Hi all. Just looking for a few opinions here. My favorite time of the year to travel is usually September and/or October (which I did this year as well) as the weather is still usually pleasant but the crowds have thinned out a bit. By the time December rolls around I usually have little or no vacation time left and thus, usually stay home around the holidays. I have however, been tossing around the idea of making a very brief trip to Europe (a week at the most) around the holidays to experience a bit of "Christmas in Europe". This trip would depend on several variables such as how much vacation time I could squeeze in, how busy I am at work (the year end is sometimes hectic), money obviously, etc etc. Since these details haven't been worked out yet, if I do decide to go I'm thinking it would be a very spontaneous, last minute decision and I wouldn't have a lot of planning time. Thus, I was thinking of picking out only one (or perhaps two) cities and spend the majority of the time there. With only a week (if that) I wouldn't want to spend half my time concerned with all the logistics of getting from one place to another. Rather, I'd like to go somewhere and then, once there take in the atmosphere at a leisurely relaxed pace. I'm just looking for your thoughts as to what one or two cities are especially nice to visit around the holidays.
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
I always love visiting Paris during the holidays. You could combine it with a trip to a smaller French city like Colmar which has fun Christmas markets. There are so many options! Amsterdam and Brugge would be great too. Brugge, is especially pretty during the Christmas season.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I would look into somewhere in Germany for Christmas, but I would plan on being in Edinburgh for New Years. Hogmany is a huge holiday for the Scots. After all Scotland is home for Auld Lang Syne, the definitive New Years song. ; ) Pam
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
I have to agree with Pam about Edinburgh (or Inverness) for New Years. They call it Hogmany and there is LOTS of celebrating. If you go late Nov/Dec, I'd suggest Salzburg, Vienna or Budapest. They ahve the German style Christmas markets and are lovely places any time of year. Innsbruck is also nice, though not quite as much to do in the immediate area. London is also a great place that time of year and there are lots of good day trips. Bath and Cardiff both have good markets (Cardiff's is very much local craftsmen, Bath's is more German style). Windsor usually hosts a French Christmas market. Canterbury also has a good local Christmas market as does York. London usually has several ice rinks set up- I know Kew Gardens usually does one and the Pantomine (Panto) season is going around that time (hilarious children's tales done in deliberaly outrageous campy comedy with men in drag, etc. and the Proms (concerts- both orchestral and vocal)are also on. We've enjoyed the theatre during that time, too.
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
We've been in London and Rome shortly before Christmas. The days were short and the Christmas lights were beautiful. Of the two, I would choose London because it's well, London, one of my favorite cities. If you go to Westminster Abbey early in the morning, it'll be practically deserted and you may hear a children's choir rehearsing which is enchanting. And there's nothing better than a London pub on a cold December night.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10548 posts
Paris is beautiful that time of year. I would stay in one place, but if you want to split your time I think Paris and London would be good choices. There are plenty of indoor activities that time of year. Bruges is also great, but there aren't as many choices for indoor activities.