Christmas in Bruges & Edinburgh
This month, we just couldn't decide which was better - our hostel in Edinburgh or our Bruges hostel - so we decided to vote them both as the Hot Hostel for December.
Bruges is buzzing this Christmas
Christmas comes to Bruges….. for the month of December the Bauhaus will be the place to stay for all your Christmas festivities and for that last minute shopping with a difference.
The Bauhaus is ideally located in the old town of Bruges to explore the cities two major festive experiences, the Christmas market and the Ice Palace snow and ice sculpture festival. Every year Bruges puts on a fantastic Christmas market in the centre of the old town complete with ice skating rink and of course plenty of stall selling the famous jenever shots and glasses of gluwine to warm you up after your not so gracious exit of the rink. This year also sees one of the best displays of ice sculptures ever seen in Europe at the famous Ice Palace set up on the train station square.
All this and much more awaits you when you come and stay at the Bauhaus this Christmas. Book now to ensure you don't miss the fun and festivities at the Bauhaus.
Edinburgh is the place to be this Christmas!
The city of Edinburgh is used to transforming itself for the hundreds of thousands of visitors it receives each year for its festivals. There is no more beautiful transformation than the dazzling array of lights, wonderful music and incredible atmosphere that visitors to Edinburgh are treated to each December. The two cornerstones of the holiday season are the Christmas transformation of Princess Street Gardens and the ultimate blow-out that is Hogmanay (New Years Eve for the uninitiated).
In the shadow of the historic castle, Edinburgh's Capital Christmas makes the city the place to be. From Thursday 25 November, the city's beautiful Princes Street Gardens become the focus of Edinburgh's enchanting Christmas celebrations and positively sparkle with white lights and traditional festive charm. The striking Edinburgh Ferris wheel, next to the city's famous Scott Monument, will make a welcome return this year and will provide exhilarating views across the city from its 33-metre vantage point. Winter Wonderland, one of the largest open air ice rinks in Europe, is also back as the stunning and vibrant centrepiece to the Gardens. There are plenty of goodies to fill your Christmas stocking at the traditional Christmas Market, where 25 stalls come direct from Germany to provide an authentic continental experience. The variety of products range from authentic Christmas delicacies, to beautiful hand-blown baubles, wooden toys and the very popular traditional German mulled wine.
In the true Scottish spirit of a good party needing more than just one day, Edinburgh hosts not one but four days of festivities (29 December to January 1) including processions, concerts and a world-famous street party. Highlights include the Torch lit Procession and Fire Festival, a magical spectacle of light winding its way through the city, and the Night Afore Fiesta, a vibrant blend of entertainment including the musicians from all over the world (this year’s line up include Scots KT Tunstall, Texas and El Presedente). The focal point of all festivities is of course the Royal Bank Street Party (admission by pass only) on New Year's Eve, one of the biggest such events in Europe, with a unique atmosphere generated by over 100,000 revellers. Celebrate the first day of the new year by taking a traditional dip in the Forth river, with the traditional New Years Day dunk, followed by a little traditional Scottish whiskey.
With this and so much more it’s not hard to imagine Edinburgh lighting up each December and becoming a magical holiday wonderland.
