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Christmas in Europe
  • Mdtravels
  • Dale Webb
  • Mdtravels
  • Dale Webb

Christmas in Europe

We spent six weeks on a White Christmas adventure, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, Finland, Estonia and Czechia. Along the way we travelled by air, Eurail, and enjoyed a Christmas market river cruise with Viking. Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 24, 2025
    Christmas in Europe
    Departing Cairns with Singapore Airlines
    Flying over Kuwait City.Amsterdam leaning buildings as the land is sinking under them.Accommodation at Ibis Hotel was in a convenient location.Evening drinks view from our hotel.We stayed next to Amsterdam Centraal Station.Amsterdam Centraal at night.AmsterdamEnjoying a canal ride.Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) is a classic white-painted wooden drawbridge over the Amstel River.Leaning buildings.Night scene of more leaning buildings.Furniture is moved into houses by hoisting it through windows using a hijsbalk (hoisting beam/hook).Cheese shop.Canal scenery.Christmas tree.Canal scenery.Red light district.Canal scenery.AmsterdamOn the canals.Night sceneEast Indiaman Amsterdam, is a full-scale 18th-century replica moored at the National Maritime Museum

    Cairns to Amsterdam

    November 24, 2025 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Our White Christmas adventure began with four nights in Amsterdam, spending our time on a canal tour and wandering the city’s charming streets.

  • Christmas in Europe
    Ferry system to get to the front door for a house across the canal at Broek in Waterland.
    Country scenery.Country scenery.Country scenery.We had morning tea at a old Jewish Synagogue which now is a great coffee shop.Country village in the Netherlands.Country village in the Netherlands.Robot milking machine at work at Henri Willig's Dairy and Cheese Farm in Katwoude.Jersey cows in barn.Jersey cows waiting in line to be milked.Robot milking machine.Murray having a chat to a yearling.Heneri Willig Cheese Farm.VolendamEurasian JackdawEurasian Jackdaw on a windy day.Making clogs.Clog factory at Kooijman Souvenirs and Clogs.Clogs for sale.HeronZaandijk villageZaanse Schans WindmillsZaanse Schans Windmills

    Amsterdam

    Nov 25–29, 2025 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    After a day trip to the countryside, we’ve discovered there’s so much more to the Netherlands than just the city.

  • Christmas in Europe
    Arriving in Hamburg on the train.
    HamburgView from Hamburg harbour and canal cruise.Port of Hamburg where 140 million tonnes of goods are transshipped here each year.Giant container ship at terminal in Hamburg.The Rickmer Rickmers is a sailing ship permanently moored as a museum ship.The city's tallest building, Herzog & de Meuron is a landmark concert venue.Former freight sailing vessel, Peking is the fourth largest museum ship.Canals of Speicherstadt.Low bridge in the Canals of Speicherstadt.Canals of Speicherstadt.Canals of Speicherstadt.Hamburg city.Hamburg Christmas Market.Hamburg Christmas Market.Hamburg Christmas Market.Hamburg Christmas Market.GluhweinHamburg Christmas Market.Hamburg Christmas Market.Hamburg Christmas Market.

    Hamburg

    Nov 29–Dec 1, 2025 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Our first Eurail train trip took us from Amsterdam to Hamburg. During our two night stay, we visited the Christmas markets and enjoyed a two hour canal and harbour cruise around Port Hamburg and the historic canals of Speicherstadt.Read more

  • Christmas in Europe
    Scenery on train to Nuremberg.
    Palace of Justice where Nazi the Nuremberg Trials took place.NurembergNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNurembergLeonardo Royal - our accommodaton in Nuremberg.Nuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas MarketNuremberg Christmas Market

    Nuremberg

    Dec 1–4, 2025 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Our next Eurail journey took us to Nuremberg, where we stayed for three nights. On our first day, we boarded the Hop-On Hop-Off bus from Hauptbahnhof (Main Station), stopping at Hauptmarkt/Old Town, Kaiserburg (Castle), Johannisfriedhof, Justizpalast/Memorium (Trials), and Kongresshalle. That evening, we visited the Christmas markets.Read more

  • Christmas in Europe
    Munich
    MunichMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas MarketHoffbrau HausHoffbrau HausHoffbrau HausHoffbrau HausBMW HeadquartersFlugwerft Schleissheim aircraft museumFlugwerft Schleissheim aircraft museumFlugwerft Schleissheim aircraft museumMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas MarketMunich Christmas Market

    Munich

    Dec 4–9, 2025 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    Our next stop was Munich for five nights. We wandered the streets, visited the Hofbräuhaus and Christmas markets, took a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, and visited the Flugwerft Schleissheim aircraft museum.Read more

  • Christmas in Europe
    Catching the train in Munich to Basel.
    German Country VillageVineyards in Rhine Valley.Basel in the evening.Dreiländereck Statue marks where the borders of France, Germany and Switzerland meet.Even the cranes in Basel had Christmas decorations.Basel Christmas Market.Basel accommodation - Hotel D Design.Catching the train to LucerneBlack-headed GullLucerneLake LucerneFarm houses near Lake Lucerne.Lake LucerneHotel on the shores of Lake LucerneLucerneRing-necked DuckThe Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, is Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge, built in 1333.Red-crested PochardsScenery on train back from LucerneBasel Christmas Market.

    Basel

    December 10, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    It was time to board another high speed train, this time to Basel for a three night stay. After exploring Basel, we spent our second day visiting Lucerne, where we enjoyed a scenic two hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne.Read more

  • Christmas in Europe
    Helsinki
    HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki accomodation - Original Sokos Hotel.View from hotel window in Helsinki

    Helsinki

    December 20, 2025 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    After our great Viking Christmas Market cruise, we flew from Amsterdam to Helsinki for a three night stay.

  • Christmas in Europe
    Leaving Helsinki on the ferry to Tallinn
    TallinnTallinnTallinnTallinnOld city walls in TallinnTallinnTallinnOld city walls in TallinnTallinn Christmas MarketTallinn Christmas MarketTallinn

    Tallinn

    December 20, 2025 in Estonia ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    We visited the Tallinn Christmas Market as a day trip from Helsinki. The market is located in the historic Town Hall Square in the heart of the Old Town

  • Christmas in Europe
    Catching the train to Rovaniemi.
    Scenery on train to Rovaniemi.Arriving in Rovaniemi.Arriving in Rovaniemi.Getting ready for Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Getting ready for Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.Korouoma Frozen Waterfall hike.

    Rovaniemi

    Dec 22–28, 2025 in Finland ⋅ 🌫 -15 °C

    We boarded the train to Rovaniemi for our six night White Christmas adventure, which did not disappoint. Our first activity was a hike to the Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls.

  • Christmas in Europe
    Rovaniemi at 8am in the morning.
    Ice skating in the centre of Rovaniemi.View from our Air BnB.Unfortunately the night we went out, we barely had a glimpse of the northern lights.Northern lights barely visible to the naked eye.Northern lights barely visible to the naked eye.View from our Air BnB.Christmas day outfits compliments of Dale.Christmas day drinks.Rovaniemi Mall at 5pm in the afternoon.Arctic SnowHotelArctic SnowHotelRooms at Arctic SnowHotel.Rooms at Arctic SnowHotel.Rooms at Arctic SnowHotel.Arctic SnowHotel Ice Bar.Chapel at Arctic SnowHotel.Arctic SnowHotelChristmas dinner at the Arctic SnowHotel.Restaurant at Arctic SnowHotel.Our drive back from the Arctic SnowHotel.

    Rovaniemi

    December 25, 2025 in Finland ⋅ 🌙 1 °C

    Memories from our Northern Lights tour and Christmas dinner at the magical Arctic SnowHotel.

  • Christmas in Europe
    We departed Rovaniemi on time but previous flights were cancelled due to weather.
    Leaving Rovaniemi.Flying out of Helsinki to Berlin.Victory Column, BerlinBerlin Christmas market around a cathedral damaged during WW2, now preserved as a memorial.Remaining part of the Berlin wall.Checkpoint CharlieBrandenburg GatePaved line marking where the wall once stood.Paved line marking where the wall once stood.Berlin accommodation - Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt.

    Berlin

    December 28, 2025 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 1 °C

    We flew from Helsinki to Berlin for two nights. Berlin has so much history, both good and bad.

  • Christmas in Europe
    Scenery from train on the way to Prague.
    View from our apartment in Prague.View from our apartment in Prague.Night view from our apartment in Prague.Night view from our apartment in Prague.PraguePrague accommodation - Residence Rybna 9 - Old Town.No sundowners on the balcony.PraguePrague Christmas MarketPrague Christmas MarketOld town gate in Prague.New Year Eve fireworks.New Year Eve fireworks.Lock gates on Prague river cruise.Charles Bridge built in the mid 1300's.The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic.Remains from fireworks the night before.The World's narrowest street is one way and has traffic lights.The World's narrowest street is one way and has traffic lights.View from Charles Bridge.PragueDinner in Prague.It was a snowy morning when we left.

    Prague

    December 30, 2025 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ -1 °C

    We had four nights in Prague and celebrated the arrival of the New Year around Old Town, and the bustling Prague Christmas markets!

  • Christmas in Europe
    Scenery from the train to Munich.
    Departing Munich and the end of our trip.

    Munich

    January 3 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ -3 °C

    Our final high speed train was from Prague to Munich airport. The next day we flew back to Singapore for a night and then back to Australia.

    Trip end
    January 5, 2026