As the festive season looms closer, get into the Christmas spirit with a European break. With beautiful markets, sleigh rides and cross-country ski trips to experience, here is our round-up of the best pre-Christmas trips that Europe has to offer.
Experience a fairytale Christmas in Tallinn’s Old Town
Noted as Europe’s best Christmas market for three years in a row, Tallinn is the perfect place to visit for a pre-Christmas city break. Situated in the picturesque Old Town, the exceptionally preserved medieval streets give a fairytale quality to the market, giving visitors a chance to experience Christmas traditions amongst the beautiful Hanseatic architecture. Visit the charming stalls to find handmade Christmas gifts, and to sample some of the traditional festive refreshments on offer. The market is also home to one of Europe’s oldest holiday traditions, the display of a public Christmas tree in the Town Hall square. First brought to Tallinn in 1441, the Christmas tree remains the crown jewel in the square’s Christmas market, illuminating the stalls with its’ thousands of lights.
The Tallinn Christmas Market runs from 19 November 2021 – 2 January 2022.
Discover the UK’s oldest German Christmas Market
Since Lincoln brought the first traditional German Christmas market to the UK in 1982, it has grown from just 11 stands to now over 200 stalls. Visitors are transported back through time as they stroll along the cobbled streets of the city’s Cathedral Quarter, shopping with a view of the historic Castle and Cathedral. There is something for everyone, from quirky gifts to food and drinks. The Artist’s Christmas Village is the ideal place to find unique presents, all whilst supporting local artists and crafters. Visitors can enjoy a mulled wine as they peruse the stalls, before stopping to take in some of the festive, family-friendly entertainment. Various shops across the city will also stay open late for the duration of the market.
Lincoln Christmas markets will take place from 2-5 December 2021.
Stress free Christmas in Guernsey, La Barbarie Hotel
With Christmas decorations lighting up the whole island, a full programme of festive performances, local craft fairs and quirky Christmas shopping, Guernsey is a great destination for a pre-Christmas break. The Channel Island promises a stress-free getaway as there’s no need for a passport or currency exchange, so visitors can stick to their Christmas budget.
Situated in the country Parish of St. Martin in a quiet green valley close to one of Guernsey’s most beautiful bays, La Barbarie Hotel offers easy access to the stunning cliff walks. It’s a short stroll to Saints Bay, from where you can pick up the path to Renoir’s favourite spot at Moulin Huet, wander to Icart Point for fabulous panoramic views, or discover secluded coves of the south coast of Guernsey.
A comfortable Guernsey hotel set in a rural location, combined with a popular award-winning restaurant gives La Barbarie Hotel a winning combination for a long weekend winter break. The hotel prides itself on its “Family Christmas” atmosphere with the hotel’s exceptional hospitality and the finest festive décor.
Between 1 December and 28 February, the hotel offers a retreat and recharge winter break, with a three night stay from £190 per person, based on two sharing a classic double room. The price includes three nights’ accommodation with breakfast, £25 restaurant credit per person and Guernsey fudge in their room. For more information, please visit: Visit Guernsey Winter – Retreat and Recharge (labarbariehotel.com) / Winter Holidays in Guernsey | Close to UK | Visit Guernsey
Christmas Winter Wonderland Weekends in Herm
The White House Hotel – the only hotel on the tiny island of Herm – is offering a pre-Christmas family treat every weekend in December in the run up to Christmas. Just a 20-minute ferry from Guernsey, Herm Island is magical at all times of year, offering wonderful blustery beach walks, a cosy pub to warm up in by the fire, and cold-water swimming for the super brave in the colder winter months.
The White House Hotel’s Winter Wonderland Weekend specials feature a visit by Father Christmas as his elves with presents for kids, “snow” in the White House Garden and children’s crafts with the elves. A three-course meal is included on Saturday night in the Conservatory restaurant, and full breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning, plus a £10 gift voucher for The Herm Shop.
The Winter Wonderland Weekend is £300 for two adults (for the two nights) and £60 per child, including the above. Dates available: 3&4 December 10&11 December and 17&18 December.
For more information, please visit: Christmas Winter Wonderland Weekends in Herm | Visit Guernsey / Special Offers & Packages – Herm Island
Travel through the beautiful wilderness of Finland by sleigh
Oulanka is a hugely popular family destination and is the perfect place for an authentic snow-filled winter holiday. The whole family can enjoy a host of exciting activities and wholesome home-cooked food rustled up by the small team of expert staff. They will discover the beautiful wilderness on snowshoes, cross-country skis as well as by dogsled and reindeer sleigh. The wilderness base is located in a beautifully remote wilderness location at the edge of Oulanka National Park in a truly spectacular setting. This fun-filled winter holiday has the very best conditions for seeing the Northern Lights, nature’s most spectacular light show!
Exodus Travels’ (Exodus.co.uk, 0203 1312 785) trip Finnish Winter Adventure Family Holiday in Finland is priced from £2,349 per adult and £1,762 per child and includes flights, all accommodation, all breakfasts, five lunches, seven dinners, all transport and listed activities, tour lead throughout, arrival and departure transfers. Departure dates include 19, 26 December 2021.
Cross country ski through the picturesque landscapes of Venabu, Norway
This seven-night skiing holiday is set in Venabu in central Norway, on the edge of the Rondane National Park, providing a stunning snow-covered view down onto the Gudbrandsdalen Valley, just north of Lillehammer. The landscape is dramatic and full of contrasts from spectacular gorges and lofty peaks to pretty fells and verdant valleys that extend as far as the eye can see. It has always been traditional to travel on skis here so it’s perfect for a skiing escape and is suitable for all levels as the guides will help everyone to get started. This is Norway’s vast yet beautiful, untouched wilderness at its very best and it is common to sport wild moose and reindeer. The Venabu Fjell hotel offers traditional Scandinavian cuisine and boasts glorious panoramic vistas out across the mountains.
Headwater (Headwater.com, 01606 369121) is offering the eight-day tour Cross-country skiing in Venabu priced from £1,639 per person and includes flights, accommodation, all meals, five days ski tuition and guided excursions, all classic ski equipment hire, ski wax and access to ski trails, one yoga or pilates session and airport transfers. Multiple departure dates including 19, 26 December 2021.
Live your best life in Lapland
This three-day all-inclusive private trip takes travellers to the northernmost tip of Finland for a once in a lifetime experience. Immerse in vast open spaces, marvel at the ethereal beauty of the snow-covered Lappish forest, sample some delicious + different local food and sweat out all the lockdown toxins at a traditional Lapland sauna experience. After being cooped up for so long, reconnect with yourself and your partner and bask in the land of the Midnight Sun with friendly and passionate local guide Tuomas, who was born and raised in the heart of Finnish Lapland. The tour will be taken in a private car, can be fully customised and includes all-inclusive food and accommodation in stunning log cabins.
ToursByLocals offers the three-day Heart of Lapland Tour from £3,504 per tour, for up to 10 people. The tour includes guiding services, private transportation, set meals and admission tickets. Extra costs include any personal expenses.
Celebrate this winter in Efteling
Efteling – the fairytale theme park resort in the south of Holland – is an enchanting place to visit year-round, yet in the winter months, it becomes even more magical with ‘Winter Efteling’. Taking place this year between 15th November and 6th February 2022, the theme park will be transformed into a winter wonderland of snowy decorations, twinkling lights, warming bonfires and open-air festivities. With three on-site accommodation options including themed rooms at the Efteling Hotel, luxurious woodland houses at Holiday Village Efteling Bosrijk and cosy log cabins at Holiday Village Efteling Loonsche Land, the theme park makes for a memorable festive short break that will suit the whole family.
All the park’s attractions will be open as usual, apart from some water rides, meaning that visitors can enjoy all the fun, magic and thrills that Efteling has to offer with a winter wonderland twist. At the heart of the park, in the famous Fairytale Forest, which brings family-favourite tales to life for all generations, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio have prepared for winter. High-thrill roller coasters will keep teens looking for an adrenaline rush occupied, such as the dive-coaster Baron 1898 which plunges riders 37.5m into a mineshaft, while the steam train around the park is ideal for those that prefer to experience the magic at a slower price. At the indoor rides, the whole family will be whisked away to different lands through mystical scenes and story-telling. Attractions such as the forbidden city of 1001 Nights: Fata Morgana; Droomvlucht, where fairies, trolls and unicorns live; and Symbolica, a Palace of Fantasy in which guests visit secret passages and royal chambers.
A two night stay in a six-person Woodland House at Holiday Village Efteling Bosrijk in December is £540, which includes three days at Efteling. For more information, please visit: Winter Efteling – Efteling
