And don’t miss the Christmas lights!
If you still haven’t made any plans for the December double Bank Holiday, here are some ideas: Prague, London, Paris, Barcelona, Florence and Madrid at Christmastime are even prettier than usual. Imagine losing yourself in their streets decked out in Christmas lights and exploring their Christmas markets in good company. Sounds like a great plan for the Spanish December double Bank Holiday!
This Christmas, travel to Prague, London, Paris, Barcelona, Florence or Madrid
Prague at Christmas: this city looks like it’s popped straight out of a fairytale at any time of year, so just imagine what it’s like at Christmas… The snowy rooftops of its charming coloured houses and the bustling Christmas market in the Old Town Square, filled with wooden stalls selling handicrafts, local food and hot drinks to ward off the cold. If you’re looking for an original Christmas present, this is the place for you! You can also check out the nativity scene and admire the huge Christmas tree adorned with lights. If that weren’t enough, you may well find a Christmas concert in the square as well. The Christmas market in Wenceslas Square isn’t as big, but is still worth a visit.
London at Christmas: taking a trip to London for the December double Bank Holiday is a great idea. London at Christmas is truly magical! The popular Hyde Park becomes a Winter Wonderland, with fantastic attractions for young and old alike, including a giant ice rink, a circus, a range of shows, an underwater world with spectacular ice sculptures, stalls with Christmas goodies and much more besides. You can even see Father Christmas himself hard at work with his elves. London also boasts several other Christmas markets bursting with seasonal cheer, including ones at Southbank, Kew Garden, Kingston-upon-Thames, Victoria Park, London Bridge, Borough Market and Greenwich.
Paris at Christmas: strolling along the streets of Paris under the Christmas lights is something you’ll never forget. The city also boasts lots of Christmas markets, such as the one at La Défense. The biggest Christmas market has 350 wooden stalls selling gourmet products and Christmas handicrafts. Right in front of the Eiffel Tower you’ll find the Village de Noël du Champs de Mars, with an ice rink and Christmas huts. There are other wonderful markets at Les Invalides, Notre-Dame and Les Fééries d’Auteuil. But if you’re in Paris at Christmas, you must go to Disneyland Paris! Santa Claus will be waiting for you along with the stars of Frozen and you’ll discover many more surprises besides. The Christmas parade will take your breath away!
Barcelona at Christmas: visiting Barcelona for the December double Bank Holiday is the perfect way to get you in the Christmas mood. In front of the cathedral you’ll find the Feria de Santa Llúcia, the perfect place to buy a craft nativity scene or some lovely decorations for your Christmas tree. Nearby there is a giant caga tió, a yule log that shits out gifts and sweets for children. There is another Christmas fair by the Sagrada Família. No Catalan nativity scene is complete without a caganer: a shitting figure in the form of a traditional Catalan peasant or a famous celebrity from the world of politics, music, football or film, among others. Stop for a hot chocolate in one of the popular cafes on Carrer Petritxol to warm you up on a cold afternoon.
Florence at Christmas: this city is pure undiluted art and history, and at Christmas it’s a real joy. The Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce is the most popular one in the city. You’ll find stalls selling delicious food from all over Italy, as well as typical German products such as strudel and gingerbread. Handicrafts, gifts and Christmas decorations are also on offer. And there’s a lovely merry-go-round for children. In Piazza Santo Spirito and Piazza Annunziata there are more charming Christmas fairs.
Madrid at Christmas: the only way to ward off the cold in Madrid at Christmastime is with a delicious hot chocolate con churros, long sugared fritters that are typical of Madrid! And don’t miss the nativity scenes or the oldest Christmas market in Europe, in Plaza Mayor, with all kinds of Christmas goods, handicrafts and joke items. The Christmas lights are truly spectacular, with lots of streets and emblematic buildings lit up. The Christmas market in Plaza España and the Mercadillo del Gato usually open after the December double Bank Holiday, so if you’re in the city in the third week of December check them out: the Mercadillo del Gato has an exhibition of nativity scenes from 174 countries!
Noelia – Marketing Team
