To celebrate the festive season here are 24 of the best Christmas vacation destinations you should consider visiting. Go here to read Part 1 and Part 2.
8. Quebec, Canada
You know it’s Christmas in Canada when the weather becomes COLD. But who doesn’t love a White Christmas? Imagine Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol has come to life, and it will look a lot like Old Quebec City during the holidays. Every cozy bistro and caf is decorated with bright lights and adorned with golden Christmas trees and wreaths.
Quebec has loads on offer for families in the Christmas season, such as the German Christmas Market, a true Christmas Village where the snow, lights, and European architecture create a magnificent setting, as well as a selection of Christmas-themed tours. Add in the fact that the kids can enjoy a large variety of snow activities. There really is something really magical about Quebec at Christmas time!
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting Quebec City. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
7.New York, United States of America
“Some folks like to get away,
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
But I’m takin’ a Greyhound on the Hudson River line
I’m in a New York state of mind”
Billy Joel must have been thinking of Christmas in New York when he wrote that song.
Come Christmas and New York City is as magnificent as any European Christmas town where everything is fun and awesome! From musicals, lights to windows display starting from November, things are really done in full swing here. Marvel at the
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting New York. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
Find out what 15 things you can do in New York during the summer
6. Banff National Park, Canada
The Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a bucket list destination for many. Banff and the surrounding Canadian Rockies is an unquestionable 4 season destination with an unlimited number of things to do in Banff in winter. A Banff winter dramatically transforms the landscape into a winter wonderland opening up possibilities not available in the warmer months.
Lake Louise is gorgeous in any season but in winter it’s like walking into a snowglobe. The Lake Louise ice castle, Lake Louise skating, and Lake Louise snowshoeing and cross-country skiing across the lake combine for a scene from a winter wonderland movie. Take all of this in from a horse-led sleigh ride on a path alongside the lake. Bundle up in a blanket or cozy up next to your travel companions. If you’re lucky, someone will shake the snowglobe and flurries will fly!
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting Banff National Park. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
Here is my list of 12 Things to do in Banff National Park in Canada
5. Prague, Czech Republic
With Prague, there’s no guaranteed snow at Christmas but because this city is so evocative at Christmas, theres still plenty of reasons for you to decide you want to spend your holidays there, which is
The most important feature of Prague is the true Christmas atmosphere, scented with cinnamon and clove. Wherever you go for your self guided walking tour of the city you will find mulled wine, delicious
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting Prague. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
4. London, United Kingdom
Like Prague, snow in London isn’t going to happen for sure in December. With global warming, the temperatures aren’t as cold as they used to be, so its much more unlikely
Christmas in London is cold and glorious. From Christmas shopping to enjoying the Christmas show, everything is marvelous and amazing. Take the whole family and catch a London Christmas show on the West End or the Annual Christmas Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. If shows and
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting London. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
3. Reykjavik, Iceland
Unsurprisingly, Christmas becomes more magical the closer you get to the Arctic Circle - it must be something to do with Santa and the North Pole. In Reykjavik, December is one of the most exciting times of the year. It’s also one of the brightest and cheeriest, despite only a few hours of daylight.
According to Icelandic legend, there isn’t one Santa Claus but 13 Yule lads who parade down the streets. Around the city, a handful of Christmas villages sell traditional Icelandic Christmas foods like cured herring, smoked meats, gingerbread cookies and mulled wine. (Yummy)
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting Reykjavik. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
2. Santa’s Lapland, Finland
For a truly unique and unforgettable experience, head north to Finlands Arctic Circle. Not only will your kids get to meet Santa himself, but they will also enjoy scouting out his reindeer throughout the forests.
Spoil the kids and take them to the amusement park called Santa Park not far from the village or head out to enjoy some of the wintertime snow activities on offer.
This holiday might be a tad expensive, but it truly will be one to remember! I recommend that you look into it and see if there are any Christmas vacation packages for families available for next year!
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting Santa’s Lapland. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
1. Vienna, Austria
Austria’s capital becomes a magical wonderland all December as the town squares are decorated with enormous, illuminated trees and glitzy Christmas market stalls filled with mulled wine, crafts and, roasted chestnuts. And around Christmas time, the beauty of Vienna takes on a different tone. Strings of Christmas lights adorn every conceivable street, residents and tourists alike meander through Christmas market stalls hunting for the prettiest mugs to take home. Everything is slightly tinted in purple and blue, with warm lights reminding you every moment that CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!
No matter which way you look, each row is uniquely decorated with shimmering lights in yellow, red, or white. Landmarks are also covered with Christmas lights or have lights projected on them. This is truly a sight you can see no other time of the year than winter!
Check out hotel availability if you planning on visiting Vienna. Also, grab flight deals while you at it too.
Merry Christmas everyone
I hope you enjoyed my list of 24 Best Christmas Vacation Destinations. If you try and do one each year, you and your kids are going to have the best 24 unique Christmas memories that will last a
P.S. - As someone who spent close to 20 years working in insurance, I strongly recommend buying travel insurance if you are going on holiday. It costs a fraction of your holiday but covers the potential risk of the entire holiday.
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Is there anything more magical than London getting its annual festive facelift? Whether you’re planning to go ice skating, popping into one of the many Christmas markets and fairs or doing a spot of shopping at one of London’s best Christmas shops, take a break to stare in awe at the illuminations gracing our city.
London is my best pick on vacations. My kids even love seeing the Christmas lights on the street of London.
Hi Dennis,
Christmas all over the world is heralded with beautiful sceneries, decorations on the streets and homes.
Out of your recommended cities for vacations I prefer Quebec Canada any day any time as it provides the most exciting and exhilarating experience you can ever think of.
Above all , don’t forget the essence of the season -Christ . And remember to share the love.
I used to live in Europe for a bit part of my life, so I can confirm all the praises you had for European cities. I visited most of the ones you mentioned, except Iceland’s capital. But I agree that Vienna is one of the best ones I’ve seen.
The city is great anyway - but it just seems to get even better on Christmas. The Christmas market they have is better than in any other city I’ve visited, to be honest (I liked it even more than London). The next country I want to visit for Christmas is Italy. I know there won’t be any snow and it won’t look like the typical Christmas, but I’m really curious to see how it’s like. Have you visited any Italian city for Christmas (or another time)? Do you think it’s worth it?
Love your vacation list. The only one I have done on part 3 here is New York. There is something almost magical during the winter holiday season. A not to be missed trip for sure. You also had Vienna Austria and Old Quebec City Canada both are on my bucket list. I never thought about Vienna in the winter though so something I must explore further after reading your article.
This is a fun article to read. I’ve added a couple of destinations to my “need to visit” list.
I have been in New York City during the Christmas season and it is so amazingly beautiful. The Rockefeller Christmas tree is a site to behold. I also like to watch the folks ice skating there as well.
I stayed in a hotel in Times Square that had a beautiful view where you could watch the ball drop. They told me that room during New Years Eve rents out for $12,000 a NIGHT. (I was not staying there during that time for sure). 🙂
I also like all the little “pop up” Christmas markets around the city as well. Even though it’s a large city, there are some experiences that make it feel like a small town.
Thanks again for adding to my “need to visit” list.
Hi nancy,
glad you like the post! and thanks for the info about NYC! good to know and share!
Hi Tarun - I haven’t had a holiday in over two years but I’m going to go away soon! I’m in the UK and we have a bitter, wet cold, not like the dry cold in Austria and Finland, for example.
I’ve actually been to a lot of the places on your list although not in winter. Quebec and Prague are wonderful, atmospheric cities and I’d be very happy to visit them again. It doesn’t have to be winter to visit Reykjavik 🙂 I found the Icelanders to be very warm and hospital although, like one or two major cities, those in Reykjavik were a bit colder (no tempterature puns at all here!). I’vealso been to London many times, of course, and you simply can’t beat it for shopping at any time of year. Christmas time is particularly spectacular as there are lights all over the main city streets and a walk down OXford Street is a must. London also has a lot of olde worlde pubs, many with a real fire, and you can’t beat relaxing there with a drink after a hard day’s shopping! 🙂
Ian