How Christmas is celebrated in other countries (and where to experience it)
From Italian markets to Scottish castles, Christmas looks different everywhere. Here’s how other countries celebrate—and how to experience it yourself.
You already know what Christmas looks like at home. Mariah Carey on repeat, peppermint mochas at least once a day, arguing about whether November is too early to put up the tree (it’s not). There’s comfort in that—but there’s also a whole world of holiday traditions out there that most people never get to see up close.
The way other countries celebrate Christmas isn’t just “different.” It’s genuinely surprising. Some traditions go back centuries. Some involve fire, fish, or both. Some will make you want to completely rethink how you spend the holidays. Here’s a look at how Christmas is celebrated around the world—and how EF Ultimate Break can get you there.
Christmas market in Munich
Germany and Switzerland: Christmas in The Alps
If you’ve ever seen a photo of a European Christmas market and thought I need to be there, you’re not alone. Germany is largely responsible for the Christmas market tradition as we know it—the Christkindlmarkt dates back to the 14th century—and the markets here are the real deal. Think wooden stalls selling handcrafted ornaments, the smell of roasted chestnuts and Glühwein (mulled wine) in the air, and lights strung across cobblestone streets in every direction.
Switzerland adds its own layer of charm—alpine villages, snow-dusted chalets, and a version of St. Nicholas called Samichlaus who arrives on December 6th with a donkey and a bag of treats for good children (his companion, Schmutzli, handles the not-so-good ones. It’s a whole thing.)
EF Ultimate Break’s Christmas Markets: Germany, Italy & Switzerland trip covers all of this across 10 days. It’s the kind of trip that makes you realize the holiday season is worth traveling for.
Prague christmas market
Prague, Vienna & Budapest: Christmas in Central Europe
Central Europe does Christmas with a particular kind of drama that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. In Prague, the Old Town Square transforms into one of the most photographed Christmas markets in the world. The medieval astronomical clock, the Gothic church towers, the glow of the market stalls—it’s the kind of scene that doesn’t feel entirely real until you’re standing in it.
Vienna takes a more refined approach. The city has multiple Christmas markets, but the one in front of the Rathaus (City Hall) is the standout—it’s been running for over 700 years. Austrians celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, and Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) is the main event, when families gather for a quiet dinner and gift exchange. The city’s classical music tradition also peaks during the holiday season, with concerts and performances happening across the city.
Budapest brings warmth and color to the mix. The Vörösmarty Square market is the heart of the city’s Christmas celebrations, with Hungarian artisans, traditional kürtőskalács (chimney cake—you’ll want one immediately), and the kind of festive energy that makes it hard to leave.
EF Ultimate Break’s Christmas Markets: Budapest, Vienna & Prague trip puts all three cities on the itinerary, so you don’t have to choose.
Market at East Princes Street Gardens
Edinburgh: Christmas with a side of gothic charm
Scotland doesn’t do anything halfway, and Christmas is no exception. Edinburgh’s holiday season is anchored by its Christmas market in the East Princes Street Gardens, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle—which, if you’ve never seen it lit up at night, is genuinely one of the more dramatic sights in all of Europe.
But what makes Christmas in Scotland feel different from other places is the atmosphere. The city’s medieval Old Town, the narrow closes (that’s what they call the alleyways), the cozy pubs with fireplaces and whisky flights—it all adds up to a holiday experience that feels more immersive than festive. Scotland also takes Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) seriously, but even in the lead-up to Christmas, there’s a sense of celebration that’s hard to shake.
EF Ultimate Break’s Christmas Markets: Edinburgh trip is built for guided sightseeing through the city, the castle, and the market. It’s the kind of local experience you can’t get from a travel blog alone.
Saint Peter’s Basilica and market ride
Italy: Christmas with a deep history
Italy deserves its own section because the country does the holidays in a way that’s completely its own. In Italy, Christmas is a deeply cultural and religious celebration. Nativity scenes (called presepi) are everywhere—in churches, in shop windows, in town squares. Families gather on Christmas Eve for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a tradition rooted in southern Italy that involves, as the name suggests, a lot of seafood.
Venice in December is quieter than peak season, which means you actually get to experience the canals, the bridges, and the calli (narrow streets) without fighting through crowds. The city takes on a different quality in winter—misty mornings, fewer tourists, and a stillness that makes it feel almost cinematic.
Florence’s Christmas traditions are rooted in its Renaissance history. The city’s churches host elaborate nativity displays, and the Piazza della Repubblica market draws locals and visitors alike.
And Rome—Rome does Christmas the way Rome does everything, which is to say: with a lot of history behind it. Midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most significant Catholic events of the year, drawing pilgrims and visitors from around the world. The Piazza Navona market runs through the holiday season and is one of the city’s most beloved traditions. It’s also one of the most atmospheric celebrations in all of Europe with baroque fountains, street performers, and vendors selling everything from roasted nuts to handmade ceramics.
EF Ultimate Break’s Christmas Markets: Venice, Florence & Rome trip covers all three cities, with built-in time to explore each one at a pace that actually lets you take it in.
Travelers drinking Glühwein in Munich
Why Christmas travel is worth it
Here’s the thing about experiencing Christmas in another country: it has a way of making the holiday feel new again. When you’re standing in a centuries-old market in Prague or watching the lights reflect off the Danube in Budapest or warming your hands on a cup of Glühwein in a Bavarian village, you’re not just sightseeing. You’re participating in traditions that have been going on for hundreds of years.
EF Ultimate Break’s Christmas market trips are designed to get you into the middle of all of it—with flights, hotels, transfers, and a Tour Director who knows the all the spots TikTok hasn’t uncovered quite yet. All you have to do is show up!
Check out all the holiday trips EF Ultimate Break has to offer from Christmas markets to New Year’s celebrations, and more.
Key takeaways
Christmas traditions around the world vary wildly from Germany’s centuries-old Christkindlmarkt to Italy’s Feast of the Seven Fishes to Scotland’s gothic atmosphere and experiencing them in person is a way to completely reinvent how you celebrate the holiday back home.
European Christmas markets are the real draw for winter travel: mulled wine, handcrafted goods, historic town squares, and a festive energy that’s hard to find anywhere else.
EF Ultimate Break offers multiple Christmas market trips including Germany, Italy & Switzerland; Budapest, Vienna & Prague; Edinburgh; and Venice, Florence & Rome. So, you can choose the destination that calls you most.
All EF Ultimate Break trips include flights, hotels, transfers, and a Tour Director, which means the logistics are handled, and you can actually enjoy the holiday instead of managing it.
Christmas is one of the best times to visit Europe. The crowds are smaller than peak summer season, the atmosphere is unlike anything else, and the memories tend to stick.
Know before you go
Your most-asked questions about visiting Italy’s jaw-dropping Lake Como.
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