Xmas markets/snowy European cities

[Hettythechicken]

We could like to go somewhere with snow (or snow near by we can go to) in the week before Xmas. I’ve looked at Salzburg which looks incredible but struggling to find direct flights back to London/Bristol/Southampton which are our possible airports. Is there somewhere else you’ve been that might be suitable? Xmas markets would be a bonus but not necessary.

If you want guaranteed snow I would look for Scandinavia instead. For the Alps you need to go fairly high and even there you have years with no snow before January.

Zakopane in Poland / fly to Krakow.

Snow unfortunately is never a guarantee anywhere but I love skiing and Christmas in North America. The Rocky Mountains are pretty snowsure for Christmas and one has to get into the festive spirit at Aspen or Banff or my favourite, Lake Louise!

Standsted to Salzburg via Ryanair flys most days. Annoyingly the ba flights from Heathrow and Gatwick seem to have disappeared since Covid.

like above, Salzburg could have lots of snow or nothing. It doesn’t snow the beginning of December that low down often.

We are in the south west so stansted too far for a few days away, as would Canada - although the Rockies are one of my favourite places in the world!
Will keep on looking. Thanks all x

Bucharest often gets snow around that time and if not the carpathians are near. There's often bristol flights.

Iceland, plenty of snow there in the winter

Only very few European places now are likely to feature a white Christmas. There has been less and less snow each winter in places were it normally does snow December - February over the last decade . I don't know about Iceland though.

Prague, if you can get to Gatwick Tallin in Estonia. The markets small but there are lots of other things to do. When we were there Santa was visiting the open museum and giving free chocolate to the children. We got smoked vodka from the blacksmith

It was snowing in Copenhagen in Dec when we went and they had a Christmas market at Tivoli gardens .

I've been to these places in December

Basel - snow
Riga-snow
Prague
Bruges - snow
Amsterdam
Manchester
Winchester
London
Buxton
Portugal - no snow, but did have Xmas markets, mulled wine in the sunshine etc

In Europe for snow in December you need to go North or go very high. Most of Germany/Austria/Switzerland is just cold and drizzly - you might get snow, you probably won't. Even ski resorts don't get much snow until mid-January (apart from the highest ones).
The the high alpine villages will likely have snow, as will Scandinavia. Or North America (Northern US states and Canada).

Innsbruck? It has a Christmas market and even if there isn't snow in the town you can see snow on the mountain tops of the valley Innsbruck is in.