Top Holiday Destinations for a Family Christmas in Europe

Christmas is a time that owes so many traditions to Europe. The first Christmas trees originated in Estonia or Latvia, the first Christmas tree lights came from Germany, the first carol was sung in Italy, and the most famous Christmas story of them all, A Christmas Carol, was born in England. Even Father Christmas himself, Santa Claus, comes from Lapland in northern Finland! So what better place to celebrate Christmas, and get those truly festive feelings, than in a European city? Europe has many options for a family Christmas, with climates ranging from the positively polar to the mercifully mild, and with a host of different foods and traditions. Here, in no particular order, are our top eight recommendations for the best destinations for a family Christmas in Europe.

Prague

The Czech Republic’s capital, Prague, ticks many boxes when it comes to a perfect festive feeling – it has some of Europe’s best Christmas markets in Wenceslas Square (which features in the Christmas carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’), where you can buy gifts, food, and drinks such as mulled wine; it has frosty weather and often has snow towards the end of December; it has outdoor ice skating rinks in the parks; and it has multiple castles and a royal palace. Prague is also famous for its spectacular Christmas tree, decorated with glass-blown baubles. So if you find yourself eating gingerbread or roasted chestnuts, and sipping mulled wine or hot chocolate beside the illuminated Christmas tree as your frosty breath hovers in the air, could it really feel more festive?

Rovaniemi, Lapland

For many kids the ultimate Christmas would involve meeting the big bearded guy in the red suit, Santa Claus. And what better place to meet him than in his home region of Lapland? Santa town in Lapland is Rovaniemi, on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Many companies do tours here where kids can meet Santa and the family can take part in activities such as tobogganing. Cold weather gear is provided, as temperatures can reach -20C, and the tours are run in a way that doesn’t feel overly commercial; most include a sleigh ride pulled by reindeer, a sled ride pulled by huskies, a snowmobile journey across a frozen river, and an introduction to Arctic crafts and foods. Visitors also get to walk across the line marking the edge of the Arctic circle although, sadly, snowball fights will be disappointing as the atmosphere is too dry to make good snowballs. And best of all, you can even send a postcard with a special stamp to show it was sent from Santa’s post office.

Ice hotel, Kiruna Sweden

Staying in a hotel made entirely of ice would surely be the dream of any young (or old) fans of the movie, Frozen. Believe it or not, this dream can become a reality at the Ice Hotel in Kiruna, Sweden. Made from over 100,000 tonnes of ice blocks from the nearby river, as well as 30,000 tonnes of snow, the hotel has an unbelievable 80 rooms, a chapel, a restaurant, and even a bar made of ice. Guests sleep in thick sleeping bags on top of reindeer skins, which is just as well as outdoor temperatures can reach -45C! Kiruna is well inside the Arctic Circle and is a great place to see the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, to make the experience feel even more Christmassy. The hotel also includes numerous ice sculptures and the restaurant serves traditional Christmas Swedish food.

Budapest, Hungary

Hungary’s capital city has long been regarded as one of the best Christmas destinations for families, with Forbes declaring its extravagant Christmas fair, the Advent Basilica, the best Christmas market in Europe. Located in front of the imposing cathedral, St Stephen’s Basilica, the market is also said to be one of Europe’s most affordable, offering everything you can find in other capitals but with a Hungarian twist. However, Budapest offers way more opportunities to get that Christmas feeling. You could watch the ultimate Christmas ballet, ‘The Nutcracker’, performed at the Hungarian State Opera, see a puppet show at Budapest Puppet Theatre, go ice skating in front of the imposing Vajdahunyad Castle, take a ride on a tram lit up with thousands of Christmas lights, or go sledding in the nearby Buda Hills.

Tromso, Norway

Tromso is a city that sits near the top of the Norway’s long coast and is famous for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. It’s such a good place to see the aurora borealis that it even has a dedicated Northern Lights Festival in January and February each year. Snow is guaranteed over the Christmas period, so the snow-clad buildings will definitely stir up festive feelings, but the average temperature is a relatively mild -4C so it won’t feel unbearably cold. There are plenty of family activities including a trip to the Tromso fjords, the Polar Museum, heated outdoor swimming pools and saunas, reindeer and husky sled rides, and a polar aquarium. If you don’t mind an extra flight you could even tie it in with a trip south to Bergen, the inspiration for the city of Arendelle in the movie Frozen.

London

Although it’s not as cold as many of its European neighbours, London is a city that embraces Christmas with open arms. Regent Street is home to Hamley’s, the largest toy shop in the world, which has seven floors devoted to every child’s desires. The entire store is decorated in Christmas spendour and it even has a famous Christmas grotto. Regent Street is also where you can find London’s world famous Christmas lights. Elsewhere in London you can see one of the world’s tallest Christmas trees in Trafalgar Square – this huge tree is given by the people of Norway each year to thank the UK for its support in the Second World War. The city has a growing number of Christmas markets, as well as Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Here visitors can skate on the UK‘s largest outdoor ice rink, ride on a carousel, eat Christmas foods, or step into a maze carved from 500 tonnes of ice called the Magical Ice Kingdom. If that’s not enough, you could see a Christmas musical such as ‘Elf’ in the theatre district known as the West End.

Berlin

Berlin is an interesting city at any time of year, thanks to its huge number of parks and its greater number of waterways than Venice or Amsterdam. But the city really comes into its own in December when the cold nights appear and the Christmas feeling takes over. Berlin is the place to visit a Christmas market, with the city boasting more than one hundred quality markets within its expanse. At these you can buy all manner of gifts and eat German specialities such as roasted goose, bratwurst sausages, gingerbread and the festive Stollen cake. Close to Alexanderplatz, there is a free ice skating rink each year (you just need to hire skates), with a 50-metre-high Ferris wheel beside it. Kids can also enjoy pony rides at one of the city’s petting zoos or visit the Botanical Gardens which are transformed into a winter fairyland, called the Christmas Garden, where you can find illuminated Christmas figures and enchanted woods.

With so many options for a memorable family Christmas in Europe, you’re sure to find one that’s best for you. Whether you want freezing temperatures and guaranteed snow, reindeer rides or Christmas toy shops, Christmas markets or festive ballets, Europe has a city that can fulfil your dreams. We wish you a very merry Christmas!