If you’re looking for the perfect places to go on holiday at Christmas, you’re probably hoping for holiday markets, twinkling lights and warm mulled wine? Some of the best Christmas towns in the world will offer you all of these things, but there are lots of other destinations where people can have great Christmas vacations. From celebrating the holidays like a Steel Magnolia in Louisiana and experiencing festivities worthy of a fairytale in Bruges, to Yuletide in Taos and Europe’s best Christmas markets, you’ll be booking your trip STAT.
Check out our list of places to visit at Christmas time; you’ll find some European favorites as well as some surprises.
- Taos, New Mexico
- Vienna, Austria
- Woodstock, Vermont
- Bruges, Belgium
- Natchitoches, Louisiana
- New York, USA
- London, England
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Quebec City, Canada
- Tokyo, Japan
- Rovaniemi, Finland
- Vatican City
- Zagreb, Croatia
1. Taos, New Mexico
With snowy peaks over 12,000ft, throughout the year, Taos in New Mexico is a wonderful place to be. But from Thanksgiving onwards and up until the new year, Taos ups the ante on magic by putting on events under the banner of its Yuletide festival. Picture snow falling on flickering farolitos (New Mexico’s traditional paper lanterns), rows of adobes, cozy bonfires that warm the soul, caroling, and a host of holiday experiences that will transport you beyond the mountains of Northern New Mexico. The celebrations end with sacred dances by Pueblo people at the Taos Pueblo.
2. Vienna, Austria
Palaces covered in snow and lights, holiday markets, warm cafés, cobbled streets oozing with old-world charm; it’s harder to imagine a more magical destination in Europe than Vienna over Christmas. There’s so much to do in the Austrian capital, apart from indulging in festive food like sausages and tasty pastries and sipping on glühwein; you can visit attractions and events throughout the city. Make sure you check out the Snow Globe Museum, advent concerts in stunning churches, and from mid-November until the 24th of Christmas, City Hall Square is transformed into a winter wonderland by the traditional “Vienna Magic of Advent.”
3. Woodstock, Vermont
The holidays are a perfect time to experience Woodstock’s iconic free spirit and indie vibes. Over the holidays, you should make your way to this famous town in Vermont for the Woodstock Wassail Weekend, which is when it comes to life. This yearly tradition is rooted in the town’s history. Sip on a spicy Wassail punch while watching singing carolers traipse up and down streets lit with Christmas trees and riders dressed in Victorian clothes kick off the party.
4. Bruges, Belgium
From walking alongside canals and horse-drawn carriages to the heavenly Belgian chocolate shops and buildings that look like iced gingerbread houses, if there’s one city that can deliver on a fairytale Christmas, it’s Bruges in Belgium. Around the main square, you’ll find lots of festive things to ogle at! Picture ice skaters twirling on the ice rink, wooden shacks selling seasonal goods and twinkling lights beaming at you. You can wander around the old town and refresh yourself with beers or steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
5. Natchitoches, Louisiana
For an energetic riverside Creole-style Christmas party, head to Natchitoches in Louisiana. Munch on hot gumbo and world-famous meat pies and take carriage rides through the historic district. In December, over 300,000 lights illuminate Natchitoches for the annual Festival of Lights. It is one of their oldest holiday traditions, which began in 1927. If you want to kick-off the holiday season like the movie Steel Magnolias, which was set in the town, turn up on the first Saturday of December and you’ll find a spectacular celebration encompassing everything from Eggnog daiquiris and fireworks over Cane River Lake to a festive parade. Natchitoches is enchanting during the holidays; the city was made for drinking hot chocolates and peppermint lattes under a halo of Christmas lights while taking in the atmosphere.
6. New York, USA
We couldn’t leave New York off this list of best Christmas destinations! From the Rockefeller Centre at the heart of the city’s Christmas traditions to ice skating in Central Park, The Plaza Hotel (featured in Home Alone 2) and seasonal window displays on Fifth Avenue, some of the world’s most famous festivities can be found here. The city becomes yuletide central during the holidays, with no shortage of holiday markets, countless renditions of The Nutcracker, wintery villages, and glittering lights, this is one of the best places to visit at Christmas time.
7. London, England
If iconic festivities, European traditions and the British accent sound like your idea of a well-made Christmas destination, England‘s gorgeous capital is the stuff of dreams. London packs a mighty seasonal punch: the city is dotted with holiday markets and fairs, the most famous being the “Winter Wonderland” in Hyde Park. This exciting event features a fun fair, ice rink and lots of delicious food and drink. The entire city is adorned with decorations and lights, there are Christmas trees almost everywhere you go, and many of the city’s attractions offer festive things to do. You’ll also find beautiful window displays at famous department stores like Selfridges and Harrods and many iconic shops up and down Oxford Street.
8. Nuremberg, Germany
Seasonal markets are a tradition that came to us from Germany, and Nuremberg is home to one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany and thereby the world. Nuremberg draws people to its medieval streets all year, but Christmas is always a huge hit. You can expect plenty of holiday activities, experience the town’s historic toy-making tradition at the Toy Museum, enjoy treats like glühwein and lebkuchen (local gingerbread) and pick up handmade arts and crafts for gifts. Sipping on mulled wine is a must, but don’t leave without sampling some of the local beers as well.
9. Quebec City, Canada
400-year old Quebec City is the perfect place in Canada to experience the romance of Christmas. The churches and buildings are draped in lights, and the streets are buzzing with merrymakers. Of course, it helps that Quebec happens to have a distinctly European feel to it, which adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the local traditions. Popular festivities include nativity scenes from around the world and a party called Réveillon, which takes place on the night of the 24th where people eat traditional food and give gifts to one another.
10. Tokyo, Japan
Believe it or not, Tokyo is one of the best places to be at Christmas. In a city that glimmers with life and light twenty-four seven, it’s hard to imagine it becoming even more alive! Come December, the capital of Japan is transformed by thousands of lights, it’s the perfect place to go shopping, the 24th and 25th of December are huge for date nights, and you’ll also find German holiday markets infused with some local Japanese culture. What’s not to love about mulled wine laced with yuzu?
11. Rovaniemi, Finland
Located right on the Arctic Circle in the north of Finland, you’ll find Rovaniemi, the hometown of the one and only Santa Claus. Meet the most famous bearded man in Santa Claus Village, cross the Arctic Circle every time you stroll across the village’s main square and explore snow-blanketed pine forests on a reindeer-led sleigh ride. All the magic found in Rovaniemi happens against the backdrop of Lapland‘s postcard-perfect frosted scenery, ice sculptures and trees gleaming with fairy lights. It’s also the only town on this list that lets you pair the seasonal activities with the mystical northern lights!
North of Arctic Circle in the north of Finland you’ll find the official hometown of Christmas poster boy Santa Claus. Make gingerbread with Mrs. Claus, brush up on your festive cheer at Elf School or explore your surroundings on a reindeer-led sleigh ride. All the magic found in Rovaniemi happens against the backdrop of Lapland‘s postcard-perfect frosted scenery, ice sculptures and trees gleaming with fairy lights. It’s also the only town on this list that lets you pair the seasonal activities with the mystical northern lights!
12. Vatican City
This ethereal city teems with spirit most of the year, but come December it elevates itself. People make their way from all over the world to Rome so they can experience Midnight Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Christmas Eve, or at noon on Christmas Day, and the festive energy is contagious. From the nativity scenes in St Peter’s Square, Piazza Navona, and in the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, to the smell of roasted chestnuts wafting through the air, the Eternal City is one of the perfect places to go on holiday at Christmas.
13. Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb has some serious seasonal appeal. From its cobblestone paths and domes, vibrant street culture, and food stalls, this destination can do the holidays with flair. The capital of Croatia, it’s now home to Europe’s best Christmas market! The holiday market is considered somewhat of a spectacle and spreads itself across the city, enveloping Zagreb in a festive spirit that manifests through lights, decor and outdoor entertainment. Visitors can experience a winter wonderland at Zrinjevac Park or gather in European Square or Ban Josip Jelačić Square alongside the locals.
