25 Best Places For Christmas In Europe

Are you dreaming of a holiday getaway filled with festive lights, Christmas markets, and local traditions?

Europe is one of the best places for Christmas in the world, offering everything from snow-dusted squares with centuries-old celebrations to sunny seaside towns where you can trade a winter coat for a light jacket.

To help you plan, I’ve rounded up the best places for Christmas in Europe. Whether you’re looking for a cozy market town, a historic city glowing with lights, or a warm destination by the water, these 25 spots will make your holiday season unforgettable.

25 Best Places for Christmas in Europe in 2024

Here are the cities worth putting on your Christmas travel list.

1. Barcelona, Spain

Street decorations for Christmas in Barcelona show glowing blue figures that appear to be flying or reaching toward hanging, illuminated shopping bags. The festive lights are strung across a narrow street lined with balconies and shops, creating a warm holiday atmosphere.

Barcelona feels alive during Christmas. The Gothic Quarter sparkles with lights, Gaudí’s landmarks like Sagrada Família glow under holiday displays, and the whole city has a festive buzz.

Christmas in Barcelona means unique Catalan traditions. Kids celebrate Caga Tió, a wooden log that “poops” candy when beaten with sticks.

You can also attend Midnight Mass at Barcelona Cathedral, one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Europe.

For shopping, don’t miss the Fira de Santa Llúcia market. It’s been running since 1786 and has everything from handmade ornaments to Catalan sweets like turrón and neules.

2. Lisbon, Portugal

A glowing Ferris wheel lights up the night sky during Christmas in Lisbon, surrounded by festive trees wrapped in string lights. Crowds of people stroll through the illuminated holiday market, creating a warm, celebratory atmosphere.

Lisbon is made for a laid-back Christmas. The cobblestone streets wind past cafes, the Tagus River shines under holiday lights, and Praça do Comércio turns into a hub of festivities.

Food is central to the holiday. Consoada, the Portuguese Christmas Eve dinner, usually features salted cod with potatoes and cabbage, followed by bolo-rei (king cake). Midnight Mass at Lisbon Cathedral is one of the most moving traditions.

Christmas markets in Rossio Square and along Avenida da Liberdade are perfect for wandering with a glass of mulled wine while you shop for crafts and sweets.

3. Athens, Greece

A festive shop window display for Christmas in Athens features a plush polar bear, Santa Claus figure, candy canes, and twinkling ornaments under the sign “Little Ko.” The scene is bursting with holiday cheer, showcasing traditional Christmas colors and decorations.

Athens surprises a lot of people at Christmas. The Acropolis and Parthenon glow under festive lights, and the mix of ancient ruins and modern city buzz makes it feel one-of-a-kind.

You can join locals at the Metropolitan Cathedral for Christmas Eve services, then wander Syntagma Square to pick up Greek treats like kourabiedes (almond cookies) and melomakarona (honey cookies).

It’s noisy, it’s chaotic, but the holiday spirit is strong—and that’s part of Athens’ charm.

4. Rome, Italy

A grand Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments stands in front of the illuminated Colosseum during Christmas in Rome. Visitors gather around the festive display, blending ancient history with holiday celebration.

Rome in December has a softer side. The weather is mild, nativity scenes fill the piazzas, and Christmas feels deeply woven into the city’s history.

The highlight is Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by the Pope. Even if you don’t get inside, the square fills with people and feels electric.

Piazza Navona hosts the biggest market, where you’ll find toys, decorations, and Italian sweets like panettone.

Take a walk through Trastevere for trattorias serving holiday menus and a more local feel.

5. Valletta, Malta

Colorful star-shaped lights and multicolored string bulbs are suspended above a narrow street during Christmas in Valletta. The festive decorations brighten the historic architecture, creating a cozy and inviting holiday scene.

Valletta is small but mighty when it comes to Christmas cheer. Its narrow streets glow with lights, and the baroque architecture adds drama to the season.

Christmas Eve Mass at St. John’s Co-Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Children take part in Priedka tat-Tifel, reciting poems and carols.

Republic Street turns into a lively market with handmade gifts and Maltese treats like honey rings and chestnut cocoa.

With December highs around 15°C (59°F), you’ll be comfortable walking the city or even sitting outdoors at a café.

6. Malaga, Spain

Christmas in Malaga features a plaza lined with tall palm trees decorated with glowing star-themed ornaments and a towering, cone-shaped Christmas tree made of golden lights. The wet cobblestone reflects the festive glow, adding to the charm of the city’s holiday atmosphere.

Malaga has one of the most famous light displays in Europe. Calle Larios becomes a tunnel of music and lights that people travel across Spain to see.

The Christmas market at Plaza de la Constitución has live music and local sweets like roscon de reyes. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is a deeply rooted tradition here.

With daytime temps between 15°C and 20°C (59°F–68°F), you can enjoy the markets in the evening and spend your days on the beach.

7. Valencia, Spain

A towering, cone-shaped Christmas tree made of colorful lights stands in a lively square during Christmas in Valencia. Crowds of people, including children and families, gather around the vibrant display, surrounded by elegant historic buildings.

Valencia mixes seaside breezes with holiday fun. The Mercado de Navidad in City Hall Square is the best spot to shop for ornaments, handmade crafts, and seasonal snacks.

La Nochebuena on Christmas Eve is celebrated with feasts and Midnight Mass. Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences lights up beautifully for the season, adding a futuristic twist to your Christmas trip.

You can spend mornings at the coast and evenings strolling through markets, which makes this city an easy choice if you want both.

8. Seville, Spain

Two giant, glowing Christmas ornaments lit with white and golden lights sit in front of a historic building during Christmas in Seville. People walk around and through the illuminated structures, adding a sense of wonder to the festive evening scene.

Seville’s Christmas lights are some of the most impressive in Spain. Plaza Nueva has a giant tree, and the Alameda de Hércules glows with strings of lights in the evening.

Here, you’ll see Zambombas, traditional Andalusian street parties with singing and dancing. The sweets—polvorones and mantecados—are everywhere.

Don’t miss climbing La Giralda at the Cathedral for a view of the city sparkling below. With temps around 10°C to 20°C (50°F–68°F), it’s ideal for wandering.

9. Nice, France

Christmas in Nice, France features palm trees wrapped in glowing white lights under a vivid purple sunset sky. Crowds gather around festive market stalls, enjoying the holiday celebration in this Mediterranean coastal city.

Nice brings French elegance to Christmas. Place Masséna hosts the biggest market, where you can snack on bûche de Noël (yule log cake) and sip mulled wine.

The Old Town’s cobbled lanes glow with lights, and the Promenade des Anglais gives you a seaside Christmas walk that’s completely different from snowy destinations.

Add in concerts, theater, and the Feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6, and you’ve got plenty to do.

10. Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Christmas in Palma de Mallorca is marked by a glowing blue sculpture of a star and crescent moon set among trees wrapped in golden string lights. The festive installation is reflected on a smooth surface below, creating a dreamy nighttime holiday scene.

Palma’s Old Town feels straight out of a storybook in December. Streets sparkle, and La Seu Cathedral hosts concerts and services that pull in visitors and locals alike.

Plaza Mayor is the center of Christmas markets, with buñuelos (fried pastries) and turrón on every corner.

On Christmas Eve, don’t miss El Canto de la Sibila, a haunting medieval chant that UNESCO recognizes as cultural heritage.

With average temps around 14°C (57°F), you can pair holiday lights with time at the beach.

11. Limassol, Cyprus

Christmas in Limassol features a grand, cone-shaped Christmas tree adorned with golden lights, red ornaments, and garlands, topped with a radiant star. At the base, playful holiday figures and gift boxes create a cheerful, family-friendly holiday scene.

Limassol is warm in every sense, both weather and people. The Old Port turns festive with markets full of Cypriot treats like honey cookies and kourabiedes.

On New Year’s Day, families cut into Vasilopita (St. Basil’s bread), with a hidden coin for good luck. Music and parades fill the season, making this coastal city feel alive.

At 17°C (63°F), you won’t need more than a light jacket.

12. Tenerife, Spain

Christmas in Tenerife is celebrated with glowing snowflake lights strung above a busy shopping street lined with stores and holiday shoppers. The festive decorations add a wintery charm to the mild island evening.

Tenerife is the warmest spot in Europe at Christmas, averaging 20°C (68°F). You can spend your day on the beach and your evening at a Christmas market.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosts the biggest displays, and local specialties like truchas de batata (sweet potato pastries) are holiday favorites.

Nochebuena and the Three Kings’ Day parade in January are the highlights of the season.

13. Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Christmas in Funchal features a glowing angel made of golden lights blowing a trumpet in front of a historic clock tower. The deep blue evening sky adds contrast to the warm illumination, highlighting the festive spirit in the city’s old town.

Funchal has one of the most elaborate light displays in Europe. Avenida Arriaga glows, and the Christmas tree at Praça do Município is massive.

Markets here are filled with poncha (a honey and rum drink), bolo de mel (honey cake), and handwoven crafts.

A local tradition, Missas do Parto, is celebrated at dawn before Christmas and is full of singing. With an average of 18°C (64°F), Funchal is both festive and sunny.

14. Paphos, Cyprus

Christmas in Paphos offers a sunny coastal scene with palm trees lining the waterfront promenade, reflecting in the calm blue water. The festive atmosphere blends with the relaxed seaside charm, showing holiday cheer in a warm Mediterranean setting.

Paphos mixes ancient ruins with modern holiday cheer. The harbor and medieval castle are decorated with lights, and the Christmas market at Town Hall Square is full of sweets and crafts.

On New Year’s Eve, families cut into Vasilopita, just like in Limassol.

With daytime temps around 16°C (61°F), you can explore both history and holiday festivities comfortably.

15. Alicante, Spain

Christmas in Alicante features a massive red and white illuminated ornament structure decorated with stars and circles. Silhouettes of people walking beneath it highlight its grand scale and create a magical, immersive holiday experience.

Alicante shines with lights along the Explanada de España and harbor, where boats are lit up for the holidays.

The city embraces traditions like Midnight Mass at Concatedral de San Nicolás, and the market at Plaza de la Montañeta is full of turrón and marzipan.

With average highs around 15°C (59°F), you can mix holiday shopping with afternoons at the beach.

16. Split, Croatia

Christmas in Split is bathed in golden sunlight as it shines through palm trees along a waterfront promenade. A decorative sleigh and reindeer frame the festive scene, blending coastal beauty with holiday charm.

Split turns Diocletian’s Palace into a glowing holiday wonderland. The Riva promenade is full of market stalls selling fritule (fried dough balls) and mulled wine.

Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Domnius is a highlight. You can also join locals at concerts and live performances inside the palace walls.

With temps around 9°C (48°F), it’s chillier than Spain, but the atmosphere makes up for it.

17. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Christmas in Dubrovnik lights up the historic Old Town with glowing garlands, decorated Christmas trees, and festive projections on stone buildings. The polished cobblestone streets reflect the holiday lights, adding warmth to the medieval architecture.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town looks like a fairy tale at Christmas. Stradun, the main street, is lined with lights and market stalls.

Badnjak, the log-burning ceremony on Christmas Eve, is still celebrated here. You’ll also find sweets like fritule at the markets.

The weather averages 10°C (50°F), perfect for walking the city walls with views of the Adriatic.

18. Larnaca, Cyprus

Christmas in Larnaca features a tall Christmas tree set at the end of a wooden pier over the calm blue sea. The sandy beach and open sky create a unique and tranquil coastal holiday scene.

Larnaca’s palm-lined promenade becomes the center of Christmas fun. Live music, markets, and decorations make Finikoudes lively.

Saint Lazarus Church is the place to go for Midnight Mass, and kids sing Kalanda, traditional carols, door-to-door.

At 16°C (61°F), you can split your time between beach walks and holiday markets.

19. Albufeira, Portugal

Christmas in Albufeira is captured in a close-up of a gold ornament with a mesh pattern and a decorative golden flower, hanging from green garland. The blurred background hints at festive surroundings, bringing a touch of elegance to the holiday scene.

Albufeira lights up the Algarve coast. The Strip and Fisherman’s Beach are full of decorations, and local markets sell bolo-rei and filhós (fried pastries).

Midnight Mass at Igreja Matriz is central to the celebration, and you may hear groups of singers performing Janeiras, traditional Portuguese songs for the New Year.

With temps around 15°C (59°F), you can enjoy both Christmas markets and the beach.

20. Palermo, Italy

Christmas in Palermo is enriched by the grandeur of a baroque church interior, with vibrant frescoes covering the vaulted ceiling and intricate gold detailing throughout. The ornate space glows with natural light, offering a majestic setting for holiday reflection and celebration.

Palermo feels theatrical at Christmas. Piazza San Domenico hosts markets with cannoli and panettone, while landmarks like Teatro Massimo glow at night.

The nativity scene tradition here is especially strong, with elaborate presepi set up across the city. Midnight Mass at Palermo Cathedral is unforgettable.

Average temps of 14°C (57°F) mean you can enjoy both city walks and nearby Mondello Beach.

21. Catania, Italy

Christmas in Catania unfolds in front of the stunning Catania Cathedral, where crowds gather in the square under a fiery orange sunset sky. The grand baroque architecture sets a majestic backdrop for the city's festive atmosphere.

Catania’s Piazza del Duomo is at the center of its Christmas celebrations. Lights, decorations, and markets fill the Baroque streets.

Locals create elaborate nativity scenes, and Midnight Mass at Catania Cathedral is a highlight.

Markets at Piazza Carlo Alberto are full of cassata, cuccidati (fig cookies), and other Sicilian sweets.

22. Granada, Spain

Christmas in Granada features a towering cone-shaped tree made of white and pastel lights, surrounded by glowing ornament-shaped decorations. Locals and visitors stroll through the lively plaza, enjoying the festive sparkle against the dark evening sky.

Granada combines its Andalusian traditions with the beauty of the Alhambra lit up for Christmas.

Zambombas (street celebrations with music and dancing) bring neighborhoods together. At the markets, Plaza Bib-Rambla is the spot for sweets like turrón.

The Sierra Nevada ski resorts are nearby if you want to add snow to your holiday.

23. Cordoba, Spain

Christmas in Córdoba is subtly reflected in a charming whitewashed courtyard adorned with red poinsettias in terracotta pots. A rustic wagon wheel leans against the wall, adding traditional Andalusian flair to the festive floral display.

Cordoba’s Mezquita glows with Christmas lights, and Plaza de las Tendillas fills with markets.

Midnight Mass and Zambomba celebrations bring locals together for music, dancing, and sweets like alfajores and mantecados.

The Roman Bridge, lit up at night, is perfect for a holiday stroll.

24. Cadiz, Spain

Christmas in Cádiz comes alive with a massive illuminated ornament structure glowing in warm white, red, and blue lights. Crowds of people gather around and walk through the festive centerpiece, adding energy to the holiday night scene.

Cadiz celebrates by the sea. Paseo Marítimo and La Caleta Beach are decorated, and Plaza de San Antonio hosts the main market.

You’ll find polvorones and pestiños (honey pastries) everywhere. With daytime temps around 15°C (59°F), beach walks and markets go hand in hand.

25. Faro, Portugal

Christmas in Faro is quiet and understated, with a cobbled street lined by whitewashed buildings and traditional iron balconies. The soft winter light adds a peaceful charm to the historic old town, reflecting a more tranquil holiday atmosphere.

Faro’s Old Town and marina sparkle with lights, and Largo de São Francisco hosts the Christmas market.

Bolo-rei and filhós are the sweets to try, and Faro Cathedral is where locals gather for Midnight Mass.

The Ria Formosa lagoon is nearby if you want a quieter Christmas walk surrounded by nature.

Wrap-Up: Best Places for Christmas in Europe

A small decorated Christmas tree stands in the sand on a sunny beach, topped with a red Santa hat instead of a star. The turquoise ocean and bright blue sky in the background create a playful contrast between tropical vibes and holiday spirit.

Europe gives you choices. You can sip mulled wine at centuries-old markets, listen to traditional carols in historic cathedrals, or spend the day on a warm beach before heading to Midnight Mass.

The beauty of traveling at Christmas is that every destination has its own flavor. Whether you want classic traditions or sunny skies, you’ll find it in Europe.