10 Best Places to Celebrate the Holidays In Europe

Who’s ready to leave it all behind and do something wildly different this holiday season? What do you say we go make some new memories with a glass of mulled wine in hand and a stroll through a Christmas market abroad? 

With a fresh coat of snow, a bevy of treats to try, and a million different opportunities to pick up unique trinkets for the ones we love, celebrating the holidays abroad could be just the ticket. It was hard to whittle it down, but we’ve selected what we feel are ten of the best places to close out the year on a high note. 

Nuremberg, Germany

If we’re talking about the Christmas holidays, we simply must go to one of the oldest, most beautiful Christmas markets in the world – Christkindlesmarkt. Under the lights of the cathedral, you’ll find countless wooden stalls to wander through, often filled with handmade finds. As you sip on your mulled wine and marvel at the wonder of it all, you’ll be ever so happy you came to the place where it all began. 

Rome, Italy

We’d love to list Israel as a place to visit if, again, you’re celebrating Christmas but, until there’s peace in the world, we may have to hold off on any pilgrimages to the Holy Land. So, let’s go somewhere else the disciples knew very well. With countless cathedrals to stop in and light a candle – such as St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls – as well as festive lights strewn throughout the city, this could make for a very peaceful holiday experience. 

Colmar, France

Colmar is a picturesque medieval village in the northeastern corner of France. During the holiday season, it turns into a winter wonderland. With lights strewn from ancient buildings, a Christmas market right in the heart of the historic town center, and rumors that it was the inspiration for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, you just know the magic is going to reverberate through the air. Be sure to light a candle inside St. Martin’s Church – dating all the way back to 1235. 

Paris, France

The City of Lights is majestic all year round. But it really ups the ante during the holiday season. From the dynamic displays inside the department stores to the Eiffel Tower’s usual light show at night, everything sparkles with delight. Secure a room in a beautiful boutique hotel on Île Saint-Louis, and you’ll be walking distance to Notre Dame – a lovely place to stop in and say hello as she’s just been reopened.