Rail Europe

Christmas markets

Should you find yourself wondering what to do with your last few weeks in December BEFORE Christmas, Rail Europe has some excellent suggestions to bring interesting alternatives to the traditional approach to Christmas. Come explore some of continental Europe’s Christmas markets. Yes, they will bring back all the magic of Christmas, with their log cabins, hand-craft gifts, delicious smells of mulled wine and regional savouries, you’ll give yourself a welcome break from the usual Christmas stress and no doubt find some beautiful, original gifts. It provides memorable sights, sounds and smells for all the family. 

Christmas markets date back to the 16th century, when religious holidays were also social events with fairs and entertainment. This tradition continues in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. What better way to take the pain and commercialisation out of Christmas shopping than to visit some of the best-known Christmas markets by train.       

                                       

Rail Europe has selected some of the top Christmas markets in Europe for short week-end breaks, easily accessible by train:

• Strasbourg Christmas Market (Christkindelsmarik): Place Broglie through to rue de la Comédie are a wonderland for children and adults. Renowned for its traditional gifts, wines and foods, the Strasbourg Christmas market attracts tourists looking for new ideas for Christmas... since the 16th century! The market opens 26th November to 23rd December.

• Lille’s Christmas market on Place Rihour entertains and delights tourists and locals alike every year with stalls selling gifts, arts and crafts and northern delicacies. Don’t miss the music and entertainment each Saturday with a big concert held on the last Saturday before Christmas.

• Go south for Provençal Christmas markets! Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Arles, numerous cities and towns in the south of France hold their Christmas markets with the well-known provençale “santons” or figurines dressed in their traditional costumes and work garbs of gone-by days. Wines and local gastromic delights are for sale as well as music and street theatre for children... not forgetting Santa’s hut!

• German Christmas markets – from Bremen in the north, to Berlin, Cologne, Koblenz and Freiburg, German Christmas markets are set against the back-drop of beautiful historic squares and City Halls (“Rathaus”), with music, stalls, tempting dishes and wines and beers for this special season.

         

• Try an Alpine Italian Christmas markets – high in the Dolomites, or in the surrounding Alpine cities, experience the beauty of the snow-covered mountains, the Italian hand-craft gifts and wondeful food to enjoy an atmospheric experience.

• Belgian Christmas markets – The Brussels annual Christmas market takes place in Place St. Catherine with its wonderful bright lights from the beginning to the end of December. For the first time this year, young children can ice-skate on the nearby ice-rink to bring a real atmosphere of Christmas. Find all kinds of gifts and ideas in these magical surroundings. Nearby on the coast, Ostend also holds its annual market with stalls, boutiques, all cheefully lit up for the occasion.

• Swiss Christmas markets – Basel is one of Switzerland’s most popular Christmas markets, when the city is alight with lights and stands selling all types of gifts.

Rail Europe, the World’s largest distributor of European rail travel offers travellers a number of easy solutions to visit Christmas markets in several countries or to visit several Christmas markets within a specific country:

• Eurail Select Pass – With this 1st class pass, travellers can visit 3,4 or 5 adjoining countries connected by train. It would be possible, for example, to visit the Brussels, Cologne, Paris and Strasbourg Christmas markets. It would also be possible to visit, Freiburg, Berlin, Prague and Vienna.

• Eurail Regional and National passes – There are many combinations for regional and national passes. All enable travellers to use the train in countries where are held Christmas markets. The passes offer you unlimited travel by train in the country / region covered. They are valid for 2 months, available in 1st or 2nd class, with great flexibility (“continuous” or “flexi” formulas).

• City to city tickets – Enjoy selected destinations at high speed! Rail Europe indeed sells a unique range of high speed trains, to quote but a few: Eurostar (London-Paris/Brussels), Thalys (Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam/Cologne), TGV (France), ICE (Germany), Artesia (France-Italy), Lyria (France-Switzerland) and Italian fast trains, allowing you to visit and experience many different traditions and atmospheres even during a short stay in Europe

For more information on passes and tickets, please contact your Rail Europe agent: www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.

SANTA CLAUS IN FINLAND

Rail Europe, the leading services supplier of European rail passes and tickets, brings you to the heart of Christmas action in Finland. Discover Santa Claus’ Village way up beyond the Artic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland.

Everyone knows that good old Santa heads off to deliver gifts to children all over the world on Christmas Eve and millions of children awaken on Christmas morning to the excitement and trepidation of sleepily slipping over to the Christmas tree to discover their gifts. But did you know it is possible to visit the Santa Claus village? Children and grown-ups can journey through the Santa’s home town, where both the elves and Santa work away throughout the year to prepare for this magical night. Discover the secrets, the day to day activities, Santa’s house, all tucked away in this amazing village.

Within a short distance of the northern town of Rovaniemi, visitors to Finland’s Christmas paradise can also visit the reindeer Park and the Santa Park. Children and adults will enjoy the Christmas House, where they can admire the Finnish Christmas traditions, learn about other traditions around the world and see the Elves Factory. An unforgettable trip in the snow covered landscape of Finland.

Looking for more? Your trip to Finland can also be the opportunity to visit other Scandinavian countries. What with the natural wonders (Fjords, Aurora Borealis, …), warm and welcoming traditions, and charming people… There’s definitely a lot to discover and enjoy in Northern Europe!

For your travels in Finland and Scandinavia, Rail Europe’s passes will make your life easier:

• The Eurail Finland Pass  is valid in 1st and 2nd class and entitles you to unlimited travel for 3, 5 or 10 days within a one month period. With this pass, you can take any of the Finnish Railways’ trains, be it fast trains, InterCity trains, Express trains or Night trains. If you travel with children, the night train is the best option for Lapland – children will enjoy the excitement of the night train, sleeping in the cabins and wakening up to the magic of Lapland and Santa Claus’ Village.

• With the ScanRail Pass you’ll have the possibility to visit Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The pass includes ferry boat lines between Denmark and Germany and exists in different validities (flexi or consecutive days) in 2nd class to better suit your travel needs.

For more information on the Rail Europe passes, please contact your Rail Europe agent www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.