How to have a white Christmas in Europe: best markets, cruises and experiences

Best way to see the Northern Lights in Europe 2025

The Northern Lights are famously fickle, but there are reliable places where the odds are stacked in your favour. Head north away from light pollution, stay at least three nights in a good aurora base and favour accommodations that offer aurora wake-up calls.

RACV Members save on Northern Lights tours and cruises.

Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi, Kakslauttanen, Saariselkä) - Lapland is the archetypal winter wonderland: reindeer, snow-covered forests and glass igloos designed to watch the sky. Many operators run Northern Lights safaris that combine snowmobile or reindeer-sled travel with expert local guides and aurora forecasts.

Norwegian Arctic (Tromsø) - known as the gateway to the Arctic, Tromsø sits well above the Arctic Circle and offers a mix of city comforts and quick access to dark-sky viewing by boat or minibus. The nearby Lyngen Alps and island archipelagos offer dramatic fjord landscapes as a backdrop to auroral displays.

Norwegian Islands (Lofoten, Vesterålen) - these islands pair coastal scenery with excellent aurora potential. The mountains rising straight from the sea make for some of the most photogenic foregrounds to the aurora.

Iceland (Reykjavík, Westfjords) - Iceland's northerly latitude and large swatches of low light pollution make aurora viewing accessible from many parts of the country. The advantage here is combining geothermal pools and volcanic landscapes with aurora-chasing drives.

Swedish Lapland (Abisko, Kiruna) - Sweden has one of the most reliable aurora-viewing locations in Abisko National Park. Thanks to the area's microclimate, Abisko often stays clear even when surrounding regions are clouded over. Kiruna, the main hub in Swedish Lapland, combines easy access to aurora lodges with unique attractions like the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, where you can literally sleep on ice after an evening of aurora-spotting.

Greenland (Kangerlussuaq, Ilulissat) - Greenland offers some of the world's most pristine aurora-watching environments, with little to no light pollution. Kangerlussuaq, near the inland ice cap, has around 300 clear nights a year and is a favourite base for aurora chasers. Ilulissat adds the drama of an iceberg-strewn coastline to the light show, giving a rare combination of Arctic seascapes and celestial colour.

Svalbard - if you want long polar nights and near-guaranteed snow, Svalbard is as far north as many travellers go. It's remote and expensive, but unforgettable.

More: The ultimate guide to seeing the Northern Lights

The best way to see Santa in Europe

Regardless of your age, no visit to Lapland is complete without meeting Santa Claus. Europe has several places that lean into the legend with theatrical flair, rustic charm or Arctic authenticity.

Book Santa visits in advance where possible. The most popular venues use appointment systems or timed tickets. Consider visiting a smaller, local market Santa rather than the headline tourist attraction for a more relaxed encounter.

RACV Members save on tours including a visit to Santa Claus Village, like the six-day Festive Polar Escape across Finland and Sweden, or the five-day Finnish Lapland Winter Family Holiday to the depths of Finland's Arctic Circle. For a longer holiday, the eight-day Northern Scandinavia in Winter trip combines Rovaniemi with stops in Sweden and Norway.

Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland (Santa Claus Village, SantaPark) - Rovaniemi markets itself as the 'official' home of Santa Claus. Santa Claus Village offers Santa Claus meet-and-greets every day of the year, and has the Arctic Circle line running directly through the village square. You can also post letters from the Santa Claus Post Office. In winter, Santa Claus Village comes alive with husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobiling, a snow activity park and more. It's perfect for all ages.

Nearby, SantaPark offers another Santa-fuelled family destination. Here you can watch elf shows, join elf school, go on a magic train ride, visit Mrs Gingerbread's Bakery and so on. SantaPark is best for families with younger children.

Themed Santa experiences across Scandinavia - many hotels and wilderness lodges in Norway, Sweden and Finland run their own 'meet Santa' events, often paired with sleigh rides and traditional Sami storytelling. These experiences are typically less crowded and more intimate than the big visitor centres.

Santa's postal and workshop experiences in Central Europe - Germany and Austria have a long tradition of Christkind and Weihnachtsmann appearances at markets, municipal 'Santa houses' and department-store meet-and-greets. These are perfect if you're pairing urban market-hopping with a quick jolly visit for children.

Best Christmas markets in Europe

Europe's Christmas markets vary dramatically in scale and character. From giant, centuries-old markets to intimate village fêtes, pick a market that matches the atmosphere you want: historic and traditional, glitzy and metropolitan or small and artisanal.

Try regional specialties (for example, bratwurst and glühwein in Germany, trdelník in Prague, and mulled wine variations), arrive early to avoid crowds, and take advantage of adjacent museums, cathedrals or cozy cafés for warming breaks.

RACV Members save on European Christmas markets tours and cruises.

Christkindlesmarkt (Nuremberg, Germany) - one of Germany's most famous and historic markets. Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is iconic for its wooden stalls, roasted sausages and the Nürnberger Lebkuchen (gingerbread). The main square transforms into a dense forest of chalets and lights that feel genuinely medieval.

Christkindelsmärik (Strasbourg, France) - Strasbourg's Christmas markets spread across multiple squares and fill the old town with lights and Alsatian festive food. The city has a deep tradition of seasonal markets, and the scale and decoration are widely praised.

Rathausplatz (Vienna, Austria) - Vienna's Christmas markets are elegant and grand, with the Rathausplatz market offering a huge Christmas tree, skating rink and abundant crafts and regional treats. Vienna is a great choice if you want classical music, imperial architecture and warm mulled wine.

Tallinn Christmas Market (Tallinn, Estonia) - Tallinn’s Town Hall Square market is small by some standards, but feels like a fairy-tale winter scene with a towering tree at its centre and surrounding cobbled streets. It's atmospheric and generally easier on the wallet than major German markets.

Striezelmarkt (Dresden, Germany) - Dresden's Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest in Germany, established in 1434. It's renowned for its towering wooden Christmas pyramid and for the traditional Stollen fruitcake, which is celebrated with its own festival each December.

Craiova Christmas Market (Craiova, Romania) - Craiova is gaining recognition for its vibrant and modern approach to Christmas markets, with extravagant light installations, family-friendly rides and stalls filled with Romanian treats. It offers a refreshing alternative to Western Europe's more famous markets.

Winter Wonders (Brussels, Belgium) - Brussels combines its historic Grand Place with a sprawling market that includes a Ferris wheel, skating rink and hundreds of chalets. The nightly light-and-sound show projected on the Grand Place's guildhalls makes it one of Europe’s most theatrical Christmas destinations.

Cologne Cathedral Market (Cologne, Germany) - Cologne hosts several markets, but the one set beneath the Gothic spires of Cologne Cathedral is the most spectacular. Visitors can explore themed markets across the city, from the family-friendly Nicholas' Village Market to the traditional stalls and ice-skating rink at Heinzels Winter Fairytale.

Advent in Zagreb (Zagreb, Croatia) - Frequently voted Europe's best Christmas market in recent years, Zagreb's Advent celebrations transform parks, squares and boulevards into a festive wonderland with ice skating, concerts and traditional Croatian food.

Advent Bazilika (Budapest, Hungary) - Budapest's Christmas markets are striking for their central locations and vibrant atmosphere. At St. Stephen's Basilica, a huge light show plays across the façade, while Vörösmarty Square offers hearty Hungarian fare such as chimney cake and goulash.

Best Christmas cruises in Europe

The festive season takes on a whole new dimension on a Christmas cruise. From the Baltic to Norwegian fjords and European river cruises, you can combine port calls at historic cities with onboard Christmas festivity. It's not just a holiday; it's an immersive journey where the magic of Christmas comes alive on the water.

RACV Members save on Christmas cruises in Europe - and river cruising is automatically included on all RACV International Insurance policies.

Baltic & Christmas Markets cruises - shorter Baltic itineraries that visit ports such as Stockholm, Tallinn, Riga and Gdańsk are especially popular because they combine medieval towns and prime Christmas-market stops with a smooth transfer between cities. Larger operators frequently offer themed departures explicitly built around Christmas markets.

Norwegian fjord cruises and Northern Lights sailings - for a white Christmas that includes snow-dusted mountains seen from the deck and the chance of aurora displays from sea, northern Norway itineraries are remarkable. Some expeditions focus on aurora-chasing and include small-group landings or local guides.

Danube and Rhine river cruises with Christmas atmosphere - river cruises can be particularly atmospheric in December. The Rhine and Danube travel through towns where local markets and Christmas lights are easily accessed from the quay. Expect elegant onboard meals, festive entertainment and comfortable winter cruising rather than raw polar conditions.

When to plan a white Christmas holiday

If a snowy Christmas is the priority, plan for December and be realistic. Coastal or lowland areas can be grey and damp rather than snowy. The best chances of a snowy scene are in higher latitudes and elevations.

Book flights and accommodation well in advance for the week leading into and including 25 December. This is peak travel for many winter destinations. Hotels, tours and special Christmas events sell out quickly.