With the arrival of winter, the most long-awaited time begins - preparation for the celebration of Christmas and New Year. Nowhere do they prepare for Christmas so diligently, observing all the traditions, as in Europe. A wave of fairs covers Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other European countries. This is not only a tribute to old traditions, but also fun meetings with friends, as well as a reason to enjoy a variety of goodies! If you are planning to visit Vienna, Strasbourg or Cologne at this time, we suggest you prepare well so that you don’t miss anything delicious!

Every year, millions of tourists visit the numerous Christmas markets to recharge their festive mood. While drinking mulled wine, make a wish, for example, about a summer vacation. Sochi will help you prepare for your summer vacation according to the plan, where you can find all the necessary information about hotels, restaurants, and excursions.

But back to the winter trip to Europe. Preparations for the winter holidays start in November, and the finale of the Christmas markets falls on the eve of Catholic Christmas, December 24th. Strasbourg, Nuremberg, Munich, Prague, as well as Vienna and Cologne are especially famous for their fairs.

Strasbourg - the capital of Christmas

It is Strasbourg that is considered the capital of Christmas markets, because it is from here that the tradition of organizing holiday markets spread throughout Europe. For the first time such a thematic fair was held here in 1570. Here, for the first time, they decided to put up Christmas trees in houses and on the street, and later, for the first time, they began to decorate them with glass toys. Since then, this tradition has been constantly developed, and today Christmas Strasbourg is a fabulous city in which you will not find two identically decorated houses.

What to buy in Strasbourg, what delicacies to try and what delicious things to bring with you:

• airy marshmallows, roasted on a fire
• roasted chestnuts
• mulled wine
• jar of foie gras
• muenster cheese
• Alsatian chocolate
• bredele cookies
• gingerbread

Christmas festivities in Prague

The festive action in Prague takes place not only on the main square. You can walk along Havelskaya Square, Republic Square or Wenzel Square in the New Town. Numerous stalls with Christmas goods are scattered throughout the center - crafts, decorations and souvenirs, as well as fragrant delicacies and hot drinks. So, walking around the center, you will not remain hungry and unhappy - you will definitely buy some beautiful trifle and drink mulled wine.

What to buy in Prague, what delicacies to try and what delicious things to bring with you:

• fried sausages, old Prague ham
• cookies and gingerbread, Karlovy Vary waffles and trdelnik
• roasted chestnuts
• alcoholic drinks - absinthe, fernet, slivovitz and becherovka

Fairy Vienna

Town Hall Square hosts one of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Europe. Right in front of Schönbrunn Palace, a festive bazaar is unfolding. Visitors can buy handmade souvenirs as well as sweets and punch. The aroma of fresh pastries with cinnamon, roasted chestnuts and chocolate hovers, which creates a sense of celebration and a fabulous atmosphere.

What to buy in Vienna, what delicacies to try and what delicious things to bring with you:

• Christmas decorations and handmade candles
• Viennese porcelain
• punch and mulled wine and a beautiful cup
• large pretzel with cheese, sesame or sweet topping
• Viennese sausages and smoked meats
• Wiener Schnitzel
• Viennese strudel and Sacher cake
• chocolate, Mozart kugel sweets chocolate-covered fruits
• cookies and gingerbread

Great holidays in Cologne

The main Christmas market of the city opens on the square in front of the Cologne Cathedral, where free concerts and open-air performances are held. There is something to look out for here: wooden nutcrackers, Christmas tree decorations, figurines of the Holy Family and candles, as well as gingerbread and buns, and much more delicious. You can also visit Cologne's oldest Christmas market on the Neumarkt square, the themed market on Rudolfplatz and another market on the Rhine embankment near the Chocolate Museum.

What to buy in Cologne, what delicacies to try and what delicious things to bring with you:

• mulled wine and a beautiful cup
• pretzel and gingerbread cookies
• gingerbread, gingerbread houses
• chocolate and fruits in chocolate
• apples in caramel
• roasted nuts and chestnuts

Yes Yes. Flights, accommodations and dinners in the old European quarters are a robbery in broad daylight and a cozy Christmas evening. But, what if you expand the horizons of hackneyed routes and go to Europe through Kaliningrad or St. Petersburg? These cities are like the door behind the canvas of Papa Carlo and the closet to Narnia.

What is the beauty of Christmas in unpopular Europe:

• Less tourists and lines. Cozy tables by the window are yours.
• Cheaper. Each Christmas pretzel saves up to two euros.
• The holiday atmosphere is like in the capitals, but a little more comfortable.

We use Koninsberg as a portal to Europe. Fly here by flight from your city and rent a car. A car for two days will cost 4-5 thousand rubles. It will work out on a budget if you travel with friends.

Gdansk

If to Poland, then we go to Gdansk. Halfway we stop in pretty Elbląg and have lunch at the authentic place “Pod Kogutem” (“Under the Rooster”, that is). The one who is not the driver tastes locally produced beer. Let the photo for memory be at the Cathedral.

An hour later, we are in a city that, in its history, got either the Germans, or the Poles, or generally lived on its own as a separate state. The main Christmas market in Gdansk lives on Targ Weglowy Square. We stay for a couple of nights nearby and immerse ourselves in a fairy tale.

In the center, a Venetian carousel is spinning, a little further - a skating rink in lights and music. If you follow the coniferous aroma, you will come to an exhibition of Christmas trees of the world, decorated according to the traditions of different countries. Souvenirs are everything we love - craft toys, ceramics, canvas bags. From characteristic - gifts from amber.

In Poland, carp is eaten at Christmas. So coming to Gdansk, a city on the Baltic coast, is a great success. We go to the KOS bistro to try fresh fish in Polish style - 5 minutes from Targ Venglova, and we are there.

Klaipeda

Now we are heading for Klaipeda - a tiny port town a couple of kilometers from the Curonian Spit. We drive from Kaliningrad to it straight along the spit, with a stop in the dancing forest. This is where the trees are equally and mysteriously twisted. On the way we will play "Baltic safari". In winter, wild boars and foxes often come out on the road. The most daring ones feed them from their hands - the animals willingly make contact in search of food. And in three hours we will be at the ferry, which will transfer to Klaipeda.

The place is colorful. It seems that you are not in Lithuania, but somewhere in Bavaria. It is understandable. The heyday of Klaipeda falls on the 17th-18th centuries, when the Germans ruled the city and called it tenderly - Memel. In such cities you feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages - there are no tourist traffic jams in the narrow streets, you go to a cafe as if visiting relatives, and on the paved paths you are suddenly met by bronze figures of a cat, a golden mouse, a red dragon, a black ghost and a beautiful mermaid.

Klaipeda is a godsend for lovers of sculptures and monuments. Take a map and look for a boy who meets ships, a song girl, a monument to money, the first postal letter and even a button. When you find a wall with a scattering of buttons, raise your head up - another "resident" is sitting on the roof of the house - a chimney sweep.

In December, the Christmas festival "Salve Musica" takes place in Klaipeda. So combine fairs and walks with classical music and ballet.

For a gala dinner, we book a table at Stora Antis. This is a family run wine restaurant that has retained its 19th century look. The hosts love to tell the story of how Mireille Mathieu herself once looked in on them.

On the way back along the Curonian Spit, between the raging Baltic Sea and the frozen bay, you will want to go out again and remember this wonderful “road on the water”. And if you take your skates with you, you can stay for an hour or two on a natural ice rink.

Traveler's estimate

Four guys are going to Klaipeda for Christmas:

• Flight and car - 4,800 rubles per person.
• Ferry - 800 rubles for a car with a driver, 60 rubles per passenger. That is, 245 rubles per person.
• The same German house in Kaliningrad - 1,075 rubles per person.
• Loft with an attic in the center of Klaipeda for a couple of days 9,000 rubles or 2,250 per person.
• The budget for one person is 8,370 rubles.
• For comparison, the flight Berlin - Moscow and back - from 17,715 rubles.

From St. Petersburg, you can also go to Europe by car, to Tallinn or Helsinki. True, in this case the distance is more serious - almost 400 kilometers in one direction. There is another option - five days, three European capitals and one cruise ferry.

Ferry Princess Anastasia departs from the northern capital. He sails first to Helsinki, then to Stockholm, then to Tallinn and returns to St. Petersburg - five days and four nights on board. The ferry arrives in each city in the morning and leaves in the evening. That is, you can not pay for hotels "on the ground", but spend the night in a cabin, meeting a new country in the morning. After exploring the Christmas markets, get back on board. Here you will find your own variations of the holiday - a casino, karaoke or romantic outings on the deck, from where you can see the lights of the city and the dance of huge ice floes parting in front of the "Princess".

In December, cabins for four cost from 185 euros, or 3,500 rubles per person.

It is not necessary to order food on the liner - we go out into the city in the morning, wake up in the nearest bakery from coffee and views from the window and go in search of Christmas.

Helsinki

In Helsinki, everything happens on the Senate Square. We will reach it in 20 minutes. The market will be divided into a gift alley, where traditional woolen socks and triangular candles are bought, and a food court with hot mulled wine and snacks.

It so happened that Christmas in Russia is celebrated modestly, without pomp, most often in the family circle. Perhaps due to the fact that at first we celebrate the New Year, and we get so tired of fun and albeit joyful, but still troubles, that by Christmas we have no strength left for anything. In Europe, where most of the population belongs to the Catholic faith , Christmas is celebrated a week before the New Year - December 25, and much more attention is paid to it. Cities are changing, the atmosphere of the holiday reigns everywhere - garlands, elegant Christmas trees, the ubiquitous Santa Clauses and their faithful deer - all this makes an incredible impression! Moreover, Catholics start preparing for the holiday in advance - so you have a chance to see everything with your own eyes, even if you can’t get into the city in the midst of events. Remember that for Europeans Christmas is a family holiday, shops and municipal institutions often do not work on this day , according to a special schedule, traffic is carried out. Prices at this time are also higher than usual, so it is quite reasonable to plan a trip in the first half of December - you will feel the atmosphere of the holiday, but you will not experience any inconvenience. The hotel search engine Hotellook.ru will tell you in which European cities you will find the very Christmas mood for all New Year holidays .

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Prague, Czech Republic

When choosing where to go to feel the Christmas atmosphere, one cannot ignore Prague - this city always attracts tourists due to its architecture, traditions and customs. If there is an opportunity to visit this city on or before Christmas, it should not be missed. As in any other European city, here you can visit many Christmas markets, taste baked carp - a favorite treat of the Czechs during this period, admire the main fir tree of the capital, which, by the way, is lit on December 1st.

Paris, France

In Paris, a city so beloved by romantics, preparations for the Christmas holidays will begin at the end of November. Indeed, when you get to Paris in December, you will not be able to think about anything but the rapidly approaching holiday - everyone around is absorbed in a cheerful bustle and think, probably, only about gifts. On the Place de la Concorde, the main fir tree is set up - 35 meters high, and various festive events will be held there. An interesting Parisian tradition is to play puppet shows in shop windows that will impress not only children, but also adults. In addition, every winter, skating rinks are poured throughout the city - the one in front of the city hall is, of course, the most famous. The atmosphere reigning there on Christmas night is simply indescribable!

Nuremberg, Germany

A real adventure can be a trip to Nuremberg - this German city is deservedly considered the European Christmas capital. It is there that you can meet the heroes of biblical stories - baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary, feel the spirit of a fairy tale by writing a letter and sharing your dreams that will surely come true - after all, magic mail works without interruptions. The famous Christmas market in Nuremberg opens on December 1 and lasts until Christmas Eve, which means that by visiting it, you can see a lot of interesting things!

London, Great Britain

London is one of the most interesting and beautiful capitals in the world, and the way Christmas is celebrated here confirms this. They also begin to prepare for it in advance - the last week of November is already filled with festive chores. According to many, it is London streets that are decorated for the holiday in the most amazing way - in the city center, almost every street has its own unique style. In the famous Hyde Park, Christmas markets are held, rides, skating rinks work - everything is for the pleasure of citizens and tourists! There you can also ride a Ferris wheel and see festive London from a height of 60 meters - an unforgettable sight!

When it comes to celebrating the New Year, everyone chooses their own way to celebrate this holiday. Someone sits at home in front of the TV, someone rushes around the world, trying to get as many impressions as possible on this day.

In this article we will figure out where to go to Europe for the New Year holidays. There are many places in Europe where you can celebrate this bright holiday. Everyone wants to have bright memories after the New Year. Therefore, I have selected for you the most interesting options for cities and hotels that will help create an atmosphere of magic and fun. Still the main night of the year.

In all cities of Europe, New Year's celebrations are about the same. I will try to highlight the distinguishing features of each option. And also hello options for air tickets, I will advise good hotels and tours to Europe for the New Year holidays of 2018. Go!

New Year holidays in Europe - where to go?

London, Great Britain

Photo © ramnaganat / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0

Why?

London looks especially magical on New Year's Eve. The whole city shimmers with festive lights. If you like England, then it's time to decide to celebrate the New Year there.

Things to do?

If you decide to celebrate the New Year in London, visit the London Wonderland in Hyde Park or book a table in a club/bar/restaurant to enjoy delicious food and great music. Be sure to watch the parade with the procession of the Queen - this is a real three-hour extravaganza that runs along the Thames. Usually about 300,000 people and 10,000 artists and musicians gather here.

Watch New Year's Eve fireworks from the famous London Eye. Count down with Big Ben until midnight. Sing "Auld Lang Syne" with the crowd. Stroll along the Victoria Embankment and Waterloo and Westminster Bridges.

Useful advice

Save on accommodation in Europe by renting apartments from locals with Airbnb. Get 2100 rubles. as a gift for the first booking.

Ibiza, Spain

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Why?

Where in Europe it's warm on New Year's Eve, it's in Ibiza. The average temperature during the day is +17 degrees Celsius. The island of Ibiza is famous for its vibrant nightlife. If you like warmth, club life and dancing until the morning, then Ibiza is the best choice for you.

Things to do?

Celebrate the New Year at Ibiza's most famous nightclub, Pacha. Keep your eyes, mouth and ears wide open for a very fun holiday in this place.

If you suddenly want luxury and quiet solitude with your family, head to Hacienda Na Xamena Spa Hotel, where you can just relax and enjoy life, everything else will be done for you.

Where to stay?

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Photo © donaldjudge / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Why?

Dubrovnik is one of the less obvious places in Europe where you can celebrate the New Year, but no less wonderful. Most often people come here in the summer and ignore it in the winter, very in vain!

Things to do?

If you want to get drunk and have fun on New Year's Eve in Dubrovnik, then head to the Latin American clubs Fuego, Capitano or Revelin.

If you want to plunge into the flow of celebrating people, then go to Stradun Street and Dubrovnik Old Town Street. Sit back and listen to a wonderful concert of Croatian bands. Of course. Not without fireworks.

Where to stay?

Barcelona, ​​Spain

Photo © barcelona_cat / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Why?

New Year's Eve in Barcelona is not for the weak. The festivities and festivals here start at 21:00. You can walk the streets, listen to music, watch performances, drink and eat various goodies. Barcelona is another place where you will be warm on New Year's Eve, with an average of +15 degrees.

Things to do?

The New Year is celebrated here with great pomp and is called Nochevieja. All the fun starts at Montujic's Magic Fountain. Both locals and tourists from all over the world gather here to count the chimes together and celebrate the New Year. There are also very beautiful fireworks.

New Year in Paris, France

Photo © johnvanhulsen / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Why?

Paris for the New Year offers the widest range of New Year's Eve parties for every taste. If you want to visit one of the best places to celebrate the New Year, feel free to go to Paris. New Year's Paris is beautiful, which is worth one Cathedral on the Champs Elysees.

Things to do?

If you want variety on New Year's Eve, then you've come to the right place. Cruise on the Seine and sightseeing with a delicious lunch at Bistro Parisien, champagne and a colorful show at Crazy horse, beautiful Bluebells girls from Lido de Paris and much, much more. Whatever way you choose to celebrate the New Year in Paris, it will definitely be remembered.

Where to stay?

A special choice for a special day - Eiffel villa Garibaldi.

Madeira, Portugal

Photo © madeiraarchipelago / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY 2.0

Why?

For something a little more exotic, head to the Madeira Islands. They look very elegant during the holidays. And celebrating the New Year on the island is a very special feeling. In addition, Madeira is also warm, on average +18.

Things to do?

The Madeira Islands in December are known for their sales and many people come here for shopping. New Year's fireworks look very beautiful from the islands. Here, the New Year is slowly celebrated from the beginning of December until the twelfth night (hello from Catholic Christmas). The whole island is beautifully decorated and everywhere you look there are concert programs. The islands of Madeira are the place where you should stay longer, and not just for one night.

Berlin, Germany

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Why?

Vienna, Austria

Photo © jeanleo / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Why?

Vienna is traditionally considered one of the best cities in Europe to celebrate the New Year.

Things to do?

Residents of Vienna gather in the city center on New Year's Eve to walk the "New Year's Path" or "Silsterpfad". The party starts at 2:00 pm, people slowly pour out into the street and fill up with hot mulled wine and caramelized apples.

At midnight, the Pummerin bell rings from the tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the first fireworks are set off over Prater park.

The famous "palace on rails" - the Majestic Imperator train invites you to celebrate the change of year in luxurious style with a gourmet dinner and a tie at midnight on the Danube bridge (Danube bridge), which offers a wonderful view of the city and festive fireworks.

If you want to celebrate the New Year in a more relaxed atmosphere, head towards the Town Hall to watch the New Year's concert, which is projected on a big screen.

The main thing is to eat at least some "Glücksschwein" or "lucky pig". Pork on a festive night is sold in all kinds and forms.

Don't forget to eat some Glücksschwein, or good luck pigs, which you'll find in every form, from pig sucking to pork marzipan. New Year's Vienna will delight and surprise you.

Istanbul, Turkey

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Why?

At a minimum, you do not need to worry about a Schengen visa. Turkey is an unusual representative of Europe and the New Year here can be celebrated in a very special way. The weather in Istanbul for the New Year is also quite warm, about 7 degrees above zero.

Things to do?

Istanbul for the New Year is also changing. Start your evening with a traditional Turkish lunch at Bebek Restaurant or Istiklal Caddesi, where the celebration takes place in a calm and pleasant atmosphere. Then join the cheering crowd at Taksim Square, Istikul Street or Faith District, where revelers organize impromptu street parties. The most advantageous view opens from the "Golden Horn".

If noisy parties are not your thing, then you can take a river cruise along the Bosphorus and watch the celebrations from afar as you sail past the city. But you will have the most advantageous position for watching fireworks at midnight.

Where to stay?

Prague, Czech Republic

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Why?

Prague is another great option for those who want to celebrate the New Year in Europe and are looking for cheap places to travel. Many Russians like to celebrate the New Year in Prague. Besides, it's close. Prague has a very dramatic (in a good way) atmosphere on New Year's Eve. You have many options for where to start celebrating.

Things to do?

New Year's Prague will please with a variety of opportunities. There are many good clubs, bars and restaurants here. You can start your holiday with a jazz cruise on the river, or you can go to Old Town Square with the city dwellers. You can go to some beautiful place like Lesser town, Petrin hill or Prague castle. At midnight, the most interesting thing is on the main square.

There is a nice tradition in Prague to break bottles of champagne, sometimes on the head, if you want to participate, grab a helmet.

Gdansk, Poland

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Why?

There is a lot of fun in New Year's Gdansk. You should definitely come here if you like to eat. In Gdansk, they believe that the more you eat, the better your next year will be.

Things to do?

Of course, have a good meal at Wigilia, and then go and get drunk at Skwer Kosciuszki, and then have a good dance at the Walrus club.

The most festive streets of the city are Dluga and Pl. Teatralna.

Where to stay?

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Why?

Amsterdam is often referred to as the city of love, and if you want to celebrate the New Year in a romantic setting, then this is a great choice.

Things to do?

New Year's Amsterdam surprises. In addition to organized festivities in public places like the Rembrandtplein, Nieumarkt, Museumplein and Dam Square, there are many impromptu "chamber" parties in Amsterdam that you can join. And if you want to celebrate the New Year in a crowd of joyful people, then you are on the above streets.

Of course, the festive fireworks will not do without. The best view is traditionally from the bridges, when you can see the lights not only in the sky, but also their reflection on the water surface.

Grab a glass of champagne and local delicacies from street vendors and make a wish with the chiming clock. And then go to any bar, club or restaurant to continue the celebration.

Stockholm, Sweden

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Why?

Christmas in Sweden is celebrated in a very calm atmosphere, but on New Year's Eve in Stockholm they come off with might and main.

Things to do?

Despite the fact that the Swedes have a northern country, they still prefer to celebrate the New Year on the street. Therefore, eat delicious seafood in some good restaurant, and then go towards Skansen to see the most New Year's Stockholm. The New Year has been traditionally celebrated here since 1895. At midnight, some famous Swede will recite the poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" to the accompaniment of fireworks.

After midnight, after walking up, drinking champagne and cuddling with the Swedes, go to a club or bar. As a rule, they work until 3-4 in the morning.

If you want to celebrate the New Year in silence and romantic atmosphere, head to Lake Malaren.

When you have free time, go see the local City hall, Sodermalm, Fjallgatan and Monteliusvagen, they really deserve a visit.

Where to stay?

Reykjavik, Iceland

© borkurdotnet / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Why?

On New Year's Eve, daylight hours in Reykjavik last only 4 hours, which means that the locals are happy to light everything around with bonfires, bright lanterns and garlands. What turns New Year's Reykjavik into a fabulous town.

Things to do?

Light bonfires with the locals as a symbol of burning the troubles of the old year. There is no official part of the celebration and fireworks are fired by local residents. On New Year's Eve, about 200,000 people take to the streets and half an hour before midnight the sky is colored with lights.

For the best vantage point, head to Perlan or Landakotskirkja Church.

After the festivities, many disperse to clubs and bars. Because Icelanders leave the house to celebrate the New Year relatively late, and then they celebrate until the morning. If you make it past 5am, you'll see locals queuing up to get hungover and eat hot dogs. Many go to improve their health in hot springs.

Helsinki and Lapland, Finland

© timo_w2s / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Why?

The world's most popular Santa Claus lives in Finland. It is here that the atmosphere of the New Year's miracle is felt very brightly. If you want to celebrate the New Year with children, then choose Finland.

Things to do?

First decide on the place of celebration: Helsinki or Lapland?

The main holiday of the country takes place in Helsinki, on the Senate Square. Local residents gather here to drink champagne, listen to the congratulatory speech of the mayor, watch a festive concert and tell fortunes on small tin horseshoes.

In Finland, fireworks are allowed to run for only 8 hours, so the Finns come off with might and main, painting the sky with colorful lights, and the air with pops and the smell of gunpowder.

Christmas is one of the most beautiful and bright holidays on earth. Many people have hopes and expectation of something important, fabulous, magical. And those who can’t wait any longer, and have nothing to look forward to, can arrange a holiday for their loved ones: Christmas is a great occasion to spend a few days with dear people, surprise them and give them, for example, a weekend in Europe. In our selection you will find a list of places where, according to experienced tourists, it is best to celebrate Christmas.

1. Classic Catholic Christmas

In order to get acquainted with all the traditions and enjoy the special flavor of the Catholic Christmas, it is best to go to Old Europe: the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, France, Poland, Germany. In all these countries, Christmas markets are already opening: many charming shops with countless souvenirs, sweets, mulled wine and punch. In these bazaars, you can leave not a single hundred euros - but it's worth it! European cities at Christmas become like those fairy-tale kingdoms that we once read about in the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and the great Andersen: maybe even real magic happens in them.

In Germany, the capital of Christmas is Nuremberg, where the country's main Christmas market opens. In France, Paris itself turns into a magical kingdom. In Hungary, in Budapest, a festival of music and wine is held at the end of December, in Belgium and Denmark - a Christmas beer festival.

But experienced tourists call two cities the most beautiful Christmas cities: Prague and Vienna. It’s really difficult to choose between them, but BusinessTimes is leaning towards Vienna: 6 Christmas markets are already open in this city, the city hall has turned into a fairy-tale castle, and the park near it has become a magical kingdom, with colored luminous lanterns and huge candies and icicles in the crowns of trees . The whole city dresses up in colorful garlands and the festive atmosphere gradually captures all residents and tourists.

2. Classic Northern Christmas

You can see the traditional Christmas with northern landscapes in the homeland of Santa Claus - in Finland. For snow lovers, Norway or Sweden are also perfect, where you can visit numerous snow festivals, go skiing, but at the same time enjoy the Christmas coziness of small European cities.

3. Christmas for sports fans

If souvenirs and garlands seem superfluous to you, and the main thing for you is a good vacation with your family and sports entertainment, then the best option is the ski resorts of France, Switzerland, Italy. For those who would like to relax at Christmas without spending a lot of money on it, we can advise Poland or Belarus - ski tourism has been actively developing here recently, and even in Belarus you can find good places to stay for a very symbolic cost. True, you will not feel the Christmas color there: Belarus celebrates both Catholic and Orthodox Christmas, but not as widely as in Old Europe.

4. Christmas on the beach

If you are tired of winter, cold and darkness, then a great option is to go to the beach for the Christmas week. And here the choice of a place depends only on your preferences: it can be either classic Egypt, Thailand, Turkey, or less popular places like Indonesia, India or Cuba. In Goa at Christmas - about 30 degrees Celsius, so get ready to surprise your colleagues with a beautiful tan when you return to work.

5. Exotic Christmas

This option is suitable for those who have already been to a lot of places and seen a lot. If you have free funds and want to relax, and Europe and Thailand are already tired, go to Mexico: there you can try Mexican punch and special sweet bread that is baked especially for Christmas - after all, Mexico also celebrates it. Theatrical reconstructions and exotic excursions, heat and the sea - all at your service in one trip. You can also add the beaches of Brazil or Florida, where the temperature never dropped below 0 degrees Celsius - after all, what could be more exotic than Christmas with palm trees!