A historic estate dating back to 1753, champagne with dinner and a fire pit outside serving mulled wine: Christmas hardly gets more classic than this. At De Havixhorst, Christmas Eve begins with five courses, while Christmas Day brings an indulgent seven-course dinner with matching wines. During the day, the surrounding Reestdal invites you to take a winter walk; back at the château, hot chocolate and the fire pit await. And afterward? Simply enjoy having nowhere else to be.

First, let the winter wind carry you through the dunes, then head to the spa. Boutique Hotel Texel sits in the heart of the Eierlandse polder and turns the holidays into two days without a packed schedule. On Christmas Eve, a three-course Fien Dining menu awaits, followed by an extensive five-course menu on Christmas Day. Between dinners, there’s plenty of time for the beach, the wellness facilities and Spa Woolness, where even authentic Texel sheep’s wool is used. Christmas, but with salty sea air and plenty of room to breathe.

Two nights, two restaurants and two completely different Christmas dinners. During Christmas at The Parc, guests enjoy five courses one evening at Bistro LOF, led by chef Zoë Jonker, followed by six courses the next evening at Michelin-starred Restaurant Voltaire, where chef Falco Lens leads the kitchen. The following morning begins with a relaxed Christmas breakfast served à la carte at the table. Christmas at an estate, with food as the main event.

Beneath this romantic hotel on the Rhine lies a wine cellar containing more than 70,000 bottles and over 3,000 different wines. As if that weren’t reason enough to stay, Christmas Eve begins with homemade mulled wine at the Almhütte, followed by dinner in the festively decorated hotel. With 29 individually designed rooms, antiques, marble bathrooms and the Rhine right outside, it has everything you need for a classic Christmas centered around wine.

Champagne, chandeliers, long dinners and Aachen’s Christmas market just a short walk away: Parkhotel Quellenhof captures the atmosphere of a classic grand-hotel Christmas. The hotel, dating back to 1916, celebrates the holidays with four-course dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while Boxing Day begins with champagne and an extensive Christmas brunch. Staying overnight? The next morning, head straight to the 900-square-meter spa.

Why choose just one Christmas dinner when you can try three completely different culinary experiences? In Andernach, Christmas at PURS Luxury Boutique Hotel becomes a little culinary journey. Guests choosing the full Christmas package can experience three distinct cuisines: a six-course menu at PURS Nordic Japanese, a four-course Italian menu at Ai Pero and an evening inspired by the Japanese kaiseki-ryōri tradition at YOSO. And after all that dining, historic Andernach is waiting to be explored on foot.

Spend the day sipping mulled wine at the Christmas markets in Ettlingen, Baden-Baden or Strasbourg, then return for champagne and a four-course dinner prepared by Michelin-starred chef Ralph Knebel. Hotel Erbprinz combines the magic of the Christmas markets with 1,500 square meters of wellness facilities, including a pool, saunas and even a snow cabin. The next morning, there’s only one decision to make: another round of spa time or one more Christmas market?

Half-timbered houses, twinkling lights and a historic market: in December, Frankenberg looks like something straight out of a Christmas movie. Hotel Die Sonne is located in the heart of the old town, where Christmas Eve begins with mulled wine, stollen and cookies at the hotel’s own Advent hut, right beside Frankenberg’s largest Christmas tree. Afterwards, settle in for a four-course dinner at Sonne Stuben or opt for five courses at Restaurant Philipp Soldan. After mulled wine, Christmas markets and dinner, the next day awaits at the Sonne Spa.