Christmas Travel

The Belfry of Bruges tower and ornate Gothic buildings in the main market square of Bruges, Belgium, under a cloudy sky with market stalls and flagpoles in the foreground.

Celebrate Christmas in Bruges: 15 Memorable Reasons to Visit

Why visit the quaint Belgian city of Bruges (also known as Brugge) for Christmas? There are so many reasons to spend Christmas in Belgium. Bruges…

Performers in horned wooden masks and shaggy fur costumes participating in a traditional Krampus run, a unique event to experience during Salzburg in winter.

How to Make the Most of One Day in Salzburg in Winter

Salzburg in winter is a magical destination and certainly one of the best places to visit in Austria. Travel to the Austrian city famous for…

The covered concrete chute of the Olympic bobsled track in Innsbruck, Austria, with snow-capped Alpine mountain peaks in the background.

Christmas In Innsbruck: 27 Fun and Festive Things to Do, See & Eat

Innsbruck for Christmas, you say? Yes! Austria in winter is a magical destination featuring stunning snowcapped mountains against deep blue skies. Innsbruck in particular provides…

The spectacular, futuristic titanium architecture of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the vibrant red arches of the La Salve Bridge reflecting perfectly on the calm surface of the Nervión River under a blue sky with soft white clouds. Ideal for anyone planning a winter city break or researching things to do in Bilbao at Christmas, northern Spain travel itineraries, and top cultural landmarks in the Basque Country.

Bilbao at Christmas: An 8-Day Itinerary

Could Bilbao be the best place in Spain for Christmas? I’d argue, “Yes!” We spent a little more than a week in Bilbao to experience…

Colorful light projections on the Landesmuseum building facade during the Illuminarium Zurich winter festival.

Things to Do in Zurich in Winter: 38 Ideas for Your Trip

Are there things to do in Zurich in winter? That’s what I aimed to find out when I visited Switzerland for business in the middle…

A lively outdoor market stall with "CUBERDON" illuminated in large letters, adorned with festive green garlands and white decorations. Several people are gathered around, looking at and purchasing treats displayed under glass. The scene has a bright, vibrant, and inviting atmosphere.

Belgium for Christmas: 8 Reasons to Go City Hopping This Winter

Why visit Belgium for Christmas? For people like me with a demanding full-time ‘day job’, the end of the year holidays are the perfect opportunity…

The Torre de Calahorra reflected in the Guadalquivir River at sunset in Córdoba, Spain

The Ultimate 2-Week Portugal & Spain Christmas Road Trip (from Lisbon to Seville)

Are you dreaming of a Christmas adventure that blends the magic of the holidays with the culture of the Iberian Peninsula? Having trouble deciding between…

The towers of the large, pink Mainz Cathedral stand tall against a blue sky, framed by trees and lights from the Christmas market below.

18 Things to Do in Mainz: Your Ultimate Guide to a Winter Workcation

Workcations have become the hot trend of the 2020s! What is a workcation? Instead of taking vacation time to explore a new place, why not…

Dramatic view of two historic church towers over glowing Christmas market decorations in Stuttgart.

Stuttgart for Christmas: 14 Fun Things to Do During the Festive Season

What’s it like to spend Christmas in Stuttgart, Germany? My husband and I are not traditional people and our approach to Christmas (or, substitute the…

The iconic main entrance of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen at night. The grand archway is illuminated with thousands of warm white lights and decorated with hanging light-up stars and green pine garlands.

6 Reasons Why the Copenhagen Christmas Market Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype

One of the annual traditions of our expat life in Europe is taking a trip to a different European Christmas market each year. Copenhagen Christmas…

A dramatic landscape photo of a cove in Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, featuring dark blue ocean water and white surf rolling onto a sandy beach between two immense, vertical sea cliffs of golden and orange rock. A large, isolated sea stack sits in the center of the cove, with a bright blue sky and wispy white clouds above.

The Algarve in December: A Complete Winter Road Trip Travel Guide

Have you considered spending time in Portugal in December? We have had the good fortune to live our expat life in Lisbon for a few years…