Vacationing at Christmas isn’t something we have ever considered, but the family chatted and agreed that Paris was a good idea. The kids had ten days to work with, and we had a similar allotment, so we dedicated five nights together in Paris, followed by time to explore other destinations separately. Malcolm and I split our time among Edinburgh, London, and Paris – three iconic cities known for their Christmas Markets and extreme lighting displays. Rather than recount the blow-by-blow of our time in each city, I will share a ‘Best Of’ for each destination.

Edinburgh, Scotland – Best Christmas Light Displays and Christmas Market

We started our journey in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Royal Mile stretches from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle, with its implied grandeur and a surprising intimacy that compels exploration of side streets and alleyways. This city is picturesque at any time of year, but especially so at Christmas. From Old Town on the hilltop to New Town below, we loved everything about Edinburgh. There were pubs and fine dining establishments, pop-up skating rinks, Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley (colorful Victoria Street), spectacular light displays on every historic monument, retail shops beckoning shoppers with elaborate displays, and the sound of bagpipes on every corner. Imagine all that, plus a vibrant and visually stunning Christmas Market, and you have a city that loves its heritage as much as it loves Christmas.

Edinburgh by Night

Edinburgh by Day and a walk through Dean Village.

London, England – Best suited to us

Malcolm and I have visited London several times, and we always enjoy our time here. The food scene is inspiring, and although we should branch out, we still visited some old favorites. This year, we returned to Bob Bob Ricard and The Flat Iron, and we tried Dear Jackie, a recommendation from our SIL. We had excellent meals and service at all three. Sorely missed was a return visit to Sofra in Mayfair, which we discovered a few years ago. If you love Turkish food, this is the place.

We didn’t attend a show this year, but the theater district was just a short walk from our hotel. Next time, we will plan ahead. Christmas lights in London are incredible, and the best seem to be around Covent Garden and Oxford Street. We stayed at the St. James in Trafalgar, which is perfectly located for exploring on foot. We averaged about 15,000 steps per day here and felt right at home. Over the years, we have visited most of the city’s historic sites, colorful and stately neighborhoods, markets, and parks, and we highly recommend allotting a minimum of four full days to take it all in.

Paris, France – Best Overall Experience

Paris speaks for itself. Without adornment, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. While we didn’t see the excessiveness of Christmas decorations that we saw in Edinburgh and London, these displays were elegant and refined, just like the city.

We leased a beautiful apartment in St. Germain, which is within walking distance of Luxembourg Gardens, several coffee shops, high-end shopping, and a few cafes. This destination was about spending time with our kids and celebrating Christmas. Our days were filled with walks along the Seine, taking photos in quintessential Parisian locations, eating, drinking, and spending time together preparing meals. We enjoyed shopping for fresh produce, meat, cheeses, bread, flowers, wine, and of course, dessert. We even shopped for a Christmas tree.

When we weren’t walking the streets of Paris or lounging at home, we were discovering new eateries and bars. This year, the kids introduced us to LaRenommee, which has dining upstairs and a cocktail bar downstairs. We had our meal upstairs, then asked for a table in the cocktail bar, where we had dessert. The atmosphere was intimate and pleasing in both venues. The kids went back a second time while we stayed in, having overindulged too often during the week. Dumbo is a great hole-in-the-wall burger joint that serves outstanding smashed burgers. Most folks seemed to take them to go as the seating is sparse. Rojo is a unique wine bar that serves cocktails with creative names like Egg-cited and Eggs-boyfriend. Intimate, moody, and original are descriptors that come to mind. Bachier serves delicious Lebanese ice cream, with its signature crushed pistachios rolled onto every serving. LeRigmarole is a gastronomic delight. We ordered the sampler menu and received course after course of amazing food. The menu changes nightly, at the Chef’s whim. Plates are small, but plentiful. It is impossible to describe our culinary experience in this amazing foodie city, but ‘romantic, indulgent, satisfying’ are words that I could easily overuse.

According to our kids, a visit to Paris isn’t complete without a trip to Hemingway’s Bar at the Ritz Carlton. It is a bit pricey, but the atmosphere is elegant, cozy, and reminiscent of Hemingway. We toasted to Christmas Eve and lingered for a while as if in a favorite bookstore. Malcolm and I were in charge of meals at the apartment, so we retired early to prep the food and set the table. We kept things easy this evening with a semi-homemade dinner of tortellini and meatballs.

The temperature dropped significantly on Christmas Day, but the sun was out, and we took a walk through Luxembourg Gardens in spite of the cold. Stopping for a hot chocolate along the way was not only a good idea but necessary for these Florida tourists. Later, we prepared a Christmas dinner of beef tenderloin, haricot verts, roasted vegetables, salad, and onion soup (purchased at the local Brasserie). We topped off the meal with a delicious Buche de Noel (chocolate Yule Log).

And finally, the streets of Paris at Christmastime…

Happy New Year and Cheers to 2026