The short answer: Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday (25 December), so Pune gets a natural three-day weekend from 25 to 27 December. The best plan is a short drive to a quiet resort, booked by mid-November, with a Christmas Eve dinner, a bonfire and a slow Christmas morning. Avior Resorts in Shirwal is 58 km from Pune on NH48 (about 1 hour 15 minutes), with 10 rooms on Wadgaon Lake, so it fills quickly over Christmas and New Year.
Christmas 2026 dates at a glance
| Date | Day | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 24 December | Thursday | Christmas Eve; leave after work for a four-day break |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day (public holiday) |
| 26–27 December | Sat–Sun | Weekend |
| 31 December | Thursday | New Year's Eve |
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | New Year's Day; another three-day weekend |
Two long weekends in a row means the whole of late December is busy. If you want both, book them together. Our New Year's Eve guide covers the second weekend.
What to ask a resort before you book
- Is there a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner, and is it compulsory? Some resorts add a mandatory gala charge.
- What's included in the room rate? At Avior, stays include a welcome drink, dinner and breakfast.
- Is there a minimum stay over the Christmas weekend?
- What's planned for children? Games, a Santa visit or activities.
- Will there be loud music late at night? Important for families with young children.
- What's the cancellation policy? Holiday packages are often non-refundable.
- Can you arrange a cake, decorations or a small surprise in the room?
A family Christmas plan
Christmas Eve (Thursday)
- 6:00 pm: Leave Pune after work; arrive by 7:30 pm.
- 8:30 pm: Dinner, then a short evening by the bonfire.
- 10:00 pm: Children to bed; parents put out the presents.
Christmas Day (Friday)
- 8:00 am: Presents and tea in the room.
- 9:00 am: Breakfast by the lake.
- 10:30 am: Pool time or games on the lawn.
- 1:00 pm: Christmas lunch.
- 3:00 pm: Rest; board games.
- 5:30 pm: Family photo at sunset over Wadgaon Lake.
- 8:00 pm: Dinner and carols by the fire.
Saturday
- A day trip to Wai and Menavali or Panchgani, or simply stay and do nothing.
Sunday
- Late breakfast, check out at 11 am, and home before the afternoon traffic.
A couples' Christmas plan
- Arrive on Christmas Eve and book a candlelight dinner by the lake. Ask in advance; these get booked out.
- Christmas morning: breakfast on your balcony. The Luxury Patio – Lake View rooms have private balconies facing the water.
- Afternoon: pool, a book, a nap.
- Evening: sunset walk, dinner, stargazing on a clear winter night. See our stargazing guide.
More ideas in our guide to the best resorts near Pune for couples.
Christmas with friends
For a group of friends, book adjoining rooms early, plan a Secret Santa with a fixed budget, and ask the resort about a group dinner. Our group booking guide has a checklist.
Beating the Christmas traffic
| When | Traffic on NH48 out of Pune |
|---|---|
| Thursday 24 Dec, 4–8 pm | Heavy, especially at Katraj and Khed Shivapur toll |
| Thursday 24 Dec, after 8 pm | Easier |
| Friday 25 Dec, before 8 am | Light |
| Friday 25 Dec, 9 am–1 pm | Busy |
| Sunday 27 Dec, 2–8 pm (return) | Heavy into Pune |
Best plan: leave Thursday after 8 pm or Friday before 8 am, and return Sunday before noon.
What to pack
- Warm layers: late-December nights near Pune can fall to 10–12°C.
- Swimwear (afternoons are warm enough for the pool).
- A Santa hat or two, fairy lights for the room, and wrapped presents.
- Board games and a speaker for the room (keep the volume low).
Why a lakeside Christmas works
Christmas in the city often means crowded malls and restaurants. A small lakeside resort gives you the opposite: space, quiet and time together. Lawns for children to run on, a fire in the evening, and a view of the water at breakfast. With only 10 rooms at Avior, the atmosphere stays relaxed even on the busiest weekend of the year.
Christmas activities for children at a resort
- A Christmas treasure hunt around the lawns with small presents at the end.
- Decorate the room with paper chains and fairy lights brought from home.
- Cookie and card making on Christmas Eve.
- A family carol singalong by the bonfire.
- A letter to Santa, "posted" at the resort reception.
Gift ideas for a resort Christmas
Packing light? Small, experience-based gifts work well on a getaway:
- A star map or a pair of binoculars for night-sky watching.
- A board game the whole family can play by the fire.
- A journal or sketchbook for a child.
- A framed family photo taken at the resort on Christmas morning (print it after the trip).
Planning both Christmas and New Year
If you're thinking about both long weekends:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas only | Less busy than New Year; calmer atmosphere | You're back in the city for NYE |
| New Year only | The big celebration | Busier, often with a compulsory gala dinner |
| Both, with a break in between | Best of both | Two sets of packing and driving |
| Stay through (24 Dec–2 Jan) | A real holiday; no midweek traffic | Needs leave and an early booking |
Christmas for couples: small touches
- Ask for a room decoration on arrival: fairy lights, flowers or a cake.
- Plan a gift exchange at breakfast on the balcony.
- Book a candlelight dinner by the water on Christmas Eve or Christmas night.
- Leave the laptop at home. Nothing says holiday like a phone on silent.
Common mistakes on the Christmas weekend
- Booking late. Small resorts fill by late November.
- Driving out on the 24th at 6 pm along with everyone else.
- Not asking about compulsory dinners or minimum stays.
- Packing only summer clothes. Nights are cold enough for a jacket.
- Over-scheduling. The best Christmas plan has plenty of time for nothing at all.
Book your Christmas weekend
Rooms for 24–27 December go quickly. Message us your dates and the number of guests, and we'll confirm availability and what's planned.
- Call: +91 72619 62666
- WhatsApp: +91 72619 63666
- See rooms: rooms page · Packages: packages page · Enquire: contact page