The swooshing sounds of people skating on crisp ice, and the excited chatter of friends drinking hot chocolate nearby, is a Christmas staple for many.
There are countless ice rinks around the world, but there is one that’s the been dubbed Europe’s most sought after seasonal rink.
Grand Palais de Glaces in Paris is located under the Grand Palais museum’s iconic glass dome.
Research by European ferry operator DFDS revealed the popular rink has seen a 83 per cent year-on-year increase in searches.
The analysis looked at 75 ice rinks across Europe and compared average Google searches from December to February
As the largest temporary indoor ice rink in the world, the Grand Palais de Glaces is a whopping 2,700 m².
It’s open from December 13 to January 7 and guests can skate under the stars until 2am during the extended evening sessions.
The rink is a quick trip away from the UK, too. A flight from London to Paris is only around one hour and 20 minutes, according to Skyscanner.
Grand Palais de Glaces in Paris is located under the Grand Palais museum’s iconic glass dome
Vienna Ice World in Austria is spread across two levels and is 10,000 m².
It placed second in the rankings and saw a 32 per cent year-on-year search increase.
The rink is open from January until March in the City Hall Square and is one of the biggest open-air artificial ice rinks in the world.
It also features the unique Sky Rink which is a terrace on the first level with a 150-metre long ramp.
Located in Cologne, Germany, the Ice Rink at Heumarkt ranked third.
Tucked away amongst the Heinzels Wintermärchen Chirstmas market, the rink has had a 16 per cent increase in interest.
It’s surrounded by decorative stalls and opens from November 24 to January 4.
Matadero Madrid Ice Rink in the Spanish capital placed fourth with an eight per cent increase.
Vienna Ice World in Austria is spread across two levels and is 10,000 m²
Meanwhile, Old Town Ice Rink in Tallinn came fifth with seven per cent.
DFDS’ analysis also looked at the most popular outdoor rinks in Europe and placed Skate at Somerset House, in London, first.
The ice rink attracted 195,700 Google searches across the winter period and is open from November 12 to January 11.
Another London spot, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, ranked second and was followed by Vienna Ice World.
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