Dates for 2025 Christmas markets + Warmest places in December in Europe

Hi Reader,

I hope you are having a great week wherever you are.

I am still in the Indian Ocean, currently in the Comoros Islands, a remote country you probably never heard of before, enjoying mountains, volcanoes, hiking and beaches.

This is the last stretch of my month-long trip and, although I have had such a fantastic time discovering lots of new places and hosting our first Madagascar trip, I am also looking forward to going home, returning to a routine and seeing my person.

I only have 1 more day here and 2 days in Dubai before flying back.

📩 On this week's email

Christmas is around the corner and that means Christmas markets! Below are the dates of the main markets across Europe. Oh! And we still have 2 spots left on our November trip, our December one is sold out. Book here.
Warmest places in December in Europe, in case you need a sunshine fix

European Xmas markets dates

Dates for the 2024 Christmas markets are out and they will be open in just 3 weeks!

Check the dates for some of my favorite ones below:

Budapest: 15th November to 1st January
Prague: 29th November to 6th January
Munich: 24th November to 24th December
Brussels: 28th November to 4th January
Vienna: 14th November to 26th December
Strasbourg: 26th November to 24th December
London: 14th November to 1st January
Nuremberg: 28th November to 24th December
Colmar: 29th November to 30th December

Our Christmas markets tour starts in Zurich and ends in Vienna, arguably the best Christmas destination in Europe. Our xmas markets tour for this year are sold out, as they typically are, but we will return in 2026 for the 3rd consecutive time, spreading this season's greetings to all of you ✨

Our tour explores 4 countries and spends time getting to know the markets and main sights in Zurich, Liechtenstein, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna.

We combine Xmas markets with culture, sightseeing, a day at the thermal spa, castle visits and quaint towns.

=> Tour details

Magic awaits!

Every year, I check out a couple of new Xmas markets. Here are some of my tips for making the best of them:

Check the dates. Some Xmas markets run until January 6th while many end on the 24th of December. Typically, countries that are Orthodox Christian will have markets open till later than those which are Catholic or Protestant.
Keep warm. The best Xmas markets are in northern and central European countries that get really cold in November and December. They are almost all outdoors and have no heating. Expect to be standing around in the cold for a while so bring layers, starting with a thermal merino wool under layer, hats, scarves, gloves, a warm and waterproof jacket (rain is very common at this time of year) and if you are like me and not used to the cold, heat warmers (they are a lifesaver). Check out our Xmas markets packing list on Amazon for some ideas.
Bring some cash. Some countries are more cashless than others and while you won't need any cash in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Latvia or France, you may need it in others like Austria which is a heavy cash-based society still. IMPORTANT: If you need to withdraw money from an ATM, ALWAYS pick one that is attached to a bank and not one of the free standing machines that charge exorbitant fees called EURONET. These have popped up everywhere in Europe and they are a massive scam. The fees they charge and the poor exchange rate will have you lose 10-20%. Don't use them.
Try the gluhwein. The most characteristic drink of the Xmas markets is the gluhwein, or mulled wine. It is delicious and also the best way to keep your hands and nose warm, believe me. Pro tip: All markets serve their gluhwein in the year's themed mug which you can return for a refund or keep as souvenir.
Talk to the stall owners. Every country has their own traditions and you are likely to see them manifested in the markets. If you see an interesting food you've never seen before, a peculiar ornament or anything that stands out, chat with the vendors and find out more. Chat with the locals to enrich your experience.

Are you planning to visit any Xmas market? If so, which one?

Warmest places in December in Europe

Sevilla's famous *Paraguas* construction

I have been looking for a warmer place to go to in December in Europe to escape the cold and work from somewhere new and warm and have found a few options:

La Valetta, Malta: 11-17 C, 5 hours of sunshine a day and 8 days of rain
Cadiz, Spain: 11-17 C, 7 hours of sunshine a day and 7 days of rain
Sevilla, Spain: 7 to 16 C, 5 hours of sunshine and 8 days of rain
Tenerife, Spain: 14 to 20 C, 6 hours of sunshine and 6 days of rain
Gran Canaria, Spain: 16 to 22 C, 6 hours of sunshine and 5 days of rain
Lanzarote, Spain: 15 to 22 C, 6 hours of sunshine and 4 days of rain
Mallorca, Spain: 9 to 16 C, 6 hours of sunshine and 7 days of rain
Malaga, Spain: 8 to 17 C, 5 hours of sunshine and 7 days of rain
Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy: 7 to 16 C, 4 hours of sunshine and 5 days of rain
Faro, Portugal: 10 to 17 C, 5 hours of sunshine and 12 days of rain
Chania, Crete, Greece: 10 to 15 C, 4 hours of sunshine and 12 days of rain

I have settled for Malta where I will spend 3 weeks from the end of November, chilling and working while exploring a bit in the low season. If you have any tips, let me know!

Countries that criminalise LGBT people

UK charity Human Dignity Trust website compiles information about the jurisdictions that criminalise LGBT people and works to reduce this number.

You can use their resources, to prepare when you travel to any of these and take the necessary precautions.

Concerning facts to bear in mind:

64 jurisdictions criminalise private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity.
12 countries have jurisdictions in which the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity.

Last chance to travel with us in 2025!

We only have 🔔 1 SPOT left on our Oaxaca 9 to 15 November tour => BOOK OAXACA

=> Check out the FULL CALENDAR of tours for all the 2026 destinations.

Photo of the week

Last week's photo

This fun phot was taken with our great group of guests in Egypt, at the Siwa Oasis, a remote and hard to reach oasis in the Sahara desert that we spend 3 days in. Pure magic to float on these salt pools. Come join us!

This week's photo

Can you guess this week's photo? Hint: It was in one of my previous newsletters...