I'll be in Europe from November until February.
Does anyone know some nice places/things to see during the Christmas period?
I've already written down some Christmas markets as well as a few festivals like Krampuslauf and Italy's Nativity scene.
Also where are some nice places to spend New Years? Not really looking to party hard but I would like to just have a fun celebration with locals.
>Christmas markets
The one in Budapest right next to the basilica is supposedly one of the nicest in Europe. I don't understand the appeal though-- it's the same bunch of small kiosks selling knicknacks that are present at every festival, but now you can buy some hot wine, and there are Christmas decorations and a light show.
>nice places to spend New Years
I hear Russia is fun on New Years
germany generally has pretty good christmas markets. nuremberg, aachen and a bunch of others
a few other countries have them too. belgium has some good ones, netherlands too
most of the big cities usually have a ton of stuff going on around christmas, london paris berlin etc, just look at a local what's on guide to find them
every church will have events going on, even if you are not religious they are fun to take part and sing some christmas carols and so on, just look at the churches around the town wherever you happen to be at the time
>New Years? Not really looking to party hard but I would like to just have a fun celebration with locals.
better stay away from the big cities then. find a cool small town instead. be aware that many places even regular pubs/bars will be ticket-only on new year's eve and some places will restrict tickets to regulars only
Pro tip: Go to South Tirol.
Meran, Bozen, Brixen etc, is fantastic during Christmas.
I realize these kinds of vacations are not talked about on this board, because you need both money and a family for these.
If you can afford it, rent a cabin in a small ski town (not the big resorts, but a ski town where you only have cabin).
I used to go to La Clusaz, Chatel and other places in the french Alps, it's maximum comfy if your chalet looks down on the illuminated town.
Fucking love Christkindlmarkts.
Unironically December is worse time to visit europe if you dont have friends or family to stay with, every where closes early, you get 6 hours of daylight, nobody is outdoors hanging out.
The 24th through 26th everything is closed.
>The 24th through 26th everything is closed.
During the week of Christmas itself, head down to Serbia, where they're Orthodox and celebrate Christmas in January, or to Bosnia or Albania, where they're Muslim and don't celebrate it.
i'm going alone and getting hammered during that period
It's fantastic to do, but would really recommend having friends (or family) if going over the Christmas period. Or maybe some group tours.
In terms of Christmas markets Nuremberg was the nicest, but Strasbourg was also nice for a a bit of a French influence.
I'll be travelling with my girlfriend so I won't be completely alone.
>girlfriend who has no family to celebrate christmas with
Big red flag and sounds boring
Sounds even more boring as shit
>Sounds even more boring as shit
That's what happens when you become an old man.
Old people shouldnt drink unless you purposely trying to have a nice day?
>girlfriend who has no family to celebrate christmas with
She has family. They just live in Australia where we live. We're going to be in Europe for Christmas though, not Australia.
Having a gf who just tells their family to fuck off for the holidays cuz her simp bf is taking her to garden gnomerope is a redflag gay