I know what you’re probably thinking. “Another Christmas destination travel list.” But hear me out.
This isn’t a round-up of places you’ve already scrolled past fifty times this week. This is for those who want to experience something special this holiday season. Not just take pictures under a giant tree and go home. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few of these places myself, and I’ve gathered tips from travelers who know how to get under the skin of a city, not just skim the surface.
Let’s get into it.
London, England
London is unapologetically festive at Christmas. And I mean that in the best way. Oxford Street becomes a river of gold light, and the energy is somehow both cozy and electric. My advice? Start your trip with a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Yes, it’s touristy. But trust me, doing it at night with the Christmas lights glowing above you, scarf pulled up around your face, gloves gripping a paper cup of mulled wine, it feels like a movie.
Skip the overly packed Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park unless you’re traveling with kids. Instead, walk through Covent Garden, where the decorations always feel slightly magical. Duck into a small pub in Soho or grab cocktails in the dark velvet interiors of Swift. And if you want to do something genuinely special, go for a Christmas-themed afternoon tea at Claridge’s. You’ll talk about it for years.
Paris, France
I didn’t believe in Paris at Christmas until I saw it with my own eyes. It’s quieter than usual, and that makes it even better. The cold is the type that seeps into your bones, but it gives you a reason to stop into a café every few blocks for vin chaud or a hot chocolate so thick you need a spoon.
Galeries Lafayette does a giant tree under the glass dome — yes, it’s busy, but it’s beautiful. And every bakery seems to triple its pastry output in December. Try a bûche de Noël at a local boulangerie instead of a chain. Then take the cruise on the Seine at dusk when the bridges are lit, and the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour.
My best memory? Standing outside the Notre-Dame with a warm crepe, listening to an impromptu choir sing O Holy Night in French. It was snowing lightly. People clapped after the last note. It was… something else.
New York City, USA
New York is the epicenter of Christmas clichés, and somehow, none of it feels tired when you’re actually there. The Rockefeller tree is crowded. Fifth Avenue windows are impossible to photograph properly. But it’s all worth seeing once in your life.
Do the Big Bus night tour if you want to see the city from above while staying warm. Or bundle up and walk from the West Village to Central Park. There’s something about seeing the city from street level that makes it feel like it belongs to you.
If you like nightlife, head to a rooftop bar like 230 Fifth where they set up heated igloos. Otherwise, duck into a speakeasy like Attaboy on the Lower East Side for a drink you’ll think about for days. Or better yet, go ice skating at night in Bryant Park and eat Belgian fries after.
Vienna, Austria
I didn’t expect Vienna to steal my heart, but it did. It’s old-world, graceful, and built for this season. Everything smells like roasted almonds and cinnamon. If you’ve never sipped hot wine while listening to a live string quartet in a city square surrounded by lit-up palaces, make this your year.
The Christmas market at Rathausplatz feels like something from a fairytale. Not just because of the setting, but because people are genuinely happy to be there. My advice? Try the käsekrainer (cheese-stuffed sausage) and the apfelstrudel. And go to a classical concert in a historic church — it feels less like a performance and more like a ceremony.
Prague, Czech Republic
If you’re chasing a snow globe fantasy, Prague is your place. The architecture alone makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook. The whole city glows in December, and the Christmas market in the Old Town Square is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
There’s an energy in Prague that feels both romantic and slightly gothic. Drink hot honey mead while watching the astronomical clock strike the hour, and if you can, climb the tower just before sunset. The view is unforgettable.
Later, head to a jazz club hidden down a narrow alley or grab a local beer at a cellar pub. Prague doesn’t try to impress. It just quietly wins you over.
Lapland, Finland
I almost didn’t include this because it feels like something from a dream. But Lapland is real, and if you can make it happen, you won’t regret it.
Rovaniemi is technically the “official” hometown of Santa Claus, but it’s more than a gimmick. Ride in a reindeer-drawn sleigh through a forest so quiet it feels holy. Watch the northern lights while lying under a glass dome in the middle of a frozen lake. And spend an afternoon doing nothing but sitting in a wooden sauna before jumping into snow.
It’s extreme. But in the best, most life-affirming way.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin wears Christmas like an old leather jacket — not fancy, but full of character. The markets are lively, especially Gendarmenmarkt, which mixes the festive with the elegant. There’s food everywhere — bratwurst, roasted nuts, and glühwein served in mugs shaped like boots.
What surprised me most was how cozy Berlin feels in winter. The contrast between the gritty history and the soft light of Christmas makes everything feel more alive.
If you’re into nightlife, you already know Berlin doesn’t sleep. But December makes everything a bit warmer, somehow more welcoming. End your night at a club, or in a candlelit bar playing Bowie on vinyl. Either way, it works.
Rome, Italy
Rome in December is quieter, colder, and far more spiritual. Go for the history, stay for the energy. The Vatican is moving at any time, but if you can attend Christmas Eve Mass (even just to stand in St. Peter’s Square), it’s unforgettable.
The streets are decorated, but not overdone. There are nativity scenes everywhere. Sip espresso in Trastevere, visit churches you’ve never heard of, and don’t miss the open-air markets in Piazza Navona.
Rome doesn’t try to be magical at Christmas. It just is.
Quebec City, Canada
I spent one of the most beautiful Decembers of my life here. It’s like someone recreated a European Christmas village but made it more genuine. Every building is decked out. Every storefront has greenery and soft white lights.
Walk through Old Quebec with snow falling and you’ll understand why people come here from all over the world. Try maple taffy rolled in snow, tour the German Christmas Market, and warm up in one of the tiny restaurants serving local cheese and wine.
The people are proud of their city, and it shows. You’ll feel like you belong.
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is elegant. Polished. But still has plenty of soul, especially around Christmas. Bahnhofstrasse is one long string of lights and designer windows, but if you head down to the lake or into the Old Town, you’ll find the quieter charm.
Take the Fondue Tram if you want the most Swiss experience possible. Yes, it’s literally a tram that serves fondue while you ride around the city. It’s kitschy in the best way.
Barcelona, Spain
I know, Barcelona probably isn’t the first place you’d think of for Christmas. But that’s exactly why it’s perfect. It’s festive but not freezing. You get lights and markets and music, but also tapas, cava, and sun in the afternoon.
Locals celebrate with caga tió (look it up — it’s delightfully weird), and the city feels relaxed. You can wander the Gothic Quarter with a warm pastry in your hand and hear carols in Catalan.
If you want nightlife, there’s no shortage of beach clubs or hidden bars. Barcelona doesn’t turn down for December — it just adds fairy lights.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
There’s something almost poetic about Christmas in Amsterdam. The way the lights reflect off the canals. The smell of stroopwafels and cinnamon drifting from the markets. The sound of bicycles whisking past snow-dusted bridges.
Do the canal cruise at night. Even if you’ve done one before, do it again at Christmas. The Light Festival turns the city into an open-air gallery. And afterward, stop by a brown café (the Dutch version of a pub) and order a hot toddy.
It’s a slower, quieter kind of magic. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
Conclusion
Wherever you go this Christmas, go with curiosity. With your camera tucked away half the time. With the willingness to get lost down alleys that smell like sugar and spice.
Talk to locals. Try the food. Take the cheesy bus tour. Stand in the cold and listen to street musicians even if your toes are freezing.
