When it comes to old-school Christmas traditions, continental Europe has the rest of the world beat, hands down. Romantic and idyllic visions of village hamlets, under a blanket of new snow, with bundled-up, rosy-cheeked residents shuffling about merrily to finish up their holiday gift lists are not just the stuff of literature. In many towns, you can actually experience and capture Christmas as it once was, within some of the most achingly charming environs imaginable. From traditional treats to sumptuous feasts, festivals and markets, here are the places in Old Europe that know how to revel in the yuletide spirit.
Germany is ground zero for Christmas tradition. If you were to visit one country in Europe in December over any other, you could do a lot worse than Deutschland. While Dresden, Freiburg and Cologne all have very notable and manifest yuletide scenes, the village of Staufen im Breisgau is about as ideal as you can find. With less than 8,000 inhabitants, the pretty hamlet sits at the doorstep of the famous Black Forest and within the lush Neumagen valley. Come December, residents go all out to decorate the town and transform it into a festive focal point.
How does a Christmas vacation in the Champagne region sound? Pretty effervescent? You can bet the bubbly flows in Reims, the town of 190,000 people in the famous wine region of France. Historical, cultural and beautiful, Reims is honestly worth the trip any time of year. The coronation of Charles VII took place here in 1422, with no less than Joan of Arc in the crowd. Roman ruins, a brilliant Cathedral of Notre-Dame and elegant town hall provide the cityscape with photogenic appeal. The Christmas season however, is particularly special, with a bountiful market and culinary delights.
The capital of North Holland province in the Netherlands is not alone in how it celebrates Christmas in the country. The Netherlands has a global reputation as a hub of yuletide events. Haarlem however, is noteworthy for convivial pageantry, incredibly quaint and historic churches and a brewery heritage that certainly helps people get into the spirit of the season. In late December, the central market square of the old town, under the shadow of the immense Grote Kerk cathedral, is a great place to hang out.
Oslo gets by far the most love of any place in Norway which for Trondheim at least, is a bit of an injustice. Perhaps the 170,000 residents prefer to keep the cozy municipality’s charm a secret, but the fact of the matter is that the green-forward and eco-progressive town is terrific. From the shores of the Nidelva river to world class ski slopes, the maritime port is one of the most attractive gems in all of Scandinavia. Winter conditions are not nearly as harsh as many envision, thanks to a relatively sheltered climate. Strolls around a gorgeous old town at Christmas time provide Trondheim visitors with a wealth of cute shops, markets and landmarks to explore.
The two-time Winter Olympic Games host is the undisputed king of postcard-perfect, snowy alpine hamlets. The capital of the Tyrol federal state in Austria however, is more than just a famous ski resort. The city of over 117,000 people is also a dynamic little cultural hub, with more architectural jewels than you can count. Covered in light snowfall at dusk on a chilly December eve, Innsbruck’s old town has some of the most resplendent eye candy in the country on tap. The annual Christkindlmarkt is popular but well worth the crowds.
Discover where to stay in pristine Innsbruck.
In close distance to beautiful Berne, tiny Grindelwald is peerless within Switzerland. A notable winter resort destination, not exactly a special attribute in a country replete with them, Grindelwald stands apart because of a Christmas charisma that is as authentic as you will find in Europe. At the foot of two dramatic Swiss Alps peaks in the Eiger and Wetterhorn, both of which offer supreme recreation appeal, the town is a diminutive paradise for those who want to hunker down and hibernate in a place that makes you believe in Santa Claus again.
As one of the de facto birthplaces of Christmas traditions as we know them today, Denmark is a mecca of yuletide spirit, to use a somewhat awkward metaphor. Copenhagen of course, is one of the best destinations in Europe and without a doubt, offers a plethora of holiday attractions in December. But for little town celebrations, Denmark is fantastic. The Danish simply love Christmas and nowhere is that attachment more remarkable than in Odense. From Saint Canute’s Cathedral to the Funen Village, the home of Hans Christian Andersen is a yuletide dream in December, with Christmas markets that seem out of a fairytale.
Check out the best hotels in Christmas-mad Odense.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
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