by Skycop team
The season of festive family gatherings might sound like a peaceful escape, but the journey itself can quickly turn chaotic. For those taking advantage of December holidays to reach sunny destinations or snowy slopes, travelling around Christmas 2025 still requires planning and patience.
With updated airline policies, digital travel passes, and growing sustainability awareness, every year brings new things to keep in mind. Some details are easy to forget in the holiday rush, so here’s a guide with the key points every traveller should know before setting off this Christmas.
Smart planning helps travelers enjoy a stress-free Christmas journey
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
1. Choose your destination carefully
If you’re visiting family or close friends, your route is likely familiar. But if you’re planning a real holiday, 2025 is a good time to pick quieter destinations. Several European cities now restrict visitor numbers to preserve their atmosphere.
Smaller Christmas markets such as Tallinn, Kraków, and Strasbourg offer the same festive feel with fewer crowds.
Prefer the sun? The Canary Islands, Cyprus, and Madeira are perfect December escapes.
Travel agencies still offer flexible packages that handle logistics and insurance, saving time when airports get busy.
2. Decide which type of traveler you are
There are still two kinds of Christmas travellers – those chasing snow and those escaping it.
Winter sports fans continue heading to Austria, Andorra, or Northern Italy, where many ski resorts now promote renewable energy and eco-passes.
Sun seekers, on the other hand, choose the Maldives, the Philippines, or Cape Verde. The Philippines, known for the world’s longest and most joyful Christmas season, remains an excellent option for warmth and celebration.
If you tend to travel the same way every year, change it up – both the mountains and the sea can surprise you.
The Philippines offers a tropical Christmas escape
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
3. Do some research and see what’s trending right now
Still choosing your Christmas destination? The good news is that 2025 travellers have more flexibility than ever. Booking tools now flag genuine last-minute deals, airlines allow quick reschedules, and airports use smart queue systems to save you from endless waiting.
Sustainable destinations like Slovenia or Iceland are gaining even more attention as travellers look for authentic experiences that leave a smaller footprint. Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, transforms into a glowing fairytale with its riverside markets and eco-friendly trams during December, while Iceland continues to attract those chasing both snow and serenity. Reykjavík, with its geothermal pools, inventive Nordic cuisine, and breathtaking Northern Lights, remains a perfect December escape.
If you want something less expected, consider Tromsø in Norway, known as the “Gateway to the Arctic”, where you can watch the aurora while sailing through icy fjords. Or visit Tallinn, Estonia’s medieval old town wrapped in fairy lights, voted one of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas markets for 2025.
For families, Lapland stays unbeatable. Rovaniemi in Finland remains the go-to place to meet Santa – complete with reindeer rides, winter parks, and guaranteed snow, but new experiences are also popping up in nearby Levi, offering glass igloo stays under the Northern Lights and snow village hotels made entirely of ice.
4. The exact travel dates is a thing that matters
With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday in 2025, peak travel will be 20–24 and 26–29 December. Flying earlier or later means cheaper fares and shorter queues.
High-speed trains, such as the new Paris–Barcelona and Berlin–Rome routes, offer a greener alternative to flying. If you do fly, check baggage rules carefully – most low-cost carriers have tightened their cabin baggage policies in recent years, even small overhead bags may now require an extra fee or priority boarding option.
Booking early and allowing buffer days before or after your trip can save stress and money.
Early planning ensures smoother winter travel
5. Prepare for the unexpected and pack your suitcase accordingly
The festive rush often brings delays, lost luggage, and last-minute cancellations. Pack smart – keep your essentials in your cabin bag and slip a small digital tracker into your checked luggage.
Add items often forgotten in winter travel:
- Warm, non-slip shoes
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Reusable water bottle
- Portable charger and universal adapter
- A small first-aid kit
If you’re travelling with gifts, avoid wrapping them before security checks – it can slow you down.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
What To Do If Your Flight Gets Disrupted
Flight cancellations, delays, and overbookings are still common in winter. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, you might be entitled to up to €600 in compensation if your flight is delayed, cancelled, or you’re denied boarding. The rule applies to flights departing from the EU or operated by an EU-registered airline.
Claim Compensation with Skycop
If your trip didn’t go as planned, claim compensation with Skycop – it’s simple and risk-free. Whether it’s a Delayed Flight Compensation, Cancelled Flight Compensation, Overbooked Flight Compensation, Missed Connection Compensation, or Denied Boarding Compensation, our team will review your case and help you get compensation if eligible.
Please note: Skycop cannot guarantee 100% success, as eligibility depends on each flight’s circumstances, but checking takes only a few minutes, and it’s completely free. Simply claim now.
