Some cities are simply made for Christmas, their festive beauty matched by the sense of togetherness the season inspires in them. In Edinburgh, Munich and Milan, winter holds a particular magic, each destination revealing its own distinct mood and inviting you to explore and mark the celebrations in your own way.
From Christmas to Hogmanay
Set on Princes Street, between Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town and winter-lit gardens, The Balmoral offers an idyllic base from which to discover Edinburgh at its most welcoming.
From 15 November to 4 January, its Christmas village welcomes visitors with stalls, hearty dishes and an outdoor ice rink while little ones are swept into the wonder of it all with Santa’s Stories at St Andrew Square.
Over the weekend of 4–6 December, step aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia for an evening of bagpipes, carols and a four-course banquet in the State Dining Room. Afterwards, make your way back to The Balmoral with the yacht’s Christmas pudding, before ending the evening with a nightcap at SCOTCH.
As the year draws to a close, Edinburgh turns up the party spirit with their world-renowned Hogmanay Street Party which sees thousands gather on Princes Street for music, dancing and midnight fireworks above the Castle. Or, join The Balmoral’s Hogmanay Gala Ball and welcome the New Year with a glamorous black-tie evening, free-flowing Champagne and canapés. Few cities greet the New Year with such spirit.
Munich’s Storybook Christmas
Germany has a magic all its own, drawn from Alpine tradition, candlelit wooden chalets and a touch of folklore. Guided by Bavarian custom, its towns take on the scent of Lebkuchen and Glühwein in the colder months. In Munich, The Charles Hotel sits within the leafy Lenbachgärten quarter, perfectly placed for frosty walks between charming boutiques, candlelit concerts and cosy cafes.
Few rituals capture Christmas quite like a market. From 24 November to 24 December, Munich’s fabled Christkindlmarkt returns to Marienplatz, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1757. Wander towards the old town for carved ornaments, candlelight, and freshly baked stollen as Bavarian Stubenmusik plays from the Town Hall balcony.
On 14 December, Krampuslauf brings an older, more mysterious tradition to the Christkindlmarkt. Rooted in Alpine folklore, elaborately masked Krampus fill the streets in a theatrical procession of bells, fire and ceremony. Afterwards, the gentler pace of the Christkindltram offers a chance to admire the city aglow, before Dreikönigstag brings the festive season to a close on 6 January, when children dressed as the Three Wise Men carry blessings from door to door.
Back at the hotel, the Lord Forte Suite is designed for festive living, with expansive spaces to gather after a day in the markets, share stories over a glass of wine and wake to views stretching towards the snow-capped Alps.
A Winter Overture in Milan
In Milan, the year’s final chapter begins on a musical note. On 7 December, La Prima della Scala opens the opera season at Sant’Ambrogio, drawing the city into an evening of red carpets, fashion and drama. Through Prima Diffusa, from 28 November to 7 December, performances spill into piazzas, theatres and civic spaces, turning the stage into a collective celebration.
From The Carlton’s central location in the Quadrilatero della Moda, mornings are spent browsing fashion houses dressed for the season before wandering on towards Milan's festive celebrations. Each Christmas, Palazzo Marino hosts a single masterpiece on loan from elsewhere in Italy. Previous exhibitions have featured Perugino's The Baptism of Christ and Titian's Rest During the Flight into Egypt, transforming a visit into something of a festive pilgrimage for art lovers.
There is romance in this slower time of year, too. More than 30 Christmas trees sparkle across the city, each inviting a leisurely detour, a shared moment beneath the lights or, perhaps, the perfect place for a proposal. Returning for a glass of something sparkling at The Carlton Bar, where velvet and rich leather form the backdrop to an intimate evening for two. Discovery continues into the New Year with the arrival of La Befana, the much-loved Christmas witch, said to bring gifts to children on the night of 5 January. Be sure to leave time for one final Milanese ritual: sharing slices of panettone with family and friends before the festive season draws to a close.
Spend the year’s final chapter with Rocco Forte Hotels, where each stay places you close to winter’s most memorable traditions.
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Preparations were in full swing at the North Pole - ribbons tied, sleigh bells polished, and lists checked twice - yet Father Christmas kindly agreed to pause his busy schedule for an interview. We met him at SCOTCH at The Balmoral, just as the famous clocktower struck 12:03 - it stands watch over Waverley Station, running three minutes fast, so no one ever misses a train. Settled into a deep armchair with a favourite dram in hand, he shared his most treasured places to pause, indulge and unwind across Europe every festive season.
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The Perfect Family Christmas in Italy
A beguiling melange of light-strewn shopping streets, piazzas filled with market stalls and churches alive with candlelit concerts, Rome at Christmas is like a movie set come to life. Enjoy an extra-special celebration with your extended family at Rocco Forte House Rome, where five palatial apartments in a meticulously renovated 18th-century palazzo provide perfect home-from-homes for the festivities.