Dreaming of a Christmas trip to Europe? Before you pack your bags, it's worth knowing that the 24th and 25th of December look very different from what most travelers imagine.
In this guide, you'll see what closes during the holidays, what remains open, and how to make the most of these two peaceful days.
Jump to:
TL;DR
Christmas throughout the European continent is either celebrated primarily on the eve of the 24th or the day of the 25th of December.
It's the most important celebration of the year for the locals, and therefore, most establishments close down for these 2 days.
That leaves tourists unexpectedly without options, and many have expressed their disappointment over the years.
Therefore, we thought it would be useful for travelers to prepare for these 2 days to avoid confusion and unmet expectations.
Note: Also, the 31st of December (Silvester Day) and the 1st of January (New Year's Day) fall into the same category. You can expect most places to close down for these two days across the continent.
Places That Close Down on the 24th and/or 25th
- Christmas Markets — Almost all Christmas markets in Germany, Austria, and other countries close down for the season by the 23rd or 24th early afternoon.
- Restaurants & Cafés — Only a handful of restaurants are open for Christmas, and most are located in the bigger cities. The ones that are open offer a special Christmas menu, and they are booked out pretty quickly. I recommend reserving tables weeks in advance.
- Museums and Attractions — All museums and attractions take a Christmas holiday break.
- Thermal Baths & Saunas — Most should still be open on the 24th, but they usually all shut for the 25th of December.
- Shops — That includes malls and grocery shops; you'll have to hunt down a single small grocery shop with restricted hours in the big cities.
- Public Offices & Businesses — Such as post offices and banks.
- Public Transport — Doesn't shut down, but they will follow holiday hours, which means trains and buses run less frequently. In rural areas, that can mean 1-2 buses a day.
When do these establishments close down?
24th December: From afternoon onwards, most start to pack up and shut their business by 2-4 pm.
25th December: Full day.
Where You Should Hang Out Instead
Hotels
Pick a hotel that has Christmas entertainment and more planned on the 24th and 25th december.
For example, in the Alps, 4-star hotels keep you busy with music, dance evenings, Christmas-themed special events, and more. The bar is usually the highlight spot of the evening too.
Room booking should come with a ½ or ¾ board course menu option (dinner and eventually an afternoon/lunch snack). And the hotel should have a pool and sauna area where you can relax with the other guests on those Christmas days.
Cities
Cities rarely completely shut down, so you'll have more chances of finding a restaurant or a bar or two to hang out at.
The countryside can really look deserted on the 24th and 25th of December because everything is shut. Cities, on the other hand, can help you “survive” the Christmas holidays.
Christmas Markets
You'll only find a handful of Christmas markets across the European continent that are open on the 24th of December evening and the 25th of December in general.
Christmas markets are meant to celebrate the period before Christmas, which is known as Advent. So, traditionally they shut down by the 23rd/24th of December.
Specific “winter markets” may extend up to January, and in specific locations, such as Vienna in Austria, you'll find a Christmas market or two open.
For example, the famed Rathaus Christmas market in Vienna is open until 6:30 pm on the 24th of December (but shut on the 25th).
Or the Munich airport Christmas market (which is a full-fledged Christmas market!) closes on the 24th at 4 pm, but they are still running on the 25th of December up to the 29th of December.
These are just some examples. We wrote Christmas market opening guides for the two major Christmas market regions, Austria and Germany.
Ski Resorts
Head to the ski resorts because specific tourist-centric places are fully active during the holidays.
I have mentioned the hotels, but that's not everything. The ski resorts with the cable cars and slopes are fully operational all over the Alps.
You can go downhill skiing on the 25th, or you can choose to pursue other winter sport activities on that day, such as sledding with the family or country-cross skiing (if it snowed).
Alpine huts welcome visitors, and crazy après-ski parties will keep you occupied after a long day on the piste.
Nature
That's probably the best time to spend two days in nature. You'll have forests, parks, lakes, etc., all to yourself.
Go for a morning walk to take in the crisp, fresh winter air. Stop at a viewpoint or at a lake shore and listen to the silence.
If nature is your jam, make the most of it now!
Christmas Mass
Last but not least, you may join a Christmas mass to celebrate the holiday or to get into the traditional Christmas mood.
Christmas isn't considered a religious holiday anymore in some places in Europe. Many celebrate it in a secular spirit. You can enter a church and take part in a mass even if you are not a Christian.
You have two options. The midnight mass that takes place on the night of the 24th to 25th of December or the morning mass on the 25th of December. The morning mass usually happens between 8 and 11 am. I recommend checking hours.
You might stumble upon a church that organizes a special Christmas choir event to celebrate Christmas.
Tip: If you are near Salzburg in Austria, head to the Silent Night chapel at 5 pm on the 24th of December for a memorial mass at 5 pm. This is where the Christmas song “Silent Night” came to be.
Tips
Make a list of places that you'd like to visit on the 24th and 25th of December and check their opening times. This mostly concerns restaurants and specific Winter/Christmas markets.
If you can reserve seats, tables, or tickets way in advance, do so because every other place is closed down and other visitors are also looking for activities to fill their day.
Consider moving your travel dates to early or mid-December if you have come to Europe primarily to experience Christmas markets.
If you have booked an Airbnb, stock up your fridge with food for the holidays.
The 24th and 25th of December are slower days, and they will help you celebrate the Christmas spirit without the overly busy and commercial outlook. This might just be the break that you were looking for!
Comments
No Comments