Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ – holds a special place in the Roman calendar. But in western countries, especially Europe and the Schengen region, Christmas goes beyond December 25th. Extending from Advent (beginning of December) to Epiphany (January 6th), it is a season unlike any other, and includes several holy days, masses, festivities, community markets, and commemorative mealtimes. All the more reason for you and your family to revel in this unique, most-awaited holiday season, which beats summer, fall, winter, and springtime vacations. It is a side of Europe you definitely don’t want to miss. It is a good idea to plan your Christmas vacation as early as possible so that you have ample time to create your flight itinerary, finalize hotel bookings, and schedule your visa interview to create outstanding memories for life.
What to Expect in a Schengen Christmas
The idea of Christmas instantly conjures up images of shopping, souvenirs, food, games, and merriment. Chilling temperatures may or may not be on your lookout list depending upon which Schengen countries you plan to cover. However, it is important to remember that each country celebrates Christmas as a reflection of its local history, tradition, and economical standing. Which leaves you a lot of room to play around with your flight itinerary to include more than just two or three countries, if exploring Schengen Christmas is what you are aiming at.
Don’t limit your Christmas experience to just December 24th or 25th, because you won’t find any market, park, restaurant, or activity open on Christmas Day per se, as people prefer spending the day at home with their families. Instead, block 10 days to 2 weeks of your calendar surrounding Christmas to actually enjoy the celebratory affairs. To make the most of your Schengen Christmas, choose locations that are within the geographic radius so that you spend less time travelling and more time enjoying the festivities with your family. And considering that Christmastime is also winter time, all tourist attractions, including parks and museums, will open late and close early. So, plan your activities accordingly to utilize each day of your vacation to its fullest.
Schengen Spots for the Best Christmas Experience
Ideally, the must-see countries you should include in your Christmas vacation are where the traditions originally started. And these are Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in Central Europe. Of course you are free to include other Schengen countries, but history has it that Christmas fanfare in other locations are purely offshoots of what goes on in the Top 3. No doubt they are equally magical and charming, but are driven largely by economic factors, and don’t include traditional beliefs and customs as much.
Within Central Europe, the celebratory atmosphere in Germany is unmatchable. Choose from a wide selection of towns – Trier, Luxembourg, Cologne, Dresden, Aachen – and you’ll be drawn into the Christmas phenomenon instantly. The Christmas market at Trier, against the beautifully lit backdrop of the Trier Cathedral, is reputed to be the most beautiful and most romantic not only in the Schengen region but in all Europe. With 100+ stalls, the range of Christmas shopping possible here cannot be found anyplace else. From wood crafts and fabric dolls to scented candles and glass figurines, the festive extravaganza is truly exceptional. Also not to be missed is the scrumptious local bratwurst, gingerbread, and candies for a complete Christmassy experience.
In Austria, a typical Christmas holiday should include traditional events and the season’s Christkindlmarkt. This much-awaited annual market is best known for its pretzels, roasted chestnuts, strudel, hot chocolate, and unique ornamental keepsakes. Within Austria, Innsbruck hosts six Christmas markets – the largest number in the country! Also look out for the scintillating giant Christmas tree illuminated by Swarovski crystals. Another Christmas market well worth your visit is at Hellbrunn Palace, which is best remembered for featuring in the 1965 movie “The Sound of Music”.
No Schengen Christmas vacation is complete without including Switzerland into your travel plan. Create a base in any Swiss city and explore the surrounding towns and villages for a complete Swiss-mas experience. Most Christmas vacationers prefer Alpine resorts, skiing and sledding during the day, and then heading into civilization to enjoy the local Christmas markets in early evening. If travelling with family or friends, this is a good plan because it caters to multiple individual interests. If shopping is your only agenda, then set up base in any of the Swiss cities such as Bern, Geneva, or Lucerne. The Christmas markets here are a one-stop shop for buying art and craft souvenirs and varieties of chocolates.
Tips for the Perfect Christmas Experience
Planning a Christmas trip with your family is just as exciting as actually living through the vacation experience. That is why we have put together a list of important points we don’t want you to miss, so that you get the most from your travels.
- Look beyond major cities to experience little-known Christmas traditions of the smaller towns. So, while it is a great idea to include Paris, Munich, Amsterdam, Salzburg, or Rovaniemi into your flight itinerary, take detours into surrounding villages and medium-sized towns to fully appreciate the season’s magic.
- Pack light, so that you have plentiful space to fit in your Christmas shopping. Christmas markets have a wide variety of attractive wares on display, which you won’t find in regular stores. So you’ll need space in your baggage to fit them all in.
- Don’t leave out visits to popular tourist attractions in your zeal for Christmas shopping. Sooner or later, you will tire from your trip if all you do is hop from one Christmas market to the next. So, set time aside for regular attractions, book entry tickets accordingly, and get up close and personal with the local sights as well.