Winter city breaks: 12 cities for festive escapes

Never more romantic than at Christmas, Paris sparkles in its festive lights, making Paris city breaks particularly magical during this season. Head to the Champs Elysées for the most dazzling displays. The Champs Elysées, a quintessential stop during Paris city breaks, is also a great place to enjoy the seasonally-themed window displays in many of the big stores, adding to the enchanting atmosphere that makes Christmas in Paris an unforgettable experience.

Make sure you pop into Galeries Lafayette to see the enormous tree under the gilded central dome. If you’re visiting with children, it’s worth knowing that many of the city’s carousels are free to ride during December. Christmas in Paris sure is as magical as it seems!

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Come to Budapest during the festive season for Budapest city breaks and you won’t go short on Christmas markets. The oldest and most renowned market is held in Vörösmarty Square, making it an essential stop on Budapest city breaks. It’s an ideal place to immerse yourself in Hungarian culture, trying favourites like goulash, tökipompos (a savoury pie), or the wonderfully-named kürtöskalács, which translates to ‘chimney cake’. This experience is a highlight of any Budapest city break during the festive period.

Meanwhile, the Advent Basilica Christmas market, in the heart of the city outside St Stephen’s Basilica, combines well with a day’s sightseeing. There’s also a 150-year-old ice rink next to Vajdahunyad Castle and, if your muscles ache after all that exertion, what better way to round off your trip than with one of the thermal spas? Széchenyi and Gellért Thermal Baths are the traveller favourites! 

If a white Christmas is important to you, Reykjavik is an excellent choice for a December city break. Make the most of the snow by trying out snowmobiling, dog-sledding or, of course, sleigh riding with a team of reindeer, just like Father Christmas.

If you’re the really adventurous type, glacier hiking is a popular winter activity. And then there are the northern lights. Although sightings can never be guaranteed, the mesmerising green and pink lights frequently wash across the skies on dark December and January nights.

Krakow’s Christmas market, a highlight of Krakow city breaks, in the main square, Rynek Główny, is a must-see. As well as the requisite handcrafts, which add to the charm of Krakow city breaks, it’s an excellent opportunity to try out local favourites like pierogi (dumplings), grilled oscypek (a type of cheese), gingerbread, and waffles.

If you’re after a picturesque view during your Krakow city break, Krakus Mound and Kościuszko Mound are great spots to take in the city, offering a blend of cultural experience and scenic beauty, essential to any visit to Krakow.

Come to Copenhagen for a short break and discover castles, colourful city houses, and some good old Scandinavian hygge. This Copenhagen short break offers the perfect blend of culture and coziness. Whether it’s warming your hands around a cup of the spiced wine, gløgg, ice skating in the Tivoli Gardens, or shopping beneath the cascade of Christmas lights on the Kronprinsensgade, you won’t be short of ways to fill your time in Copenhagen.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations in Copenhagen, centring around City Hall Square, are a must-experience for those looking for memorable new year breaks. As a highlight of a Copenhagen short break, these celebrations offer a spectacular display of fireworks, champagne, and lots of fun, making them an ideal choice for anyone seeking a festive and exciting way to ring in the New Year.

For those planning Edinburgh weekend breaks in December, the city offers a wonderland of festive activities, from the traditional Christmas market to the enchanting Christmas tree maze, ice skating rink, and an array of fairground rides.

In addition to these lively attractions, the fire garden and illuminations at the Botanic Gardens offer quieter but equally mesmerising entertainment, including the chance to toast your own marshmallows in a fire pit or indulge in chocolate-drenched churros. For those considering Edinburgh for their weekend breaks, especially around New Year's Eve, exploring our New Year's Eve hotel packages can provide a comfortable and luxurious stay, enhancing the festive experience.

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For the most quintessential of German Christmases, city breaks to Cologne offer an experience like no other, with its world-famous Christmas market set beneath the twin-spired cathedral. In fact, Cologne hosts numerous Christmas markets, each with their own themes or offering unique local specialties.

If you’re visiting Cologne on a city break with children, make time for the Heinzels Wintermärchen, or House Elves Winter Market, which is every bit as charming as its name suggests. This makes Cologne a top choice for those seeking a festive and culturally rich city break.

Christmas in the Big Apple, a highlight of New York short breaks, is as magical and exciting as it sounds. During these New York winter short breaks, you can enjoy ice skating in Central Park, visit Santa’s Workshop in Little Italy, marvel at the iconic Rockefeller Christmas tree, explore the Winter Village at Bryant Park, and, on New Year’s Eve, experience the world-famous ball drop in Times Square. This makes New York an ideal destination for those seeking a festive and vibrant short break over the holiday season.

There are also some incredible options for Christmas shopping. If you want to escape the crowds, check out the illuminated trail Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, which is perfect for both adults and children. 

Amsterdam transforms into a festive paradise in winter, making it a perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Colourful fairy lights shimmer over the canals, enhancing the city's charm. During your weekend in Amsterdam, especially throughout December and January, don't miss the famous Amsterdam Light Festival, which showcases stunning light artworks around the city, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

There are also several Christmas markets scattered around the city – Museumplein is one of the most popular spots. For music, mulled wine, carousels and both indoor and outdoor ice-skating, you can’t beat Amsterdam Winter Paradise. 

If you’re seeking snow globe-style Christmas magic, Prague, a picturesque and enchanting Czech capital, is the perfect destination for Prague weekend breaks. This city, with its fairy-tale charm, becomes even more magical during the festive season, offering an unforgettable experience for those on a weekend getaway in Prague.

Look up for fairy-tale views of the romantic castle and then, after dark, enjoy a new perspective on the Christmas lights with a walk to the Charles Bridge along the banks of the Vltava River. Finally, for a real treat, indulge in a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

Whether it’s the lights on Regent Street, the ice skating rink at Somerset House, or the wintery views of the city from the lastminute.com London Eye, you’ll need several Christmases to fully experience all that London trips have to offer. Each element adds a unique charm to London, ensuring an unforgettable festive experience in the capital.

And if you’re hankering for Christmas markets, the city hosts everything from a traditional German-style market on the South Bank to the ultimate festive paradise in Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland. And for some extra magic, there’s also the ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’ experience at the Warner Brothers studio tour for Harry Potter fans!

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