Best Christmas Trees In Eastern Europe

What does it take for a Christmas mood? A picturesque European town with a beautiful Christmas tree and festive lighting – that's one. A Christmas market with lively entertainment, songs, and dances – two. A gastronomic festival with mulled wine and gingerbread cookies – three. A large ice rink – four. And a little house where Santa Claus listens to children's wishes for gifts – five. All this and much more can be found in the atmospheric cities of Eastern Europe.

The best locations for Christmas holidays this year are Warsaw, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Tallinn, and Krakow. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing war, Kyiv, the perennial contender, is absent from the ranking of the best cities for holiday relaxation in December for the second year in a row. Nevertheless, even during the struggle for independence, Ukrainians don't forget to delight their children with a New Year tree. However, let's keep everything in order.

Poland

Source: Thewarsaw.com

This year in Warsaw, 2000 Christmas trees were distributed for free – those willing to receive a New Year tree for free had to submit at least 15 used batteries (or broken electronics, which, if improperly disposed of, harms the environment). And if you somehow missed this Christmas attraction of generosity and environmental consciousness – no problem. Since November 25, 2023, a magnificent Christmas market has unfolded in the Old Town of Warsaw, where the main Christmas tree of Poland was also installed. It missed just a few points to enter the top three best holiday trees according to the authoritative portal European Best Destinations. In the end, the Polish coniferous beauty took fourth place.

In addition to the lush Christmas tree and a huge fair with numerous handicrafts and artistic products, souvenirs, fragrant mulled wines, and local culinary delights (worth trying the oscypek – mountain cheese grilled with cranberries!), a cozy ice rink in Christmas decorations was arranged around the monument to the Mermaid on the Market Square of the Old Town.

Hungary

Source: Adventbazilika.hu

This winter, the Advent Festival at the Basilica in the Hungarian Budapest was recognized as the best Christmas market in Europe for the third time in its 13-year existence. This festive and charming event, taking place until January 1 on St. Stephen's Square, will appeal to both family tourists and lively groups of friends or colleagues. An interesting feature of the Advent Basilica is the light painting. This is when the facade of the basilica transforms into a canvas for a spectacular 3D projection of a Christmas fairy tale every half-hour in the evening – and despite the crowd in the square, this performance is comfortably visible from any corner.

In addition, the Christmas festival on St. Stephen's Square features over 100 stalls with traditional Hungarian crafts, national cuisine dishes, a 200 m² ice rink, and performances by numerous musical groups. Also, on Fridays and Saturdays, the festival hosts vibrant dance flash mobs by the ensemble "Gongol" together with city guests.

Slovakia 

Source: Visitbratislava.com

If you are puzzled by the idea of why Niger is sometimes called Nigeria, Iran - Iraq, and Slovenia - Slovakia, it's quite simple: these are different countries. Niger is a poor former French colony, while neighboring Nigeria is English-speaking and affluent (ranking first in Africa in terms of GDP). Iran differs from Iraq in that Saddam Hussein once ruled the former, while the latter currently supplies Russia with kamikaze drones "Shahed 136" to terrorize peaceful Ukrainian civilians under the Putin regime. And Slovenia is one of the successor states of Yugoslavia, with access to the Mediterranean Sea, while Slovakia is one of the successor states of Czechoslovakia, bordering Ukraine and hosting one of Europe's best Christmas markets annually in its capital, Bratislava.

This year, on the festive Gvězdoslav Square, you can taste traditional Slovak pancakes, tender goose meat, which is a symbol of the autumn-winter season, and wash it all down with medovina - an ancient Slavic alcoholic beverage, essentially honey wine with a unique taste and a rich supply of vitamins.

Another interesting reason to visit this square is the fact that in 2005, US President George W. Bush addressed 10,000 Slovaks right here, a country that had just been admitted to NATO at the time, during his meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Bratislava. The American leader urged Slovaks not to forget the lessons of the past and to fight for democratic values not only in their own country but also worldwide. It's bitter to acknowledge, but when you see how Slovaks are currently blocking the movement of trade trucks from Ukraine at their border, a country that has been fighting against Russian aggression for two years, the only thought that comes to mind is: these people have definitely forgotten the testament of the American president.

Ukraine 

Source: X

And what about Ukraine itself? On the eve of the second consecutive Christmas season in the midst of a full-scale defensive war against Russia, debates among its residents have sparked regarding whether to put up any Christmas trees in Kyiv at all. For example, last year, the local budget did not allocate money for this purpose, and an anonymous patron bought and installed the tree with their own funds. This year, some Kyiv residents wanted the same - to donate the saved money from festive events to the military on the front line, while others insisted that despite the war, there are still children in the capital who need a Christmas tree to create some New Year's atmosphere.

Ultimately, at least two interesting Christmas trees appeared in Kyiv. The first one is made from decommissioned shells and other war debris. The accompanying plaque states that such a conceptual Christmas tree is a sad window to reality, reminding everyone that the fight against Russia's bloody aggression continues.

The second Christmas tree, however, became the traditional New Year's installation on Sofiyska Square. This year, there will be no Christmas markets around it, and Kyiv residents dedicated the tree to the Brave Hearts of Ukrainians. The tree is adorned with ornaments in the shape of yellow and blue hearts, which everyone can take as a souvenir - just make a donation to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Czech Republic 

Source: Facebook

The main Czech Christmas tree was brought to Prague from the environmentally friendly Liberec region. A 27-meter Christmas tree was installed on the cozy Old Town Square and adorned with 8 km of garlands and around 300 Christmas balls. Beneath the beautifully decorated tree, a large nativity scene and a cheerful "gingerbread" town were also set up, where children with their parents can take lots of great photos.

Prague has been renowned in Europe for its Christmas atmosphere for many years. In the city center, the festive market sells legendary Czech blown glass, hand-embroidered textiles, wooden toys, and numerous other charming items. And there's no need to talk much about Czech beer, grilled sausages, and roasted chestnuts – you have to taste them at least once in your life.

The visual theme of this year's Prague market is Christmas angels and illuminated cherubs, hanging in abundance above the heads of visitors. These Christian motifs are reflected in the decorations on the main Czech Christmas tree, numerous souvenir gifts, and aromatic gingerbread cookies, creating a festive atmosphere. Overall, Prague's festive square differs from other European squares in smaller size, making everything more compact and vibrant, which may appeal to some and not to others (for example, if those people are socio-phobic).

Estonia 

Source: Tallinn.ee

Do you have a friend whose character is not far from the quarrelsome Grinch? Take them by the hand and head to the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Strolling through the medieval Old Town there is captivating even without Christmas, and the festive decoration adds incredible charm to the atmosphere of narrow cobblestone streets, cozy cafes, and ancient buildings with red tiled roofs.

On the Town Hall Square, kids will delight in the Christmas carousel and visit the house of Jõuluvana (the Estonian counterpart of Santa Claus). Romantic couples can ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and everyone else can shop for gifts for friends and relatives (one of the best choices would be woolen gloves or high-quality local ceramics). A cup of mulled wine, fried potatoes, and homemade sausages will "attach" you to Estonia with unconditional love from taste buds overflowing with happiness. Moreover, just two blocks from the Town Hall Square, you'll find the best European ice rink, perfectly situated against the backdrop of Tallinn's stylish Gothic spires.

Romania 

Source: Craiovamybeautifulcity.com

Have you ever heard of the Romanian city of Craiova? Probably not. Here's some unexpected news: in 2023, their Christmas tree was recognized as the best in Europe, which did not sit well with some residents of Vilnius, Lithuania. The thing is, in 2015, Vilnius featured a remarkable and legendary Christmas tree-house on Cathedral Square. Later, other European cities began copying this Lithuanian creative idea without permission. This year, the Romanian city of Craiova did the same.

However, if you are indifferent to disputes about copyright for the creators of Christmas trees, go ahead and book tickets for the Christmas holidays to Craiova without hesitation. Every evening, they illuminate the city center with two million garlands, turning it into one enormous decoration for incredible photos and stories. The theme of Craiova's Christmas market is Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen," and the color palette is white and turquoise. Everything you need for the end of 2023 to be unforgettable!