Christmas week travel

Most Christmas markets close finally Dec. 23. in some touristy areas you will find also a few open until end of year, e. g. Berlin (link). If you like to add mountains Harz area with old towns are an option or Saxon Switzerland and Ore mountains. Dresden's Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest.

How about NYE in Berlin at a large open-air party with central fireworks?

I guess the markets close on the 23rd in Germany. Budapest and Vienna many stay open until the first of the year. But you are correct, takes more than that.

Here are some ideas for the only place I know anything about:

https://formidablejoy.com/budapest-winter-city-break/
https://wheretogoin.net/best-things-to-do-in-budapest-in-winter/
https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplist/2024/11/25/gastro-things-to-do-in-budapest-in-winter-2024/
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/budapest-winter-things-to-do

And yes, our markets are among the best in Europe and can be worth 2 or 3 days: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/the-christmas-markets-open-soon-in-budapest

I once did the street party in Rome, that was "interesting". A bit different might be a NYE Performance at the Budpaest Operett Theater or maybe on a boat on the river, and a NY day performance at the Opera House. But to be honest NYE isnt the big fireworks celebration here. That would be St. Stephen day (20 August) when the fireworks are among the best in the world.

24th, 25th require some planning but there things to do like river cruises, Gellert, Lukacs, Rudas and Szechenyi Baths, skating, sight seeing and the lights of the city. Food, drink, holiday parties. Most that do close do so the morning of the 24th and then re-open the morning of the 26th.

Here are some restaurants. There are a lot more, just some of my favorites.
Open 24, 25, 26 & 31 December
TwentySix https://twentysixbudapest.com/
KOLLÁZS – Brasserie & Bar https://www.kollazs.hu/
Spago by Wolfgang Puck https://spagobudapest.com/en/

Open 25, 26 & 31 December
Szeged Vendeglo https://www.szegedvendeglo.hu/
Callas Café https://callascafe.hu/
Sir Lancelot https://sirlancelot.hu/
Robinson https://www.robinsonrestaurant.hu/en
Dunacorso Étterem https://www.dunacorso.hu/

What day are you arriving and are you planning to rent a car or use public transportation? Were you planning to travel in the UK or somewhere else?

Keep in mind that you can expect most things to be closed the 24th through 26th in England. Public transportation is also reduced (and pretty much non-existent on the 25th). You will need to book your Christmas lunch in advance (few restaurants are open) or plan to self cater.

travel mom,
I concur with those who suggest you plan ahead for the 24-26 of December and plan for limited transportation schedules in cities on the actual holidays, plus limited dining options as well. Even if you have a kitchen in your lodgings and plan on Christmas dinner there, shops will be closed probably by noon (or thereabouts) on the 24th, so plan ahead.
One thought....if I were in London around the holidays, I would try to see a performance of the choir of St. Martin in the Fields, if they are performing then.

If that is your plan, to be in Europe during the holidays, be aware that many tourist sights, businesses and restaurants will be closed. Hotels will be short staffed. Unless you are staying at "Westernized" accommodations, you may even find that the morning breakfast will be reduced down to day-old bread and other low effort offerings. Maybe it's changed since many years ago when our company had us work through between Christmas and New Year in Germany. We struggled to do anything quasi normal during that week. Lucky for us, there were a few pizza shops that stayed open, but the options were 100% lousy. This was back in the early 80's and before Germany had accepted major hotel chains but culturally, except for the markets, that are intended for the enjoyment of the locals who are (at least in theory) not working, options are very limited.

In the UK there are two places where public transport operates as near normal, even on Christmas Day- Edinburgh and the Isle of Wight.
Manchester and Liverpool also have reasonable daytime Christmas Day bus services - aimed at the airports and Hospital visiting.
And in Shetland the inter island ferries run a basic service.
On 26 December the Lake District now has a pretty good service, including one route which only runs on that day (for free), to a vintage vehicle rally.

Hi - we are planning a similar trip - my 22 yo son will be teaching english in Spain, and the rest of my family - husband and young adult children, will fly over to meet him somewhere and spend Christmas. I am struggling with the best itinerary, based on hoping to visit Christmmas markets, enjoy some winter outdoor sports, and knowing that many places will be very quiet from 12-24-26. I would be interested in hearing what you decide for your week! We are considering Vienna/Salzburg/Munich area, but haven't firmed anything up yet.

As long as you stay in a fairly well touristed larger city you will do well and stay occupied. A lot of the negativity is overly generalized or not first hand. Of your list I would be very comfortable with Vienna. We have a great source here for Vienna and I know she has written about the holidays a few times. Post in the Austria forum and I bet she finds you.

Thank you for your replies. We have confirmed tickets for a football game in England, New Year's week, so we will spend that week there. We are still trying to decide on our 8 days during Christmas and hopefully use train transportation to England around the 28th of December, but have not ruled out a flight if necessary. Vienna and Budapest are great options! Some of us have travelled to those cities and loved them both.

A lot of this comes down to where you can get the information and support to make it special. Vienna and Budapest are 2 of those places. For Budapest we need about 4 individuals with a ton of trips to equal Emily in Vienna, but we do.