Six Festive European City Breaks
Hoping to get away from it all this Christmas – either for the big day itself or a festive weekend away in the run-up? There are still six weeks until Christmas Day, giving you plenty of time to scurry away with your partner, friends or family for a cosy city break. This is one of our favourite times of year to explore a new city, especially if you choose somewhere that really embraces the festive season. We’re talking authentic markets, thousands of twinkling lights and steaming mugs of glögg – but also stylish independent shops to browse, world-class restaurants to dine in, and an abundance of culture to soak up. Read on to discover six of our favourite European cities to visit in the run-up to Christmas.
Bath, England
From its iconic thermal spa to its grand Georgian architecture, Bath is a wonderful city to explore at any time of year – but it’s particularly enchanting during the festive season. A visit to the Thermae Spa is essential (we recommend booking in the evening so you can float in their rooftop pool while admiring the twinkling festive lights across the city) but there is so much more this Roman city has to offer. Cosy up in Landrace Bakery’s morning room with a coffee and a couple of their famous cardamom buns; work your way around the city’s plentiful bookshops seeking out new reading material (Topping & Company, Mr B’s Emporium and, our personal favourite, Persephone Books); shop for design-led gifts in beautifully designed shops (8 Holland Street, Berdoulat, Nam), and dine on delectable small plates in cosy, candlelit restaurants such as Oak or Corkage. For festive delights, wander the Christmas markets that line the city’s Georgian streets, enjoy ice skating at Royal Victoria Park, learn all about Saturnalia (the Roman festival that inspired our Christmas celebrations) at the Roman Baths, and visit the immersive festive experience at No.1 Royal Crescent, where you can admire the rooms decorated as they would be for Christmas in the Georgian era.
Stay: The Royal Crescent Hotel, No15 by GuestHouse or Homewood (located a short taxi ride out of the city centre).
Photo by Dyana Wing So on Unsplash
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is a city made for Christmas – from its fairytale associations (Hans Christian Andersen spent most of his life here) to its cosy candle lit cafes and the joyfully extravagant festivities at Tivoli Gardens. The Christmas markets here are abundant, spilling all over the city with the sweet scent of gløgg lulling you in. Tivoli, the world’s second oldest amusement park, is where you’ll find the most magical celebrations with thousands of Christmas lights, over a thousand Christmas trees and 70,000 baubles transforming the park into a winter wonderland to delight both children and grown-ups. Spend your days pottering around the city’s best bakeries (Juno, Lille, Hart Bageri), rummaging in its excellent antique shops, and soaking up the culture in its many galleries and museums (Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and Designmuseum Danmark are amongst our favourites). Don’t miss a stroll down Jaegersborggade, an iconic street in Nørrebro known for its independent shops – pick up a cup of the city’s best coffee at Coffee Collective along your way. In the evenings, make your way through Copenhagen’s world class dining scene, with gems such as Delphine, Vækst, Barr and Jordnær to choose from.
Stay: The Audo or Manon Les Suites.
Photo by Svetlana Gumerova on Unsplash
Edinburgh, Scotland
Whether you’re visiting in the lead-up to Christmas or sticking around for the city’s iconic Hogmanay celebrations, Edinburgh is a magical place at this time of year. To combat the often gloomy weather, the city glows with twinkling festive lights and the warm glow of inviting cafes and pubs, beckoning you inside. One of our favourite ways to explore Edinburgh is simply to spend time wandering around its neighbourhoods, admiring the architecture. The Royal Mile, Stockbridge, Dean Village and The Vennel are among the most picturesque places, especially at Christmas when tasteful decorations add to their magic. For a bird’s eye view of the city’s lights twinkling below you, hike up to Arthur’s Seat to watch the sunset. Stop by The Dome, either for their festive dining menu or simply to admire the best festive decorations in the city. Browse the Christmas markets, sip mulled wine from a mug, or try your hand at ice skating on George Street. Beat the queues by arriving early in the morning at Lannan bakery, pop along to Elliott’s Christmas market for homemade treats and handmade gifts, and make a reservation at one of Edinburgh’s best restaurants (we recommend Montrose, Lyla or Ardfern).
Stay: Gleneagles Townhouse, The Roseate or House of Gods.
Photo by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash
Vienna, Austria
Europe’s City of Music is an idyllic place to visit during the festive season, especially for musical aficionados who will delight in the rich array of classic, choral and opera performances in venues such as the Great Hall of Musikverein. Alongside the city’s musical prowess, visitors will discover plenty of festive celebrations, including the spectacular Christkindlmarkt at the Rathausplatz – one of the oldest markets in Europe, dating back to the 13th Century. Here, among traditional wooden stalls offering gifts and festive treats, you will find a gigantic Christmas tree, an oversized Advent wreath, and an ice skating rink. To see more of the city while indulging festive fantasies, book a horse-drawn carriage ride which allows a tour of Vienna’s architecture with a mug of mulled wine to keep you warm during the journey. Don’t miss the Imperial palaces, the MuseumsQuartier and St Stephen’s Cathedral for a taste of the city’s culture. When you’re feeling peckish, indulge in a cup of coffee and slice of warm strudel at Cafe Schwarzenberg or dine in one of Vienna’s top restaurants: Amador, its first three-star restaurant or Huth Gastwirtschaft to enjoy Austrian classics with the locals.
Stay: Rosewood Vienna or Hotel Motto.
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
Bruges, Belgium
The Medieval streets and real-life gingerbread houses of Bruges are especially magical during the festive season, when they are transformed into a winter wonderland. One of Europe’s prettiest cities, Bruges is idyllic to simply walk around, sipping a mug of glühwein and treating yourself to Belgian waffles while admiring the vistas of Rozenhoedkaai and Walplein. Rather than focusing solely on the (very impressive) Christmas markets, the city embraces a wider festival named Winter Glow, which includes an illuminated walking trail, ice skating rink, Christmas decorations and a cosy winter bar. Bruges is also an excellent place to indulge in your Christmas shopping, from its iconic chocolate shops (try Elisabeth for traditional truffles or The Chocolate Line for a unique experience) to an avant-garde boutique (L’héroïne), a 1920’s music store (Rombaux) and beautiful, hand-crafted ceramics (MarianneVandenbussche). For a relaxing way to admire the city, take to its canals for an evening boat tour to admire the twinkling festive lights.
Stay: Hotel Van Cleef or The Notary.
Stockholm, Sweden
There’s something so magical about Scandinavian cities during the festive season – perhaps because there’s a greater chance that snow will fall, but also because cities such as Stockholm really lean into the cosiness of winter. Candle lit bars and cosy cafes beckon you inside for a glass of wine or fika, while the Stockholmsjul Christmas lights illuminate over 40 streets and squares across the city, creating a trail to follow and admire. There are various markets across the city to discover, but the stalls in Stortorget in Gamla Stan and at Skansen open-air museum are the oldest and most traditional. Other festive must-sees in Stockholm include admiring the Skeppsbron tree (the largest Christmas tree in Sweden), ice skating at Kungsträdgården, and enjoying a St. Lucia concert (from December 13th until Christmas). If you need a cultural break from all the festivities, visit the world-renowned Fotografiska Museum, or hop on-and-off the subways to admire the impressive art that decorates its stations. Also, make time to browse the city’s many design shops, including Svenskt Tenn and Esteriör. For dinner, make a reservation at Operakällaren, Frantzén or Ambar for a fine dining experience.
Stay: Ett Hem or Villa Dahlia.
