Events, Festivals and Exhibitions
Within Óbidos’ castle grounds, Vila Natal creates a family‑focused wonderland of shows, rides and seasonal fun. Expect colourful light installations, Santa’s house and themed play areas, alongside food kiosks and
Andorra la Vella’s Christmas Village, the ‘Poblet de Nadal’, turns the capital into a festive playground with wooden stalls, family shows and glittering installations. Centred on Plaça del Poble and
Merano pairs alpine scenery with belle‑époque elegance, and its Christmas Market makes the most of both. Rows of cosy huts line the Passer river, with warming mulled wine, Südtiroler specialities,
Bressanone’s Christmas Market unfolds beneath the cathedral towers on Piazza Duomo, with wooden huts selling artisan gifts, tree decorations and regional delicacies. Expect choirs, brass bands and a leisurely, family‑friendly
Riga’s Old Town hosts one of the Baltics’ most atmospheric Christmas markets, centred on Dome Square beneath the towers of Riga Cathedral. Expect artisan gifts, woollens and wooden toys, along
Few places feel as cinematic at Christmas as Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The Winter Festival strings lights along Stradun, the polished limestone promenade, and scatters wooden kiosks and performance stages through
Calais runs two festive hubs rather than one long linear market. The Village de Noël takes over the covered hall on Place d’Armes with a seasonal ice‑rink (30‑minute sessions), a
Prague’s Old Town Square hosts the Czech capital’s flagship Christmas market, flanked by the gothic Týn Church and the baroque St Nicholas. Wooden chalets heap with hand‑painted baubles, carved toys
Wenceslas Square complements Old Town’s headline market with a lively strip of chalets selling seasonal snacks and gifts along the historic boulevard. With two metro stations on the square and
Advent Zagreb is Croatia’s flagship Christmas celebration and one of Europe’s most decorated festive events. The city centre becomes a constellation of themed zones, with cheerful market stalls, street food
Rijeka’s waterfront city centre comes alive for Advent with a chain of installations and kiosks along Korzo and up at Trsat Castle. Expect street performances, regional flavours and sparkling decorations
Nestled in the heart of eastern Hungary, the historic city of Debrecen dresses itself in festive splendour each winter for the beloved event known as Debrecen Advent. As the days
Celje’s ‘Fairytale City’ returns with weeks of free events, concerts and children’s shows spread across the historic centre. As European Christmas City 2025, Celje puts on an especially elaborate programme,
Tartu’s Town Hall Square becomes a snug winter village, with lights strung above glass pavilions and a daily programme that keeps the square lively throughout Advent. Expect Estonian handicrafts, warming
Advent Pula casts a warm glow over Istria’s biggest city, setting up cheerful cabins and stages around the Giardini promenade and nearby parks. It’s an extended, family‑friendly season that pairs
Eastern Slovakia’s capital celebrates the season with a month‑long programme on Hlavná ulica. Stalls dish up regional specialities and gifts, with a large tree and frequent performances adding to the
Slovenia’s oldest town brings Christmas spirit to its cobbled streets with a month of markets, concerts and family activities. The switch‑on and opening take place in Town Square, with stalls
Ghent’s Winter Festival brings a cosy, family feel to the medieval city centre, with stalls, rides and an ice rink set around Sint‑Baafsplein and Korenmarkt. Sip a jenever, nibble on
Belgrade Winter Fairytale Zimska Bajka on the Sava Promenade is the Serbian capital’s biggest festive event. It lights up the Sava riverfront with rows of wooden huts, mulled-wine bars and
Amsterdam’s Winter Paradise brings a full suite of festive fun to the RAI: indoor and outdoor rinks, rides, live music and a food village, all under sparkling lights. It’s ticketed
