As Europe gears up for the holiday season, temporary ice skating rinks are popping up in a variety of settings. While it’s true that public rinks tend to get quite crowded at peak times, the opportunity to skate in a unique and beautiful setting such as near a palace or in a neon-lit square is sure to make one’s turn on the ice memorable despite any space limitations.

Amsterdam: While many locals would no doubt prefer to be zipping up and down the city’s famous canals, there’s rarely a winter these days when it’s cold enough for the water to freeze solid. But to feel like you have stumbled straight into a Dutch Master’s painting, the next best thing is to make way to the ice rink on the Museumplein. With the Rijksmuseum and pop-up wooden chalets as their backdrop, skaters can go through their paces, stopping now and again for warming beverages or an oliebol, the Dutch answer to a doughnut. Previous versions of this ice rink have featured a replica of one of Amsterdam’s quirky landmarks, the Skinny Bridge. The rink will remain open through Feb. 4, 2026. The cost of a skating session is 16 euros, skate rental included. Online: tinyurl.com/muu6sd2t

Copenhagen, Denmark: For the better part of the past decade, the fairy tale-like wonderland that is Tivoli Gardens has set up its very own skating rink. Here, families and friends can glide against the backdrop of its festively illuminated buildings, every now and then taking a break to warm up with steaming cups of gløgg, the Danish version of mulled wine. Having a go on the rink is included in the cost of entry to the park itself; the fee for renting a pair of skates is 65 Danish krone, about $10.15. The park will remain open through Jan. 4. Online: tivoli.dk/en

Florence, Italy: The Florence Ice Village, an outdoor rink boasting a length of 320 meters, is billed as one of the longest ice rinks in Europe. Against a Christmas-themed backdrop crowned by a towering Ferris wheel in the Cascine Park, skaters can hone their skills or show off their best moves. The rink opens Dec. 1 and remains open through March 31. An hourlong session on the rink costs 8 euros; children under 10 pay 6 euros. Skate rental costs an additional 2 euros. Online: tinyurl.com/yc35wpss

London: The heart of London’s entertainment district has long hosted holiday happenings, from a market to a tent for circus and cabaret performances. Skate Leicester Square makes its debut at the place for which it’s named with a rink encircling a statue of Shakespeare, which is in turn surrounded by the clubs and cinemas that earn the square its reputation as an evening hotspot. Skate sessions begin every 15 minutes, and if a time slot isn’t fully booked already, walk-ins are welcome. A turn on the ice costs 14.50 UK pounds (about $19.15) adults; children ages 3-12 pay 9.50 pounds. The cost of skate rental is included in the entry fee. The rink will remain open through Jan. 4. Online: skateleicestersquare.co.uk

Paris: In contrast to the other rinks mentioned here, the rink at the Grand Palais des Glaces is a covered space, its beautiful glass roof protecting skaters from the elements. By day, the space is flooded with natural light; come nighttime, light shows and DJ sets transform the palace into a frozen dance floor. Renovations to the palace that commenced in 2021 are finally finishing up, allowing the space to reopen for a season kicking off on Dec. 14 and ending on Jan. 7. A go on one of the world’s largest temporary indoor ice rinks costs from 27 to 39 euros, depending on the time slot; the price includes the cost of skate rental. Online: tinyurl.com/38xn2dec

Vienna: In Austria’s cool capital, the skating is literally taken to the next level, as four spacious skating rinks are linked up by a system of elevated pathways. The Wiener Eistraum, or Vienna Ice Dream, will be set up in the shadow of the Town Hall from Jan. 22 through March 8, 2026. A viewing platform makes watching the skaters almost as much fun. The cost of an adult skating session begins at 6.70 euros for off-peak times; skate rental costs an additional 8.50 euros. Online: wienereistraum.com

Wiesbaden, Germany: Wiesbaden on Ice is a temporary rink made of artificial ice set up directly in front of the city’s Kurhaus, a stately building housing a casino, concert venue and event space. From Nov. 25-Jan. 11, what’s billed as Germany’s largest mobile rink entices all ages to spin and glide to a lively soundtrack. It’s also possible to book a lane to try “Eisstockschiessen,” a sport described as the Bavarian version of curling. On Dec. 12 and Jan. 3, the local radio station FFH hosts parties with entertainment, cool beats and dazzling light effects; on both dates, there are both early and late sessions, the first one geared to kids and the second tailored to adults. The cost of a skating session starts at 15 euros for adults and 13 euros for children, inclusive of skate rental. (When booking tickets online, a 10-euro deposit is added to the prices; this is refunded upon return of the skates.) The use of the rink without skate rental costs 8 euros for adults and 6 euros for children. Online: wiesbaden-on-ice.de