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Is Christmas a Good or Bad Time to Travel in Europe?

Ro_Laren

Ro_Laren

Commodore
Commodore
I will be flying from Russia back to America this Christmas and I was thinking about staying for a couple days in one of the cities where American Airlines has an international hub. Then I started to wonder, is it a good or bad thing to visit a European city over Christmas vacation? I would prefer to stay in London, but I have no idea what it is like there over Christmas. Are all of the museums and “main tourist attractions” closed for the holidays? What about the following cities in Europe where American Airlines has its international hubs: Manchester, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Brussels, Zurich, Milan, and Rome.
 
Have you never watched Doctor Who? Christmas is the absolute worst time to be in London.
 
Christmas and New Year are awful times to travel in the UK, especially if there's snow like there has been the last couple of years. As for things being closed, there will definitely be different opening hours. Closures for most places are definitely Christmas day, Boxing Day, News Years Day and the 2nd of January too. If any of those days fall at the weekend the the Monday or Tuesday after will lead to things being closed too.
 
It can be a nightmare. Add in a little bad weather, and you can be stuck in the airport all night with long lines trying to arrange connecting flights in random countries.
 
About Milan and Rome, most things are closed on Christmas and Dec 26th (St. Stephen's day). Museums might be an exception, but I won't count on it.

Still, I think that even with many venues closed, the opportunity to visit any European capital on Christmas time should be seized. The atmosphere alone will make it worth.
 
Museum in Paris are usually closed on Christmas day and New Year's day but you can check that on their website. Avoiding Notre Dame on the 25th of december might be a good idea too ;)
If it snows, it will be hell at the airport too but I can't predict the weather.
Anyway, Paris is a very crowded place every days of the year, there is always something to see, at any time.
 
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Well in the UK, Christmas Eve is more or less normal except that shops usually close a litte earlier.

Christmas Day, GB Plc is more or less closed for buisness. Restaurants will be open however.

Boxing Day is classed as a Bank Holiday, so it's treated like a Sunday, shops over 3000sq ft are restricted to 6hours opening.

As for the weather, it's a bit pot luck I'm afraid. It could snow, it could be crisp blue skies.
 
As far as busy/complicated? Not a great time.

As far as atmosphere? How do you beat Christmas in/around the Alps? Zurich for the win...
 
Well, I'll be doing some travelling in Europe before Christmas, too. It's probably not ideal due to possible weather misshaps but apart from that I don't see why not. Many people do it.
 
Bad in The UK. Next door to no trains on Christmas Day or Boxing day. Even The tubes run on boxing day why not the trains I have to work on Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Is it too much to ask for these people to run a few trains on Boxing Day. .. Rant over
Another problem is if the weather is bad like it was Christmas 2010 meaning I couldn't get to Germany to see my kids because of a snow swamped airport in Dortmund.
And on top of all that it costs more!!
 
Maybe you could leave a bit before to avoid bigger prices and the possibility of getting stuck somewhere on Christmas day. I've heard good things about the German Christmas markets from my brother from when he visited Cologne. But I'm sure loooads of places in Europe would be great, especially (already mentioned) the Alps.
 
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