Top 14 Best Places To Go During Christmas

Christmas transforms ordinary destinations into magical wonderlands that ignite childhood memories and create new ones. Finding the Best Places To Go During Christmas means discovering where traditions come alive through twinkling lights, festive markets, and seasonal celebrations that warm the heart despite winter's chill.

From the iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City to the enchanting Christmas markets of Vienna and Prague, these destinations offer experiences that make December the most wonderful time to travel. London's Victorian charm during the holidays, Munich's traditional festivities, and the fairy-tale atmosphere of Lapland create memories that last lifetimes.

Whether you're seeking the historic charm of Charleston's holiday decorations or the winter magic of Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations, these carefully chosen destinations promise to make your Christmas travel dreams come true.

1. New York City: Christmas Movie Magic Realized

New York during Christmas feels like stepping into every holiday film you've ever loved. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands 75 feet tall, but it's the moment when you first see it through the crowd that takes your breath away.

I remember standing at the skating rink below, watching couples glide across the ice while snowflakes caught the light from thousands of bulbs above. That's when Manhattan's Christmas magic becomes real rather than cinematic.

The holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue tell stories without words. Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, and Tiffany & Co. transform their storefronts into theatrical productions that draw crowds for blocks. Arrive early morning or late evening to avoid the heaviest tourist traffic.

Central Park under snow creates a different New York entirely. The usual urban noise gets muffled, and the bare trees frame the city skyline like nature's own Christmas card.

2. Vienna: Imperial Christmas Elegance

Vienna's Christmas markets transport you to an Austrian fairy tale. The Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market operates in front of baroque architecture that served as the Habsburgs' summer residence. Sipping glühwein from ceramic mugs while palace windows glow behind you feels like traveling through time.

Have you ever experienced the sensation of history embracing you? That's Vienna during Christmas. The scent of roasted chestnuts mixes with cinnamon from traditional pastries, while classical music drifts from concert halls where Mozart once performed.

The Rathaus Christmas Market spreads across City Hall Square with over 150 vendors selling handcrafted ornaments and local delicacies. The Gothic Revival architecture provides a stunning backdrop, especially when illuminated after sunset.

Street musicians perform Christmas carols in German, creating an authentic European atmosphere that commercial Christmas markets elsewhere struggle to replicate.

3. Prague: Medieval Christmas Enchantment

Prague's Old Town Square during Christmas resembles a medieval manuscript brought to life. The astronomical clock chimes every hour while vendors in period costumes sell mulled wine and traditional Czech treats beneath Gothic spires.

Walking across Charles Bridge on a December morning, with frost highlighting every stone detail and the Vltava River reflecting Christmas lights, I understood why Prague is called the “City of a Hundred Spires.” Each tower seemed to hold its own Christmas story.

The Christmas markets here maintain authenticity that larger European cities sometimes lose. Local artisans sell hand-blown glass ornaments and wooden toys carved using techniques passed down through generations.

Czech traditional Christmas involves carp dinners and St. Nicholas celebrations. Witnessing these local customs provides cultural immersion that typical tourist experiences can't match.

4. London: Victorian Christmas Charm

London during Christmas channels Charles Dickens' imagination into reality. The city's Victorian architecture frames modern celebrations, creating a unique blend of historical and contemporary Christmas magic.

Covent Garden's Christmas decorations suspend overhead like a crystal canopy, while street performers entertain crowds with holiday classics. The Apple Market transforms into a wonderland of unique gifts and artisanal products.

Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland spreads across 38 acres with German-style markets, fairground rides, and ice skating. The Magical Ice Kingdom features ice sculptures carved by artists from Harbin, China, maintaining sub-zero temperatures even during mild London winters.

I'll never forget walking through Camden Market during a December snowfall, watching vendors steam mulled cider while offering samples of Christmas pudding. London's markets each maintain distinct personalities that reflect their neighborhoods.

5. Munich: Traditional Bavarian Christmas

Munich's Christkindlmärkte represent Germany's Christmas market tradition at its most authentic. The Marienplatz market, operating since the 14th century, creates an atmosphere that connects modern visitors with centuries of holiday celebration.

The Glockenspiel plays Christmas carols at 11 AM, noon, and 5 PM during December, while crowds gather below to watch the mechanical figures dance. Standing in that square, surrounded by Gothic architecture and the scent of lebkuchen, you experience Christmas as Bavarians have for generations.

Weisswurst and pretzels warm you from the inside while exploring vendor stalls selling handcrafted ornaments and traditional wooden toys. The beer halls serve special Christmas brews that only appear during the holiday season.

Munich's Christmas markets close earlier than those in other major cities, typically by 8 PM, maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere that emphasizes tradition over commerce.

6. Nuremberg: Christkindlesmarkt Origins

Nuremberg hosts Germany's most famous Christmas market, dating back to 1628. The Hauptkirche bells ring across the market square while vendors display traditional Lebkuchen, handmade toys, and Christmas ornaments that define German holiday craftsmanship.

Have you ever wondered where Christmas market traditions began? Nuremberg provides those answers through living history. The market's opening ceremony features the Christkind, a young woman dressed as an angel, blessing the market from the church balcony.

The medieval Old Town creates the perfect backdrop for authentic Christmas shopping. Stalls constructed from red and white striped cloth maintain historical appearance while offering goods that represent Franconian artisan traditions.

Nuremberg sausages, grilled over open fires, provide essential market fuel for extended browsing sessions. The smoky aroma guides you through crowds toward the best traditional food vendors.

7. Strasbourg: Capital of Christmas

Strasbourg claims the title “Capital of Christmas” with legitimate historical backing. The city's Christmas market began in 1570, making it one of France's oldest and most traditional holiday celebrations.

The Gothic cathedral provides a magnificent centerpiece for market activities. At 466 feet tall, its spire dominates the skyline while market stalls spread throughout the surrounding medieval streets.

I remember climbing the cathedral steps during December twilight, looking down at the market lights spreading like stars across the cobblestone squares below. That panoramic view captures why Strasbourg earned its Christmas reputation.

Local Alsatian specialties include bredele cookies and vin chaud, reflecting the region's unique French-German cultural blend. This cultural fusion creates Christmas traditions found nowhere else in Europe.

8. Quebec City: North American European Christmas

Quebec City delivers European Christmas atmosphere without crossing the Atlantic. The Old Town's cobblestone streets and French colonial architecture create an authentic European ambiance enhanced by North American accessibility.

The German Christmas Market in Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville features over 90 exhibitors selling European-style crafts and traditional holiday foods. Maple syrup adds Canadian flavor to traditional European treats, creating unique fusion experiences.

Walking the ramparts during snowfall, with the St. Lawrence River stretching toward the horizon and Christmas lights illuminating the Lower Town below, provides moments of pure winter magic that rival any European destination.

The Château Frontenac, draped in Christmas decorations and surrounded by snow, looks like a fairy tale castle materialized in North America.

9. Boston: Revolutionary Christmas Spirit

Boston combines American revolutionary history with New England Christmas traditions. The Freedom Trail, marked by red bricks embedded in sidewalks, connects historical sites decorated for the holidays throughout downtown.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace transforms into a Christmas wonderland with local artisan vendors and traditional New England holiday treats. The building itself, known as the “Cradle of Liberty,” provides historical context for modern celebrations.

I'll always remember ice skating on Boston Common's Frog Pond while snow fell around the state capitol dome. That experience captured the essence of American Christmas traditions rooted in colonial history.

Beacon Hill's Federal-style architecture, decorated with wreaths and garland, creates picture-perfect New England Christmas scenes that appear on countless holiday cards.

10. Charleston: Southern Christmas Elegance

Charleston's antebellum architecture draped in Christmas decorations creates a uniquely Southern holiday atmosphere. Mansion tours during December showcase how wealthy families celebrated Christmas in the 19th century, complete with period decorations and historical context.

The city's horse-drawn carriage tours take on special meaning during Christmas season, when guides share stories of holiday traditions that developed in the Lowcountry. Spanish moss hanging from oak trees catches Christmas lights, creating natural chandeliers throughout the historic district.

Have you ever experienced Christmas where palm trees coexist with holiday decorations? Charleston's subtropical climate allows for outdoor Christmas markets and celebrations that would be impossible in northern destinations.

The Festival of Houses and Gardens opens private historic homes to visitors during December, revealing how Charleston families have celebrated Christmas for centuries.

11. Savannah: Victorian Christmas Romance

Savannah's Victorian District becomes a Christmas movie set during December. The city's 24 historic squares, each decorated with period-appropriate holiday displays, create an outdoor museum of 19th-century American Christmas traditions.

Trolley tours during the evening showcase homes and buildings illuminated with thousands of lights. The narration includes ghost stories and historical tales that add Southern Gothic charm to traditional Christmas touring.

I remember walking through Forsyth Park on Christmas Eve, when the fountain was lit with colored lights and families gathered for caroling beneath moss-draped oak trees. That moment captured Savannah's unique blend of history, nature, and holiday spirit.

The Owens-Thomas House Museum offers candlelit Christmas tours that demonstrate how wealthy Savannah families celebrated the holidays in the 1800s, complete with authentic decorations and period music.

12. Lapland: Arctic Christmas Wonder

Lapland represents Christmas at its most magical and authentic. This is where reindeer actually live, where snow covers the landscape for months, and where the Aurora Borealis dances across winter skies.

Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus, offers experiences impossible anywhere else on Earth. Meeting reindeer herders who continue traditions thousands of years old provides cultural immersion beyond typical tourist activities.

The polar night, when the sun doesn't rise above the horizon, creates an otherworldly atmosphere enhanced by Christmas lights and celebrations. Have you ever experienced a land where Christmas lights provide the primary illumination for entire communities?

Husky sledding through snow-covered forests while the Northern Lights flicker overhead creates memories that redefine adventure travel standards.

13. Edinburgh: Scottish Christmas Magic

Edinburgh's medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town create dramatic backdrops for Scottish Christmas celebrations. The Royal Mile, stretching from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, becomes a corridor of Christmas markets and street performances during December.

The Edinburgh Christmas Market spreads across Princes Street Gardens, with Edinburgh Castle looming above like a fortress from Scottish legends. The juxtaposition of medieval architecture and modern Christmas celebrations creates uniquely Scottish holiday atmosphere.

Climbing Arthur's Seat during winter provides panoramic views of the city decorated for Christmas, with the Firth of Forth stretching toward the North Sea horizon. That perspective showcases Edinburgh's dramatic topography enhanced by holiday illumination.

Scottish Christmas traditions include Hogmanay preparations and St. Andrew's Day celebrations that extend the holiday season well beyond December 25th.

14. Salzburg: Mozart's Christmas Legacy

Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, celebrates Christmas with classical music performances throughout the city's baroque churches and concert halls. The sound of Christmas carols echoes off medieval walls where the composer himself once walked.

The Salzburg Christmas Market spreads across Residenzplatz and Domplatz, surrounded by baroque architecture that creates one of Europe's most photogenic market settings. The Salzburg Cathedral's twin towers frame market activities while classical music drifts from nearby venues.

I remember attending a Christmas concert in St. Peter's Church, where candlelight illuminated baroque decorations while musicians performed pieces Mozart composed in those same halls. That experience connected Christmas celebration with musical history in ways unique to Salzburg.

The city's proximity to the Austrian Alps adds mountain scenery to Christmas market experiences, creating alpine holiday atmosphere enhanced by baroque architectural elegance.

Your Christmas Adventure Awaits

These Best Places To Go During Christmas offer more than destinations—they provide gateways to experiences that redefine holiday magic. Whether you choose the imperial elegance of Vienna's Christmas markets or the arctic wonder of Lapland's reindeer farms, each location promises memories that will warm your heart long after the decorations come down.

Picture yourself sipping glühwein beneath Prague's astronomical clock, or watching the Northern Lights dance over Lapland's snow-covered forests. Imagine walking through New York's Central Park after fresh snowfall, or exploring Charleston's historic mansions draped in Southern Christmas elegance.

The anticipation builds with each detail you plan. Booking that cozy hotel near Edinburgh Castle. Researching the perfect Christmas market route through Munich. Planning those special moments that transform ordinary travel into extraordinary adventure.

Your Christmas journey begins the moment you choose your destination. These fourteen magical places wait to welcome you into their unique holiday traditions, ready to create the Christmas memories you'll treasure forever.