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Christmas Movies That Will Make You Want to Visit Europe

Christmas Movies That Will Make You Want to Visit Europe

Europe has a way of turning winter into a story. Town squares glow under lantern light. Castles rise out of snowy forests. Christmas markets fill the air with cinnamon, choir music, and warm laughter. It’s no wonder Hallmark and Netflix keep returning to Europe to create their most enchanting Christmas films.

Here are 15 Christmas movies set in Europe, complete with the real destinations behind the magic — and the stories that made audiences fall in love.

⭐ 1. Christmas in Vienna

Setting: Vienna, Austria

Movie Overview: Sarah Drew stars as a concert violinist rediscovering passion — for music and for life — during a holiday trip to Vienna. Romantic, musical, and steeped in Old World charm.

European Setting: This film showcases Vienna at its glittering best: Rathausplatz Market, Schönbrunn Palace, classical performances, and elegant cafés.

Why visit: Vienna is arguably the most refined Christmas city in Europe — grand boulevards, world-class markets, and a timeless holiday atmosphere.

⭐ 2. A Royal Christmas
Setting: Romania (filmed as the fictional “Cordinia”)
Movie Overview: When a Philadelphia seamstress discovers her boyfriend is actually a European prince, she’s whisked to a castle for Christmas — and must win over the queen.
European Setting: Filming in Romania gives the movie real royal character: Baroque ballrooms, snowy palace grounds, and Eastern European charm.
Why visit: Castles surrounded by mountains, picturesque villages, and a regal holiday vibe.

⭐ 3. A Princess for Christmas
Setting: Romania
Movie Overview: A nanny is invited to spend Christmas at a royal estate, where she navigates palace traditions, romance, and life-changing decisions.
European Setting: Filmed in a historic Romanian palace with sweeping staircases, candlelit halls, and European winter scenery.
Why visit: Romania offers some of the most cinematic castles in Europe with authentic holiday warmth.

⭐ 4. Christmas in Rome
Setting: Rome, Italy
Movie Overview: Lacey Chabert plays an American tour guide helping a businessman discover Rome — and its festive spirit — during Christmas.
European Setting: This film highlights Roman Christmas traditions: nativity scenes, evening market strolls, and glittering piazzas.
Why visit: Ancient history meets holiday charm. Rome glows with lights, food, music, and romance.

⭐ 5. My Norwegian Holiday
Setting: Norway
Movie Overview: A woman travels to Norway and finds herself immersed in family traditions, Nordic beauty, and a love story wrapped in snow.
European Setting: Norway’s fjords, colorful wooden houses, and soft northern light offer a dreamlike backdrop.
Why visit: Snowy villages, reindeer farms, and Scandinavian Christmas markets full of handmade crafts.

⭐ 6. A Belgian Chocolate Christmas
Setting: Belgium
Movie Overview: A chocolatier travels to Belgium for a holiday competition and discovers romance among cobblestone streets and chocolate shops.
European Setting: Bruges and Brussels provide an authentic chocolate-and-lantern winter ambience, complete with medieval squares.
Why visit: Belgium is heaven for food lovers — waffles, chocolate, beer, and charming Christmas markets.

⭐ 7. Joyeux Noël
Setting: France
Movie Overview: A touching film inspired by the Christmas truce of 1914, blending emotion, history, and European landscapes.
European Setting: French countryside and historic villages give the film a heartfelt and timeless setting.
Why visit: France’s holiday markets, bakeries, and glowing town squares create an unmistakably romantic winter atmosphere.

⭐ 8. A Heidelberg Holiday
Setting: Heidelberg, Germany
Movie Overview: An artisan travels to Germany for its famous Christmas market and finds love — and a deeper connection to her craft.
European Setting: Heidelberg’s castle, old bridge, and half-timbered houses look like pages from a Christmas storybook.
Why visit: Germany’s markets are legendary — festive, traditional, and full of handcrafted treasures.

⭐ 9. Christmas at the Palace
Setting: Romania
Movie Overview: A former figure skater is invited to choreograph a holiday show for a royal family — and discovers unexpected romance.
European Setting: Shot in real European palaces, with snowy courtyards and old-world interiors.
Why visit: Romania offers a surprising blend of elegance, culture, and mountain scenery.

⭐ 10. A Christmas Prince
Setting: Romanian castles (Peleș Castle)
Movie Overview: This beloved Netflix film launched a trilogy about a journalist who falls for a prince. It’s cozy, charming, and full of royal Christmas traditions.
European Setting: Peleș Castle provides a real-life fairytale backdrop with alpine forests and ornate halls.
Why visit: It’s one of Europe’s most beautiful castles — and the entire region feels like a snow globe.

⭐ 11. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding
Setting: Sinaia, Romania
Movie Overview: A royal wedding at Christmas becomes the perfect blend of romance, intrigue, and winter magic.
European Setting: Filming continues around Sinaia, showcasing mountain vistas, cobbled streets, and winter charm.
Why visit: The whole town glows with old-world ambience, delicious food, and alpine landscapes.

⭐ 12. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby
Setting: Romania
Movie Overview: More holiday traditions, family warmth, and kingdom-wide celebrations in a castle that looks utterly magical in winter.
European Setting: Romanian forests, snowy courtyards, and royal interiors set the tone.
Why visit: Romania is one of Europe’s most underrated winter destinations.

⭐ 13. The Princess Switch
Setting: Serbia (Belgrade)
Movie Overview: Vanessa Hudgens stars as a duchess and a baker who swap lives in a Christmas-filled European kingdom.
European Setting: Belgrade’s palaces, elegant squares, and holiday décor create a lavish royal atmosphere.
Why visit: A beautiful blend of Eastern European culture, architecture, and winter scenes.

⭐ 14. The Princess Switch: Switched Again
Setting: Serbia
Movie Overview: More royal intrigue, castle festivities, and holiday glamour — all set amid twinkling European architecture.
European Setting: Grand staircases, glittering halls, and a wintry cityscape.
Why visit: Belgrade’s New Year and Christmas celebrations are some of Europe’s most vibrant.

⭐ 15. The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star
Setting: Serbia
Movie Overview: A sparkling, jewel-themed holiday caper that takes viewers deeper inside European castles and festive traditions.
European Setting: Ornate interiors, candlelit rooms, and historic buildings wrapped in holiday décor.
Why visit: Serbia’s palaces and cathedrals offer an affordable and stunning winter travel experience.

🎄✨ Ready to Step Into a European Christmas Movie?
From Vienna’s grand markets to Romania’s real-life fairytale castles, Europe offers a holiday experience unlike anywhere else in the world.

At Target Tours, we bring these magical destinations to life, helping you discover the places you’ve only seen on screen.

Which movie-inspired destination would you love to explore first?

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