The festive season has once again managed to sneak up on us!

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, I always get giddy in the leadup to Christmas; as soon as Halloween is out of the way, the tinsel comes out and I fill the air with the sweet croons of Michael Buble. Yet, there’s always something just a little bit wrong with the scene. I’ll be the first to say it; Australian Christmas’s aren’t ideal. There’s no curling up in front of the fireplace, drinking eggnog and mulled wine, and making snow angels. Instead, we’re sweating away in our underwear in front of a $15 Kmart fan, drinking cheap wine and eating copious amounts of prawns.

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas, at least not to me! With international travel finally at affordable levels, I’ve spent the lead up to the holidays reminiscing on our European Christmas we had just four years ago (has it already been that long?)

Here are some spots you can travel to on your next holiday to fill you with some holiday spirit!

Ljubljana, Slovenia

I’m kicking off this list with my all time favourite Christmas spot! The capital city of Slovenia kicks off the holiday season with a bang. This unsuspecting entry is a little surprising; at least, it took us by surprise when we planned our three day layover from Italy, but Slovenians celebrate Christmas in a big way! We were greeted to a lighting of the lights ceremony on the 29th of November, where the skies light up with thousands of lights for the first time of the season. Crowds of people gather to watch this city come alive, and what follows is an all night party. Once the twinkling lights are turned on and adorn every rooftop and tree branch in the square, the bands come out to play some upbeat tunes, and everyone starts filling the streets with drinks in hand and songs in their hearts!

With dozens of Christmas stalls lining the river, it’s impossible not to feel enchanted when wandering the around the city, taking in the lights, shopping for knick knacks and baubles and sampling the many unique food and festive drinks that Slovenia has to offer!

The city is small enough that it always feels cosy and TOURIST free. The streets are free from swarms of tourists, there is a sense of small town authenticity that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into the worlds best kept secret.

WHERE SHOULD WE STAY? 

We were fortunate to secure a room at ever-charming Viksi Nomad. Although it had a shared bathroom, our room was spacious, had a couch and two beds, and overlooked the market stall lined canal. Three nights in this cosy loft accommodation cost us less than $90, which comes to only $15 each per night. Quite the bargain if you ask me. After researching the room whilst writing this article, the rate has increased from $30 a night to over $100, however it is a different time of year. I’m not sure if this is a “Covid tax”, a new law, or just general inflation, but accommodation seems to have shot up in Ljubljana.

FUN THING TO DO:

Eat a bear sausage and wash it down with a shot of honey schnapps. 

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO:

Take a day trip out to Lake Bled. Our biggest regret of our European stay was not venturing out of the city to visit the spectacularly quaint Lake Bled… but I’m sure I’ll be back to visit as soon as I get the chance. 

Rovaniemi, Finland

Where better to celebrate this Christmas than the home of Santa himself! That’s right, Santa Claus is said to live just outside the town of Rovaniemi in Santa’s Village, a year long holiday amusement park where you can take a ride on a reindeer pulled sleigh, take a HUSKY RIDE, and meet Santa Claus himself 365 days.

And that’s the best part of this holiday; you can visit and feel the Christmas spirit any time of the year! We were visited in late January, but were still lucky enough to enjoy the park… the lack of other tourists was a blessing and a curse. Whilst there was barely a line for any attraction or restaurant, but the lack of people seemed to detract from the festive atmosphere. I can imagine the park will get VERY crowded in the lead up to Christmas, though!

FUN THINGS TO DO: Being “poor” backpackers, we were upset we could not afford to experience a husky sleigh ride. Our Swiss AirBNB hosts had planned their trip to Lapland ahead of us, and could not speak more highly about the experience.

HOW CAN I GET THERE:

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO:

Well, I’m glad you asked…

Lapland Roadtrip

On your way to Rovaniemi, why not incorporate a little Lapland road trip to lap up the winter wonderland! We hired our car in Stockholm and took a three week road trip across Scandinavia, taking us all the way to the tip of Norway. During our road trip, we were able to skate across the frozen Baltic Sea in Lulea, grab a bite to eat in a restaurant made entirely of ice, see the Northern Lights,

There’s simply so much you can do on your journey, that I have trouble listing them all. You can find a comprehensive account of our Lapland itinerary here.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna; home of Beethoven, Mozart, Sigmund Freud, and of course, her most influential resident: Christof Waltz.

Vienna has been a refuge for dozens of influential figures across history: even Hitler and Josef Stalin once called it their home. There’s a reason they call it the City of Dreams: the city is enchanting. Even on a dull day, Vienna captivates the senses, and fills you with a sense of excitement, and this excitement only grows once the halls are decked are the jingle bells are rockin’!

FUN THINGS TO DO: 

Although endlessly explorable, Vienna is a city that can be enjoyed in a day, and the very best way to do that is to jump on the tram. The infamous bright yellow tram circles the giant Ring boulevard and marks the border of the old town, offering an easy access to many of Vienna’s sights. Attractions along the route include the Naturhistorisches and Kunsthistorisches museums, the Parliament building, the Rathaus, the Staatsoper, and the Hofburg palace complex; all atop of Vienna’s ‘must see’ sights!

Whilst the Ring can be enjoyed all year round, in the winter months and nearer Christmas, I’d recommend taking the latest tram you can and enjoy the lights, as some of the hotels along the Ring put up delightful displays and you’ll pass the Rathausplatz, for example, in all its seasonal splendour.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO:

Whilst not incredibly easy to get to, I’d highly recommend taking a day trip to Halstatt or Salzberg. I never made the trek myself, and I truly regret not witnessing one of the most iconic spots in Australia. Due to its popularity, Hallstatt is swamped by tourists every day, no matter what season. Thus it’s recommended to go there as early as possible to avoid getting overrun and get a more authentic experience.

Brugges, Belgium

I’ll never stop praising the Flemish city of Bruges (that’s in Belgium). As quoted by Colin Farrell in the fantastic comedy “In Bruges”; “it’s like a fookin’ fairy tale!” The festive season somehow manages to bring out the best of the already perfectly picturesque city, and strolling the medieval cobblestone streets will make you feel like you’re stepping into a Christmas card. With thousands of twinkling lights adorning every tree and snow covering every market stall, it’s impossible to be a Scrooge in Bruges. 

Stop at the market stalls in the town square for some mulled wine and warm apple toddy, take a romantic (or platonic, depending on your travel partner) horse and carriage ride, pick up a cheeky treat at one of a dozen chocolate stores that adorn the area, or send home some baubles or decorations from the world famous SHOP. If this is making you want to book your tickets to Bruges this Christmas, you can read about how to spend the ultimate weekend in the city…

FUN THINGS TO DO: 

Wander around! Bruges is such a small city, that you can comfortably spend a weekend just strolling along the cobblestone streets, discovering your own secrets, and really taking in the enchanting atmosphere!

One thing I’d definitely recommend is climbing the Belfry of Bruges, a 12 story high bell tower that gives you 360 views of the city! I’d also recommend checking out the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Built in the 12th century, the Basilica is one of the best preserved chapels in the world, and is famously home to a vial that allegedly contains Jesus Christ’s blood!

HOW CAN I GET THERE:

The easiest way to get to Bruges is via Belgiums capital city, Brussels. With busses from $6 and trains from $20, it’s an incredibly quick and easy commute. There is an airport for Ostend and Bruges, but with a 40 minute commute from the the runway to the cobblestone, I would recommend slumming it on public transport.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO:

If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend stopping into Brussels. Although it’s atmosphere is less magical, Brussels is home to some world-class historical architecture, some amusing tourist attractions, and some top notch brewries. What better way to spend the weekend than scoffing some mussels in Brussels with a cold Belgium beer, whilst laughing at the adorably stupid Manneken Pis.

Other nearby stops include the Flemish cities of Ghent and Antwerp, the French cities of Lille and Dunkirk, or if you’re craving some herbal remedies, cross over in the Netherlands and visit Rotterdam, The Hague, or Amsterdam!

Zurich, Switzerland

I have a real love/hate relationship with Zurich; I love the city, and I hate that I can’t afford to do anything there. Yes, I’ve written before about the difficulties of travelling around Zurich on a budget, as we learnt first hand when we visited and blew our entire daily budget just catching a train from our AirBNB to the CBD. There’s a reason why Zurich is the most expensive city in the world: famous for its luxurious lifestyles and high-end shopping, it’s no surprise that this city would go all out when it comes to the festive season. Even though we could barely afford to eat, marvelling at wonders city views and lifestyle didn’t cost us a penny!

FUN THINGS TO DO: 

We’ve already established that Christmas markets in Europe are a magical experience, but Christmas markets in Zurich are a luxurious one. I feel like there’s not many places you’d see a Christmas tree decked out in Swarovski jewellery. The main shopping street is lined with fairy lights, and there were crowds of school children singing carols for our entire stay. We couldn’t understand a word they were singing, but it was a nice moment.

If the rivers aren’t frozen over, I’d recommend taking a boat ride around the city. I’ve mentioned in a previous blog that you can buy a capped travel ticket for the day for the same price as return ticket, so if you’re staying out of the city like we were, take the opportunity to do as much intercity commuting as you can (which includes ferry rides!) With this ticket, I’d suggest catching the train to the top of WHAT

HOW CAN I GET THERE:

Like most of our travels across Europe, we used Flixbus to take us from Munich, to Fussen, to Zurich (all of which should be on your European Christmas bucket list. People rave over the Swiss rail line, but unless you pick up a Swiss Travel Pass, doing this can be very expensive. We stayed 30 minutes out of the city centre to save on accommodation, and it was still costing us $30 a day in return train fares, so make sure you do a bit of research in advance. Munich to Zurich in the lead up to Christmas is just a €20

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO:

My biggest regret from our time in Switzerland was not being prepared enough; had we planned a bit better, I would’ve rented a car, or purchased a rail pass to explore the neighbouring Swiss cities and towns. We were advised from TripAdvisor NOT to rent a car, and my inexperience with European winter driving suggested we stay away from the roads (after driving through Icelandic blizzards, I believe I would have managed).

If you have the means and the time, I’d highly recommend driving around the Swiss countryside. There is so much to beauty in a Swiss winter, from Lucerne to Grindlewald, from Arosa to Chateau De Chillon. Don’t make the same mistake I did: see as much of this beautiful country as you can!

Neuschwanstein Castle and Fussen, Germany 

While this location might not find itself on many “Best Spots to Spend Christmas” lists, I think that the winter wonderland opposite Neuschwanstein Castle will whisk you away to Christmases of yore. A lot of tours visit Neauschwanstein Castle as a day trip, but I think that bypassing the village of Fussen is a damn shame. This village comes alive at Christmas; with a small village feel, compared to the usual fare of big Bavarian cities, Fussen really makes you feel like you’re wandering around a town designed by Walt Disney.

Speaking of Disney, I’m sure that’s why you’re visiting the area in the first place; to visit the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Neuschwanstein Castle. That’s why we visited the area, anyway, but we were quickly enamoured by the areas quaint charm.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Tickets to Neuschwantstein Castle can be purchased online, and picked up at a ticket booth in Hohenschwangau. The tickets must be picked up TWO HOURS prior to your tour, otherwise they will automatically be cancelled and you will be charged double the service fee. Our trip to Neauschwanstein began in disaster after an overextended breakfast made us miss our bus. After catching the next one 15 minutes later and SPRINTING to the service desk, we were able to collect our tickets at exactly the cutoff time. Luckily there was no queue, so we were able to pick up our tickets in time, but this is a personal plead to make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get from town to the castle. Once at Hohenschwangau, there is a 40 minute uphill walk from the base of the town to the castle gates (you can instead choose to be a bit extra and take a leisurely horse and carriage ride, or be poor and catch a $3 shuttle bus, but honestly, the walk is worth it.)

The 10 minute bus from Fussen to Hohenschwangau runs sporadically throughout the day (can be once an hour or can be once every 10-30 minutes). Although we used Google Maps to find out which bus to take after we missed our original bus (the driver of which waved us away when we got to the doors, sadly), bus 73 or 78 head towards the castle. and costs 4.6E each way. Our accommodation offered us a complimentary Fussen pass which gave us free public transport within the town, but we chose to walk back from the castle to Fussen, stopping to make snow angels in the forest, and throw snowballs and cyclists.

WHERE SHOULD WE STAY:

Our weekend in Fussen was spent at the Maurushaus. This delightful 700 year old Bed and Breakfast (don’t you just love Europe) was affordable, offered us a free drink on arrival, and has been managed by the same family for over 10 generations. Our one night stay cost us 40E, which was on the pricier side compared to our usual digs, but we were afforded a RIDICULOUS amount of space. Instead of our usual one room apartment, we were given a 3 bedroom loft, complete with a kitchen, living room, and mountain view!

HOW CAN I GET THERE: 

Judging from my original research, most people take a tour from Munich, just a two hours train ride away, however the journey itself though can take up to 3 hours once you factor in travel time between Fussen and the castle (another reason I recommend staying the night). The train will cost you at least $40 for a second class ticket (without reserved seating), however trains run every hour. To save some money, we caught a Flixbus from Munich central to Fussen for $25. At nearly 3 hours long, the journey by road will take you a bit longer, so Flixbus is probably not an option for travellers tight on time. For more information on Flixbus, feel free to peruse this comprehensive review of mine, outlining the pros and cons of the service.

Taking a day tour is also a simple solution, but one that will cost you a pretty penny for the convenience, with tours on Viator starting at $90 for a return coach (you still need to pay for $25 entrance ticket). Honestly, unless you’re over 50 and have absolutely no computer proficiencies, I recommend you doing the research and booking it yourself to save some money. Transport to the castle is readily available, and you receive a free tour along with your entrance ticket, and the FlixBus service is comparable to any coach I’ve been on.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO:

You’d be a fool to pass through Germany without exploring a little more of Bavaria. Why not through Nuremberg, or take a bus to the Austrian cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg! We made the mistake of trying to make our way to Lichtenstein, a feat that was near impossible due to extremely limited (and expensive) transport options.

While I won’t get to spend this Christmas gallivanting in the snow, I will get to spend it with my family and friends. I hope that you’re able to celebrate this Christmas with the ones you love, as well.

Merry Christmas