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Here are 10 facts about Christmas in Switzerland that should make you want to visit Zurich, Geneva, or the mountains this winter:
1. Switzerland Has The Best Christmas Markets
Switzerland has the best Christmas markets, some of the very best in Europe. We went to Zurich last Christmas, and the hotel concierge gave us a map so that we could locate the numerous Christmas markets across town.
One was not enough. There were Christmas stalls and decorations throughout the main street. The old town was packed to the rafters with sparkling lights and Christmas stalls selling delicious scents, mulled wine, and hot snacks.
The largest Zurich Christmas market of all was down by the lake with a maze of stalls selling snow globes and traditional gifts as well as more mulled wine, hot schnitzel sausages, sweet waffle-type things, and a million more tasty bites to tickle your Christmas taste buds.
2. Swiss Hotels Dress Up For Christmas
Swiss hotels dress up for Christmas. They really do! We stayed at the Park Hyatt Zurich, pictured above, and they had set up a forest outside with a cute wooden bar. There were lots of nooks and crannies between the pine trees where you could plonk yourself with a glass of hot wine and toast the winter.
Inside, there was another enormous tree, and the bar area was dotted with lots of Christmas tables piled high with delicious Swiss chocolates and decorations. The Swiss really go for it at Christmas, and the decorations are beautiful!
3. You Can Shop Designer Brands In The Snow
All the designer brands have outposts in the major Swiss cities and resorts, so if you want to treat your loved ones with something very special and extortionate, you can shop designer brands in Zurich, Geneva, St. Moritz, Gstaad, and many other towns and cities, while snow falls onto your hair. Talk about getting into the Christmas spirit. If your wallet doesn’t stretch that far, these stores are also lovely to browse.
4. Swiss Ski In Designer Brands
Some Swiss ski in designer brands. You will see the latest designer ski pants and jackets on the slopes of high-end Swiss ski resorts, and you can shop in designer shops between ski sessions. Just bear in mind that the lunch and apres ski prices are usually in line with the designer prices.
5. Swiss Like To Swim In The Snow
Many of the luxury ski hotels in Switzerland, like Kulm hotel in St. Moritz, offer indoor-outdoor spa pools so you can swim outside whilst the snowflakes fall out of the ski. Magic.
6. Christmas Decorations Are Best In Geneva & Zurich
Christmas decorations are best in Geneva & Zurich. Both towns go nuts over the Christmas period, and the decorations in the main street and around the lakes are phenomenal. You can’t fail to feel the Christmas spirit if you stop by either town over the festive season.
7. Switzerland Has Two Santas
Both Samichlaus and Santa are celebrated over the winter in Switzerland. They both originate from the compassionate work of Nikolaus von Myra, a bishop from the 4th century known for helping the poor.
St. Nicholas Day falls on the 6th of December each year when he chats to the children about kindness and gives gifts. Santa Claus then delivers more gifts on Christmas Eve.
8. Christmas Spa Resorts Are Packed & Brilliant
We visited the famous and picturesque Swiss spa resort of Grand Resort Bad Ragaz as part of our grand tour of Switzerland, which took in Grand Hotel Des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, followed by Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina.
The Swiss value their health, and these spa resorts are popular year-round. The warm spa waters are particularly appealing in the cold winter, and at Christmas, they are both happening and packed.
9. Supermodels Ski in Gstaad
If you want to ski with some of the most wealthy in Switzerland, head to Gstaad. The last time we skied there, we saw Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer.
10. After Christmas, It Keeps Snowing
The fun doesn’t end at Christmas. The snow keeps falling right through to March in Switzerland, so even when the decorations come down, Switzerland has months more of magic waiting for travelers in its snowy mountains.
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