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The best light festivals in Europe this winterEurope's top light festivals

Winter in Europe is often a grey, wet and dark affair, and is generally not considered to be a good time to take a city break. Even so, there are enough reasons to set foot outside the door ;-) Europe's spectacular light festivals are one of them. In winter, vibrant light installations sparkle, flash and glow in radiant colours all over Europe. Why not come and experience the sparkling streets of Europe for yourself?

1 – Amsterdam Light Festival – Amsterdam is home to what could be the most dramatic light festival in Europe, with exclusive lighting creations that look fantastic from land and water alike. As in previous years, the installations are set up along the canals, making a boat tour the best and most comfortable way of seeing them all. This year's theme is called "Rituals".

  • When? 28 November 2024 to 19 January 2025
  • Getting there by train: You'll be in Amsterdam in no time at all with a Eurostar or ICE express train. Alternatively, you can take a classic InterCity train. Book your Amsterdam trip >

2 – Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) in Lyon – Light and sound productions ("son et lumière") are a French specialty that will be taken to new heights over the course of four nights in Lyon ;-) Artistic light installations and audiovisual technology allow you to discover Lyon's landmarks and sights in a new light: from the grand buildings in Presqu'ile Provincial Park to the historic city centre across the Saône river, and from here to the top of Fourvière, the famous hill that is home to the Basilica. This tour of Lyon will be sure to linger in the memory long after it ends.

  • When? 5 to 8 December 2024
  • Getting there by train: TGV INOUI, TGV Lyria, Eurostar and TGV®/ICE France-Germany trains are all quick, comfortable options for reaching Lyon. Book your Lyon trip >
Light festival Amsterdam

3 – Magical Maastricht – Whether you are travelling from Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany, Maastricht is the perfect destination for a one-day excursion or short trip. And in December, visitors and shoppers are sure to be spellbound by the festive Christmas atmosphere of Magical Maastricht. Vrijthof square with its Christmas market, ice rink and Ferris wheel is at the heart of the event. From here, you can follow a procession of lights through narrow alleyways to discover all the hidden corners of the city.

  • When? 28 November to 30 December 2024
  • Getting there by train: InterCity trains on the Belgian and Dutch rail networks provide direct connections to Maastricht. Book your Maastricht trip >
Fête des Lumières Lyon
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* Unless expressly stated otherwise, all fares quoted are per person/per leg (VAT included) based on an online reservation for a 2nd class return from Brussels. Please note, terms and conditions apply. Tip: As the number of seats at the lowest fares on Eurostar, TGV INOUI and ICE trains is limited, we recommend that you book your trip as early as possible. Most international trains allow reservations to be made from 4 months before the date of departure. On ICE trains, booking is possible as early as 180 days before departure, and on Eurostar, booking is possible from min. 157 and max. 277 days before departure, depending on the time of the year.).

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