It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas, especially since holidays and flights tend to get expensive pretty quickly. Whether you want a traditional white Christmas, as opposed to Britain’s slushy grey one, in a new location, or you want to try spending the day in a different, unique way, the time is right to start making plans.
There are several things you need to bear in mind when you start thinking about going abroad for the holiday season; how many people do you wish to share the day with, do you still want a traditional Christmas dinner while you’re away, and would you prefer a snow-blanketed or sun-soaked winter celebration? These questions will help you narrow down your options and make the planning process a little easier. To inspire you, here are 5 IDEAL Christmas mini-breaks in Europe.
Barcelona, Spain
Let’s be honest, there are very few people who flourish in the British winter, which is why many of us escape to a sunnier retreat for a few weeks of the season. Topping up the tan and the Vitamin C is a necessity for some, us included.
If this is your Christmas wish this year, then spending the holiday in Barcelona is perfect; it has all the amenities and culture of a vibrant city, yet is still close enough to the beach that you can soak in some sun. To make sure you keep some of your Christmas traditions intact, you could look for villas in Spain on Interhome.co.uk; this way, you can get up when you want, make the food you eat every year, and do everything on your own schedule. The only difference is you might also benefit from a private pool or a walk on the beach after you’ve eaten too much. Alternatively, you could book a hotel based on their Christmas itinerary and enjoy not having to do anything on Christmas Day.
Lapland, Finland
To create some extra Christmas magic for the litte ones, Lapland in Finland is a great choice. Not only is it one of not so many European countries able to guarantee a white Christmas, but it’s also is the place where children can be sure to find Santa. The capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, is the official homeland of Santa Claus, or at least his main office, since his homeland remains a secret. As you can see on visitrovaniemi.fi, children can enjoy an authentic Christmas experience here, from petting reindeer, taking tours on a snowmobile, and meeting Santa himself. It’s a unique experience for adults too; how often can you say you stayed in an igloo hotel?
Berlin, Germany
Berlin during the festive season is a magical place to be, with nearly 80 Christmas markets, traditional food, stunning lights and just heaps of tradition all round. Berlin’s central strip, the Ku’damm, is a lightshow extravaganza and Alexanderplatz offers fairground fun for all the family; ice-skating, rides, candyfloss and all.
Prague, The Czech Republic
Prague is a magical, enchanting, beautiful city any time of year, but at Christmas it scrubs up particularly nicely. From Advent onwards the city comes alive with decorations and lights, with the Christmas Markets of the Old Town Square a highlight. Handcrafts and souvenirs have their own, unique Czech charm and the local, dark ales suit the temperature and atmosphere to a tee.
Glasgow, Scotland
You don’t have to go far to make your Christmas magical. Although plenty of cities in England have their own Christmas celebrations – Bath, London, Manchester, and Birmingham being among the biggest – there’s a better chance of seeing snow in Scotland, and you’ll get to celebrate an even bigger Scottish holiday after Christmas. Hogmanay is Scotland’s New Year celebration, and it’s so boisterous that the whole country takes two days off for merriment and recovery. Glasgow knows how to celebrate this holiday in style; fireworks, parties in pubs and clubs, and plenty of eateries to recover in on New Year’s Day.