Best Places to Go for a Christmas Holiday
Snowy adventures, magical markets and winter sunshine, with practical advice for making Christmas away feel special.
Imagine waking up to snow-covered pine trees, exploring a city glowing with Christmas lights, or enjoying Christmas lunch on a sunny terrace. A holiday over the festive season can be unforgettable. But there is a crucial choice to make before comparing prices: do you want a festive trip before Christmas, or do you want to spend Christmas Day itself away from home? The best destination, budget and itinerary can be completely different.
Our five favourites offer distinct experiences: Lapland for family magic, Vienna for seasonal elegance, Tenerife for winter sun, Prague for atmospheric streets and Madeira for lights, local traditions and mild-weather celebrations. Here's how to find the right one without falling for a lovely photograph that doesn't match your travel dates.
Which Christmas holiday is right for you?
- For children dreaming of Santa: Lapland offers a memorable Arctic experience, but plan for deep cold, short daylight hours and excursion costs.
- For an elegant Christmas-market break: Vienna is superb for markets, cafés, concerts and grand architecture, especially during Advent.
- For a relaxing family Christmas in the sun: Tenerife is a practical resort option; choose a hotel with a genuinely heated pool if swimming matters.
- For a storybook festive city: Prague offers illuminated squares, history and winter atmosphere, with plenty to do indoors.
- For a very different but still festive Christmas: Madeira offers Funchal's decorations, markets, local food and dramatic island scenery.
First, decide which part of Christmas you actually want
Early or mid-December can suit a short, market-focused city break while leaving Christmas at home untouched. Christmas week suits a complete festive escape, but flights, hotels and family-sized rooms may be in greater demand. Between Christmas and New Year is another experience again: some markets have ended, other events continue and transport or attraction hours can change. Prices depend on your airport, destination and exact dates, so no particular departure day is guaranteed to be cheapest.
The biggest trap is assuming that a place advertised as a “Christmas market destination” has its full market programme running on 25 December. Vienna's official tourism market directory shows that individual markets can have very different closing dates and festive opening hours. Check the specific event you want before buying flights. The UK government bank-holiday calendar and school-holiday guidance can help you compare the days you genuinely have available.
Explore holidays departing on your dates
TripsByDate shows advertised package holidays across its wider inventory. The changing options below are not necessarily Christmas-week departures or packages to these five destinations. Use them as starting points, then compare your own dates and check the final price, availability and festive arrangements with the provider.
NCL • 7 nights
AI · easyJet holidays
LGW • 7 nightsSkiworld
LGW • 7 nightsNeilson
LGW • 7 nightsHB · Iglu SkiFive Christmas destinations worth considering
1. Lapland, Finland: the once-in-a-lifetime family Christmas
Lapland does Christmas magic extraordinarily well: snowy forests, warm cabins, reindeer and husky experiences, and the thrill of crossing the Arctic Circle. Around Rovaniemi, the official visitor guide explains that Santa Claus Village can be visited throughout the year. That means you don't necessarily have to travel during the most sought-after Christmas dates to enjoy meeting Santa.
What makes a good trip: choose one or two meaningful activities rather than a packed programme. A husky ride, a meeting with Santa and a short snowy forest outing may be more memorable for younger children than several cold transfers in one day. Read the booking details closely: a package mentioning an “Arctic experience” may not include every excursion, photograph, winter suit or transfer.
The reality check: this is a genuinely cold-weather trip. Temperatures can be far below freezing, daylight is very limited in midwinter, snow and transport conditions vary, and the Northern Lights cannot be promised. Ask whether thermal outerwear and insulated boots are provided in children's sizes; check what happens if weather disrupts an excursion. The Finnish Meteorological Institute is a useful weather source.
Best for: families seeking a special occasion. Less suitable for: travellers wanting a low-cost, warm or spontaneous weekend.
2. Vienna, Austria: elegant markets, music and proper festive atmosphere
Vienna is wonderful at Christmas: lit-up palaces, beautiful squares, seasonal stalls, coffee houses and concerts. It's a strong option for couples, friends and families who want a celebratory city break rather than a week-long resort holiday. You can mix a market evening with the Schönbrunn Palace grounds, a café afternoon and an unhurried walk around the historic centre.
Plan around the calendar: some Advent markets close before Christmas Eve; others continue during Christmas or into January. Markets may also shorten their hours on public holidays. Start with Vienna's official Christmas-market listings, then check your chosen market individually. A trip arriving late on 24 December is not the same as a long weekend earlier in Advent.
Make it feel special: book one concert or memorable dinner, but leave room to wander. Check restaurant availability on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day before travelling; normal opening patterns cannot be assumed. Pack warm layers and comfortable shoes for cobbles and long outdoor evenings.
3. Tenerife, Canary Islands: Christmas in the sunshine
For some people, the best Christmas gift is a break from grey skies. Southern Tenerife offers one of the more dependable mild-weather choices on this list, with beaches, coastal walks and plenty of family accommodation. It is not guaranteed summer heat, and an Atlantic swim can feel cool. Choose between lively resorts and quieter areas based on the atmosphere you want on Christmas Day.
Hotel choice matters more at Christmas: check whether the pool is heated during your actual stay, what “Christmas gala dinner” means, whether it is compulsory or charged separately, and whether children's clubs run on the dates you need. A package with meals included may offer better total value than a cheaper room once festive dining is added, but compare the actual numbers rather than assuming.
Do something different: mix a relaxed beach day with a village visit, coastal boat trip when conditions permit or an outing to Teide National Park. Higher elevations can be distinctly cold even when the coast feels springlike. See our December warmth guide for climate comparisons and the official Tenerife visitor website for local ideas.
4. Prague, Czech Republic: a storybook winter city
Prague's Gothic towers, Old Town squares, bridges and warmly lit cafés lend themselves to a festive escape. It's particularly good for a two- or three-night trip where the pleasure is exploring a beautiful city slowly. Enjoy the historic centre early in the morning, then return after dark when the lights give it a very different atmosphere.
Look beyond the main square: the Charles Bridge, Malá Strana and views from the castle district are rewarding even when a market is crowded. If you're travelling with children, choose one indoor attraction as a warm-weather fallback and avoid an itinerary that depends entirely on being outside. Winter conditions can be chilly and icy, while snow in the city centre is never guaranteed.
Before booking: check current market dates and holiday services on the official Prague visitor website. Restaurant reservations can be worthwhile over the festive period, and a central location may save more time than a distant bargain hotel.
5. Madeira, Portugal: festive lights, local traditions and dramatic scenery
Madeira offers something distinctive: a green Atlantic island that takes Christmas celebrations seriously. Funchal's light displays, seasonal food, markets and decorated streets create a festive atmosphere without requiring Arctic temperatures. The official Madeira Christmas and New Year guide describes the island's events and traditional celebrations; consult its current programme for exact dates and arrangements.
Worth making time for: the evening lights around central Funchal, local Christmas food and a scenic excursion if the weather cooperates. Madeira is mountainous, so sunshine by the waterfront doesn't guarantee clear conditions in the highlands. Book coastal or mountain activities flexibly and check transport times when choosing a hotel outside Funchal.
One subtle advantage: Madeira works for travellers who want Christmas atmosphere and natural scenery rather than just markets or beaches. It's particularly appealing for a longer break; remember that Christmas restaurant availability and any festive hotel meal supplements still need checking.
What the Christmas holiday infographic doesn't tell you
Before looking at packing lists and festive photographs, ask three questions: Will the thing I most want to do be open on my actual dates? Is my accommodation where I want to spend Christmas Day? And what is included in the price? These answers often matter more than the difference between two advertised temperatures.
The Christmas Day test: five things to confirm before paying
- Food: Does the hotel serve Christmas lunch or dinner? Is a festive meal included, optional or compulsory? Are nearby restaurants taking bookings?
- Open attractions: Markets, museums, cable cars and excursions may have special schedules. Confirm hours for the exact date, not a generic December timetable.
- Transport: Check flights, airport transfers and public transport, particularly for late arrivals and major public holidays.
- Room and family extras: Confirm connecting rooms, cot availability, child ages on excursions, winter clothing and any single-room charges.
- Weather backup: Have an indoor plan for rain or severe cold, and don't treat snowy pictures or beach sunshine as guarantees.
Already know your Christmas dates?
Compare holiday departures across destinations, then see which trips suit your plans.
Explore holidays by dateHow to get better value without losing the Christmas feeling
Try the celebration rather than the exact day. If you want markets and decorations but prefer Christmas Day at home, a pre-Christmas weekend may fit better. For a Santa experience, remember that Rovaniemi's Santa Claus Village is not limited to 25 December. For the opposite choice, a longer stay that includes Christmas Day may justify the journey better than a rushed two-night break.
Compare length and total price, not just headlines. Check three, four and seven-night options, different departure airports and flights arriving at sensible times. A package that appears cheap may need checked baggage, transfers, festive dinner or excursions added. A hotel closer to Vienna's centre or Funchal's festive area may cut daily transport costs and late-night hassle.
Watch the date around Christmas itself. Trips that straddle public holidays can have unusual flight times and fewer dining choices. On the other hand, moving a departure a day or two may reveal a better fit. There is no universal “cheapest Christmas date”, so compare the options you can actually take rather than relying on a fixed rule. For broader ideas see cheapest holiday destinations in December.
Which Christmas holiday should you choose?
- Two or three nights: Vienna or Prague for a festive city trip, with market dates checked before booking.
- Four or five nights: Madeira for lights plus scenery, or Tenerife for a restorative sunshine break.
- A special family adventure: Lapland, allowing for winter clothing, early starts and activity costs.
- A full week over Christmas: Tenerife or Madeira if you want to settle into one hotel rather than spend much of the holiday in transit.
- New Year celebrations too: check the programme separately. For example, Madeira has a major New Year's Eve tradition, but the best hotel or vantage point may need planning well ahead.
What should you pack?
Lapland: properly insulated layers, thermal socks, gloves or mittens, headwear and appropriate boots; ask which outerwear is supplied. Vienna and Prague: weatherproof shoes, warm coat and gloves, plus something comfortable for a smart dinner. Tenerife and Madeira: light daytime layers, a jumper or jacket for evenings, shoes for exploring and swimwear only if your hotel facilities justify it. Keep medications, chargers, important documents and essential children's items in hand luggage.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas holidays
Where is best for Christmas with young children?
Lapland is hard to beat for a dedicated Santa experience, but you must be comfortable with cold weather and the budget. Tenerife is often easier for families wanting a resort Christmas with familiar routines, while Vienna can work for older children who enjoy markets and sightseeing.
Are Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
Not necessarily. Each market has its own calendar: some close before Christmas Eve and others stay open later. Check the official programme for your chosen market, not just a city's general “Christmas market season”.
Can you guarantee snow in Lapland?
No individual trip can guarantee specific snow depth or conditions, and even Arctic excursions depend on local weather and safety decisions. Winter scenery is more likely than in most European cities, but operators' cancellation and substitution policies still matter.
Is Tenerife hot enough for Christmas Day on the beach?
It can be pleasant for time outdoors, especially on sheltered southern beaches, but December is not midsummer. Check the local forecast close to departure, think about wind and sea temperatures, and confirm hotel pool heating before promising children swimming every day.
Is it cheaper to go away before Christmas or over Christmas?
For many routes, the Christmas-week period attracts stronger demand, but exact prices vary. If you are flexible, compare early December, the days just before Christmas and dates after Boxing Day using the same number of nights and a full cost breakdown.
More festive travel inspiration
Explore Where to Go on Holiday in December, Best Months for Winter Sun, Warmest Places in Europe in December, Cheapest Months to Go on Holiday and our Christmas Markets hub for more ways to choose a trip. For booking protection, the UK Civil Aviation Authority's ATOL guidance explains how eligible flight-inclusive packages are protected.
‹ BACK TO HOLIDAYS BY MONTHKnow when you can travel?
Search holidays by departure date and compare possibilities across destinations. Less searching. More choosing.
Find holidays by date