For all its inherent festive cheer, the holiday season is not without its stresses. So if you’re in the mood for getting away from it all this year, why not ditch the usual traditions and make your own. Here’s how to carve out some time for the holidays in Europe and rediscover a European city on a holiday getaway.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning any trips.
Prague
Prague’s Old Town Square is well-known for its Christmas Markets, but if you’ve already experienced the glitz, crowds, and mulled wine of Old Town Square, you can find a less touristy experience at the Dyzajn Market Winter at Holešovice Market.
Typically open for a few days in December, the market showcases artwork, clothing, jewelry, and other unique items from more than 150 designers, alongside music, theater, and great food and drink.
A classical music concert in a beautiful concert hall will also put you in the holiday spirit — check the program at the Rudolfinum. And if you’re in town around Hanukkah, the menorah lighting on Jan Palach Square is a moving sight.
Rome
As you might expect of the locale surrounding Vatican City, Christmas in Rome is very special. Streets glow with strings of sparkling lights; festive trees adorn Saint Peter’s Square, Piazza Venezia, and the area by the Colosseum; and churches display ornate nativity scenes in all sizes and styles.
Simply strolling through the city is sure to get you in a festive mood, as will taking a spin around one of the city’s several ice rinks, such as the Renzo Piano–designed Auditorium Parco della Musica, which transforms into a winter wonderland every holiday season.
Hectic holidays are also the perfect time to escape from the crowds into an entirely different atmosphere. Head for the peaceful oasis of Parco degli Acquedotti in the south of the city, near the famed Cinecittà Studios and recognizable from the opening scene of “La Dolce Vita.”
Here, unwind with a relaxing stroll past relics of the Roman Empire, including ancient aqueducts and part of a cobblestone road that once formed part of the Appia Antica.
Lisbon
Portugal’s City of Light shines even brighter during the festive season. Lisbon‘s grand avenues and squares glow with twinkling lights, and its glitzy Christmas tree is one of the tallest in the world.
If you’d rather eschew the holiday, however, head 90 minutes north of Lisbon to Nazaré. December and January are peak months for the relaxed coastal town’s famously huge waves. On particularly stormy winter days, waves can reach up to 100 feet, attracting some of the best (and bravest) surfers in the world.
The sea air and excitement should build up your appetite to indulge afterward in festive treats such as bacalhau da Consoada (Christmas Eve boiled salt cod with potatoes) and bolo rei (king cake). Then toast the holiday season with cocktails and sprawling city views from the rooftop Panorama Bar at Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa.
Munich
While visitors flock to Munich‘s traditional Christmas market on Marienplatz, locals favor the Tollwood Winter Festival for its colorful cultural programming. Held on the same fairgrounds as Oktoberfest, Tollwood features a handicrafts market where you can find original gifts and souvenirs. The festival also boasts organic food, large-scale sculptures, live music and theater, and environmental activities.
You’ll also find plenty of opportunities for ice skating in Munich, including at the Olympiapark and Prinzregentenstadion rinks. Join locals on the frozen Nymphenburg Canal, under the Nymphenburg Castle, as it transforms into a large curling and skating rink.
Dublin
The Irish capital is always filled with cheer, but Dublin is especially magical during the festive season. Visit in winter to find the city’s famed Georgian doors dressed up with Christmas wreaths, shop windows displaying fairy-tale tableaux, and cobblestone Grafton Street ringing with caroling street entertainers.
It’s the perfect time to tuck into a few pints at a cozy pub. But when you feel the need for a little quiet time, you’ll find that Dublin is also a great city for embarking on a peaceful stroll. A walk along the Grand Canal or the Royal Canal on a chill winter morning is sure to have you feeling reinvigorated.
If you’re feeling hardy, take a dip in the Irish Sea’s freezing waters at the Forty Foot promontory, a local year-round swimming spot with a Christmas Day plunge tradition.
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