create snow and ice sculptures.