I'm a travel writer and these are five great festive European cities
If the lure of festive foods, cosy bars and Christmas markets has got you wanting to get away for the weekend, our early gift to you is a roundup of the best European cities to visit during the festive season.
Ancient streets lined with historic buildings become even more atmospheric when they are lit up for Christmas. The festive markets that pop up on cobbled streets sell seasonal treats while visitors skate on ice rinks and take in the sound of choirs singing carols in the open air.
From the effortlessly 'Instagrammable' streets of Vienna to the romance of Paris as the temperature falls, some European cities offer it all.
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Many destinations across Europe are covered in lights, decorations and a light dusting of snow for Christmas and we’ve rounded up a selection of the best places to go to soak up the seasonal spirit.
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December can often see price hikes on travel and hotel stays, but to help make your Christmas dream more affordable, we've found the best value flights and places to stay so you can save some money to buy presents,
Krakow, Poland
Christmas in Krakow is a thing of beauty with the festive season and its religious meaning welcomed as a time of great joy. As the city is bedecked in the trappings of the season including Christmas trees and lights, nativity scenes and carol singing, locals love to get involved on a grand scale.
Krakow comes alive at Christmas time (Getty)Live your best gingerbread dreams at one of the city's famous Christmas markets that take over the main square, or take in the annual traditional nativity contest, known as Szopki, where local artisans create elaborate miniatures of historical Kraków buildings to illustrate scenes from the birth of the baby Jesus.
With snow expected to fall throughout December, you can warm up with some mulled wine and indulge in some hearty Polish food at the festive celebrations in Rynek Glowny.
How to get there
Wizz Air is offering flights from London Luton to Krakow for £30.99, departing on December 4. Other providers of cheap flights to Krakow include East Midlands to Krakow from £43 with Jet2 and Luton to Krakow for £40 with Ryanair.
Where to stay:
The Old Town is at the heart of all the festive action and there are many hotels and hostelries to choose from. Depending on your budget you could bed down in the Leone Aparthotel for just £38 a night, take in the views from the Sheraton Grand Krakow from £108 a night or splash out on a luxury stay at the Hotel H15 Luxury Palace from £215 a night.
Budapest, Hungary
Visiting the city just in time for Christmas, festive fans can wrap up warm and wander through the seasonal street markets that come to life from November 17 until January 1, 2024. With several different markets to choose from, it is the Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market that reigns supreme, thanks to its position in one of Budapest’s most picturesque cobblestone squares.
Beautiful Budapest at Christmastime (Getty)Budapest is also home to some incredible thermal pools and a trip to the city wouldn't be the same without taking a dip. Absolute bliss in wintertime, the Szechenyi Baths and the historic Rudas Baths promise to revitalise your body and soul during your stay. Budapest nightlife takes spa baths to another level, with a selection of thermal pool parties happening throughout the season as well as the ruin bars where locals relax in abandoned bnuldingas.
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Another reason to visit Budapest is the incredible traditional Hungarian delicacies such as Goulash, grilled meats and sausages and flatbread (lepény) baked in a clay oven as well as strudels, Sekler cake, beigli, flódni and other sweets and fragrant winter beverages.
How to get there:
Wizz Air has flights from London Lutoms starting from as little as £26.99 one way on December, 7, while Ryanair is flights from Stansted for £33.34 on December, 3.
Where to stay:
Much of the city's famous nightlife can be found in the Jewish Quarter as can the large Christmas market at St. Stephen's Basilica, but staying there can be expensive. Many tourists choose to stay just outside in the 5th district where you can find a one-night stay at the City Hotel Matyas from £112 per night or the Danubius Hotel Erzsébet City Center for £117 per night.
Berlin, Germany
Home to some of Europe's earliest Christmas markets, the capital city of Berlin is also famous for its incredible history, vibrant social scene and dedication to the Christmas cause.
Berlin is home to some of Europe's best Christmas markets (Getty)With over 80 festive markets scattered across the city, there is no shortage of seasonal shopping, as well as a Christmas carnival, skating rink and an iconic Ferris wheel. During the month of December, the city sings along with the sound of the many carol concerts that take place inside the iconic Berlin Cathedral opening its doors for everyone to hear.
How to get there:
EasyJet has return flights from London to Berlin for £65.99 on December 12.
Where to stay:
The city of Berlin has lots of accommodation on offer to suit every traveller. From the cheap and cheerful £56 rooms at the Märkischer Hof Hotel to the four-star luxury of the West Grand Berlin Hotel with rooms starting from £220 per night,
Vienna, Austria
The ancient city of Vienna is a festive wonderland packed full of Christmas markets, skating rinks and Gluhvine.
Vienna is famous for its Christmas markets (Getty)As one of the most picture-perfect Christmas settings in all of Europe, Vienna comes alive with the sound of advent concerts and the smell of Vienna sausage and roasted chestnuts. Head over to Rathausplatz, Vienna’s most famous Christmas market, and immerse yourself in the crowds of visitors who flock to Vienna to feel festive at Christmas time.
How to get there:
Ryanair is offering one-way flights from Manchester to Vienna on December, 4 for just £25.51 per person, while Wizz Air has flights from London to Vienna starting from £44 in December.
Where to stay:
Vienna is full of pretty hotels housed in ancient buildings. Some of the best value hotels we found in December include the Hotel Graf Stadion for £133 per night and the Levante Rathuas Apartments for £135 per night.
Paris, France
The city of love is one of the prettiest places to be at Christmas time. The Eiffel Tower surrounded by a blanket of snow is a rare wonder to behold and the twinkling lights of the Christmas street markets transform the city into its very own winter wonderland.
The streets of Paris light up during the festive season (Getty)With over a million bulbs lighting up the Champs-Élyséese and a sky full of flowing balloons of the Bercy Village, Paris is perfect for some high-end Christmas shopping. There is also an ice skating rink at the Jardin des Tuileries and the beautiful vintage fairground at the Musee Des Arts Forains.
How to get there:
Paris is just a short flight from the UK, with Ryanair flying direct from Manchester to Paris Beauvais for just £14.99 in December, EasyJet flies from London to Charles De Gaul for £37.99.
Where to stay:
Paris is not the cheapest city in the world to stay in, but there are some lovely places to spend the festive season if you don't mind paying a bit more for it. Some of the most affordable hotels we found include the Hôtel Des Arts-Bastille for £136 per night, Le Relais du Marais for £147 per night and Serotel Lutèce for £187 per night.
If you would rather book a city break with flights and accommodation included, First Choice is currently offering a selection of Christmas market stays with prices starting from £224 per person. Tui and LoveHolidays also have great deals on European city breaks between now and Christmas.
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