There are many beautiful and quaint cities in which to spend the Christmas holidays. Twinkling lights, magnificent decorated shop windows, concerts, markets, events and towering Christmas trees, each city experiences the festivities in its own way, and here we would like to propose some of the destinations you should not miss.
Destination | Flight+hotel package (5 days/4 nights) |
|---|---|
New York, U.S.A. | from €1,050.00 per person |
Paris, France | from €342.00 per person |
London, Great Britain | from €234.00 per person |
Tromsø, Norway | from €730.00 per person |
Naples, Italy | from €264.00 per person |
Berlin, Germany | from €300.00 per person |
Küssnacht, Switzerland | from €402.00 per person |
Douz, Tunisia | from €716.00 per person |
Ho-Ho-Honolulu, Hawaii | from €1,980.00 per person |
Rovaniemi, Finland | from €1,400.00 per person |
New York, U.S.A.
New York is one of the most desirable destinations at Christmas. It must be for the wonderful atmosphere created by the huge illuminations, decorating the streets, the shopping malls, the shop windows and the glittering department stores, a must-see destination if you want to meet a real Father Christmas at work. The ice skating rinks, the romantic atmosphere of Central Park and a visit to Rockefeller Center then combine to give New York a truly magical atmosphere.
SEE ALSO: Christmas in New York - programme of events and offers
Climate and temperatures: it's cold at Christmas. The average temperature is just above zero, but with cold spells between -10 °C and -15 °C and frequent snowfalls
Cheap flights: from €335.17
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €95.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 6 nights/7 days
Paris, France
The romantic atmosphere of Paris becomes almost palpable during the Christmas season. Between the Christmas markets on the Champs-Élysées, the charming boutiques of the Galeries Lafayette, the events, the shows, and the giant Christmas tree, it will be hard not to be captivated by one of the world's oldest cities. Just as it will be hard not to be moved by the Christmas night mass in the Notre-Dame cathedral.
SEE ALSO: Christmas in Paris - offers, programme and tips
Climate and temperatures: cold but not freezing. Temperatures range from 7/8 degrees during the day to zero at night
Cheap flights: from €21.98
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €75.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: Return flight + 4 nights/5 days
London, Great Britain
London is the capital of Christmas. The city lights up in a thousand colours, is populated with markets and Christmas trees of different sizes, and lights up with events and shops, where you can do the best shopping in Europe, albeit a little expensive. One of the unmissable things to do in London at Christmas is to see the world-famous Carnaby Street lights, and of course the giant Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Otherwise, there are far too many things to do in London at this particular time of year, you just have to know how to choose, being careful not to turn the holiday into an exhausting rush.
SEE ALSO: Christmas in London - packages and events
Climate and temperatures: cold, with frequent rain, but not freezing. Average temperature around 5 degrees, with lows below zero
Cheap flights: from €33.98
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €42.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø lives in total darkness throughout the winter, which makes the Christmas celebrations even more atmospheric. In December, it comes alive with carols, echoing through the vaults of the Arctic Cathedral, and Christmas markets, where you cannot fail to try the traditional ingefærnøtter, gingerbread biscuits in the shape of a ball, accompanied by a glass of bearberry.
The best thing about celebrating Christmas in the dark is being able to spot the northern lights and the northern lights between 6pm and midnight.
SEE ALSO: Cruising the Fjords: when to go, prices and itinerary
Climate and temperatures: the country is not as cold as one might think. The average temperature is around 2 degrees, with lows around zero and highs around 3/4 degrees.
Cheap flights: from €185.59
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €90.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days
Naples, Italy
Naples is the city of sun and sea, but also of nativity scenes. From the end of November, the Neapolitan capital comes alive with lights and colours, which reach their peak on 8 December, during the celebration of the Immaculate Conception. Particularly striking is via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of the shepherds, where you can admire the artisans in their characteristic little shops, bringing to life the famous and peculiar characters of the nativity scene, including, of course, many inspired by the Napoli team, and various other famous characters.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Naples
Climate andtemperatures: mild and rainy. There are fine days, pleasant during the day but a little cold at night. Rain and snow can fall in the mountains, and you can admire the snow-capped Mount Vesuvius.
Cheap flights: from €22.02
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €55.00 per room
Berlin, Germany
In Berlin, preparations for Christmas begin in November, even though the holiday falls on 6 December: St Nicholas Night. The city offers a variety of no less than 60 different markets, a tradition born here, ranging from the traditional and contemplative atmosphere of the Christmas sprit, to the commercial and frenetic. The heart of Berlin Christmas, however, is at Potsamer Platz and the Sony Centre, where the most traditional market of all takes place, with wooden stalls and typical products, all within walking distance of the Legoland Dicovery Centre.
SEE ALSO: Christmas in Berlin - tips, packages and events
Climate and temperatures: averages around zero. There can be mild periods with temperatures around 10 degrees, but also cold currents of polar and Siberian origin with snowfall and frost.
Cheap flights: from €59.00
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €45.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days
Küssnacht, Switzerland
All over the world Santa Claus is loved and awaited: but not in Küssnacht. Here a strange tradition, with medieval roots, takes place where more than 20,000 people gather every 5 December to hunt down Father Christmas. The event is called
"The event is called'Klausjagen', literally'Father Christmas Hunt', and is among the strangest Christmas celebrations in Europe. It originated as a pagan rite during which communities tried to chase away evil spirits... by making noise.
The all-night parade features 180 horn players, 200 men adorned with'iffeles', bishop's mitres illuminated by candles designed to look like stained glass windows, and 700 percussionists armed with cowbells and whips, which they snap as they 'chase' Santa Claus and his dark elves, driving them out of town.
Climate and temperatures: average daily temperature below 7 °C
Cheap flights: Flights to Zurich (74km) from €74.98
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €63.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: Return flight + 4 nights/5 days
Douz, Tunisia
The famous location where the Star Wars movies were filmed gives a magnificent Bedouin spectacle in the last days of December. The International Sahara Festival certainly has nothing to do with our idea of Christmas, but it can be a pleasant alternative. Every year, huge crowds of tourists and nomads from neighbouring countries gather here to watch camel rodeos, sand hockey tournaments, handicraft fairs and traditional belly dancing performances.
Climate and temperatures: cold, dry and clear skies prevail. Daily highs below 20 °C, lows 6 °C
Cheap flights: Flights to Djerba (about 200 km from Douz) from €244.55
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €57.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days from €716,00 per person - look at the offers
Honolulu, Hawaii
Climatically speaking, December isn't exactly excellent for visiting Hawaii (the weather is a bit rainy), but the festivities are so special that it might be worth it anyway.
In Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, the traditional Western Christmas has been celebrated since the beginning of the 19th century, in a unique and special variation. The celebration lasts the whole month of December and is full of fireworks, parades and Christmas songs played on the ukulele. Father Christmas makes his triumphant entrance sitting in a canoe pulled by dolphins and, of course, in flip-flops and a Hawaiian shirt.
SEE ALSO: Cruise to Hawaii - period, prices and itinerary
Climate and temperatures: cool, more abundant and frequent rainfall on the southern slopes, and some brief storms, but the sun always shines
Cheap flights: from €902.46
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €44.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days
Rovaniemi, Finland
And last but not least, Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and the birthplace of Father Christmas himself.
Here you can visit the Santa Claus Village, meet the reindeer, huskies and Father Christmas and take part in the iconic red sleigh ride! But that's not all, December is one of the best months to see the Aurora Borealis live, one of the most fascinating natural phenomena.
The only downside? Be prepared for freezing temperatures, well below 0!
SEE ALSO: Christmas in Rovaniemi: Offers, programme and tips
Climate and temperatures: continental, temperatures are normally below zero. Occasionally peaks of -25 °C may occur
Cheap flights: from €415.00
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €75.00 per room
Flight+hotel package: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days