Europe in Winter: Christmas Markets and NYE

Christmas markets close before Christmas - at least the ones I know of. Can you give us a bit more detail about your plans? If you are arriving a couple of days after Christmas and want to be in Italy for NYE, and England is last, you are really just looking at a week or so in between in the third place, correct? What is your budget? What part of Italy will you be in? How do you want to travel between locations? And what is a "romantic" NYE celebration to you?

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for your questions. We may change our itinerary to be there the first 3 weeks of December to really get the holiday experience. Our family in Italy is outside Florence, so we'll likely spend our time in Italy in Rome, Florence, Sienna, etc. (but this is flexible). Our budget is somewhat flexible, and yes, we are looking at likely just a 3rd destination for a week between Italy and England, though we may make it four locations and only stay in England for a couple of days. For NYE we are looking for good food, wine, and to feel as though we are somewhat immersed in a local experience. Fireworks would be a bonus. Thank you!

Some tourist towns in Germany re-label their Christmas Markets as "Wintermarkt" after Christmas and keep them open until Twelfth Day. You have to google for that.

Some Christmas markets are open after Christmas, for example in Slovenia they're usually open until NYE. For a more off the beaten path experience (for American visitors, at least), consider a short trip from Italy to Slovenia. The one in Ljubljana is a lovely market, following the colourfully decorated river bank in the Old Town. It's not of the same standard as the best German markets, but a fun experience nonetheless with many open air events and of course the mandatory Glühwein and winter treats. You could combine it with a visit to nearby Lake Bled, which is magical in snow. There's also a living nativity scene held in the Postojna Cave between Christmas and NYE, near Ljubljana as well.

BUT...we are hoping to get some advice on where we might be able to
find Christmas Markets still open the week between Christmas and New
Year's

Budapest

Christmas markets in Paris remain in operation until 5 January, but they are really not worth a visit. It's just a bunch of cheap chalet-type huts selling mostly items that have nothing to do with Christmas. I'd pass on Paris for New Year's, too, since there are no fireworks and nothing to do except walk around the highly-policed Champs-Elysees. Decorations remain up normally until 5 January, for what it's worth.

Though I've only visited Venice during this period and would not recommend going - nasty period of "acqua alta" and the city is pretty much shut down - I would vote for other cities in Italy, since this is the time when restaurants and hotels serve huge traditional meals and many cities will have fireworks.

What James E said. We were in Budapest from January 2nd through the 6th. The downtown Christmas markets were open. And its a great city to visit. And maybe one of the most overlooked European iconic landmarks is the Parliament Building. Especially at night.

FWIW - Prague's Christmas markets remain open into January, also. And that's another wonderful city to visit.

And to chexbres point - though I absolutely love Paris - their Christmas markets just aren't the same. More like random vendors lined up on the Champs de Elysees.

I realize this probably isn't located well due to your itinerary - but for the combination of romantic and Christmas markets - Bruges would be wonderful.

I must agree with James. Last December we visited Prague and Budapest. While Prague was quite interesting, the Christmas markets were pretty "tourist trappy" all much the same. The booths in the Christmas Markets in Budapest had stuff that the locals might buy. Much better quality stuff.