3 Cities for your Christmas Bucket List

As we gear up for Christmas 2018, we thought we’d share a few of our favourite festive season cities.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna has one of the most dazzling Christmas seasons in the world. Every year the city is transformed into a winter wonderland where you can wander through Christmas markets, listen to choral music, watch marionette shows and feast on roasted chestnuts, hot-spiced wine and gingerbread. There’s no such thing as post-Christmas blues – November is Ball Season in Vienna with over 450 events hosted throughout the city. These continue well into summertime. Website: www.aboutvienna.org

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Opernball Jeweils im Februar findet in der Staatsoper der Opernball statt: Bühne und Parkett werden für eine Nacht zu einem großen Tanzboden umgebaut, mehr als hundert Debutantenpaare in langem Abendkleid bzw. Frack eröffnen den Ball in Anwesenheit des Bundespräsidenten mit einem Linkswalzer, und die Logen sind blumengeschmückt. Für sämtliche Aufführungen in der Staatsoper und für den Opernball sind möglichst frühzeitige Kartenbestellungen anzuraten.

Ball season in Vienna.

Opernball Jeweils im Februar findet in der Staatsoper der Opernball statt: Bühne und Parkett werden für eine Nacht zu einem großen Tanzboden umgebaut, mehr als hundert Debutantenpaare in langem Abendkleid bzw. Frack eröffnen den Ball in Anwesenheit des Bundespräsidenten mit einem Linkswalzer, und die Logen sind blumengeschmückt. Für sämtliche Aufführungen in der Staatsoper und für den Opernball sind möglichst frühzeitige Kartenbestellungen anzuraten.

Santa Fe, USA

Perched between snow-covered mountains and vast deserts, Santa Fe in New Mexico is arguably America’s best city to visit over Christmas. From 23 to 26 December, it is transformed into a magical Christmas showcase. Hundreds of thousands of candles glow in the town square, bonfires are lit around the city plaza and art galleries open their doors to the public. Nearby ski runs and train rides for kids add to the festivities. The city’s ancient Native American heritage and spirit make it extra special this time of the year. Website: www.santafe.org

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Photo credit: Mark Kane.

Santa Fe Plaza Xmas lights

Santa Fe Plaza Xmas lights

Museum of Fine Arts Building on Plaza Winter Santa Fe, NM

Christmas on the Santa Fe plaza.

Helsinki, Finland

Christmas in Finland – Santa’s home – is bucket list material. Starting at the beginning of December, Helsinki pulls out all the stops to make the festive season as magical as possible. Wander through the city’s many open-air Christmas markets, relish warm honey cake and admire the Northern Lights that come out to join the party. Join a Santa workshop, listen to music on the streets and catch a ride on a reindeer sled. Christmas doesn’t get better than this. Website: www.visitfinland.com

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(c) Jussi Hellsten www.jussihellsten.com www.facebook.com/jussihellsten

Photo credit: www.jussihellsten.com

Franki Clemens is the founder and editor of Women4Adventure. Originally from South Africa, she now lives in London where she spends her time in search of the next outdoor adventure.

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