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Where is the best place to celebrate Christmas in Europe. Where and how to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Europe

We all really like New Year and Christmas. All over the world, these holidays are treated in a special way. You have probably seen more than once that in European countries Christmas is celebrated following many traditions and customs. So where to go for Christmas in Europe?

First of all, it should be noted that the date of Christmas is different in many countries. In all countries of the eurozone, the date of the holiday is December 25. And they celebrate it exclusively with the family. I would like to add that a few days after the holiday, in European countries, no establishments work, since everyone should be on these bright days with their relatives. Before the holidays, you need to stock up on food in advance. Some shops still work on holidays, but these are rather private shops.

In the central squares of each city, mass festivities are held, where you can have great fun. Celebrations in some cities take place in a medieval style. Here you can taste aromatic mulled wine and Christmas treats. All around is decorated with colorful sparkling garlands, Christmas songs are played everywhere. Isn't that wonderful? Of course, you will involuntarily rejoice and have fun, because everyone is in a festive mood around.

Where to go for Christmas? To Germany!

In Germany, holidays are celebrated in more than 200 cities. This is truly a "universal" celebration. Here you will witness theme fairs and taste German specialties. By the way, the food here is prepared according to the exact recipes of the 17th century. Also at Christmas in Germany, many people dress in medieval folk costumes. Knightly competitions are held here, melodies are heard on the street, which come from live instruments from street musicians.

It is customary for families in Germany to spend Christmas evening. Everyone exchanges gifts and souvenirs. At a large table, the family communicates, jokes and has fun. One of the main Christmas dishes here is roasted or baked goose.

At Christmas in Germany, all churches and churches are literally overwhelmed with guests. In them you can hear the Christmas songs performed by the church choir.

Travel to France for Christmas

During the holidays, France is incredibly beautiful. Everything around is decorated with numerous colorful lights, toys, balls and much more. The restaurants serve specialty Christmas oysters, which are especially delicious these days. Wine is served to complement the oysters. The traditional festive duck is also a regular treat here.

At Christmas in France, ice rinks are flooded everywhere. The largest and most famous is the skating rink around the Eiffel Tower. As elsewhere, in this country the Christmas tree is decorated with the family, and after that congratulations and gifts are exchanged. In France, they love to invite friends and relatives to visit, and at Christmas this is a must.

Spend Christmas in Italy? - Great idea!

Italy is especially fond of Christmas. Here the Pope carries out the Christmas service, which must be attended by the whole family. If in many countries the Christmas holidays last an average of 10 days, in Italy they last more than a month. This is due to the fact that they include several more big holidays.

The supper for beggars deserves special respect. Local residents cook what they can and give food to the poor. For themselves, the inhabitants of Italy prepare food only from local and own products. Among the traditional Italian dishes on the table you can see duck, eel, fruits, vegetables and sweets.

There is a very interesting tradition at Christmas in Italy. Children visit the elderly and give them a cake called pannetone.

Spend Christmas in England

Christmas in England is celebrated on a very large scale. In the last days before the holidays, it will be very difficult for you to find a free seat on the train or bus, since everyone is going to visit their relatives. It will also be difficult to acquire gifts, for the same reason. By the way, gifts in England must be wrapped in gift paper. As in other countries, in the UK, gifts are placed under the tree, and in the morning they are opened.

The Queen's address is at lunchtime. After her television appeal, mass festivities and fun begin.

Christmas is a real fairy tale

Almost all countries celebrate Christmas. By principle, the traditions of the celebration are similar everywhere. Only a few countries have their own distinctive features, but they are not significant. In fact, Christmas is like a real fairy tale that both adults and children believe in. This is one of those holidays that brings the whole family together. It is on Christmas that everyone is united and kind to each other as never before.

Remember, when this bright holiday is approaching, it is fun at heart, but when the holidays go away, it becomes sad. So that the holidays last a little longer, and decorate all the houses, trees and parks around.

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The next week opens the long-awaited series of winter holidays, the first of which is Christmas, celebrated in the Catholic tradition on December 25th. For our foreign colleagues, the holidays will come on Wednesday - the anticipation of the cherished day will be filled with joyful chores in anticipation of a family celebration. For everyone who wants to bring New Year's days closer and quickly immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, ELLE recommends going to Europe for Christmas - to one (or several) of the fabulously decorated cities in our review.

There is no need to look for or come up with reasons to go to Paris - they are always there. The French capital comes first on our list as it is the most obvious answer to the question, "Where to go for Christmas?" In addition to the delight of the wonderful illumination and festive decoration, the City of Love is guaranteed to endow guests with a generous portion of romantic impressions. If you arrive a couple of days early, there is a chance to have an unforgettable pre-Christmas shopping, interspersed with delights about the enchanting decoration of the main shopping centers in Paris, including the famous Galeries Lafayette. In addition, the traditional Christmas market from November 14 to January 4 offers everyone a truly French variety of holiday treats, including mulled wine, gingerbread, and sausages, as well as traditional dishes from the most remote corners of the country. The largest Christmas market stretches along the Champs Elysees, a dozen others are easy to find on the city map.

The main attraction for a winter visit to Dresden is the Striezelmarkt, the oldest Christmas market in Germany and one of the most famous in Europe, first established in 1434. The name comes from the word Hefestriezel - this was the name of the traditional fruit and nut cake, which today is more often called Christstollen: in its shape and white color, this rich masterpiece was supposed to remind the celebrants of the baby Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes. The market is open for a whole month - from November 26 to December 24 and closes on Christmas Eve on the eve of Christmas. The townspeople go to feast with their families, and numerous tourists - to celebrate the onset of the holiday with a glass of scalding mulled wine, eat sausages and stollen, admire the wonderful Christmas tree in the fairground and walk along the shining fairy lights of the streets.

The capital of French Alsace is also famous for one of the oldest Christmas markets dating back to 1570. The fair runs this year from November 27 until New Year's Eve - December 31. The beauty of the festive city is breathtaking: at Christmas time, Strasbourg is visited by more than two million tourists who want to feel the authentic atmosphere of the holiday.

Christmas is a great time to walk through snowy Prague with lyrical pauses for a glass of spicy svařené vino - local mulled wine. The city is adorned with festive fir trees, twinkling garlands and, of course, Christmas markets - especially impressive ones work in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square from November 28 to January 1. The center of attraction for tourists is a Christmas tree brought from the slopes of the Krkonoše mountains in the north of the Czech Republic. A magnificent tree, shining with lights, flaunts on the Old Town Square, illuminating the dark Gothic Prague with a truly magical glow.

Numerous hotels and restaurants in the Latvian capital are vying with each other in creative ideas for tourist "Christmas packages". Winter Riga is fabulously beautiful and, importantly, much closer to other European cities that hit our hit list "Where to go for Christmas 2016". Long before December 25, fairs are organized on the squares of the city, elegant Christmas trees are installed. The decoration of the city implies generous illumination on all streets, squares and boulevards, fabulous illumination of bridges and magnificent window dressing, each of which turns into a masterpiece of design art for the holiday. All this creates that special mood, which is called Christmas. By the way, on the eve of Christmas, shops are open until late, following the gift rush, but on December 25 they will all be closed.

The air of the Hungarian capital on Christmas days is literally saturated with the aromas of honey-cinnamon cookies, mulled wine and elegant Christmas trees. Rustic wooden stalls and two outdoor stages of the pre-holiday bazaar occupy one of the city's most beautiful landmarks, Vörösmarty Square. Isn't there a reason to spend Christmas Eve here and, having walked around the city shining with lights, go to the hotel to continue the holiday in the traditional “home” format?

For a classic Christmas with nutcrackers and waltzes - to the Austrian capital! A city with a rich history and aristocratic manners entertains guests in a Christmas style from November 13 to December 26, inviting them to taste the exquisite festive menu in restaurants and an endless selection of unusual gifts and mouth-watering delicacies at any of 20 festive markets.

Christmas is especially good for old towns - and the Swiss capital is no exception. When choosing where to go for Christmas, we advise you to think about Bern: the time of winter holidays is a great time to explore the 800-year-old city, decorated with shining garlands and ornate Christmas trees. The city, filled with old houses with tiled roofs, is the perfect setting for a festive weekend. The souvenir assortment of traditional fairs is replete with Bernese symbols-bears in gingerbread and pastry design and a luxurious variety of chocolate.

For almost a month now, the aroma of sugar-baked almonds, round ebleskiver donuts and glög has been hovering over the capital of the Danish kingdom, shining with festive lights (in Denmark and Norway, hot spiced wine is called gløgg, in Sweden - glögg, in Estonia and Finland - glögi) , townspeople choose Christmas trees and gifts, and restaurants offer a Christmas menu. Despite the winter wind and rare snowfalls, most cafes and restaurants offer guests to drink tea, gleg or beer right on the street, wrapped in a warm blanket. Tourists who have chosen Copenhagen to celebrate Christmas love in the Tivoli Gardens; extra chic - stay for a weekend at the Nimb hotel, which looks like a fairytale palace, located right in the famous gardens. In addition to the traditional amusements of the Christmas market from November 15 to January 4, the oldest amusement park in Europe is decorated with fir trees in flickering lights, fabulous illumination of alleys and a unique light show with fountains.

For those who are not worried about the question “where to go for Christmas at an inexpensive price”, we advise you to bet on Zurich. Switzerland's most popular city is pleased to invite guests to any of the seven Christmas markets from November 19th until Christmas Eve. The largest is open at the Central Station (imagine arriving from the airport to the train station - and immersed in the aroma of mulled wine and fondue!) - and it is not only one of the largest in Europe, but also the most attractive, thanks to the splendor of a festive tree covered with shining ornaments from 5 thousand Swarovski crystals.

The most delicious Christmas markets are in the Belgian capital. Locals also know that New Year's entertainment is not limited to family gatherings in front of TV screens. If you like parades and concerts, you should go to the city fair, open from November 27 to January 3, where, in addition to delicacies and souvenirs, a Ferris wheel, a carousel and even an ice monster are waiting for revelers instead of the traditional snowman.

Singers from all over the country flock to Salzburg to perform at the famous Christmas Eve Fair. Attention, be vigilant while walking along the richly decorated shopping arcade from November 13 to December 26! Beware of Krampus - the aggressive spirit that accompanies Santa Claus with a shadow (by the way, you can get to know him in cinemas from January 1, by buying a ticket to the frightening fantasy comedy Krampus), - not only children are in danger of getting a slap from a fairytale villain for accumulated disobedience ...

For New Years, instead of the classic celebration at home, you can buy a family New Year's tour to Europe for the 2020 Christmas holidays. We usually use one of these services for such cases (or rather all at once, we are looking for the most profitable tour):

Rest abroad is an opportunity to create a romantic atmosphere for a loved one. Tours for two for Christmas in Europe - the magic of ancient cities and fabulous architecture in a festive decoration. When you are in Prague or Germany, you are immersed in the magical atmosphere of Christmas, sipping mulled wine or coffee and watching the decorated old streets. Probably many in childhood had a dream to see the Christmas atmosphere and Santa Claus?

If you want to take a break from the usual bustle and communication, spend the old and celebrate the new year with dignity - a Christmas tour to a European country is an excellent choice for both one and two people with a flight from Moscow.

Where is the best place to relax on New Year's Eve abroad? The question is relevant for many Russians, the answer to which we will try to give in this article.

Holidays in Prague for the New Year 2020

Our experience: If you are flying for 7-10 days, then the cheapest is to buy a tour. Favorable dates are usually with a departure until December 25, then prices rise dramatically.

The price of tours to the Czech Republic in the New Year depends on the excursion service. If a visit to ancient castles in Prague is not included in the plans, you should:

visit on Christmas day in the heart of the Old Town - Old Town Square, look at the country's main Christmas tree, take part in folk festivities, drink hot mulled wine and see a monument to the legendary Jan Hus;
take a photo at the Prague Castle - an architectural landmark and presidential residence;
look into the pearl of the city - St. Vitus Cathedral;
walk along the Charles Bridge, admire the medieval towers and sculptures;
walk through the parks of Vyshgorod and see the city from the fortress wall.

Prague chimes in the central square. We were out of luck with the weather

Tours to Prague in December and January

What should a tourist who travels to Prague for the New Year need to know? Facts 🙂

The price for tours to the Czech Republic in the New Year is from 66 thousand rubles and more for 7 days.
When making a tour to Prague for Christmas, expect to spend from 16 thousand rubles in both directions per person for a flight from Moscow.
You can book a hotel in advance when planning a tour to Prague for the New Year. One night in a double room in the city center will cost from 90 euros.
The weather in the Czech Republic for the New Year is usually good - below freezing temperatures in December and January only drop at night.
Prices in restaurants are quite high: a New Year's feast will cost from 100 euros per person.

The price is indicated for one person when buying a tour for two

New Year in Paris

Paris, like the rest of Europe, is unlikely to distinguish itself on New Year's Eve with a romantic snowball and a slight "minus". Rather, dank under-rain and an unpleasant "plus". The capital of France, in our opinion, is not the best choice for celebrating on the street (well, as in Red Square - with a sparkler, crowd-fun-congratulations).

Firstly, yes, there are many migrants in Paris who will also come out to have fun. Secondly, Paris is the most visited city in Europe, so tourists will be generously added to the visitors. In addition to the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur Basilica and the Champs Elysees, you can celebrate the New Year according to the following scenarios:

Seine cruise - pretentious with dress code and not so
Cabaret - Moulin Rouge, Lido and other Parisian classics
Restaurant or hotel with New Year's show
Disneyland

A tour to Paris is, of course, unreasonable and expensive. Although an independent organization cannot say that it saves rubles:

✓ Round-trip flights with capture on December 31 - from 16,000 rubles per person

✓ The cheapest hotel (not a hostel) - from 40 euros per room

✓ Apartment on Airbnb - from 45 euros (and 28 euros discount on the link if you are a beginner)

On New Year's Eve in Austria (Vienna)

When choosing ski tours to Austria for your vacation, take the time to spend a few days in the capital. It is necessary to visit the heart of Europe to see:

the Belvedere Palace and the adjacent park;
the famous Imperial Opera;
the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty - Schonbrunn Palace.

Don't forget to stop by the cozy coffee shop and taste the real strudel.

If you are not interested in sports, a Christmas tour to Vienna for 7 or 10 days will give you the opportunity to compose a rich and high-quality excursion program, visit ancient temples, palaces, art galleries. Also from Vienna you can easily go to Germany (either by bus or by booking a car).

Tour to Vienna for the New Year for couples in love - a romantic atmosphere surrounded by antiquity and modern service, walks along the smart streets of the night city.

Price for New Year tours to Austria

When choosing tours to Austria for the New Year, you need to familiarize yourself with the photos and information about prices and service at ski resorts. There are over 800 of them in the Austrian Alps in 70 regions. Ski tourism is developed at all levels: you can choose a boarding house for a family vacation with a kindergarten and animators, or go to a hotel for professional athletes with some of the world's best slopes.

Tours to Austria for New Year and Christmas are distinguished by affordable prices. A six-day economy holiday, including December 31 and January 1, in a cozy hotel in the suburbs of Vienna and a roundtrip flight can be arranged from. A week in a fashionable complex in the Alps with SPA procedures, hot springs and ski slopes will cost several times more, and a VIP tour will cost several dozen times more.

You can relax economically by purchasing a burning New Year's tour. But here it is worth noting that in December it is very difficult to do this, and there is a chance to buy a ticket instead of a burning tour - a ticket several times more expensive than the usual price. Therefore, we advise you to take advantage of early booking tours for the New Year.

Ski tours to Austria

For lovers of outdoor activities, ski tours to Austria are suitable. Service at all Alpine resorts is one of the best in all of Europe, prices are designed to suit any budget. Here you can both spend an active vacation in the mountains and stroll along the Christmas streets of Vienna.

The tourist season in Austria lasts all year round, but to celebrate the New Year 2020 in Vienna means to immerse yourself in the special atmosphere of the European capital, imbued with the melody of waltzes, plunge into the world of beauty and enjoy the beauty of an old European city.

Where to go to Finland for New Year 2020?

Can't decide where to go for your winter holidays - go to Finland for the New Year. From St. Petersburg can be reached by car in just 6 hours. Or fly by plane in 1-2 hours. Santa's homeland greets guests with frosty weather and snow. Here you will find privacy and plunge into that very Christmas. Lapland Christmas tours are especially suitable for families with children who still believe in Santa Claus. Or those who like to ride a sleigh, dog sleds or live in yurts. 🙂

Tour for Christmas in Finland

Tours to Finland in winter are one of the most popular destinations from our country, so in order not to have to change your vacation plans, it is better to make an early booking. This way you can save 30-50% of the cost in December.

A country cottage is best suited for recreation, which will cost from 130 euros per day in December and January. The prices for rooms in small hotels are budgetary: in the center of Helsinki you can spend a night for 40 euros for two people, large hotels offer rooms from 80 euros per night. If you are eating alone or two, then the hotel is a great option!

A voucher for 5 days in Helsinki will cost from.

New Year 2020 in Germany

Tours to Germany for the New Year 2020 - an opportunity to be transported into a real Christmas fairy tale, with all its attributes. Cities shimmer with lights, houses are luxuriously decorated, restaurants and bars hospitably open their doors. Christmas tours to Munich and Berlin are the most relevant in the last days of December and early January.

Christmas Tours in Germany

Tours at Christmas with a stop in Munich are participation in fairs and festivities. Here you will have the opportunity to taste classic German treats: children will appreciate caramel apples, gingerbread hearts and ginger houses, adults - mulled wine and Munich sausages.

Of the sights will be interesting:

churches and temples: the oldest of them are Peterskirche, Frauenkirche, Azamkirche;
picture gallery "Old Pinakothek";
the palace complex "Munich Residence" - the place where all the Bavarian kings lived;
BMW Museum (tickets for the BMW plant must be booked in advance)

It is better to look for tours here (if you find a cheap one, take it right away - prices are constantly changing):

Tours to Munich from Moscow

Tours to Germany for the New Year 2020 for 7 days - 6 nights in a hotel and a flight in both directions - for two will cost from 91 thousand rubles. Would you like to create an individual itinerary: prices for a double room with early booking - from 90 euros per night (if booked in autumn), direct flight from Moscow - from 16,000 round trip for one person.

11 ideas on how to celebrate Christmas and New Year 2020 in Europe. Cities and countries where holidays can be interesting!

New Year is a fabulous time, and even if you don’t believe in Santa Claus since childhood, with the onset of December 31, something freezes inside on the eve of a miracle. If you are a romantic and the pre-holiday bustle inspires you, we advise you to celebrate the New Year in Europe - in an atmosphere of antiquity and magic.

It is not easy to choose exactly where to go for Christmas and New Year - 2020. We offer 11 countries where you can have an excellent New Year holidays.

Where can I find a cheap New Year's tour? Search on the services and - they will find the best deals among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

(Photo © spacejulien / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 License)

How to save: If you want to spend the New Year, holidays and Catholic Christmas in Europe, we advise you to fly out on December 22, 23 or 24, and return back in early January. Book everything a few months before the trip.

About prices in the article. Hotels - for a double room on New Year's Eve. Tours - for two people. Air tickets - for one person in both directions. We are considering flights from Moscow. We indicated the prices for air tickets and tours for New Year's dates (departure on December 29-30 and return on January 3-6), since it is on these days that tourists fly on vacation.

Finland - Helsinki and Lapland

Where to celebrate New Year 2020 and Christmas in Europe, if not in the homeland of Santa Claus? At the end of December, it is frosty outside, down to -15 ° C, a lot of snow falls. They go to Finland for solitude and a winter fairy tale. Rent a cottage and devote your New Year's holidays to outdoor activities - skiing and snowmobiling, for example. Admire, learn the local cuisine, and visit the Joulupukki Residence in Lapland.

Tours from Moscow for 4-5 nights cost from 65 thousand rubles.

Flights from Moscow to Helsinki and back cost from 11 thousand rubles. Petersburgers can get there by train or bus (more on this -).

(Photo © Visit Finland / flickr.com / CC BY-NC 2.0 License)

Czech Republic, Prague

The Czech Republic is another country in Europe where you can celebrate the New Year 2020 gloriously. In Prague, on the Old Town Square, the main Christmas tree is erected with shining lights. There is a fair, tourists and locals walk, eat almonds fried in spices, delicious trdelniki and drink mulled wine and mead. Read: and.

The weather in Prague at the end of December is good: during the day it can be slightly above 0 ° С, at night - up to -5 ° С. There is not always snow cover.

Tours in Prague for 7 nights for the New Year can be purchased from only 65 thousand rubles. Read our

Flights. A flight for New Year's holidays from Moscow to Prague and back costs from 16 thousand rubles.

Hotels. Rent a room in a hotel for two in the center - from 90 € per night and more. New Year's Eve dinner at the restaurant will cost € 100-170 per person. Find out which ones.

(Photo © elPadawan / flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0 License)

If you want to celebrate New Year 2020 in Europe on a budget, head to Cyprus. In winter, it is warm there, about +15 ... + 20 ° С. and see the whole island before it's hot and there are no tourists.

New Year's holidays on the island last from December 23 to January 6. In large cities, performances, dances, decorate a Christmas tree are held. However, for the most part New Years and Christmas are family holidays, and after two nights the streets are already quiet.

Tours to Cyprus on New Year's holidays in 2020 for 7 nights cost from 60 thousand rubles.

Flights Moscow - Larnaca and back cost from 13 thousand rubles and more.

(Photo © unsplash.com / @matt__feeney)

Germany - Berlin and Munich

The best New Year in Europe, in our opinion, is in Germany. Do you want to plunge into a real Christmas fairy tale? We advise you to go to Munich, Cologne, Nuremberg or other cities. Visit cheerful fairs with all the gastronomic attributes of Christmas and New Year: caramel apples, gingerbread houses and hearts, stollens and aromatic hot mulled wine. The weather at this time of the year in Germany is usually pleasant, from 0 to –4 ° C, snow does not always fall.

Tours for 4 nights cost from 60 thousand rubles for two.

Flights. A flight Moscow - Berlin and back costs from 16 thousand rubles (direct flights), to Munich - about the same.

Hotels in the center of Berlin - from 120 € per night for two. New Year's Eve dinner at the restaurant costs approximately € 100-200 per person. Find out which ones.

(Photo © visitBerlin / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Montenegro, Budva

Where to inexpensively celebrate the New Year - 2020 and Christmas? Tourists recommend going to Montenegro (namely Budva or Podgorica). The ski resorts of Kolasin and Zabljak are also popular.

Locals usually meet midnight with family or friends, and then go out into the street. Traditionally, performances, fireworks and concerts are held in the city center. The weather is changeable, there are rains. There is snow and cold in the mountains, and about + 10 ° C on the coast.

Tours to Montenegro for the holidays cost from 60 thousand rubles (Tivat, 7 nights).

Flights. A flight from Moscow to Tivat and back on New Year's dates costs from 15 thousand rubles.

(Photo © Casal Partiu Oficial / flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0 License)

Greece, Athens

Greece's New Year traditions are close to Cyprus, and the New Year and Christmas celebrations in both countries are almost identical. In cities, residents gather in the center for a concert and fireworks, and young people after the official meeting of the holiday go to clubs. Tourists prefer to rest in Thessaloniki, Halkidiki or Athens. As in Montenegro, the weather is changeable, but warm, about +12 ... + 15 ° С.

Tours for Christmas and New Year's holidays cost from 50 thousand rubles for two for 7 nights.

Flights from Moscow to Athens and back cost from 15 thousand rubles.

Hotels. A double room in Athens costs from 14 €, in Halkidiki (for example, Sarti) - from 24 €. Find out which ones.

Italy Rome

To have fun in the new year 2020, you need to go to Italy. The locals are very fond of New Year and Christmas and greet them on a grand scale. In addition, you can have a relatively inexpensive vacation in the country.

Popular tourist cities for celebrating the holiday -, and. How to mark? Choose original ways: in thermal baths and spas, in medieval castles and villas, cruise. It's a good idea to go to.

The weather in the capital of Italy at the end of December is pretty good, up to + 12 ° С, but it rains. There is no snow in Rome, but it can be in the north of the country. Take in the sights and museums in peace during the New Year holidays. Read which ones.

Tours for New Year and Christmas in Italy are inexpensive. For example, in Rimini for 7-8 nights - only from 56 thousand rubles. A trip to Rome for 4 nights can be purchased from 60 thousand.

Flights Moscow - Rome cost from 18 thousand rubles in both directions, to Milan and Venice - from 16.5 thousand rubles.

Hotels. Overnight in a double room in a 3 * hotel in Rome - from 50 € and more in the city center. Dinner on New Year's Eve will cost € 50-250 per person.

France Paris

Where to go for the New Year 2020 if not to the most romantic city in Europe? Illumination everywhere, Christmas markets (the best are on the Champs Elysees and in the La Defense quarter). The aromas of hot wine and roasted chestnuts carry through the streets. Try foie gras, choucrut, maroon glace and fondue. True, the weather is not impressive: it rarely snows, the temperature is up to + 5 ° С, it is rather damp and can be drizzling.

Tours... Vouchers for 5 nights in Paris and the Cote d'Azur cost from 80 thousand rubles for two.

Flights. A flight from Moscow to Paris and back costs about 16 thousand rubles.

Turkey, Istanbul

Many people go to Istanbul for the winter holidays: there is good service and a variety of opportunities for recreation. New Year is not celebrated as such - it is a holiday for tourists. Nevertheless, the city is beautifully decorated, and hotels, clubs and restaurants offer an entertainment program.

You can meet New Year's Eve on Galata Bridge, on Istiklal Street, in a hotel, in a club, on a ship, and so on. But devote your holidays to sightseeing - read our big one.

Tours... In addition to Istanbul, you can fly to relax on New Year's resorts: Antalya, Alanya, Side, Kemer and others. Vouchers for 5 nights cost from 58 thousand rubles.

Flights. A flight Moscow - Istanbul in both directions costs from 10 thousand rubles.

Latvia, Riga

New Year's holidays in Riga are long: both Catholic and Orthodox Christmas is celebrated. A good reason to visit the capital of Latvia! As in other European countries, preparations for Christmas and New Year begin ahead of time, from about the end of November - beginning of December. The city is gradually "settling in" with garlands and decorations, a Christmas tree is erected on the main square, a fair begins to work. Directly New Year - 2020 can be spent in a hotel, restaurant or just walking around the city - concerts and performances are organized.

The weather in Riga at the end of December is usually pleasing: the medieval city is covered with a white shroud, there may be a light frost.

Tours... New Year's tours to Riga for 4-5 nights cost from 56 thousand rubles.

Flights. To fly to Riga from Moscow and back during the winter holidays, you will have to pay from 13 thousand rubles and more.

Hotels. A room in a budget hotel in the city center costs from 30 € per night for two. On average, a New Year's Eve dinner in a restaurant will cost € 50-100 per person, but you can look for places where.

Great Britain, London

It's fabulous on Christmas and New Years in London: showcases are beautifully decorated, garlands are hung, fairs with souvenirs and delicacies are open, Christmas chants are sung. Fireworks are fired over the Thames, and Big Ben chimes twelve times at midnight.

Flights to London from Moscow and back in the New Year - 2020 cost from 14 thousand rubles and more.

Hotels. The cost of a double room in the center of London - from 60 € per night, a room in a 3 * hotel - from 80 €. New Year's Eve Dinner - from 80 € per person.

With the arrival of winter, the most long-awaited time begins - preparation for the celebration of Christmas and New Year. Nowhere else is Christmas prepared so diligently, observing all the traditions, as in Europe. A wave of fairs covers Germany, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other European countries. This is not only a tribute to old traditions, but also fun meetings with friends, as well as an occasion to enjoy a variety of goodies! If you plan to visit Vienna, Strasbourg or Cologne at this time, we suggest that you prepare well so as not to miss anything delicious!

Every year millions of tourists visit the numerous Christmas markets to recharge their festive mood. While drinking mulled wine, make a wish, for example, about a summer vacation. Sochi will help you prepare for your summer vacation according to the plan, where you will find all the necessary information about hotels, restaurants, and excursions.

But back to your winter travel in Europe. Preparations for the winter holidays begin in November, and the final of the Christmas markets falls on the eve of Catholic Christmas, December 24. Strasbourg, Nuremberg, Munich, Prague, as well as Vienna and Cologne are especially famous for their fairs.

Strasbourg - the capital of Christmas

It is Strasbourg that is considered the capital of Christmas markets, because it is from here that the tradition of organizing holiday markets spread throughout Europe. For the first time such a thematic fair was held here in 1570. Here, for the first time, they decided to put Christmas trees in houses and on the street, and later, for the first time, they began to decorate them with glass toys. Since then, this tradition has developed steadily, and today, Christmas Strasbourg is a fairytale city in which you will not find two equally decorated houses.

What to buy in Strasbourg, what delicacies to try and what delicious to bring with you:

airy marshmallows fried over a fire
roasted chestnuts
mulled wine
a jar of foie gras
münster cheese
Alsatian chocolate
cookies delirium
gingerbread

Christmas festivities in Prague

The festive action in Prague takes place not only on the main square. You can walk around Havel Square, Republic Square or Wenzel in the New Town. Scattered throughout the center are numerous stalls with Christmas goods - crafts, decorations and souvenirs, as well as aromatic delicacies and hot drinks. So, walking in the center, you will not stay hungry and unhappy - you will definitely buy some beautiful trifle and drink mulled wine.

What to buy in Prague, what delicacies to try and what delicious to bring with you:

fried sausages, old Prague ham
biscuits and gingerbread, Karlovy Vary waffles and trdelnik
roasted chestnuts
alcoholic drinks - absinthe, fernet, plum brandy and becherovka

Fairy Vienna

One of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Europe takes place on the Town Hall Square. A festive bazaar is being set up right in front of Schönbrunn Palace. Visitors can buy handmade souvenirs as well as sweets and punch. The aroma of fresh baked goods with cinnamon, roasted chestnuts and chocolate soars, which creates a sense of celebration and a fabulous atmosphere.

What to buy in Vienna, what delicacies to try and what delicious to bring with you:

Christmas decorations and handmade candles
Viennese porcelain
punch and mulled wine and a nice cup
large pretzel with cheese, sesame seeds or sweet sprinkles
Viennese sausages and smoked meats
Wiener Schnitzel
Viennese strudel and Sachertorte
chocolate, sweets "Mozart kugel" fruits in chocolate
cookies and gingerbread

Great holidays in Cologne

The main Christmas market in the city opens on the square in front of Cologne Cathedral, with free concerts and open-air performances. There is a lot to look out for: wooden nutcrackers, Christmas tree decorations, Sagrada Familia figurines and candles, as well as gingerbread cookies and buns, and much more. You can also visit the oldest Christmas market in Cologne at Neumarkt, the theme market at Rudolf Platz and another market on the Rhine embankment at the Chocolate Museum.

What to buy in Cologne, what delicacies to try and what delicious to bring with you: