The Travel Bus Co.The season can shape the journey as much as the destination itself. Historic squares take on a different character, villages come alive with traditions that exist for only a few weeks, and winter landscapes open up entirely new experiences.
The most memorable Christmas journeys are often those where the timing feels intentional. A European Christmas market cannot be recreated in another season, while winter in Japan offers a side of the country entirely different from its more familiar spring and summer months.
For families planning a journey this Christmas, these are destinations worth considering and stays that make the experience even more memorable.
IAustria
Viennafew cities embrace Christmas quite like it
Its grand squares and palace grounds provide the setting for some of Europe's most established Christmas markets, while ice rinks, carousels and seasonal treats add to the festivities.
Beyond the markets, Vienna offers plenty of layers to the journey. There are museums, concerts, historic cafés and the city's unmistakable architectural grandeur, making it easy to shape a few days around more than the season alone.
Brings Vienna's old-world character into the stay itself. Its landmark setting and central location make it a natural choice for those looking to experience the city at its most classic.
IICzech Republic
Praguethe architecture of a fairytale
At Christmas, its Gothic towers, cobbled streets and historic squares become the backdrop for markets, lights and festive celebrations.
The Old Town Square is at the centre of it all, while Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge and the city's winding streets leave plenty to discover between market visits. It is a city where simply walking around can become part of the experience.
Set within a collection of historic buildings and a former monastery, it brings a sense of history and atmosphere to the stay while offering a more secluded side of Prague.
IIIFrance
Alsacenaturally suited to Christmas
Beyond Strasbourg and Colmar, its smaller villages bring together timber-framed houses, festive markets and streets illuminated for the season. Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Eguisheim are particularly rewarding to explore, each offering its own version of the region's unmistakable charm.
The journey here is as much about moving between places as it is about any single destination.
Allows families to stay within the storybook setting itself, and makes a beautiful base for exploring the villages of Alsace.
Hotel spotlight in Austria
Beyond kid-friendlytruly child-centric
At Familien Natur Resort Moar Gut, the experience is shaped by nature and the outdoors. Hotel Alpenrose offers a world of activities and experiences designed around children, while Kinderhotel Waldhof is built around adventure, exploration and life in the mountains.
IVWinter in Japan
Japana very different kind of Christmas
Winter brings together the energy of Tokyo with the snow-covered landscapes of Hokkaido, creating an itinerary that can move from cities and theme parks to skiing and winter experiences within a single trip.
In Hokkaido, winter becomes the experience. For those encountering snow for the first time, there is skiing, snow play and entire landscapes transformed by the season, along with its own food culture, hot springs and a quieter side of Japan.
Tokyo has an extraordinary range of experiences within one city. Theme parks sit alongside temples, museums and neighbourhoods that feel entirely different from one another.
Far more than a ski holiday. Snow activities, the Ice Village and experiences designed around families make the resort feel like a winter world of its own.
Extends the experience well beyond the park gates. Themed interiors and rooms make the stay itself part of the adventure.
A note from our founder
When travelling with children, the rhythm of a journey matters as much as where it takes you.
For families with children under ten, a journey of around 10 to 12 days often offers the right balance: long enough to experience a destination in depth, without asking younger travellers to constantly move from one place to the next.
The age of the children should also shape the itinerary. Younger children may find greater joy in a few immersive experiences, while older ones can engage more deeply with the culture, food and pace of a destination. The best family journeys leave room for both.
Somewhere warmer
Not everyone wants a white Christmas
For warmer days and a change of pace, consider Bali for its easy island rhythm, Kenya for unforgettable wildlife and time in the heart of the wilderness, or Australia for a summer-filled festive break shaped by beaches, cities and the outdoors.
Your Christmas break, designed around you. From the first idea to the final itinerary, let us plan a journey your family will remember long after the season ends.
More from the Journal
Winter edition · January to March
Sri Lanka, Three Ways
One island, planned around who you travel with: Galle for couples, Yala for families and the hill country for rest.
Read the editionNew year edition · January and February
The Quiet Season
Three places at their best in the quiet weeks after New Year: Oman, Egypt and Paris.
Coming soonFounder's journal · Expeditions
AntarcticaBooked by Instinct, Planned by Experience
What an expedition to Antarctica taught Dhwani about planning one, from the ship to the packing list.
Coming soon