Hello everyone! I am overjoyed that you came across this post. This post will include a list of the Best Places to Visit in Europe in December
Europe is a beautiful continent with many interesting places to visit. While many people visit during the summer, the winter months are also ideal for touring various countries.
December, in particular, is a highlight because many countries celebrate the holiday season with festivals and beautiful decorations that are not seen at other times of the year.
However, determining the Best Places to Visit in Europe in December can be difficult. Some of the best countries to visit while touring Europe this month are listed below.
The Top 10 Winter Europe Destinations:
The only problem with choosing the Best Places to Visit in Europe in December is that there are so many! All of these destinations provide the winter wonderlands you seek, with snow, sparkling lights, and Christmas markets.
To choose one…or more, consider their proximity to ski fields, specific festivals, or special events. Otherwise, you know what I mean? December will come around again, so just try to cross them all off your list.
1) Rovaniemi, Finland
Finnish Lapland is a winter wonderland unlike any other, perhaps best exemplified by Rovaniemi, the region’s capital city. Apart from being possibly the best place to spend Christmas (the town claims to be Santa Claus’ official hometown, after all), Rovaniemi is packed with reindeer farms, husky sledding, ice skating rinks, and Northern Lights safaris making it a must-visit for adventurous families.
Book a few nights at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel if you prefer something a little less festive and a little more pensive. You can sip glogg by the fire, eat cloudberry ice cream and smoked salmon, and sleep in a warm bed with views of the snow-covered forests.
2) Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens is Europe’s highest and most famous ski resort, with an altitude of over 2,000 meters and 140 kilometers of pistes. The resort is surrounded by dramatic peaks and a blanket of snow as far as the eye can see, making it ideal for sports enthusiasts while also being visually stunning.
Val Thorens has plenty to offer off the slopes for those who want the beauty but not the adrenaline rush. From snowshoeing and winter hiking to more unusual activities like mountain biking on snow or sliding down France’s longest toboggan run, there’s something for everyone. You can try an ice driving course or fly down the mountain at over 100 kilometers per hour on Europe’s highest zipline. Or put your bravery to the test by going ice diving.
3) Abisko, Sweden
Abisko is frequently regarded as the best place to see the northern lights on a tight budget. This is due to the village’s unique microclimate, which makes seeing the dancing lights in the sky much more likely than in other Scandinavian destinations. This necessitates shorter stays, which are less expensive.
Abisko is also an ideal destination for cross-country skiers, sledders, snowmobilers, and winter hikers who want to experience the never-ending polar night.
The world’s first ice hotel is also nearby, where you can spend the night in “cozy” -5 degrees Celsius temperatures or simply take a guided tour to learn about its construction and history.
4) Prague, Czech Republic: One of the Best Places to Visit in Europe in December
When snow falls on St. Charles Bridge and the church spires of Old Town, the entire city transforms. But, outside of Germany, the city has some of Europe’s best Christmas markets, where even the most jaded traveler will succumb to the trdelnk (fried dough) and mulled wine sold in festive stalls.
5) Hallstätt, Austria
Hallstätt sits right on the shores of Hallstätter See, surrounded by the snowcapped Dachstein Mountains and full of 12th-century fairy-tale churches and quaint Alpine houses.
It has a population of less than 1,000 permanent residents who live in Alpine timber houses built on steep hill slopes.
Hallstätt is beautiful all year, but it really shines when it is covered in snow and ice. The best view of winter Hallstätt is from the Hallstatt Skywalk, which is high above the town and requires a hike that is not always possible in the dead of winter.
Also Read: 20 Best places to visit in London
6) Nuremberg, Germany
Christmas markets are a European tradition, and few countries do them better than Germany. After all, there’s nothing like the blinking of holiday lights in a medieval town, especially when it’s covered in a light dusting of December snow. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, which has been around since the 1500s, is regarded as one of Germany’s best Christmas markets.
Against a backdrop of historical buildings, over a hundred stalls sell everything from the famous local “Rauschgoldengel” (gold-foil angel decorations) to the traditional lebkuchen gingerbread.
After shopping, visitors can attend a holiday concert at the Lorenzkirche church, which houses one of the world’s largest organs. Take a walk up cobblestone streets to the grounds of Nuremberg Castle, then visit the city’s toy museum to learn about the centuries-old tradition of making wooden toys.
7) Venice, Italy
Venice may surprise you as a winter destination, but there’s a reason it frequently makes top ten lists. The tourists leave once the colder months arrive. This means you’ll have the sleepy streets, Piazza San Marco, and canal bridges mostly to yourself. Just remember to go before the second half of January, when Carnevale begins and things get crowded and expensive again.
While Venice may not appear to be a snow destination, it can certainly snow in the city, and the canals frequently freeze in winter, the sun glistening in a rainbow of lights on the ice.
When the canals aren’t frozen, you can still take a gondola ride – just wrap up warmly and ride through the misty waters. During the month of December, Venice’s largest square is transformed into a massive ice rink.
8) Zagreb, Croatia: Some of the Best Cities in Europe to Visit in December
Zagreb has everything you’d expect from a Central European capital—cobbled streets, an old city quarter, and baroque architecture—plus a few extra-special perks in the winter. During its annual Advent in Zagreb festival, the city erupts with yuletide cheer, complete with 25 Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, and glittering lights galore.
Fill up on homemade sausages and brandy before heading to nearby Plitvice Lakes National Park to see the 16 terraced lakes and waterfalls completely frozen over—a mind-boggling landscape that must be seen in person.
9) Ilulissat, Greenland
The UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, dog sledding, relative accessibility (you can fly there from Iceland or Denmark), and proximity to iceberg-filled Disko Bay all draw tourists to Greenland’s western town of Ilulissat.
Most visitors come in the summer, no doubt to catch the midnight sun, but Visit Greenland recommends coming in the winter: “the stunning silence of a thick snowy terrain, speckled by a few howls of the Greenlandic dog, is an experience everyone should try at least once in their lives.” You’ll also avoid high hotel prices and mosquito swarms, which are surprisingly common in Greenland during the summer months.
10) Transylvania, Romania
On a hot summer day, exploring Transylvania’s Gothic castles and dense forests is a must. But what about going when the mountains are quieted by snow and the sky is a bleak, wintry haze? Much more fitting. While we understand that Transylvania is a region, there are so many cities that shine in the winter that it’s impossible to pick just one: Sibiu has a glittery Christmas market with 100 merchants, an ice rink, and a Ferris wheel.
Brașov is an excellent starting point for visiting some of Romania’s most famous castles, including Bran Castle and Peleș Castle (both less than an hour away). And Sighişoara is a classic medieval town with a UNESCO-protected historic center and colorful houses that stand out even more in the snow.
To summarize!
If you want to experience Europe in a unique way, you should definitely visit during the month of December. While it may be a little chilly, the crowds are much smaller, giving you more opportunities to see and experience things that would otherwise be too crowded and expensive to visit.
During the holiday season, these countries also host many festivals, such as Christmas markets. As a result, visiting Europe in December is one of the best-kept travel secrets.