Why You Should Spend Christmas and New Year in Europe

Recently updated on January 22nd, 2020 at 07:44 pm

Make this festive season one to remember for many years to come with a once in a lifetime journey. Experience the magic of Paris at the city’s Christmas markets, spend a white Christmas in the Swiss Alps, and embrace the good life in Italy for New Year. Experience all of this while celebrating Christmas and New Year in Europe.

Joie de Vivre in France

Paris is a magical city to visit year-round, but as the twinkling Christmas lights appear, the French capital feels even more special. Both locals and visitors stroll through the city’s Christmas markets, of which the most impressive is perhaps Champs-Elysées Christmas Village, where people glide across the outdoor ice rink and ride the fair’s Big Wheel.

The Champagne region is just a short journey from the captivating capital.  Here, the City of Champagne, Reims, displays the country’s Royal heritage, and is home to many of the region’s most prestigious Champagne Houses and their cavernous cellars. In December, Reims hosts a Christmas market at Place d’Erlon, with carol singers and jazz bands performing amidst the festive bustle, providing visitors with the opportunity to pick up Christmas gifts in addition to visiting the city’s UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and touring the nearby Champagne Houses.

Savour the Swiss Alps

Across the border from France, within Switzerland’s Engadin Valley, lies the alpine town of St. Moritz, which in addition to being one of Europe’s best-loved winter resorts, has also hosted two Winter Olympics. Due to being a host city, St. Moritz now has a world-championship bobsled run and outdoor Olympic ice rink. Naturally, most people come here for the ski slopes that surround this alpine town, as well as for the wintery mountain views. These views and the pristine covering of snow make St Moritz an idyllic place to spend Christmas, when guests can zip down the snow blanketed slopes or simply look out across the mountains by a roaring log fire.

Indulge in Italy

Known as Giudecca Island, this patch of Venice is in fact a group of eight islands, connected by meandering canals and bridges. What was once a fishing village is now a thriving and historically rich urban hub where Venetian craftsmen can be seen at work. After taking a gondola ride along the canals, visitors can step inside a glass-blowing workshop to see the vivid colours and distinctive designs of Giudecca’s handmade items.

Spend New Year in the Tuscan Hills, first stopping off in the artistically and architecturally celebrated city of Florence to stroll between the ornate Duomo, grand Piazza della Signoria and iconic statue of Michelangelo’s David. After this immersion into the Renaissance arts, visitors can retreat to an idyllic family-owned vineyard to savour true Tuscan fare while looking out over the Chianti Hills.

The hilltop UNESCO World Heritage town of San Gimignano is also nearby, with its famous medieval towers. Here, residents take great pride in culinary specialties like white wine made from Vernaccia grapes, pine nut cake, and the inventive gelato flavours of award winning Gelateria Dondoli. New Year’s Eve can be spent here with food, wine and music in the house where Italian Renaissance philosopher and writer Niccolo Machiavelli once lived.

Finally, the first days of the New Year can be spent in Rome and the Vatican City. Here, it’s the ancient Roman ruins and Renaissance masterpieces that are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Experience Christmas and New Year in Europe on our European White Christmas Delights & New Year Lights itinerary.

Image credits: Cover photo of Christmas in Paris © iStock / encrier. Paris at Christmas © iStock / encrier. Champagne in the festive season © iStock / Milan Stojanovic. St Moritz in Winter © iStock / Carla Alonso Marasco. Florence in the snow © iStock / Barone Fi. Glass blowing in Venice © iStock / bereta. Tuscany in Winter © iStock / Pavliha.