Food & Travel
Source:zestradar.com
The season is upon us and it is about time to start bringing your Christmas tree down from the attic and dress it up, hang stockings by the fireplace and snuggle in front of the TV watching your favorite Christmas movies while sipping on plenty of hot beverages. And if you love Christmas just as much as I do, your biggest wish would be for one of those Christmassy towns in movies to be real, am I right? Now, what if I tell you that these fantasy towns do exist? As it turns out there is a number of fairy-tale destinations in Europe where everyone can live out their Christmas movie fantasies.
Strasbourg, France
They call it the Capital of Christmas for a reason. Strasbourg is worldwide famous for its Christmas markets and the world’s most beautiful Christmas tree that will simply bring tears to your eyes. This is why if you want to make your Christmas holiday one of the most memorable and magical days ever, Strasbourg is the right place to go.
Hallstatt, Austria
Why you should visit Hallstatt during Christmas? Just have another look at the image above. Every winter this small village located on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt turns into a fantasy winter Wonderland with its toy-like houses and beautiful scenery. This is just the right place for anyone who is looking for a magical, peaceful place to spend the holiday.
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
I am sure you will agree with me on this one that there is no better way to spend winter holidays than celebrating your Christmas with Santa and his elves. Santa’s Village offers the most awesome winter activities for both kids and their parents. For kids, there are cooking classes where they make cookies with Mrs Clause, or kids can enroll to Elf School. As for other activities to enjoy with a family, there are husky-dog rides, hills to sled, Notherlights to watch and many more.
Tivoli Christmas Market, Copenhagen, Denmark
For those who might not know, Tivoli Park is the oldest amusement park in Europe. During the Christmas season the park gets transformed into a Christmassy fairy-tale with all the lights, ice rink, ginger cookies, roasted chestnuts, hot wine and a giant Christmas tree. What else do you need for a perfect Christmas getaway, right?
Valkenburg, Netherlands
If you are looking for a truly unique Christmas experience, you should definitely visit Valkenburg caves. Valkenburg’s Christmas market is set up in the labyrinth of caves that are located underneath this adorable small town. Inside the caves, you’ll be able to find all kinds of gifts and traditional Christmas treats. Valkenburg has long been a regular holiday destination for tourists, so be prepared for the crowds.
Wroclaw, Poland
Wroclaw is beautiful all year round, but during the winter holidays this lovely town transforms into something even more magical. The Christmas market in the Old Town dates back to the 16th century, so it’s no wonder that tourists from all over Europe are coming there every year to enjoy its unique winter holiday vibe.
Nuremberg, Germany
Every winter Nuremberg sets up one of the most adored and visited Christmas villages in Europe. What makes it so unique? First of all, only real crafters are allowed in the village, so you won’t find any mass-produced gifts and souvenirs, only handmade products. Second, there is a competition for the best seller’s stall, now if you can imagine all the effort that is put into decorating each of 200 stalls, it’s hard not to get enchanted with all the beauty.
