Europe is magical during the month of December, it is like living in a real-life snow globe. The architecture is stunning and the cobblestone roads are so charming. The extravagant Christmas lights and decorations are absolutely incredible, and there are Christmas markets everywhere with the biggest, and most beautiful Christmas trees you will ever see! Here are the best places to visit in Europe if you're planning a winter trip.
Ghent
Brussels
Bruge
Cochem
Basel
Colmar
Lieser
Strausbourg
Paris
Christmas Market Mugs
There are dozens of Christmas markets all over Europe during the holiday season. Each town we went to had a different mug we collected. The mugs are adorable and such a fun inexpensive souvenir. When you order a cider or hot chocolate you'll pay for the drink and the mug. You can return your mug and get a deposit fee back or you can choose to keep the mug and take it home. The hot chocolate, apple cider, churros, chocolate-covered fruit, kartoffelpuffers (which are like potato pancakes served with yummy sauces) are all things you will want to try. It is all delicious! There was always a Christmas market to enjoy in every town we went to and it was one of the best parts of our trip.
Cathedrals and Castles
Be sure to take the time to tour the cathedrals and castles they are absolutely amazing!! My favorite cathedral was the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg. I have never seen anything more spectacular than this cathedral lit up at night. The unbelievable architecture is jaw-dropping! The most beautiful castle we toured was the Haut-Koenigsbourg in Colmar. It is stunning and a sight that you won't want to miss!
What To Wear
It can be tough packing heavy and bulky winter clothes into your suitcase. I have linked my favorite winter items I brought along with me that kept me warm and toasty the entire time below!
Thermal sets are perfect to bring because they are lightweight, don't take up much space, will keep you extra warm, and you won't have to pack multiple layers to wear.
Not only will these snow boots keep your toes toasty, but they're also lightweight, super comfortable, and easy to walk around in.
This coat is amazing! It is so soft and cozy. I wore this coat every day while traveling and even used it as a blanket on the airplane which was perfect because then I didn't have to fit it into my suitcase.
The chocolate & Perfume
Bring home the chocolate and perfume from the grocery stores. The chocolate is less expensive at the grocery stores than the fancy chocolate shops and it is just as delicious. Plus it makes for a great souvenir or gift. The perfume looks top-of-the-line and it smells amazing! I brought back a few that were vanilla-scented and everyone loved them!
Yummy Food
Eat the waffles in Brussels, they are to die for! There are little waffle shops and carts everywhere you go in Belgium and they're all heavenly. I'm talking best waffles you'll ever have! My family and I also loved a restaurant there called L'osteria they have a few locations around. Their gnocchi and pizza are delicious.
Brussels Grand Place Market Square
The Grand Place in Market Square has the most magnificent Christmas light show. It lights up every building in Market Square and it is amazing! The light show comes on every night in Brussels from Nov. 22- Jan. 8. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! You'll want to be front and center for this!
Brussels Chocolate Tour
There are a lot of expensive guided chocolate tours online you can book but you can also just go on your own chocolate tour like my family and I did. There are chocolate shops on every corner. Literally dozens of them. We would look up nearby shops on Apple Maps and pick the chocolate shops we wanted to go to. It was so much fun!
My Favorite Places
My favorite places overall were Ghent and Brussels. If you get the chance to go to Europe be sure to add Brussels and Ghent to your itinerary. I would love to visit these cities again in the future. They are so charming and unlike anywhere else I have ever visited before.
There is nothing quite like visiting Europe during Christmas time, it is absolutely incredible!
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