European most Christmassy cities

Although the New Year and Christmas holidays are coming to an end, the holiday spirit is still present in most European cities. We present to you some of the most beautifully decorated cities in Europe for the New Year and Christmas holidays and bring you their festive atmosphere.

Vienna, Austria

Elegance and grace are synonymous for Vienna during the New Year and Christmas holidays. The spirit of the old town, colorful little wooden houses, twinkling Christmas trees give this city a festive scene as seen in the movies. The famous Viennese architecture is wrapped in twinkling lights, creating an ideal picture that we could look at all day. Following tradition, this city doesn’t exaggerate in colors when it comes to decorating for the New Year’s holidays, but instead opts for the classic red-green-gold combination, which ideally reflects the beauty of this Austrian city.

You will never be hungry, during the Christmas festivals, because Vienna has prepared for you its famous sausages, sweet chimneys, as well as mulled wine, which is indispensable at this time of the year. There is also no shortage of activities during this period of the year, enjoy skating on the Rathausplatz, visiting museums, as well as listening to street singers and musicians who complement the festive atmosphere with their music.

Paris, France

The smell of freshly baked croissants, the sound of street musicians, twinkling lights are just a part of what awaits you in Paris. Colorful New Year’s lights and balls deck out the city and boulevards and contribute to this city retaining its title of city of light. The very name of this capital of France is not accidental, because Paris throughout the year, and especially during the New Year holidays, is sparkling. Along the Avenue Champs-Élysées stretches 400 Christmas trees decorated with red balls and lights specially designed for this occasion. The windows of famous department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann are also decorated with over-the-top displays.

If you are visiting this city with children, be sure to visit Disneyland, where you can see dazzling holiday decorations, colorful Christmas parades, which delights the visitors with their song. At every turn, there is a chocolateries, ice skating, and an overdose of winter shows for children.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Innovative design, minimalist details as well as festive spirit is what characterizes Copenhagen and all of Denmark during the Christmas holidays. Adorned with Christmas markets and tasteful decorations, the entire city radiates a special kind of atmosphere. No other place in the city is wrapped-up in Christmas magic like the world-famous Tivoli Gardens. Each year, the second oldest amusement park on the planet, Tivoli, is transformed into a winter wonderland with spectacular Christmas lights, thrilling rides and cute little stalls selling all kinds of gifts and traditional crafts. You can visit the traditional exhibition Christmas tables, organized by Royal Copenhagen. This is the 59th exhibition where six artists from around the world have the opportunity to present their designs and the art of decorating Christmas tables. The theme of this year’s exhibition is Enchanted Christmas, and the artists have the task of combining Christmas tradition and their artistic expression, giving the visitors new Christmas spirit.

Prague, Czech Republic

During the New Year holidays, the capital of Gothic architecture, Prague, represents an ideal escape into a real winter fairytale. Winter in the capital of Czech Republic is crisp and chilly, but walking along the cobbled streets that whisper about the ghosts of the tempestuous past, along the beautiful Gothic buildings covered in fresh snow, is like stepping into a Christmas card.

Christmas markets in Prague are among the most famous in Europe, providing an excellent opportunity to discover the traditions of this city, cultural values and delicious cuisine of this Central European country. The most impressive and oldest market is located on the Old Town Square, where you can see a huge Christmas tree, which is traditionally brought from another region of the Czech Republic each year. This market is visited by more than thousands of people every year.

Everywhere you look, cheerful and beautifully decorated wooden huts filled with festive treats sell everything from handicrafts and beautiful Christmas tree decorations to typical Czech delicacies and treats. The whole atmosphere is completed with festive music and lights. After filling your shopping bags with glittery decorations, warm up with a cup of mulled wine, spin on the ice skating rink or attend one of the fantastic concerts that take place in the city’s churches during this period.

If you have visited one of these European winter fairytales or some other, feel free to share your story. What is your favorite destination for winter holiday?