*Updated for 2024*
Bored of spending Christmas in your hometown? Why not spend your holiday season abroad this year? Here are some of the best places to spend Christmas abroad for those who love the festive season.
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Prague, Czech Republic | Lapland, Finland | Geneva, Switzerland | Italy | Copenhagen, Denmark | Iceland | Edinburgh, Scotland | Tenerife, Canary Islands
Prague, Czech Republic
The streets of Prague are bustling with people soaking up the festive atmosphere. The historical city is decorated head to toe with twinkling lights and spectacular trees to get you in the Christmas mood. The ‘city of a thousand spires’ has fantastic sights to see such as the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and the Astronomical clock. Furthermore, the price of beer can be as cheap as 35 CZK (just over £1)!
The centre of Prague is a 30-minute drive in your rental car from the Prague Airport.
Lapland, Finland
Being the home of Santa Claus, Lapland is said to be the ultimate festive winter wonderland! The Santa Claus village can be visited in Rovaniemi if you and your family intend to meet saint Nick himself. The Santa Claus village has a host of festive attractions and events to get you in the Christmas spirit and can even be a viewing spot for the northern lights!
Finland is a beautiful country and we recommend you explore the country with a rental car.
Geneva, Switzerland
Renting a car in Switzerland within the Christmas period opens the door for an unparalleled opportunity to experience the magic of Geneva, a stunning city nestled by the Alps. With a car, you can easily explore Geneva’s iconic attractions, such as the Jet d’Eau and the historic Old Town, before venturing into the surrounding snow-covered mountains for a true winter wonderland experience. In the winter months, the city transforms into a festive paradise with Christmas markets and festivals, but we recommended making the most of your rental car and exploring nearby gems like Mont Blanc or any of the charming nearby Swiss villages.
Italy
Italy is an unexpected place to visit during the wintertime, however, it’s a lovely place to spend the holiday season! The low season makes for fewer crowds and cheaper prices. The average temperature during Winter is around 13°C making it a pleasant environment for celebrating festivities without being too cold! Explore Italy in your rental car.
Naples is filled with traditional Christmas markets and nativity scenes that have been celebrated since the 1700s. Alternatively, visit the Gubbio Christmas tree in Umbria. Although technically not an actual tree, the foot of mount Ingino is illuminated with over seven hundred Christmas lights that create a 750-metre-tall Christmas tree on the side of the mountain.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen embodies the perfect atmosphere of a cosy Christmas (or “hygge” as the Danish call it)! Wrap up in a big coat and drink some Danish Gløgg (Danish mulled wine) to stay warm whilst exploring the traditional King’s Square Christmas market.
The centre is only a 15 minute from Copenhagen Airport, Denmark.
Iceland
Iceland can be a beautiful destination to explore in winter. The country has a high chance of snow as well as the famous aurora borealis that can be seen during the winter months. Due to winter being within the dark months (only a few hours of sunlight per day) sightings of the northern lights become a lot more common. Not only that, Iceland goes all out with fireworks celebrations during New Year’s Eve.
Explore Iceland by car this Christmas with Zest Car Rental.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The city of Edinburgh is lit up with lights and festivity during the holiday period! The Scottish capital hosts a number of Christmas events such as the Princes Street Garden Christmas market and the alpine style ice skating rink located within the city centre!
Hire a car in Edinburgh and tour the inner city or head to the outskirts for rolling hills with breathtaking views.
Tenerife, Canary Islands
If you simply fancy an escape to something a little warmer, why not visit Tenerife during Christmas? Tenerife in December is usually around 25ºC making it one of the few European countries that remains hot during winter! Instead of spending Christmas wrapped up in a coat you could spend it sunbathing on sandy beaches. If you’re interested in other countries that are sunny during Christmas, read our Sun at Christmas: Top Winter Sun Destinations blog.
Leave the cold behind this Christmas when renting a car in Tenerife.
Visiting the best places to spend Christmas with Zest
Treat yourself to a holiday for next year, book in advance before demand rises. With free cancellation on all booking up to 48 hours before the rental starts, you won’t need to worry about plans changing. Moreover, we provide full customer support, excess protection, and fair fuel policies to give you more peace of mind.
We wish you all an incredibly happy Zestmas this year! Read our blog on 5 strange Christmas traditions for an interesting festive read.
