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Hi! Looking for a magical Christmas in a campervan ? Here are the 10 best campervan trips we've taken at Christmas.

As a mother of two who has traveled with her family in a motorhome all over Europe, I'm going to tell you which of the trips we've taken have been our favorites during this special time of year.

I love the freedom that traveling in a motorhome gives us, especially during the Christmas holidays, where with it we have been able to travel to snowy and dreamy places, although you should know that perhaps due to the cold and snow these places are not the most comfortable.

In this article, I'll present the 10 best Christmas destinations for campervan travelers that I've visited—a completely subjective summary and humble opinion based on our experience. I'll also try to highlight the best aspects of each destination and route. Let's get started!

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The best and worst of traveling at Christmas in a motorhome

Traveling by campervan during the Christmas holidays is a unique experience. You can enjoy the freedom to travel at your own pace , without worrying about train schedules or canceled flights. Plus, you can bring everything you need with you, from food to Christmas gifts.

However, it's not all wonderful . At this time of year, many of these places are snowy and very cold. We love snow and cold weather since skiing is one of our favorite hobbies, but we know that traveling in a campervan in snow and cold adds some discomforts to the route that not everyone enjoys.

An example is freezing water, something that is quite uncomfortable and makes you have to look for open campsites, which are rare in the winter season, with heated services.

Another of the big inconveniences is driving in snow; to be safe you have to go with winter tires or good chains that you know how to use quickly if necessary.

For these cases, I advise you to read the following article on how to travel in a motorhome in snow to see the problems and their solutions.

Article: To the snow in a motorhome. What you should never do! Problems and solutions.

 The 10 best Christmas trips in a motorhome

Here are the 10 best Christmas destinations for campervans or motorhomes that I have visited, always according to my opinion and criteria, a humble opinion.

For me, each destination has its own magic and charm, and I am sure that you will find the perfect place for you and your family.

Alsace by motorhome at Christmas

Alsace is a magical place during the Christmas holidays. It's one of the most enchanting places in Europe , whether in winter or summer.

The towns and cities of fairy-colored houses are illuminated with Christmas lights and decorations, all accompanied by the air that smells of cinnamon and spices. Each town has its Christmas market of wooden houses and in every corner you can breathe the Christmas atmosphere.

Perhaps Alsace is the most popular Christmas destination in Europe . That's why you might prefer somewhere quieter and less crowded. Either way, even if you don't like crowds and the most Instagrammable Christmas spots, you'll still be captivated when you visit. And I'm saying this as someone who used to refuse to go to Alsace at Christmas.

If you're traveling by motorhome, you can visit several towns and cities, and the best part is that it's an easy route. All the towns are close together, just a few kilometers away, and almost all of them have motorhome areas.

The only complication is that it usually snows and you must be prepared.

 In Colmar, you can visit the oldest Christmas market in France, while in Strasbourg you can enjoy the famous “Christmas Cathedral”.

You have the entire route we did and tips for visiting Alsace by motorhome at Christmas in the video and article we made.

Article: Alsace by motorhome at Christmas

Essentials of Alsace at Christmas in a camper or motorhome:

City	What to see
Colmar	Christmas markets in different parts of the city, wooden houses, mulled wine, boat rides through the canals...
Strasbourg	Christmas Cathedral, different Christmas markets throughout the city, local food...

Disneyland in a motorhome at Christmas

Disneyland is a magical place all year round, but especially during the Christmas holidays. If you're traveling in a family campervan , it's a must-see destination, and going at Christmas is a sure bet.

You can park and stay overnight in the motorhome area right at the entrance to Disneyland Paris. It's easy to enjoy all the attractions and shows within a 10-minute walk. During the Christmas holidays, the park is filled with Christmas decorations and lights, and you can meet Santa Claus and his reindeer among the Disney characters.

What to see	Where to park
Attractions, shows, Santa Claus, Disney characters	Disney RV Area

You can read our article about our Christmas visit to Disney in a campervan here:

Read more: Disneyland by campervan. A magical New Year's Eve and Christmas

Black Forest in a motorhome at Christmas

If you are looking for the origin of Christmas in Europe, in its essence, this is your place.

The Black Forest is a mountainous region in southwestern Germany, known for its dark forests and picturesque villages. During the Christmas holidays, the villages are filled with Christmas markets and decorations.

The Black Forest is where you can truly experience the origins of Christmas markets in Europe and Alsace. In Alsace, they call their Christmas markets "German Christmas markets ," so you can see that you'll find the most authentic ones here, and throughout Germany. They're smaller, less touristy markets, but you can feel the true spirit of Christmas, where families and colleagues gather in the streets drinking mulled wine and singing carols.

City	What to see
Freiburg	Christmas market, cathedral, local food
Baden-Baden	Christmas market, thermal baths, casino
Triberg	Waterfall, cuckoo clocks, Christmas market

If you travel by motorhome, you can visit several towns and cities in the region, such as Freiburg, Baden-Baden and Gengenbach that have a motorhome area. In Triberg, you can visit the highest waterfall in Germany and buy local cuckoo clocks and in many other small towns they have lots of nature and surprising leisure visits such as hot springs.

You can see our article with our experience and advice with a route through the Black Forest by motorhome at Christmas here:

Article: The Black Forest by motorhome at Christmas

Switzerland by motorhome at Christmas

Touring Switzerland at Christmas in a motorhome was an epic experience for our family, undoubtedly one of the best trips for skiers like us and mountain lovers. We traveled among snow-capped mountains, fairytale villages lit up with Christmas markets, and lakes that looked like magic mirrors between glaciers. Sleeping in campsites surrounded by snow, waking up to views of the Alps, and traveling on trains and gondolas to resorts like Grindelwald gave us unique family moments. Skiing, skating, walking among festive lights, and then returning to our "home on wheels" made every day unforgettable. A trip full of magic, adventure, and warmth that we will always hold in our hearts. A trip recommended only for motorhome experts and snow and ski lovers.

Article: Switzerland at Christmas in a motorhome

French Lac Geneva by motorhome at Christmas

Lake Geneva (Lake Geneva) is a lake on the border between France and Switzerland, known for its stunning scenery and elegant towns . During the Christmas holidays, the towns are adorned with Christmas lights and decorations. If you travel by campervan, you'll love it; you can visit large Christmas markets and even ski overlooking the lake amidst breathtaking scenery unique to Europe.

You can see our experience and tips from our route through the French Lac Lemán in this article.

Article: Christmas on the French Lake Geneva in a motorhome

In this video you can see our route around Lake Geneva at Christmas in pictures :

The south of France by motorhome at Christmas

The south of France is a wonderful place to visit during the Christmas holidays. The towns and cities are filled with Christmas markets and decorations , and you can enjoy the local food and wine. If you're traveling by campervan, you can visit several places in the region with designated campervan areas that make exploring easy.

Some of the most notable towns and cities with Christmas markets in the South of France are Bacès (which we consider the most artificial market), Carcassonne, and Toulouse . In Toulouse, overnight stays can be a bit tricky, so be aware that there are no designated campervan areas.

Finally, on a Christmas road trip through the south of France in a motorhome, you can't miss the Montauban Lantern Festival , a spectacular place of magic and light.

Here you can read more about this route, in the post with our experience and tips about the south of France at Christmas by motorhome.

Article: Route through the south of France in a motorhome at Christmas

 Northern Portugal in a motorhome at Christmas

Northern Portugal is a beautiful and diverse region, known for its stunning landscapes and delicious food.

During the Christmas holidays, towns and cities are filled with Christmas markets and decorations. If you're traveling by campervan, you can visit several places in the region, such as Porto, Braga, and Guimarães.

In Porto, you can visit the Christmas market in Praça da Batalha and the sweets market in Praça de Gomes Teixeira.

City	What to see
Porto	Christmas market, candy market, local food
Braga	Christmas market, craft market, local food
Guimarães	Christmas market, wine market, local food
Santa Maria de Feira	Perlim Children's Christmas Theme Park

In Braga, you can visit the Christmas market on Avenida Central and the craft market on Praça da República.

In Guimarães, you can visit the Christmas market in Praça de Santiago and the wine market in Praça do Toural.

Also, at Christmas, if you go with children, there is the Perlim Christmas Park , the quintessential Christmas village for children located in Santa Maria de Feira.

If you want to read more about a motorhome route through Portugal , you can read our post with a complete route from north to south of Portugal, I'll leave it here.

Article: Portugal route by motorhome

The lights of Vigo and Galicia in a motorhome at Christmas

Vigo is a city on the northwest coast of Spain, known for its beaches and fishing port. But during the Christmas holidays, it becomes even more famous for its lights . Thousands of tourists flock there to see the lights and Christmas markets.

And since you're going to Galicia, you could take the opportunity to explore it in a motorhome, enjoying the peace and quiet of its beaches, especially in winter, as well as its thermal waters and historical heritage . All of this, of course, complemented by its excellent cuisine and wine.

If you want to see a complete route through Galicia by motorhome, I advise you to look at our article on Galicia by motorhome where you will find 21 essential destinations in Galicia.

Article: Galicia Route by motorhome for its 21 best destinations

French Brittany at Christmas in a motorhome or camper

There is a place where magic is always present for our family. That place is French Brittany. After 2 visits to Brittany we declared ourselves in love with the area.

One of our visits was a 10-day trip during Christmas and New Year's, and I can say it was a great choice. It's a time of year when Brittany is peaceful and more magical than ever . Its forests and coastal landscapes overflow with tranquility and enchantment.

And of course, Brittany is in France, so you will find the bad things at Christmas markets otherwise everything will be full of lights and Christmas decorations.

A must-see if you're doing this Christmas route is the Locronan Christmas market , simply spectacular and beautiful, as is the one in Saint Malo or the visit in Paimpont to Merlin's Forest, Brocelande and the Porte des Secrets, a beautiful spectacle of light and magic.

Article: French Brittany in 12 essential things to see on our route at Christmas

Route through the French Alps at Christmas in a motorhome

If you love skiing and blankets of white at Christmas , this is the place for you. Christmas with snow is even more special, and for our family, no winter or Christmas is complete without a few days in the snow. We love skiing and we love the magic and serenity that snowy landscapes bring.

The only drawback is that you need to be an experienced motorhome traveler to venture onto snowy roads and into such cold weather conditions in a motorhome, but if that's the case, don't hesitate, the Alps are amazing no matter the time of year.

Chamonix and Annecy are among the most iconic places, but there are many more to visit in the French Alps and Pre-Alps that are much less crowded ; you just need to get off the beaten tourist track and venture out to explore.

Remember to bring winter tires or snow chains, mandatory in the area from November onwards, and be prepared to wait for an open campsite where you can use the restroom and empty your water tanks before they freeze . Otherwise, even though traveling in a motorhome is anything but comfortable, enjoy the white magic of Christmas.

Article: Our route through the French Alps at Christmas through Chamonix and Annecy

Route through the magic of the Loire at Christmas

Here's an extra Christmas route.

The Loire and its castles at Christmas. A route through beautiful medieval villages and fairytale castles lovingly decorated for the Christmas holidays.

Each castle is decorated differently, and some even have a magical visit from Santa Claus , who awaits the youngest visitors with sweets or gifts.

If you love a fairytale Christmas, this is the route for you. You can find all the details of the route and tips for visiting the Loire Valley by campervan at Christmas in the following article I wrote.

Article: Enter the magical tale of the Loire Valley at Christmas in a motorhome

And that's it, our Christmas routes and experience with recommendations. I hope you found this article useful and interesting. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write to me in the comments below. Happy Holidays!

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