Pretty city breaks at Christmas?

[Rnm62]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone been on a city break in December / over Christmas that they can recommend? Somewhere pretty & festive but not overly crowded, if possible.

Open to all suggestions.

Thanks!

Zagreb has great Christmas markets but very well know, or how about Ljubljana for a bit of a change?

If you don't want to go so far, Ghent is very pretty and has a Christmas market. It's a small place so you would only want a night or two there, but not as heaving as the bigger cities . We did a great smartphone-based free "treasure hunt" following clues to tour round the city centre, available online and organised by the local tourist office. Absolutely gem of a city, had a thoroughly lovely time there.

Munich is lovely at that time of year. Any number of Christmas markets, a bewildering array of beautiful little bakeries and coffee houses, good chance of snow, generally a supremely beautiful and festive little city. I once went in august and it somehow felt like Christmas had a gorgeous mini break there one December, absolutely loved it.

Prague, Vienna and Tallinn are the most magical cities that I’ve visited in December. Bruges is next on my list.

We go abroad every December for our wedding anniversary and Vienna is lovely at Christmas time. Christmas markets, gorgeous decorations etc.

I also really loved Florence at that time of year - it was quite quiet and the light was just beautiful. We booked through BA and stayed at the hotel Brunelleschi. Had the benefit of flying into Florence airport instead of Pisa AND it only cost just over £200 per person for three nights. Hotel was fab and in a great location.

I also had a lovely break in Florence in early December. It’s going back a few years now but it was very pretty and festive with lots of lights, a nice market that wasn’t overly busy and a generally nice atmosphere. I have also been to Bruges the weekend before Christmas and I loved the city but it was packed! My sister lives near Hamburg and said that’s very nice at Christmas but I haven’t been myself.

We went to Vienna and Salzburg one Christmas and it was just magical!

@Fivemoreminutes1

Prague, Vienna and Tallinn are the most magical cities that I’ve visited in December. Bruges is next on my list.

I would very much NOT recommend Bruges at Christmas, unless it's vastly improved. Such a lovely city and so easily accessible from the UK, I have no clue why they've not embraced the proper Christmas market thing - but when we went what few stalls there were just sold utter tat. Very disappointing.

Went to Athens one year over Christmas. Not all that festive when compared to northern European cities with snow and markets but my god it was one of the best holidays I've ever had. Went to all the major sites which were not remotely crowded, the food was amazing and the weather was a lovely 15-20 degrees every day. I think about that holiday often!

Cologne is beautiful at Christmas

Copenhagen! 🎄🎄🎄

If you’re planning Christmas markets check historic closing dates, as typically they finish on Christmas Eve in Germany.

Strasbourg is extremely pretty and reachable on the Eurostar. Nuremberg is also stunning and has an airport close to the city.

Zagreb is very popular now, and can be very cold. Where as Split and Dubrovnik are beautiful and festive, plus you will be able to eat lunch outside in the sun.