Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Europe at Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time to visit Europe, something our family has done many times. Today we’re sharing five things you’ll love, and hate, about visiting Europe at Christmas-time!
Christmas in Europe Love #1: Christmas Markets
Germany is famous for Christmas markets, but they are everywhere in Europe, from small villages to large cities. Christmas markets are one of the best things about Christmas in Europe. You can enjoy glühwein and traditional food, while shopping for authentic gifts in the cool winter air.
Christmas in Europe Love #2: Old World Christmas Traditions
There are so many interesting Christmas traditions in Europe. It’s not just about buying gifts and waiting for Santa Claus. There’s Nicklaus, and Black Peter and many other Christmas stories and traditions. Most cities in Europe have a strong Christian background, so the Christmas decorations are everywhere.
Christmas in Europe Love #3: Christmas Cuisine
At Christmas, special foods start to appear all over Europe. Whether it’s panettone in Italy, or glühwein in Germany, you’ll find that every country in Europe has special Christmas-time cuisines they celebrate with.
Christmas in Europe Love #4: Improved Service
Sometimes we are critical of service quality in Europe, but it really does improve at Christmas time. People are friendlier with tourists and more willing to help out. In Bratislava, hotel staff left “Nicklaus” treats outside our door for our kids, which was really special.
Christmas in Europe Love #5: The Great Outdoors
In the colder climates of the US, people tend to stay indoors at Christmas time. In Europe, people get outside to enjoy the Christmas spirit, even when it’s cold out. From the Christmas markets, to skating rinks and cafes, people love the outdoors at Christmas time.
Christmas in Europe Hate #1: High Season Pricing
While winter in Europe is often a great time to save money on flights and hotels, you can expect to see higher prices at Christmas time. Better deals can be had in November or January, so if you’re just trying to save money, you might visit when school is still in session, because once school is out, prices jump.
Christmas in Europe Hate #2: Markets and Decorations End at Christmas
You might want to travel to Europe for the week between Christmas and New Year’s, but if you arrive after Christmas, you’ll be disappointed to learn that most Christmas markets end on the 24th, and Christmas decorations come down right after Christmas. The Christmas spirit in Europe disappears pretty quickly after the 25th and it’s back to business as usual.
Christmas in Europe Hate #3: Crowded Transportation
Because it’s a high travel season, you’re going to see fully booked trains and buses as everyone tries to get home for Christmas. Hotels will also book up, so make all of your reservations as early as possible if you plan to travel around Europe at Christmas.
Christmas in Europe Hate #4: Reduced Transportation Schedules
Even though more people are traveling at Christmas, the service and schedules are often drastically reduced on the holiday. If you plan to travel on the holiday, check ahead to see if trains or buses are even running.
Christmas in Europe Hate #5: Closed Government Agencies
Many offices or government agencies close or have reduced hours over the holidays. This really comes into play if you experience any issues during your travels, such as a lost passport or needing to file a police report. Anything involving the government may take a bit of extra time, so be prepared for delays.
These are the things we love, and hate, about visiting Europe at Christmas. For more travel tips, check out some of our other travel blogs and videos: