Christmas 2026 Europe Tips & Advice Request

Well in my opinion, if you really want to experience some wonderful Christmas markets, you can't go wrong in Germany, Austria and the Alsace in France, which probably have the most visited Christmas markets because they're just so beautiful.

There are some recent thread about Christmas markets that you may want to read:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/mother-daughter-christmas-markets-trip-austria-germany-france
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/freiburg-christmas-market
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/the-young-adult-and-i-2025-christmas-markets-in-germany
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/best-small-town-christmas-market

So, 10 stays of 3 nights a piece. Have you ever done that before? Its great for some folks. But it might be terrible to discover on this trip that you arent one of those people.

You may already have this calculated and it works, but you are going to 10 of the most expensive places in europe.

I am not going to suggest changing anything. It could be a marvelous trip. Nicely laid out. Have fun. Let me know if you need a driver.

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with Mr E...and also wonder if you've done a trip at this pace before? Some people love lots of moving, some do not. I've moved into the "not" category but you may be way younger than I, hahaha!

It would help to know how you chose your destinations. Was there something specific you wanted to see in Milan? IF not, I'd take those 3 nights and add 2 to Paris** and 1 to Rome. I've not been to your destinations in Switzerland so you are ahead of me on that so can't give advice on any of those locations. I'm glad you are in one place for several days over Christmas.

**The caveat here is that I truly love Paris even though I'm not a big city gal! There is so much to see and do here especially if it's your first visit there!

Good morning,
Thank you very much this has put things in perspective.

Mardee both Austria and Germany look stunning! I will spend some time at those links and online.

Mr E I have looked again and it is a lot of moving around, I think my budget could be redone to save some money and still get a lot out of my trip.

Pam I think I was caught up in trying to see so much. I had been to Switzerland before and loved it and was excited to visit again and Italy is a country I have always wanted to see. But now I think as I have been to Switzerland I can drop it from my plans for a new destination and spend more time in Paris. I'm not a big city gal either but Paris just looks beautiful :)

Thank you :)

“I think I was caught up in trying to see so much.”

Oh, Andie! That happens to most of us, especially early on in our travel “careers”, lol.

Do look at Mardee’s suggestions. Forum member Jean just returned from a Christmas Markets trip with her adult daughter so her Trip Report might give you some ideas. BTW, Jean is a person who loves Italy…but went with the traditional Austria/Germany markets for this trip.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/mother-daughter-christmas-markets-trip-austria-germany-france

The great thing is you are planning early so you can explore your options!

BTW, Italy is a wonderful destination but a Christmas Markets focus might be more fruitful elsewhere.

andietravels, there is no right or wrong to any of this. I love the Christmas Markets, but those are a few hours of experience in each city so its important for me to go place that have other interest as well. Germany is great but its one culture, and what you originally had was a number of cultures and I think thats a great idea. If it were me I would try and maintain that part of the trip. Judging by the list you started, I bet you would enjoy Vienna.

I concur with those who mention lots of moving days. ( thats our name in NZ for the day dairy farmers who contract their cows move to another farm- 1000's all over!) The weather may also be a bit grim in some destinations which reduces sight seeing. Departure/arrival days are often not possible to see and do much. I enjoyed cities most when there for 4-5 nights which gave 3-4 full days of happily breakfasting, sightseeing, mooching around and feeling a sense of 'just being'. And of course a repeat visit to a great cafe or restaurant.

It's a good itinerary. The only thing I can add: if you can, consider spending an extra night in Venice or Milan.

If you take Switzerland out of it then I love the idea of Rome, Venice, Milan then the long stretch to Paris. That maintains the class of your first idea; and these are all five star stops. You can do 6 to 10 days at each and I think it would be marvelous. The only other cities that begin to live up to the other stops would be Prague, Vienna and Budapest but all are difficult to reach after Milan or on the way to Milan and I love the Idea of Milan. Maybe not just Milan but the region. I might know a guide for that if you are interested.

Although as classy as that trip is, not a great Christmas Market Trip. For that I would go Venice to Munich to Salzburg to Vienna to Prague (all train) Or Venice to Budapest (i think there is a flight) to Vienna to Prague. Both routes have a lot of great markets .... and remarkably different cultures and Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg are all five star like your other plan.

So many good choices .... impossible to decide. Have fun with it.

Thank you all for the great advice.

It has helped me to rethink my holiday and I am happy with my new plan, much more than with the previous plan.

Because I've been to Switzerland before I've decided to swap out Switzerland for Vienna and Germany and choose Rome and Venice for my Italian stays.

Much less moving and more time to relax and enjoy everything, and staying longer at a base location makes it easier to visit other places nearby :)

Andie, I am so glad to see you are giving more time to Rome. Ohmygosh! you could stay for 6 months and not repeat seeing anything. And you will love Vienna. In Germany, if you are staying in Munich and the Bavarian area, you won't run out of things to do there either. Good decision (IMHO)!