Month long winter European vacation

The question, as posed, is way too broad to even try to answer. But I will offer this related advice: Don't cram your itinerary full.

It sounds like you and your girlfriend are fairly young, am I right? Hopefully, you have a lifetime of travel ahead of you. You can go back and see places you don't get to on this trip. Savor the places you visit, and explore not just their history, but try to get a flavor of modern life in other countries and cultures.

Also, WizzAir has loads of flights to Budapest from all over, so you'll be able to get there from wherever you are on the 24th.

The only time I visited more than one country in a single trip was when I went to Amsterdam, the Hague, Delft, Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent. My other trips were just to one country for not more than 13 nights. But if you have the time off work or are between jobs, and if you have the money, you are ahead of me.

Are you still thinking of going to Morocco or Spain? Do you want to investigate flying to Spain or Morocco, working your way toward Budapest as your trip progress, probably traveling by train? How many nights will you have after December 25th starting with your first night outside Budapest? Do you want to fly from Budapest to Paris, then see Belgium and France, taking ground transportation to your furthest town from Paris and then working your way back to Paris as your trip progresses, flying home from Paris? Or do you just want to spend all your remaining nights in Paris after you arrive in Paris?

Edit: if Christmas markets are a Germanic thing, maybe your interest is the Germanic areas? In that case do you want to mainly focus your trip before Budapest on Germany, possibly adding Switzerland and Austria; then Budapest, then the Paris area?

What kind of weather are you looking for? Do you want "real winter" as in cold and actual snow? (consider Switzerland BO, or parts of Austria like Salzburg) Do you want warmish weather? (consider Andalusia Spain) Are you ok with 30-40 degrees with precip that leans more towards rain or slush? (consider Vienna)

The question really is too broad, but I think if you start with what kind of weather conditions you are willing to deal with, you could narrow down possible destinations.

Lots of cities have Christmas markets. Budapest's is supposed to be wonderful.

I would recommend Salzburg and the surrounding area. It’s one of my favorite areas anywhere, and would be magical during the winter and the Christmas markets. The old town is super charming, has a beautiful cathedral, a fortress, and tons and tons of history. The town of Hallein, just to the south, is where “Silent Night” was written. From Salzburg, you could day trip to Hallstatt or Berchtesgaden. Even Munich is only 2 hrs away by train. We’ve stayed outside of Salzburg twice, each for 5-6 nights, and would return in a heartbeat.

Also, WizzAir has loads of flights to Budapest from all over, so
you'll be able to get there from wherever you are on the 24th.

Expecting any airline to have loads of flights on Christmas eve or Christmas day does not sound very realistic.

Expecting any airline to have loads of flights on Christmas eve or Christmas day does not sound very realistic.

Badger- With occasional, slight reductions or modifications, airlines fly full schedules on major holidays. It is completely realistic to expect because it is how the industry operates globally.

I posted twice on your other post. Def add more time to Nuremberg and try to stay at Hotel Victoria. I'd say at least 3 FULL days, not including travel. If you want a history guide, we love 'Nuremberg tours in English' - he has lots of tour options. Nuremberg has amazing cathedrals and the market is amazing. Many concerts at night in front of the cathedral where the main market is. Also - the BEST food of all is here.

Vienna, Salzburg, Passau, Regensberg (pay extra to see the private Thurn & Taxis Market - it's the best we've seen in all of Europe and it gets you into the Castle too), Strasbourg all have wonderful markets. Colmar is quaint & gorgeous but their Market is average.

YouTube Xmas Markets - you'll learn a ton. Rick Steves has a great YouTube one of Nuremberg be sure and watch. There are also lots on the Vienna Markets. Vienna is gorgeous at Xmas. If you go to the Schonbrunn Palace, there is a great private Xmas Market there in the front of the palace.

Check the calendar for Budapest, Bruges, Paris -- as the markets there may be closed since it's after Xmas - def have alternate plans if they are. Many places are pretty dead on 12/25 and 12/26. In Budapest, def see the shoes along the Danube in front of the Parliament Building - it is very powerful.

The markets in Munich aren't so great, but the town is good if you like to explore, just don't go there strictly for the markets as they pale in comparison to other places. You could also do a day trip to Dachau Concentration Camp (I think everyone should see one)-- if you want a guide - we love bighattours.com -- we've done Dachau & a Third Reich walking tour with him and he is amazing.

We go yearly, so feel free to PM me if needed.