Bundle up– these are the most iconic Christmas destinations in the world.
New York
New York turns itself into a sparkling wonderland complete with Christmas trees, the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center and holiday markets with gifts for just about everyone.
The Rockefeller Christmas tree is a site to behold. The tree itself is huge, standing between 70 and 90 feet tall each year, and it’s entirely covered with twinkling LED lights. You might feel like a tourist, but who cares when you’re staring at pure Christmas magic.
Don’t miss the over-the-top Christmas lights in Dyker Heights and head to Winter Village at Bryant Park for stalls of delicious food and free ice skating. Pretty much everywhere you go will have a display that boggles the mind and warms the heart, making New York a top destination for Christmas spirit.
Bath, England
England is an obvious choice for Christmas. After all, England is the birthplace of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Story” and William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
Bath radiates charm and architectural beauty. The region’s honey-colored stonework is soft and ethereal in the Christmas lights, and the smell of mulled wine and spice cakes completes the Christmas vibe.
Peruse the Bath Christmas market for traditional British holiday goods. Carolers sing throughout the streets and in the center of it all is the lodge, a cozy place to warm up.
Visit Bath early in the season, the Christmas market is only open until mid-December each year.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
In the northern reaches of Finland is the “official” hometown of Santa Claus, Rovaniemi. Cold but beautiful, northern lights dance over the night sky and snow blankets the landscape in thick layers, bowing trees and reflecting hues– soft pink during sunset and cool blue in the late evening.
Santa Claus established an office in Rovaniemi, and he greets guests, year-round. Santa Claus Village is lit up with warm lights and has husky and reindeer rides, snowmobile tours and sculptures of ice and snow.
Nuremberg, Germany
The Christkindlesmarkt– hundreds of stalls brimming with treats, gifts and Christmas magic, ready to be explored. Other’s can imitate it, but only Germany has the original German Christmas markets.
Nuremberg is a medieval town with much of its medieval architecture intact. The steep roofs and patterned woodwork on the buildings’ exteriors lend the town a charming old world feel that is heightened by Christmas festivities.
Wander through the Christkindlesmarkt and munch on Nuremberg sausages (sold as “3 im Weggia,” three in a roll) and gingerbread cookies the size of a human head. There is, of course, hot mulled wine, and pick up a handcrafted ornament to decorate your tree with for years to come.
Quebec City, Canada
A picturesque city on the Saint Lawrence River, frosted with snow and decorated with a light, classy touch– Quebec City exudes pure magic.
All the Christmas classics are present– carolers, a sprawling Christmas market, local goods and concerts and shows. Quebec City is cold and beautiful– a destination worthy of a holiday visit.
Make sure to dine on the world class cuisine, and cross the river for stunning views of the city.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is a modern city with a Viking history. Sitting on the banks of the confluence of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, the city is bright, dotted with colorful rooftops.
Until recently, Christmas in Reykjavik was a local affair. The charm has stuck, even as crowds grow. Local restaurants serve up traditional Christmas menus comprised of Scandinavian dishes. Two museums, the Reykjavik Art Museum and Arbaer open air museum, host Christmas installations. The Reykjavik Art Museum also showcases Christmas creatures, cute, funny and sometimes terrifying figures from Icelandic folklore.
Don’t forget to look up. The Northern lights sometimes light up the sky.
Christmas in Reykjavik is less of a production, a smaller affair than the other locations on this list, but that’s what makes it worth the trek to the land of fire and ice.
Strasbourg, France
Storied and bucolic, Strasbourg is at the crossroads of French and German cultures. Cultures mix in the architecture, food and traditions of the Alsace region. This means authentic German Christmas markets, French and German wines and delicate pastries with a German twist.
Soak in the medieval town with a cup of hot wine and take part in the Christmas trail, a game where participants hunt through town for clues to solve the Christmas riddle.
At night, the town lights up with gold and white lights, illuminating the town in soft light and managing to look very French. Joyeux Noel indeed.
Valkenburg, The Netherlands
The Valkenburg Christmas markets are in two caves. The inside of the caves are decorated ceiling to floor, and in the Velvet Cave, there are murals, sculptures and an 18th century chapel. A third cave, the Mergelrijk, tells Christmas stories through sculptures and installations. There is even cave ham and beer for the brave.
Outside of the caves, restaurants serve up Danish specialties as part of walking culinary tours. Santa’s village and the fairytale forest are magical, kid-friendly spots and the town itself is ripe with photo opportunities.
