Capycation

Christmas and New Year from the UK

Where to go for the Christmas markets, a Christmas stay, or the New Year turn — grouped by what you actually want from the trip, not a single ranked list.

Dates at a glance

Every date below is checked on the date shown against its own recorded source — never a guess at a date that hasn't been published. Sources vary in kind (official organiser, tourism board, government, or a press report of an official decision); each row’s source column names which.
DestinationBefore Christmas (markets)Christmas stay (24-26 Dec)New Year (31 Dec/1 Jan)StatusSource (checked)
BudapestNot yet announcedNo published informationNot yet announcedNot yet announced
Funchal (Madeira)No published informationNot yet announced31 Dec 2026Partially confirmed
Prague28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 202724 Dec – 26 Dec 2026No published informationConfirmed
RigaFrom 27 Nov 2026
Closing date not announced		No published information31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Partially confirmed
Salzburg19 Nov 2026 – 1 Jan 202724 Dec – 26 Dec 202631 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Confirmed
TallinnNot yet announced24 Dec – 26 Dec 2026No published informationPartially confirmed
Vienna6 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 202724 Dec – 26 Dec 2026Not yet announcedPartially confirmed

Before Christmas: markets and festive events

  • Vienna

    City · Austria

    Vienna’s markets do not share one calendar, so the week you pick decides which ones you actually see.6 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027Recent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 10m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Salzburg

    City · Austria

    One market, in front of the cathedral, that you can see properly in an evening — and it publishes its holiday hours in advance.19 Nov 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Recent nonstop fares from Gatwick and Stansted — around 1h 55m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Riga

    City · Latvia

    Dome Square's stalls open on 27 November; the market has not published a closing date for this season.From 27 Nov 2026Closing date not announcedRecent nonstop fares from Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 35m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Prague

    City · Czechia

    Prague’s two central markets open late — 28 November — and then run in one unbroken stretch to 6 January.28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027Recent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 1h 50m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Budapest

    City · Hungary

    Budapest’s two main markets have not announced their 2026 dates, so this one is a watch-and-wait rather than a booking.Not yet announcedRecent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 25m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Tallinn

    City · Estonia

    Opens in late November, but the organiser and the national tourist board give different closing dates — treat any end date you see as unconfirmed.Not yet announcedRecent nonstop fares from Gatwick and Stansted — around 2h 45m on the fastest one seen recently

Search 3-night trips from London Heathrow in December 2026 (flexible, not fixed dates) · Compare flights + stays in this window: 20 Nov – 23 Dec 2026

A Christmas stay

  • Salzburg

    City · Austria

    One of the few markets that publishes its Christmas Day opening hours months ahead, so the trip can be planned rather than hoped for.24 Dec – 26 Dec 2026Recent nonstop fares from Gatwick and Stansted — around 1h 55m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Vienna

    City · Austria

    Four central markets stay open across 24–26 December, and Schönbrunn runs on to 6 January.24 Dec – 26 Dec 2026Recent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 10m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Prague

    City · Czechia

    Both central markets are scheduled to run straight through Christmas, so nothing closes mid-trip.24 Dec – 26 Dec 2026Recent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 1h 50m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Tallinn

    City · Estonia

    The market’s run covers Christmas itself, so the square stays the centre of the trip on 25 December.24 Dec – 26 Dec 2026Recent nonstop fares from Gatwick and Stansted — around 2h 45m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Funchal (Madeira)

    City · Portugal

    Funchal’s Christmas programme has not been published yet, so there is nothing confirmed to time a December trip around.Not yet announcedRecent nonstop fares from Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 3h 50m on the fastest one seen recently

Search 4-night trips from London Heathrow in December 2026 (flexible, not fixed dates) · Compare flights + stays in this window: 19 Dec – 29 Dec 2026

New Year

  • Salzburg

    City · Austria

    The market publishes its New Year hours in advance: open on 31 December, and again on 1 January, its last day of the season.31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Recent nonstop fares from Gatwick and Stansted — around 1h 55m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Riga

    City · Latvia

    The market lists 31 December and 1 January hours, though not dated to this season — worth re-checking nearer the time.31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Recent nonstop fares from Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 35m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Funchal (Madeira)

    City · Portugal

    The New Year fireworks are already signed off at government level — 59 launch sites around the bay — while the Christmas programme is still unpublished.31 Dec 2026Recent nonstop fares from Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 3h 50m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Budapest

    City · Hungary

    No official New Year programme has been announced for Budapest either, so treat any dated claim you see elsewhere with caution.Not yet announcedRecent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 25m on the fastest one seen recently

  • Vienna

    City · Austria

    Vienna’s New Year programme is not published yet, so there is nothing here to plan a trip around with confidence.Not yet announcedRecent nonstop fares from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester — around 2h 10m on the fastest one seen recently

Search 4-night trips from London Heathrow in December 2026 (flexible, not fixed dates) · Compare flights + stays in this window: 27 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027

Plan the dates and budget

Compare return fares and estimated trip costs from the UK.

Plan around every UK bank holiday and the long weekend it makes.

Christmas market weekends 2026 from the UK.

Where to spend Christmas 2026, from the UK.

New Year city breaks 2026–27 from the UK.

Christmas and New Year sun 2026 from the UK.

Weekend city breaks from Stansted & Manchester.

Winter sun compared: Canaries, Cyprus, Malta.

February half-term 2027 from the UK.

Spring sun 2027: March-April breaks from the UK.

Or see every trip planning guide.

Back to all holidays from the UK.

Or see winter sun from the UK.

Or see under 3 hours from the UK.

Or see beach holidays from the UK.

Or see city breaks from the UK.

Browse the full destination list.