December is a great time to get away as a family, to combine Christmas with a holiday. There are some fantastic places around the world for Christmas family breaks whether you’re looking for sunshine or snow. Christmas breaks for kids are always very special. We have rounded up the best Christmas breaks with children whether you’re looking for a weekend away or a week or more through December.
Our recommendations for the best Xmas family breaks and family breaks between Christmas and New Year include first hand visits and thorough research to ensure your trip gets off to the best possible start. Click the ‘check availability here’ button to find out the cost of the hotel. We don’t link to anything or anywhere we wouldn’t stay in ourselves with our own children (and wherever possible we have).
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Table of Contents
Christmas family breaks UK
There are some great hotels offering Christmas breaks for the family and some wonderful locations across the country in which to take them.
Read more: The best family holidays in the UK
London
London at Christmas is simply magical. The lights adorn the city and twinkle like snowflakes. There are so many great activities to take part in from seeing a traditional pantomime at one of the theatres to the winter offerings at the Southbank Centre. There’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and ice skating across the city, including in the fairytale like setting of the Natural History Museum. There really is so much to do here but even a walk through the parks in winter feels like a lovely activity, there’s something about London at this time of year that feels like such a great place to be. Stay in a hotel like Rubens at the Palace which is covered in hundreds of lights and is perfect if you’re looking for luxury family Christmas breaks UK style. The closest hotel to Buckingham Palace it also has a brilliant Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea which the kids will love.
Read more suggestions of great London hotels for families here
Cotswolds
The perfect retreat for families looking to spend time together but also wanting to be away from the world a little, the Cotswolds has a little bit of everything. Packed full of gorgeous, picturesque villages with great artisanal shops to pick up all the kitchen supplies to cook up festive treats. Staying somewhere like Cowley Manor Hotel is perfect – all the comforts of home but with the added luxuries of a hotel including a fantastic indoor heated pool and some amazing grounds. They have great family rooms with all the space to relax in to. The perfect Christmas or Twixmas break.
Edinburgh
Scotland is great for a festive break and nowhere better than culture filled Edinburgh. There is a fantastic winter light trail at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens, a brilliant Christmas market and ice rinks and pantos for all the family to enjoy. For a really well priced hotel but that’s perfect when you’re travelling with kids is the Novotel Hotel in Edinburgh Centre. As well as being in a great location, central but in close proximity to Edinburgh Airport being just 4km away, it has an indoor heated swimming pool which is perfect for this time of year.
Read more: The best family holidays in Scotland
Christmas breaks for kids – Europe
Heading away for a European break can be perfect at Christmastime. Some of the best Christmas markets in the world are in some of the European cities and you can head to some great ski resorts if you fancy a trip to the snow.
Tenerife
This can be a great time for some winter sun and Tenerife is perfect for that. The skies are usually blue and the temperature balmy. You might even find yourself walking barefoot on the beach. Stay at the Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife for a fairytale like break. This is an amazing all-inclusive hotel with a large number of themed restaurants and bars. Kids will love the castle, the fun splash parks and the wonderful kids clubs (they go up to 17 years old) on offer here. This really would be a Christmas to remember.
Read more: The best family holidays in Tenerife
Turkey
Turkey is perfect for some winter warmth. There are beaches that temperatures will be still warm enough to enjoy and lots of great food and cultural experiences to be had. Or you could just really relax in a great resort. Saturn Palace Resort is set in lovely Antalya (which has a little bit of everything) and is a lovely hotel. It has its own private beach but also a waterpark to enjoy onsite. There’s a kids club which goes up to age 12 and so many other activities from ennis to mini golf. With brilliant family rooms and an all inclusive set up you are sure to have one of the best Christmas family breaks going.
Read more: The best family holidays in Turkey
Lanzarote
Another great Canary Island which is perfect for a Christmas getaway. There’s nothing better than being on the beach at this time of year and without the jet-lag of some of the further flung destinations. Stay at the Los Zocos Club Resort in Costa Teguise which is really close to the beach. You can stay here on a self catering or all inclusive basis so you can make it work for your family’s preference. The lagoon style pool here is wonderful but there’s also plenty of sports including tennis and football. There is a kids playground, indoor soft play and a kid’s club up to age 12.
Read more: The best family holidays to Lanzarote
Copenhagen
Denmark is a wonderful country to visit during winter as they really know how to embrace the cold weather. The Danish capital is full of winter cheer and they have some great Christmas lights throughout the main streets. Stop in to a cafe for hot chocolate and pebbernodders (spicy, ginger biscuits) or enjoy the winter magic at the Tivoli Gardens (the second oldest amusement park in the world). Stay in the Nimb Hotel which is packed full of luxurious details including a heated swimming pool on the roof and special activities for kids through the holidays.
Read about more Copenhagen family hotels here.
European ski resort
The December holidays can be a perfect time to visit one of the great European ski resorts. Many of them have special activities through December including firework displays and a skiing Father Christmas visiting the town. Ruka in Lapland is perfect in December, you can visit Father Christmas’s cottage nearby, take a ride with the reindeers or go on a husky sledge ride. Stay in the Scandic Rukahovi, right in the heart of the town which has great family rooms. It doesn’t get much more festive than a winter trip to Lapland with kids.
Read more: The best ski resorts in Europe for families
Cologne
Germany and its wonderful Christmas markets is a perfect country for a December break. Cologne is ideal for a family break – visit the wonderful Koln Zoo which has plenty of activities over the festive season, smell the sweet perfumes at Farina Museum (the oldest fragrance house in the world) and take a trip to the Lindt Chocolate Factory. Don’t miss the opportunity to try all the sweet pastries in the city, particularly the delicious Nougatbrezel at the legendary bakery Merzenich behind the Cathedral. Stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel, on the banks of the Rhine and close to the city centre for a lovely Christmas break.
Read more: The best family hotels in Cologne
Read more: The best family holidays to Germany
Venice
Winter is a great time to be in Venice as so many other tourists are not. It’s the perfect place to get lost in the backstreets, visit the festive markets and take a gondola ride without the usual traffic jams. Take your wellies as the city can get wet (but is well geared up for the rising water) and enjoy the mystical look of misty mornings that winter allows. There can be some great prices on accommodation out of season too. Stay in the 14th century former palace Hotel Saturnia & International, right in the centre which is the perfect warm retreat.
Read more great family hotels in Venice here.
Read more: The best family holidays to Italy
Christmas family breaks – Long haul
December can also be a great time for a longer trip away, to seek out some sunshine. This is a time when it’s perfect to use holiday time mixed with the Bank Holidays to create a long, sunny break.
Florida
December is an absolutely wonderful time to be in Florida. The temperatures are often balmy and the theme parks all gear up for the holiday season with decorations galore. Stop for spicy, hot, non-alcoholic apple cider and gingerbread cupcakes. If there’s anywhere that celebrates Christmas well it’s America. Stay at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando which is set in vast grounds and has a number of indoor, heated pools to enjoy. A great location for a family Christmas away.
Read more suggestions of family resorts in Florida here.
Dubai
Christmas can be a great time to be in the United Arab Emirates – the temperature is warm and pleasant and perhaps surprisingly there is plenty on for families. Lots of the hotels and restaurants offer Christmas meals and there are some really fun, festive-themed Afternoon Teas. With Christmas markets on throughout Dubai and the Dubai Winter Festival providing lots of entertainment it’s a lovely place to be. Stay at the Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel which has pools and fantastic restaurants for all the family to enjoy.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas trips
Where should I go for Christmas break UK?
The UK is well set up for Christmas breaks from London to the tranquil Cotswolds. Read through our list here of great places to stay on a trip to the UK for December or Christmas.
Where is the best place in Europe to spend Christmas?
Christmas in Europe is wonderful and whether you’re looking for a magical stay in snowy Lapland or for a city break with a difference we’ve rounded up all the best hotels for your stay.
Where is the cheapest place to travel for Christmas?
Some of the cheapest places to travel to are places that aren’t traditional Christmas destinations such as Venice or Dubai. Check out our list of all the best places to visit for a family Christmas break.
Where can I go for Christmas 2020?
While travel is a little restricted there is still an opportunity to get away. Check out our list of places to visit, all the hotels here are open and welcoming guests for Christmas 2020.
Where is the best place to spend Christmas?
Whether you like snowy, magical places like Lapland or fancy some long haul sun in the United Arab Emirates we have a great list of top places to spend Christmas as a family.
Your travel check list –
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We hope you enjoy our roundup of Christmas family breaks. Why not sign up for our newsletter to hear more of our holiday suggestions and great hotel deals from around the world.
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