5 top destinations to travel to during the December long weekend

Surely, you will be interested in knowing the 5 top destinations to travel to during the December long weekend that we are going to show you. You have probably thought about taking advantage of those days to go on a getaway to some interesting place.

The calendar does not help much, because the long weekend is limited, this year, to the period from Friday to Monday. However, they are enough to make a short trip and disconnect a little from everyday life. In addition, we will propose to you nearby places so that you don't waste too much time on the journeys. Based on all this, here are our top 5 destinations to travel to during the December long weekend.

Seville, a perfect destination in autumn

It's always a good time to travel to the legendary Sevilla. But autumn is an ideal time because the temperatures are mild, far from the rigors of summer and, in addition, there is not so much tourist crowding in the city. As if that were not enough, you have flights from most Spanish airports and hotels are cheaper.

In the city of Guadalquivir you have to make some essential visits. You must start with the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See and of the Assumption, which is the largest in the world. Construction began in the 15th century and is mainly in the Gothic style. However, it also has notable Renaissance and Baroque elements.

In it, you have to see spaces like the Patio de los Naranjos, with its spectacular Gate of the Conception; Tabernacle Church, integrated into it, and impressive chapels such as the biggest, a jewel of the Renaissance. But, above all, the popular Giralda, minaret, also, of the old Almohad mosque.

The cathedral forms a complex declared a World Heritage Site with the Real Alcazar and Archivo de IndiasThe first is a palace complex that has served as the residence of Spanish royalty during their visits to the city. It was built in the High Middle Ages, but has been renovated several times. As a result, it has Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, and Baroque features. For its part, the Archive of the Indies is the former Merchants Market, built between the 16th and 17th centuries with plans of Juan de Herrera.

The majestic has a different character Spain Square, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and due to the architects Hannibal Gonzalez y Vincent TraverIt is a large space (it occupies 50 square meters) surrounded by an imposing semicircular building in regionalist style. You will find it inside the María Luisa park.

Another of the essential places in Seville is the tower of Gold, which is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir. Built in the 13th century, it belonged to the Arab walls of the city. Finally, buildings such as the Duenas Palace, Old Court, San Telmo Palace, Town Hall or Museum of Fine Arts and typical neighborhoods like that of Triana or the Santa Cruz, are also must-see attractions in Seville.

Canary Islands, among the top 5 destinations to visit during the December bank holiday

As this subtitle says, the Canary Islands should be included in any proposal of the top 5 destinations to travel to during the December long weekend due to its good weather all year round. In other words, if you want to enjoy the beaches in late autumn, you still have time if you travel to this archipelago in the Atlantic.

You can choose any of its islands. For example, stay in Gran Canaria and discover places like the The Roque Nublo in the beautiful municipality of Tejeda. Or see remains of impressive laurel forests such as the so-called Doramas Forest. Also, in Las Palmas, the island's capital, has monuments such as the Cathedral of Santa Ana, whose features are mostly neoclassical-colonial; the buildings that make up the Casa de Colón or the Episcopal Palace.

But you can also choose the island of Tenerife and discover places like the impressive Teide or the no less spectacular ones Los Gigantes cliffs. Likewise, in Santa Cruz, the capital, you have beautiful beaches such as Las Teresitas or Benijo. The city also has wonders such as the castles of San Cristóbal and San Juan Bautista or the mother church of La Concepción. But, above all, you have to visit the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, declared in its entirety Heritage.

Likewise, you can also choose between the 5 top destinations to travel to on the December long weekend on the island of Lanzarote, with its impressive volcanic landscape encompassed, above all, in the Timanfaya National Park. Anyway, you won't be disappointed by the ones either. La Palma, with another majestic national park, that of the Caldera de taburiente; the one Fuerteventura, with its endless white sand beaches, or the smaller, but no less beautiful ones La Gomera y El Hierro.

Vigo and its Christmas lights

Galicia is another land that never fails for a getaway or a holiday. Marvellous landscapes, great monuments and delicious cuisine form an unrivalled combination. For this reason, it has to be included among the five destinations to travel to during the December long weekend that we are proposing to you.

Among all its cities, we have chosen the one Vigo Because, as you know, it offers you One of the most spectacular Christmas lights in the worldHowever, it also has historic buildings and many other attractions. Located inside the beautiful estuary that gives it its name, in front of it you have the beautiful towns of Cangas de Morrazo y MoanaIt also offers green areas such as the Alameda and Castrelos parks or the Castro HillThe latter was the site of the city's original settlement and today you can still see the fortress of the same name and a museum there.

Precisely, regarding the monumental buildings of Vigo, you have to visit the Co-Cathedral of Santa MariaIt was built at the beginning of the 19th century in neoclassical style on the remains of a 15th century Gothic temple. But you should also see the palaces or manor houses and stately homesAmong the former, those of La Pastora, Castrelos, San Roque or Los Escudos. Regarding the latter, the houses of Patín, Ceta and Arines, Pazos Figueroa or Pereira de Castro.

All this without forgetting the important modernist heritage of the city. It is made up of buildings such as the Casa Mülder, the Post Office, the Banco de Vigo, the Bonín and the García Barbón theatre. But also private homes such as the houses of Pedro Román, Manuel Bárcena and Yáñez.

Strasbourg, another early Christmas

Among the 5 top destinations to travel to during the December long weekend that we propose, this city of France It also offers you Christmas in advance. But, in this case, it is not about an impressive lighting like that of Vigo, although there is also that, but about the traditional ones Street markets that are so typical of the region of Alsacia.

The one in Strasbourg has the difficult name of Christkindlesmärik, but we will translate it by the simpler name of “baby Jesus market”. It has been held since 1570, which makes it one of the oldest in Europe. The 2024 market starts on November 27 and ends on the same day of the following month. Therefore, you will find it open if you visit it on the dates we are talking about.

Through the streets of the Big Island, the name given to the beautiful historic centre of Strasbourg, you will find all kinds of food stalls, gifts and Christmas items. But you will also discover other charms of this beautiful medieval city. Not in vain, its urban centre is HeritageAmong its monuments, the imposing one stands out Notre Dame Cathedral, a late Gothic jewel, with its famous astronomical clock. In addition, from its esplanade, you have wonderful views of the town.

You should also visit other churches such as Santo Tomás, San Pablo or San Esteban. And you should also see its civil monuments. Among these, the Rohan palace, which houses three museums, one of them being the Fine Arts Museum; the old customs house and, above all, the House Kammerzell, built in the 15th century. Not to mention its covered bridges.

But the nerve centre of the Grande Île is the Kleber square, where you will see The Aubette, a neoclassical construction from the 18th century. The same period and style belong to the Opera house, in Place Broglie. Instead, the old Town Hall It is a luxurious example of the German Renaissance.

Prague, a romantic getaway among the top 5 destinations to travel to during the December long weekend

If you are looking for a destination for the long weekend with your partner, Prague It is a great choice. They are also romantic destinations. Paris o Venice, but also, on these dates, the capital of the Czech Republic is bustling with pre-Christmas activities. Precisely, the main Street markets They are already installed and you can enjoy them.

In addition, this city has endless wonders to offer you. There are so many monuments that the native poet Rainer Maria Rilke He defined it as an “epic poem of architecture”. Our biggest problem is that we cannot tell you about all of them in such a short space. Therefore, we will suggest the most outstanding ones.

The nerve centre of Prague is the old town squareIn it you have the old Town Hall, whose construction dates back to the 14th century and offers you wonderful views from its tower. You will also find the magnificent Churches of Tyn and St. Nicholas, the first Gothic and the second Baroque. Also, in the center is the statue of Jan Hus, a reformist theologian who was burned at the stake. But above all, the great attraction of the square is its astronomical clock, which dates back to the 15th century and is located in the aforementioned tower of the Town Hall.

Very close you have another tower, the Gunpowder one, which was, in fact, one of the access gates to the Old City through the no less famous St. Charles Bridge. It is one of the symbols of Prague along with the spectacular gothic cathedral of st vitus.

But another of the city's great tourist attractions is hradcany, the castle district. The fortress that gives it its name is considered the largest of its kind in the world. In fact, only the old fortress Royal Palace It measures 570 metres long by 130 metres wide and is completed by many other buildings. As if all this were not enough, it houses The Jewels of the Ancient Bohemian Crown and Heritage.

The city also has many other palaces. Among them, those of Schwarzenberg, wallenstein o Cernin, which combine Renaissance and Baroque features. On the other hand, the neoclassical style is State Theatre and art nouveau buildings such as the Grand Hotel Europe and Central Station.

In conclusion, we have proposed 5 top destinations to travel to during the December long weekend. But you can choose many others. For example, Granada o Madrid in Spain and Milan o Witches outside our country. Choose where you want to go and enjoy your trip.