Fixing your Thanksgiving plate with turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, and cranberries?
Looks like you’ve got just enough room on your plate to add a trip to Europe.
Thanksgiving is an underrated time to travel across the Atlantic. While people are running around the United States like a rafter of turkeys, you’ll cruise the skyways with fewer frequent fliers.
We’re here to serve up some destination inspiration on where to celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK & Europe.
Traditional Thanksgiving meal. Image Credit: Getty Images, VICUSCHKA
Is Thanksgiving a good time to visit Europe?
Friends, anytime is a good time to visit Europe; Thanksgiving just gives you a formal way to be grateful for your wanderlust. Depending on why you’re bailing from home for the start of the holidays, you’ll find a good time in various corners of the continent.
Harvest festivals in the heartlands of France, Germany, and Northern Italy mean gorging yourself on food without worrying about cooking, entertaining or cleaning. You can embrace the fall foliage and catch the last of the colorful leaves in places like Slovenia and Romania, or you can escape the autumnal chill of your hometown and head south to Spain or Greece’s coasts.
Do they do Thanksgiving in Europe?
Eh, yes and no. You might find a few venues in major cities with large expat communities that celebrate American Thanksgiving, but you’re not going to see huge parade floats or people lined up overnight for Black Friday deals. Thanksgiving as we know it is not a North American export (and, yet, surprisingly, celebrating 4th of July in Europe isn’t uncommon).
Is there a European equivalent of Thanksgiving?
Giving thanks is far from an American idea, but there are very few one-to-one examples of American Thanksgiving celebrations in Europe. One Italian equivalent is the La Festa del Ringraziamento, which is the Feast of Thanks. It’s a religious holiday giving thanks to the saints for a successful fall harvest.
Where is Thanksgiving celebrated in Europe?
One of the few places where Thanksgiving is celebrated in Europe is the Netherlands. Leiden (main station: Leiden Centraal) is southwest of Amsterdam. Many of the Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock lived in Leiden. Every year on Thanksgiving Day, the Pieterskerk church hosts a gathering to celebrate the success of these voyagers.
Pumpkin pie for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Image Credit: Getty Images, Svetlana-Cherruty
Where is Thanksgiving celebrated in the UK?
Considering those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in the Americas were those who were decidedly not thankful for the way they were treated in England, American Thanksgiving isn’t a big deal in the UK. However, fancy hotels in London will indulge you with a special Thanksgiving dinner:
- The Lanesborough Grill | Closest station: Hyde Park Corner
- The Game Bird at The Stafford | Closest station: Green Park
- The Milestone Hotel & Residences | Closest station: High Street Kensington
Does the UK have a holiday similar to Thanksgiving?
Yes, like other countries in Europe, the UK has an annual Harvest Festival that’s celebrated on the closest Sunday to the Harvest Moon. Typically, this takes place in late September or early October.
Does Germany celebrate Thanksgiving?
Yes, Germany does celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving — but don’t expect pilgrims, Native Americans, or necessarily a November date. Germans typically celebrate Erntedankfest on the first Sunday in October, though this harvest celebration may be celebrated at different times in October or November in various German, Swiss, or Austrian towns.
Erntedankfest is a German harvest festival, not unlike American Thanksgiving, where you give thanks to the bounty and enjoy time spent with family and friends. You can double-down on the cultural experience by visiting Germany at the end of Oktoberfest and sobering up during Erntedankfest.
Table decoration for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Image Credit: Getty Images, Artsyslik
What are the best European destinations for Thanksgiving?
The best European destinations for Thanksgiving are extremely subjective. Are you looking for a good meal? France never disappoints. Are you trying to get a jump on holiday shopping? Visit Germany’s Christmas markets the moment they open. Do you just want to eat, drink, and watch sports on a hotel couch instead of your own? Spain has got a handful of matches queued up on the pitch.
Best places to spend Thanksgiving in Europe for foodies 🍠🦃
Thanksgiving is the holiday you’ve been training your waistline for. It’s the ultimate buffet blitz, an event of epic eating proportions that is even better when you’re roaming around Europe with an open mind and an open mouth:
🇮🇹 International Alba White Truffle Fair in Alba, Italy
🏴 T.B. Watson Whisky Festival in Dumfries, Scotland
🇵🇹 Festival da Batata-Doce (Sweet Potato Festival) in Aljezur, Portugal
Best places to spend Thanksgiving in Europe for sports 🏈⚽
Thanksgiving and NFL go hand-in-hand. Sadly, the NFL international games are over before the turkey’s stuffed. Don’t despair; Europe does have its own football for your enjoyment
🇪🇸 Real Betis play Mladá Boleslav in a Europa Conference League Match in Seville
🇬🇧 The USA take on England in the Women’s Senior International in London
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy. Image Credit: Getty Images, pawel.gaul
Best places to spend Thanksgiving in Europe for holiday shopping 🛍️🎁
Oh yes — not only can you take advantage of retailers releasing Black Friday deals in Europe, but you can also shop these bargains without risking life and limb for a $10 toaster. Find something for everyone on your shopping list in these cities:
🇮🇹 The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, for the fashionista.
🇧🇪 The Diamond District in Antwerp, Belgium, for jewelry lovers.
🇬🇧 The Harry Potter London Studio Tour in London, for Potterheads.
🇨🇭 The Lindt Home of Chocolate in Zurich, Switzerland, for chocoholics.
How’s that for a stuffed Thanksgiving itinerary in Europe? Download the Trainline app, let the tryptophan take hold, and take an afternoon snooze while we get you to Thanksgiving dinner in Europe by train.
Thanksgiving decorations. Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexandr Kolesnikov
