Christmas is around the corner, and it is high time to celebrate. All around the globe, family and friends are gathering to celebrate the holiday with loads of lovely Christmas dishes, mouth-watering treats and plenty of laughs. Celebrate the festive season with a new experience and visit one of our 4 foodie Christmas destinations in Europe this winter. Explore exciting food markets, stalls, carols and culture in a completely new way in some of the most amazing cities in Europe.
From Scandinavia in the north to the Spanish south coast, the Christmas food culture is characterized by the season's local food supply, weather and temperatures, making every region unique and distinct in its special way.
Vienna – Austria
Vienna is beautiful in every season, offering gorgeous local food and mouthwatering treats. Home to the famous New Year’s Eve concert, and Christmas markets scattered all around the town, Vienna is truly magical in the wintertime. Delicious aromas from punch and chestnut stands draw customers with seasonal treats to enjoy on your stroll around the town.
Christmas markets
Countless Christmas markets pop up all over the city of Vienna and pretty squares are turned into fairy tale Christmas villages. The Christmas markets are open from mid-November and stay open until around December 23rd or in some places even later. Wiener Weihnachtstraum, (Christmas World) at the City Hall is the biggest Christmas market and the most popular one. If you look for mouth-watering seasonal treats, this is the place to go. The market has more than 150 stalls offering tempting foods such as warming goulash, and frankfurter as well as warm drinks and beautiful decorations for all visitors to enjoy.
Stockholm Sweden
As a beautiful and lively city all year round, Stockholm shines especially bright come the holidays. With Christmas decorations and lights all around the city, it's impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit. Stockholm is famous for having some of the best Christmas markets in Europe, from small ones scattered around to the bigger ones in the old town and at Gröna Lund. Here you can sample Christmas goods and enjoy shopping in a winter wonderland.
The celebration of Saint Lucia
Even though Sweden is Protestant Christianity, the celebration of Saint Lucia remains. Every year on the 13th of December is perhaps one of the more exotic-looking Swedish customs, with girls and boys clad in white full-length gowns singing songs and carrying candles. An enchanting parade to behold, but you shouldn’t miss out on the baked goods, sweet treats and hot drinks that are offered. Baked goods, such as saffron bread called "Lussebullar", gingerbread and sweet candy such as Butterscotch called "knäck" are served with coffee or “Glögg” a spiced wine served hot with raisins and almonds. Perfect warming treats for the cold Swedish wintertime.
Julbord
Whether it’s as a lunch buffet or at a fine dining restaurant, the "julbord" is an absolute must if you’re ever visiting Sweden around Christmas time. A buffet-style meal, serving all the traditional dishes of cold and warm meat and fish dishes, as well as charcuteries, desserts and sweet treats. Enjoy the Swedish Christmas ham, meatballs, gravad lax, kale and cabbage dishes and lots of pickled herrings. If you are visiting a Swedish Julbord, don’t miss out on “Snaps” a boozy, warming shot of flavoured alcohol.
Málaga - Spain
All throughout the year, there are numerous foodie activities you can do in Málaga, and December is even more spectacular. Málaga’s Christmas lighting is considered one of the best in Europe, famous for its light and sound show, and an absolute must if you are visiting Málaga this time of year. Christmas is usually one of the busiest times throughout the year, packed with shoppers and tourists especially in the evenings when people come into town to see the lights and spend time with loved ones. From Christmas markets offering local foods and sweets to concerts and art exhibitions that in many places are free, there is plenty to do all around the city.
Food and drinks in Málaga
All around the town, the unmistakable aromas of toasted chestnuts are rising with the columns of smoke, spreading the Christmas spirit along the streets. Stalls are selling fresh sugar-toasted almonds and sweets, that are hard to resist. Stop by any of the countless restaurants and open-air cafes to enjoy a cup of traditional thick hot chocolate and sugar-coated churros with a coffee or enjoy a glass of regional wine with a plate of Serrano ham and Spanish sausages.
El día de los Reyes Magos
The day of the Magic Kings is the Spanish name of the public holiday celebrated on the 6th of January all around the county. In the morning, the children finally receive their long-awaited Christmas presents and the day is then a big family day celebrated with grand parades in all the Spanish cities. Enjoy the parades in Málaga and try all the sweets that are thrown out to the audience. Another tradition on this day is the pastry Roscón de Reyes, a special cake often eaten for breakfast as well as the rest of the day.
Copenhagen - Denmark
As the home of 9 Michelin-star restaurants just in the inner city, Copenhagen is one of the big culinary cities in Europe. With great food all year round, it’s no surprise Copenhagen is the place to be at Christmas time. The streets of the city are dressed up in light and decorations and the markets are buzzing with energy and Christmas joy.
Copenhagen’s Christmas markets
There are Christmas markets scattered all around the city that open about 4 – 6 weeks before Christmas, but the one you really shouldn’t miss out on is Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market. The market is named after the famous fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who lived and worked in the city in the 19th century. As expected from a fairy tale writer, a visit here will be like walking into a magical Christmas fairy tale, offering stalls whit delicious Christmas food of all kinds.
Danish Christmas food
Just like its neighbour Sweden, Denmark celebrates Christmas with a buffet-style meal called Julebord. Enjoy a lunch buffet or a dinner at a fine dining restaurant to sample all of the delicious Danish Christmas foods. Some of the local specialities are roasted duck, ham with crispy skin, sugared browned potatoes, liver paste with bacon, as well as delicious cold and warm fish dishes. Denmark as a whole is famous for its punch cheeses so don’t miss out on trying the mouth-watering cheeseboards.
