14 Destinations Where Christmas Comes Alive

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! This is when destinations around the world start to gear up for the holiday season — thousands of Christmas lights are strung up with care, giant fir trees pop up in main city squares and the sounds of carols drift through the air.

While there are plenty of festive activities to enjoy at home, this is also a great time to travel and experience how other people and cultures celebrate the holidays. It’s why we’ve rounded up a nice list (get it?) of places worth visiting in December. Keep on reading to discover where to go for Christmas.

• Berlin, Germany
• Bruges, Belgium
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Edinburgh, Scotland
• Leavenworth, Washington
• London, United Kingdom
• New York City, New York
• North Pole, Alaska
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Québec City, Québec
• Rome, Italy
• Rovaniemi, Finland
• Salzburg, Austria
• San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Cities around the world (including Toronto and Vancouver) host a German Christmas market during the holiday season — but nothing beats the real thing. In the capital city of Berlin, there are more than 60 of them to choose from, including the picturesque WeihnactsZauber in the Gendarmenmarkt square and the Artisan Advent Market in Charlottenburg.

Top things to do:

• Walk the festively illuminated 2km route at the Berlin Botanical Garden
• Catch a glimpse of the Brandenburg Gate while tobogganing at Potsdamer Platz
• Watch a holiday movie at the Christmas Film Festival
• See the Coca-Cola Christmas trucks and train pass through the city
• Indulge in glühwein (mulled wine), Reibekuchen (potato pancakes) and more at all the Christmas markets you visit

Cape Town may not be a winter wonderland (it’s in the Southern Hemisphere, after all!), but that doesn’t make it any less worthy of being your holiday vacation spot. Whether you’re a well-travelled snowbird or want to experience what Christmas is like when it’s 25+ degrees out for the first time, you can’t go wrong with a holiday trip to South Africa.

Top things to do:

• Enjoy a festive lunch or dinner in the nearby Cape Winelands
• Marvel at the twinkling lights on the historic Adderly Street
• Shop for handmade gifts at one of the city’s many Christmas markets
• Listen to “Silent Night” and other Christmas carols at a concert in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Each year, Edinburgh’s city centre is transformed into a lively Christmas village filled with bright lights, funfair rides, an ice bar, a tree maze and endless entertainment. But that’s not the only thing that draws travellers here during the holidays — the medieval, Georgian and neo-classical architecture spread across Old Town and New Town looks even better under a dusting of snow and a smattering of Christmas lights.

Top things to do:

• Strap on a pair of skates and glide down the George Street ice rink
• Wander through the stalls at the East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market
• Attend the Castle of Light, an annual event that lets you see the Edinburgh Castle in, well… a whole new light (we couldn’t resist!)
• Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the annual Hogmanay Festival

You don’t have to fly across the Atlantic to enjoy European holiday traditions! Leavenworth, a small Bavarian-style village located just outside of Seattle, gives you the opportunity to celebrate Christmas like the Germans do — with lots of mulled wine, festive musical performances and holiday cheer. Not only that, but the city is lit up with more than 500,000 holiday lights each year!

Top things to do:

• Shop for Christmas decorations and gifts at the famous Kris Kringl store
• Stay at one of the many Bavarian-themed inns and hotels
• Warm up with a coffee and a dessert at The Gingerbread Factory

London is one of the most magical places to spend Christmas. The city lights up both literally and figuratively with holiday markets, ice skating rinks and activities that the whole family can enjoy — from Christmas-themed comedy shows and classic ballet performances to festive tours of Hogwarts. Prefer to save your money for gifts? There’s a ton of free and budget-friendly fun to be had, too!

Top things to do:

• Find your favourite Christmas tree — from Trafalgar Square and St Pancras Station to Coal Drops Yard, they’re scattered across the city
• Go ice skating outside the neoclassical Somerset House
• Amble around the Kingston, Greenwich and Covent Garden Christmas markets
• Catch one of the Christmas shows that come to London during the holiday season
• Buy yourself an (almost!) too-pretty-to-eat treat at Fortnum & Mason

It’s Christmas all day, every day at the North Pole. This tiny town, located in the Fairbanks North Star Borough of Alaska, really leans into its name with themed roads (e.g. Snowman Lane and Kris Kringle Drive) and candy cane-shaped streetlights. It’s also home to the Santa Claus House, a store filled with ornaments, toys and holiday cheer — as well as thousands of letters from children around the world who have mailed their wish lists to 1 Santa Claus Lane.

Top things to do:

• See the world’s largest Santa Claus statue — it’s 50 feet tall!
• Catch a glimpse of the northern lights at the nearby Chena Lake Recreation Area
• Get into the holiday spirit at the annual North Pole Winterfest & Holiday Bazaar

Prague was made for Christmas holidays. Some of the city’s top attractions, including Prague Castle, Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, look even more beautiful at this time of year — not to mention, it boasts some of the best Christmas markets in the world. Backdropped by Gothic and medieval architecture, they’re worth visiting for the sightseeing as much as for the shopping.

Top things to do:

• Sip a warm glass of svařák (mulled wine with plum brandy) or hot cocoa
• Channel your inner child and race down Petřín Hill on a sled
• Enjoy a Christmas concert at the National Theatre or Rudolfinum
• Dine inside a heated igloo at the Manifesto Winter Market

Québec City is cold at this time of year, but that shouldn’t deter you from making it your Christmas vacation spot. So, pack your warmest coats (and gloves and scarves!) and embrace it like a true local. As one of the oldest cities in Canada, it has a distinct old-world character — giving you that idyllic European holiday vibe without the long flight time.

Top things to do:

• Zoom down the Au 1884 toboggan run (open from mid-December)
• Window shop in the enchanting Petit-Champlain District
• Enjoy a holiday-themed high tea at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
• Wander the cobbled streets of Old Town
• Attend midnight mass or welcome Christmas Day at the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec

Home to the seat of Catholicism, Rome is the ultimate destination for those seeking a more religious Christmas experience. This is where you’ll find countless churches decorated with presepi (nativity scenes) and huge crowds outside St. Peter’s Basilica awaiting the pope’s Christmas Day speech. Of course, that’s not to say that more secular fun can't be had here — twinkling lights, holiday markets and ice skating rinks also pop up across the city.

Top things to do:

• Spend Christmas Eve inside the centuries-old Pantheon — it hosts midnight mass every year!
• Ride the carousel at the Christmas market in Piazza Navona
• Try traditional Italian holiday treats, such as panettone (sweet bread) and torrone (nougat)

As “The Official Hometown of Santa Claus^®”, it would have been impossible to exclude Rovaniemi from this list. Located near the Arctic Circle, the capital of Finnish Lapland is a true winter wonderland — home to an awe-inspiring Santa Claus Village and countless outdoor activities. Whether you’re travelling with kids or not, this destination is guaranteed to ignite your Christmas spirit and make you believe in Saint Nick.

Top things to do:

• Stay in glass igloo accommodations — perfect for viewing the northern lights!
• Send Santa and his reindeer on their journey to deliver presents
• Meet a pack of dog sledding Siberian huskies
• Recover from a day of snowshoeing or skiing in a traditional sauna

Mexico is a popular place for Christmas holidays, but people typically go here to escape winter festivities — trading snow and Santa for sun and Sangrita. That’s not the case in San Miguel de Allende. While the latter two things can still be enjoyed in this Colonial-era town, the biggest draw is its Las Posadas celebrations. From December 16–24, two people dress up as Mary and Joseph and lead a procession each day (representing the journey made to Bethlehem).

Top things to do:

• See the giant Christmas tree and twinkling lights in Plaza Principal
• Feast on bacalao (salt cod) during a traditional Christmas Eve meal
• Watch a spectacular fireworks show on New Year’s Eve

Interested in changing up your traditions and travelling during the holiday season? Chat with our Travel Experts about the best places to spend Christmas — we can help you plan an unforgettable trip to these and other destinations.