Celebrating the holidays at home can be wonderful, but it’s hard to top a dreamy vacation at a hotel that’s bursting with festive magic. From glittering galas to gourmet menus, you can live your Yuletide fantasy this winter at hotels in eight of Europe’s most charming cities.
If your holiday wish list includes dancing the night away while the snow swirls outside, shopping for handmade gifts at Christmas markets, cozying up in a plush bathrobe, or all of the above (and more), the best festive hotels in Europe can make those dreams come true.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Hit the Holiday Markets in Frankfurt
Soft, spicy gingerbread still warm from the oven; Christmas-tree decorations that twinkle and flash; steaming mugs of glühwein (mulled wine) in cute, collectible mugs — these are the wonders of Germany’s winter markets. And Frankfurt is home to one of the country’s oldest Christmas gatherings, dating back to 1393.
The Westin Grand Frankfurt puts you just about a 12-minute walk from the main market’s 200-plus stalls, so you’ll never have to venture far for your next fix of bratwurst and hot cider. Smaller markets are dotted throughout the city, too, such as the City Alm rooftop, with its sweeping views of the twinkling lights, and the Rosa Weihnacht, an LGBTQ+ market and community space featuring pink-lit huts and a rainbow of inclusive gifts. Back at the hotel, you can defrost in Medius Spa, which has a heated indoor pool, rejuvenating spa treatments, and two saunas. One is a steam room, and the other is a traditional Finnish sauna — and both are heavenly.
Make holiday memories with friends and family in Dublin at The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection. (Photo: Marriott International)
Feel at Home in Dublin
During the holidays, The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection feels like a luxe home away from home, with lavish decorations at every turn, extravagant dining throughout December, and festive hotel experiences that include a visit from Santa Claus in The Lord Mayor’s Lounge. The menus are inspired by seasonal flavors, too, with everything from spiced cocktails and mulled wine to decadent afternoon tea with live music.
When you book a two-night stay from December 24 to 26, 2025, you’ll also enjoy a complimentary Christmas dinner on the big day featuring delicious traditional foods and Champagne.
Cozy Up for a Classic London Christmas
Every December, St. Pancras London, Autograph Collection is transformed into a traditional fairy tale in honor of its Victorian roots. Its iconic sweeping staircase is flanked by fir trees decked in dazzling lights for a pure Cinderella moment with a winter twist.
Enter through the hotel’s festive archway to discover an enchanting scene: Think live harp music at The Hansom, afternoon tea with mince pies and Champagne, and a lavish Christmas Day feast served in the Booking Office 1869 restaurant. The five-course Christmas menu features dishes such as lobster bisque, a wild mushroom pastry, and — for the main event — roast Norfolk Bronze turkey with bacon-wrapped pigs in blankets, honey-glazed carrots, and chestnut stuffing. Expect the finest British ingredients cooked with upscale flair.
Loosen Your Belt for a Berlin Feast
From its library of festive films to its Santa-style bathrobes, the Christmas Suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin feels a lot like starring in a seasonal movie — complete with front-row views of Potsdamer Platz and its famous Christmas market, plus pastries and hot chocolate on arrival.
But you don’t have to book the Christmas Suite to experience the hotel’s seasonal magic: Book one of the holiday hotel packages and you’ll enjoy a five-course banquet at top-rated POTS restaurant on December 24. Add in other events, like Champagne brunch and a traditional roast goose dinner with wine pairings, and you have one of the most deliciously festive hotels in Europe.
Go Alpine-Chic in Paris
Le Méridien Paris Arc de Triomphe, one of Paris’s finest hotels for holiday celebrations, transforms into an alpine oasis in the winter. You can expect warming mountain-style fare, stylish ski-inspired decor, and holiday-themed drinks at LM Bistro. It’s all in collaboration with a ski resort, bringing authentic Alpine charm to the heart of Paris.
Paris’s spectacular Yuletide markets at La Défense and Tuileries Garden are both just a few miles from the hotel, so you can immerse yourself in the City of Light’s holiday cheer. After all, what could be more wonderful than Christmas shopping at the markets, taking a frost-nipped cruise on the River Seine, going ice-skating, and indulging in warm spiced nuts and vin chaud (mulled wine)?
Experience holiday magic in the Christmas suite at Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Warsaw. (Photo: Marriott International)
Devour Festive Sweet Treats in Warsaw
The Christmas dessert menu at Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Warsaw is worth a trip to Poland in its own right. When the city is swirling with snow, you can sink your spoon into the hotel’s signature Tort Bristol — a rich confection of Polish plums, hazelnut cream, and marzipan sponge — or gingerbread with orange mousse and quince jam.
For a taste of them all, the hotel’s festive afternoon tea (throughout December) features all of its best-loved desserts, as well as traditional sandwiches and cream-smothered scones.
Indeed, the whole holiday season is packed with treats — from a lavish supper on Christmas Eve to extravagant brunches on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day featuring live cooking stations and à la carte delicacies. It’s an especially glamorous way to celebrate the season, with free-flowing bubbly and live music, too. With its glittering decorations, this is the epitome of family-friendly holiday hotels. For the ultimate Yuletide getaway, book a Christmas Suite. And for some seasonal “me time,” the Bristol Spa offers hot-stone massages, refreshing facials, and vouchers and skincare sets for last-minute gifts.
Stay in a Christmas Suite in Prague
Wake up in a winter wonderland at Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague. The hotel’s Christmas Suite shimmers with delicate baubles, evergreen garlands, and stately fir trees decked out in the season’s finest. Each stay includes personal presents under the tree, daily in-room treats, an exclusive cocktail, and a souvenir of handmade Bohemian glassware. Meanwhile, Prague’s holiday markets are just a short walk away, perfect for snapping up seasonal treasures.
This unique hotel is inspired by its adjoining 13th-century Augustine monastery, which makes its seasonal celebrations even more special. In addition to festive banquets on December 24th and 25th, you can toast New Year’s Eve with Champagne and live music at the hotel’s annual gala.
Ring in the New Year with a View of Edinburgh
New Year’s Eve is the time to gather your friends and go all out. And what better way than a party with an extraordinary view? The rooftop of W Lounge, at W Edinburgh, boasts a 360-degree view of the city’s Hogmanay celebrations and historic skyline.
When you secure a spot at the hotel’s New Year’s Eve event, a “Night of Ritual and Renewal,” you’ll enjoy a canapé reception and four-course dinner with Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne and wine pairings. At midnight, head out to the W Deck to watch the fireworks over Edinburgh Castle before hitting the dance floor inside. Need a little more R&R? Retreat to the AWAY Spa, where treatments include deep-tissue massages and LED-therapy facials. You’ll start the year feeling fresh-faced and fabulous.
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