🗺️ Winter holidays with kids: seven places from Lapland to Thailand

The Christmas season at Disneyland Paris starts in early November. Prague opens its main markets on November 28, 2026 (as of 09/2026, official dates for Prague's markets).

There are many ways to spend winter break with a child. One parent takes the kids to see Santa Claus, another picks snowy slopes, a third swaps winter for the warm Andaman Sea.

Below are seven destinations. For each one you'll find the season, how to get there, and practical details we verified in September 2026.

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What to know

💡 In short:

Seven destinations for New Year's break with a child: from Santa Claus Village to the Andaman Sea.
Book holiday dates in advance, because late December is peak season.
Destinations vary widely in weather: from freezing cold in Lapland to heat in Thailand.

Destination	What kids can expect	When to go
Paris	Disney Enchanted Christmas season	November, December, early January
Prague	markets on Old Town Square	late November and December
Budapest	interactive museum, chocolate factory, circus	December and early January
Nuremberg	children's market, carousels and workshops	November 27, December 30
Vienna	market at City Hall, carousel and ice rink	market from November 13 to December 26, ice rink until January 6
Rovaniemi	Santa Claus Village and post office	year-round
Thailand	sea and warmth	high season in winter

Our pick: if you're traveling with a child for the first time and without a car, go with Prague. If you want a real winter and a fairy tale, plan for Rovaniemi.

1. Paris: Disney enchanted Christmas season

Disneyland Paris entrance with pink hotel

Christmas decorations at Disneyland Paris go up in early November, and the season runs until early January. So you don't have to arrive exactly on New Year's Eve: you'll catch the celebration on other dates too.

Père Noël moves his "office" to the center of the park, and the elves prepare gifts. In the evening, a Christmas parade makes its way through the park from the illuminated princess castle. Rides operate as usual, though indoor ones become more popular because of the weather.

How to get there: take the RER A train from central Paris to the park.
Who it's for / Not for: for families who care about the park itself, not Paris as a city.
The catch: on New Year's dates the park is packed, and ride lines are long.
Where to stay: Hotels near Disneyland Paris on Trip.com.

2. Prague: markets and Mikuláš

Christmas market at Old Town Square in Prague at night

Festive Prague is one big market. The main markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run from November 28, 2026 to January 6, 2027 (as of 09/2026, market schedule). Entry is free, and stalls are open from morning until late evening.

On the evening of December 5, Mikuláš comes to the markets with a sack and the Book of sins. He appears on that evening only, not for the whole market season. The Angel and the Devil walk alongside him: the first helps hand out gifts, the second offers children lumps of coal. In the end, everyone gets presents.

Who it's for / Not for: for families who want a holiday in a compact city. Prague looks different in summer.
The catch: on holiday evenings, Old Town Square gets extremely crowded.
Where to stay: Hotels in Prague on Trip.com.

3. Budapest: Mikulás and the science museum

Christmas market at Vörösmarty Square in the evening

New Year's holidays in Hungary begin on Mikulás Day in early December. He visits every home with little angels and devils and fills the boots children leave out the night before. You don't need to arrive exactly on the eve: in winter, Budapest has plenty to keep kids busy.

The Chocolate Museum operates as a small factory where dozens of varieties are made using old recipes. At the interactive museum, a guide demonstrates experiments, and then guests conduct their own. After that, you have the planetarium and a circus with a mask parade.

Getting there: the metro and tram are convenient for getting between the venues.
Who it's for / Not for: for school-age kids who enjoy experiments and shows. Some programs will be too difficult for toddlers.
The catch: the venues are scattered across the city, so you'll have to travel between them.
Where to stay: Budapest hotels on Trip.com.

4. Nuremberg: the children's Christmas market

The Christkindlesmarkt on Nuremberg's main square runs from November 27 through December 24, 2026 (as of 09/2026, official market website). For families, the neighboring Hans-Sachs-Platz matters more: the Kinderweihnacht children's market has operated there since 1999, open from November 27 through December 30.

Entrance to the Nuremberg children's Christmas market

Kids ride vintage carousels and a little train, and in the workshops they make candles, baked goods, and soap as gifts. Nuremberg's Christkind visits the children's market and invites kids to ride the multi-tier carousel for free.

Getting there: high-speed ICE trains run from Munich and Frankfurt to Nuremberg, and the old town starts right at the station.
Who it's for / Not for: for families with preschoolers and younger school-age kids. You can't ring in the New Year at this market: the main market closes on December 24.
The catch: on weekends the main square gets crowded; with a stroller it's easier to come on a weekday morning.
Where to stay: Nuremberg hotels on Trip.com.

5. Vienna: the market at City Hall and the ice rink

The Christmas market on Vienna's Rathausplatz runs from November 13 through December 26, 2026, daily from 10:00 to 22:00, and until 18:30 on December 24 (as of 09/2026, Vienna tourism website). For kids there's a 12-meter multi-tier carousel, a reindeer train, a children's house, and a trail with Christmas nativity scenes.

Christmas market in front of Vienna City Hall in the evening

Next to the market they set up the Vienna Ice World skating rink. It runs until January 6, 2027, so you can plan a Vienna trip for the actual New Year holidays. Note that the rink is closed on December 31.

Getting there: the Rathausplatz is easy to reach by taking the U2 metro line to Rathaus station.
Who it's for / Not for: for families who want to combine the market, the ice rink, and museums. Those looking for snow outside the city are better off heading to Lapland.
The catch: in the evening there are lines at the carousel and the rink.
Where to stay: Vienna hotels on Trip.com.

6. Rovaniemi: Santa Claus Village

Red Santa Claus Village building with a tower in Rovaniemi

Lapland, centered on Rovaniemi, is a dream for many children. The city sits almost on the Arctic Circle, and Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year (as of 09/2026, village official website).

Here you can meet Santa Claus and send a letter with a collectible postmark from the local post office. Nearby there is an elf school and a theme park with rides. A giant northern lights display hangs over the village on a huge screen, and the shops sell goods made by local artisans.

How to get there: planes and trains go to Rovaniemi, and the village sits right on the Arctic Circle.
Who it's for / Not for: for children who believe in Santa Claus. For adults, the northern atmosphere is the main draw.
The catch: in winter the daylight hours are short and it is freezing, so you need warm clothing.
Where to stay: Hotels in Rovaniemi on Trip.com.

7. Thailand: three new years and the Andaman sea

Tropical beach, sea, boats and green hills

Thailand at New Year's gives you sea and warmth in the middle of winter. The Thai New Year, Songkran, is celebrated in April, so you won't catch it in winter. European New Year is celebrated here with Christmas trees and garlands. This tradition only appeared in the mid-twentieth century.

It's best to head to the Andaman coast. There are no separate selection criteria: almost every hotel prepares its own program and its own traditions. Pick a stretch of coast to your liking, and check prices in advance.

How to get there: direct flights and connections from Europe go to Bangkok and Phuket.
Who it's for / Not for: for families who want sea and warmth. There will be no snow or frost here.
The catch: late December is high season, so book accommodation in advance.
Where to stay: Hotels in Thailand on Trip.com.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Where to go for New Year's with a child if you want snow and a fairy tale?

Snow is almost guaranteed in Rovaniemi, where the Santa Claus Village operates, so plan the trip for several days. A festive fairy tale without severe frost comes from the Christmas markets of Prague and Budapest.

At what age will a child enjoy Disneyland Paris?

The Disney Enchanted Christmas holiday season runs from early November to early January. Preschoolers usually need just one day in the park. Older kids need two to three days to cover all the areas without rushing.

When do the Christmas markets in Prague operate?

The main markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square open on November 28 and run until January 6 (as of 09/2026, confirmed dates). Admission is free, and stalls are open from morning until late evening. Come on a weekday: on weekends the square is packed.

Where can a child meet Santa Claus outside of December?

At Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi, the village is open every day all year round (as of 09/2026, information about the village's opening hours). It has a post office with a Santa Claus stamp, an elf school, and a theme park. In winter, short daylight hours and frost come on top of that.

What to take with you for a winter vacation with a child?

Warm clothing is needed wherever there is frost: in Lapland it's cold and daylight hours are short. In Thailand, by contrast, light clothing and a sun hat will come in handy. Pack a first aid kit and chargers in advance.

In short: what's worth booking

The choice comes down to three scenarios. If you want a short trip from Germany, pick Nuremberg, Prague, Vienna, or Budapest with a packed holiday program. For guaranteed snow and Santa Claus, head to Rovaniemi, and for sea and warmth, to the Andaman coast.

Kids aged 5-8: Santa Claus Village, Disneyland Paris, and the children's market in Nuremberg.
School-age kids: Disneyland Paris and the science museum in Budapest.
Those who want warmth: Thailand's Andaman coast.

If you only have a few days, start with Prague. Check hotels in Prague on Trip.com.

Santa, Pere Noel and Mikulas: 7 destinations for New Year 2026 with kids