As the holiday season approaches, many revelers are already eager to soak up the Christmas spirit – although the big day is several months away.
There are some awesome breaks where visitors can get a taste of the festivities in the UK and beyond.
With beautiful markets, sleigh rides, and cross-country ski trips to experience, here’s a look at some of the more interesting pre-Christmas breaks available.
Experience a fairytale Christmas in Tallinn’s Old Town
Considered the best Christmas market in Europe for three years in a row, Tallinn is the perfect place to visit for a city break. Located in the picturesque old town, the exceptionally preserved medieval streets give a fairytale quality to the market.
(Image: Tallinn City Tourist Office and Convention Bureau)
The market is also home to one of Europe’s oldest holiday traditions, the display of a public Christmas tree in Town Hall Square. First brought to Tallinn in 1441, the Christmas tree remains the crown jewel of the square’s Christmas market, illuminating the stalls with its thousands of lights.
The Tallinn Christmas Market runs from November 19 to January 2. More information available here.
Discover the oldest German Christmas market in the UK
Since Lincoln introduced the first traditional German Christmas market to the UK in 1982, it has grown from just 11 stalls to over 200 stalls. Visitors are transported back in time as they stroll the cobbled streets of the city’s Cathedral Quarter.
The Artists’ Christmas Village is the ideal place to find unique gifts, while supporting local artists and artisans. Various stores across town will also stay open late during the market.
The Lincoln Christmas Markets will take place from December 2-5. More information is available here.
Stress-free Christmas in Guernsey
With Christmas decorations lighting up the entire island, a full program of festive shows, local craft fairs and quirky Christmas shopping, Guernsey is a perfect destination for a pre-Christmas break. The Channel Island promises a stress-free getaway as there is no need for a passport or currency exchange, so visitors can stay within their Christmas budget.
Hotel La Barbarie is perfect for a long winter weekend. The hotel prides itself on its “family Christmas” atmosphere with the hotel’s exceptional hospitality and the most refined festive decor.
Between December 1 and February 28, the hotel offers a winter break to recharge and rejuvenate, with a three night stay from £ 190 per person, based on two people sharing a classic double room. More information is available here.
Christmas weekends in winter wonderland in Herm
The White House Hotel – the only hotel on the tiny island of Herm – has a pre-Christmas family treat every weekend in December as Christmas approaches. Just a 20 minute ferry ride from Guernsey, Herm Island is magical any time of the year, offering wonderful blustery beach walks, a cozy pub to warm up by the fireside, and a swim in cold water for the bravest. during the colder winter months.
The White House Hotel’s Winter Wonderland weekend specials include a visit from Santa Claus as elves with gifts for the kids, ‘snow’ in the White House garden, and kids’ crafts with the kids. elves. A three-course meal is included on Saturday evening in the Conservatory Restaurant and a full breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning, plus a £ 10 gift voucher to The Herm Shop.
The Winter Wonderland weekend is £ 300 for two adults (for both nights) and £ 60 per child, including the above.
More information is available here.
Travel through Finland’s wilderness by sleigh
Oulanka is a very popular family destination and is the perfect place for an authentic snowy winter vacation. The whole family can enjoy a multitude of exciting activities and healthy home cooking prepared by the small team of experts. They will discover the beautiful wild nature on snowshoes, cross-country skiing as well as dog sledding and reindeer sleigh. This fun winter vacation also offers the best conditions for seeing the Northern Lights.
More information is available here.
Cross-country skiing in Venabu, Norway
This seven-night ski vacation takes place in Venabu, central Norway, on the edge of Rondane National Park, offering stunning snow-capped views over the Gudbrandsdalen Valley, just north of Lillehammer. Skiing here has always been traditional, so it’s perfect for a ski getaway and suitable for all skill levels.
This is Norway’s beautiful and unspoiled wilderness at its best and it is common to display wild moose and reindeer. Hotel Venabu Fjell offers traditional Scandinavian cuisine and offers wonderful panoramic mountain views.
Headwater (Headwater.com, 01606 369121) offers the eight-day cross-country ski tour in Venabu for £ 1,639 per person and includes flights, accommodation, all meals, five-day ski lessons and guided excursions.
More information is available here.
(Image: scu)
Private trip to Lapland
This three-day, all-inclusive private trip takes travelers to the northernmost tip of Finland for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Taste delicious and different local dishes and sweat all the toxins from containment on a traditional Lapland sauna experience in the land of the midnight sun.
Friendly local guides, born and raised in the heart of Finnish Lapland, lead the tour, which can be fully personalized and includes all-inclusive food and accommodation in stunning log cabins.
ToursByLocals is offering the 3-day Heart of Lapland tour starting at £ 3,504 per tour, for a maximum of 10 people. The tour includes guiding services, private transportation, menus and entrance tickets. Additional charges include personal expenses.
More information is available here.
Celebrate winter at Efteling
Efteling – the fairytale theme park in South Holland – is an enchanting place to visit all year round, but during the winter months it becomes even more magical with “Winter Eftelingâ€. Taking place this year between November 15 and February 6, the theme park will transform into a winter wonderland.
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With three on-site accommodation options, including themed rooms at the Efteling Hotel, luxury woodland houses at the Efteling Bosrijk holiday village and cozy log cabins at the Efteling Loonsche Land holiday village, the theme park makes for a memorable short festive break that will suit the whole family.
At the heart of the park is the famous Fairy Tale Forest, which brings family favorite tales to life for all generations.
A two-night stay in a Woodland house for six at Efteling Bosrijk Holiday Village in December costs £ 540, which includes three days at Efteling. For more information visit: Winter Efteling.
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