European Christmas Markets

Traditions and trains

Our longest stay in Europe was just a few days shy of the Schengen visa limit of 90 days. We had accumulated 1,000,000 IHG hotel points through work travel and spent them backpacking around Europe in the winter. Armed with an unlimited train pass, we started in Scandanavia, making stops in Sweden and Norway before heading down to the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Monaco, Spain, and Italy. We then spent a few weeks in Switzerland, a familiar favorite, before heading east to Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. Though this time of year was cold, we got to enjoy mulled wine and Christmas markets everywhere we went.