As soon as the Queen of Christmas alerts the world that it’s time to spread holiday cheer, like clockwork, some of the first things that come to mind are putting up the Christmas Tree, hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows, and Christmas markets. Another absolute must, or better yet, a holiday rite of passage, is finding the most incredible Christmas light displays.
There’s no need to look beyond Europe for such a spectacular. Christmas lights to Europe is what Mariah Carey is to Christmas songs: crème de la crème.
Decked out in their finest Christmas garb, cities throughout the continent create an enchanting light show beyond simple illumination. Ancient squares transform into dazzling wonderlands, and cobblestone lanes light up with festive happiness. Everyone deserves this kind of joy. These locations have the most fascinating Christmas lights and will brighten your holidays.
Riga Christmas Lights Trail in Latvia
The Riga Christmas Lights Trail is one of the largest in Europe. Over 700 light decorations and installations are spread out on bridges, city parks, squares, and playgrounds that span more than 50 acres of trails. As you venture off, remember that the trail is divided into various sections: Opera Park, Bastejkalna Park, and Kronvalda Park.
The month-long celebration kicks off at the end of November with a tree lighting, and the lights stay on through the first week of January.
Other highlights include the outdoor concerts and festivals, and don’t leave without visiting nearby Riga Christmas Markets, named one of the best in Europe. You can purchase unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else, such as street foods and specialty cocktails.
The Latvian National Opera and Ballet will have tickets for its popular Nutcracker and Black Swan shows.
Ljubljana Christmas Lights in Slovenia
When the Christmas lights turn on in Slovenia’s capital city, it seems like the world stops to be present for what feels otherworldly. While Santa Claus takes center stage on most light displays, Ljubljana celebrates galaxies, planets, and shooting stars.
Ljubljana is a charming city where over one million visitors travel each year to visit Slovenia’s Old Town. It’s filled with incredible architecture, more than a dozen bridges, including the iconic Dragon Bridge in Art Nouveau style, small cafes, and bars.
Businesses in Ljubljana all take part in the galactic experience throughout the city. Nearby attractions include Land of Ice at Congress Square, where fairy-tale dragons are created from ice. Many free events include concerts in front of City Hall and the Ljubljana Christmas Market.
Aside from the Christmas lights, the stalls are filled with Christmas ornaments and mulled wine known as kuhano vino.
See the lights in Ljubljana from mid-November through the day after Christmas.
Vienna, Austria’s City Center
In the case of Vienna’s Christmas lights, everything that glitters is gold. Light displays around the city all have a different personality.
In the city’s center, for example, you will feel like you’re amid royalty as you walk underneath what feels like giant crystalline chandeliers in the city. Meanwhile, the Rathauspark (where Vienna’s flagship Christmas market is located) is a whimsical experience. The trees, buildings, and even the carousel are illuminated. The tree full of glowing red hearts is beloved by locals and tourists alike.
The best streets for “Christmas light-peeping” in Vienna are Graben, Kohlmarkt, and Kärntner Straße. You can explore the light displays in Vienna between mid-November and early January.
The Heart of Tallinn, Estonia
Some places feel like a Hallmark movie during Christmas. Tallinn is one of them, whether you have a love interest. In between the cozy cafes and immersive museum experiences are the shiny lights that illuminate the energy of the city. Even with the colder months and darker days because of less sunshine, the Christmas lights in Tallinn brighten the city and spirits.
Other experiences that make Tallinn an unforgettable experience during the holidays are the Christmas Jazz Festival and Gingerbread Mania. Tallinn’s Jazz Festival is a two-week experience that starts at the beginning of December. Gingerbread Mania is an art exhibition with only one rule: everything must be made of gingerbread. It’s a popular event. Once complete, the exhibition’s café sells the artists’ cookies.
The city offers concerts, fairytale light displays, cultural events, Christmas Markets, and the chance to explore the Open Air Museum during the month of December.
Christmas lights in Tallinn can be seen from mid-November through the first week of January.
Regent Street in London, England
Regent Street is famous for its magnificent Christmas lights, regarded as some of the best in Europe. The street, created by architect John Nash in 1819, is one of London’s most recognizable streets. The Grade II listed façade reflects notable architecture, and the Christmas lights add a festive element to this historical setting, creating a one-of-a-kind union of tradition and celebration.
The yearly light display, known as “The Spirit of Christmas,” is a highlight of downtown London. The switch-on event is a much-anticipated occasion that marks the start of the festive season in London. Every day, the lights glow from early evening on a timer, accompanied by festive ideas and events that draw locals and tourists.
The Christmas lights on Regent Street can be observed between early November and early January.
Brussels by Lights, Belgium
One of Europe’s top Christmas light shows, Brussels by Lights, turns the Belgian capital into a glowing extravaganza every year. The event spans 168 streets in Brussels, with eight additional ones added in 2023, guaranteeing that visitors may enjoy the festive lights across the city. Brussels is illuminated from the center to Neder-Over-Heembeek via Haren and Laeken.
Brussels by Lights also presents fresh lightworks in various shapes and sizes, ranging from snowflakes and geometric jellyfish to snowmen. Not only that, but the show also provides an interactive trail that mixes digital and physical art. The festival incorporates cultural components such as video mapping at the ‘Maison de la Création’ in Laeken, Haren, and Neder-Over-Heembeek.
Christmas lights in Brussels can be seen from the end of November until the beginning of January.
Colmar Christmas Lights in France
Next is Colmar, a lovely town that appears to have emerged from a fairy tale, especially during Christmas. The old town is lit up and adorned to create a magnificent environment that blends with the town’s history. The lights cast a relaxing atmosphere over Colmar’s center. This display transforms into an open-air theater where the festive spirit envelops the town’s heart.
Colmar’s pedestrian-only town center contains several architectural gems from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, including monuments, churches, museums, and lanes. Christmas lights adorn the Maison Pfister, the Kofhus, the Unterlinden Museum, Little Venice, the House of the Heads, and the Saint Martin Collegiate church.
The best time to visit Colmar’s Christmas Lights is between the end of November and December.
