When it comes to Christmas, what could be better for your family than getting away from the hustle and bustle of back home, and spending quality time together in some of Europe's most beautiful destinations? Whether it's a cosy cabin getaway, or a trip to an enchanting city, it will be special because you're all together. To help you get inspired for a Christmas with a difference, we have picked out our three favourite places to journey to during the festive period. What's more, with LeShuttle , it only takes 35-minutes to cross the Channel, so you'll be there in no time at all!
Enjoy a city break in Strasbourg, France
If you're looking for the perfect city to have some festive fun with your family, then you won't get much better than Strasbourg, otherwise known as the 'capital of Christmas'. Dotted with glittering lights and alive with the sound of carols, Strasbourg is one of the best destinations in Europe to spend the Christmas holidays.
Christmas time in Strasbourg
Explore the 300 different traditional Christmas markets, or Marchés de Noël, where a range of ornaments, decorations and nativity scenes are on sale. Warm up with a glass of mulled wine, and treat your kids to some delicious festive treats, such as the sweet and ginger-flavoured lebkuchen.
Wander around the city's festive markets
Once you've wandered around the markets, be sure to pop over to the outdoor ice skating rink, where you can enjoy some Christmassy family fun.
Skiing in Switzerland
If you and your family love a bit of excitement and prefer the great outdoors, then spending Christmas skiing at one of the beautiful mountain villages and towns in Switzerland is probably the ideal holiday for you. For stunning views and perfect skiing conditions, head to the quaint village of Mürren, a beautiful place that's located in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps.
Plenty of snow for the festive season
The village, and resort offers skiers 53-kilometres of ski runs that cover three different main areas. These include Allmendhubel, which is perfect for beginners, as well as Schilthorn and Schiltgrat, which offer skiers a range of challenging routes and courses.
After a hard day of skiing fun, and building snowmen, you'll be in need of a cosy place for a bit of R&R. Luckily, many of the hotels in Mürren offer special Christmas holiday packages; a great example is Hotel Jungfrau, where visitors can enjoy a three-day festive bundle that includes a four-course dinner and celebrations.
A trip down south
For somewhere completely different to back home, we would recommend a Christmas spent in the city of Marseille, where you can blow away the wintery cobwebs with a fresh walk along the chilled-down beaches. Although the temperatures aren't that much warmer than back home, the change in scenery and lifestyle is something you just can't beat when spending time with the family.
Enjoy the stunning coastal vistas that surround Marseille
As well as the beaches, during the festive period the city puts on a variety of pastorals (a type of play that depicts the nativity story) which are great for when your little ones are bored and in need of some Christmas entertainment.
Once your kids have had their fill of nativity fun, be sure to head over to Marseille's Foire aux Santons, one of the oldest festive markets in the region. There you'll be able to pick out a selection of lovely gifts for family back home, from traditionally made Marseille soap, to sweets and wooden toys for the children.
If you want to enjoy a Christmas with a difference, and one that you and your family will remember for years to come, then be sure to make the short 35-minute journey across the Channel with LeShuttle today.