Feel The Holiday Cheer
It may be a little late in the season to plan any major travel, but there's snow time to travel like Christmas. We're of the opinion that the best place to feel holiday joy is at home with your family, but some of these destinations have a little extra ho-ho-ho. Who knows, some of these festive destinations may be closer than you think!
1. New York
Maybe it's a cliché, but there's no place like New York in the winter. There's ice skating at Wollman Rink, the elaborate displays along 5th Avenue, and the Rockettes' annual performance. Sometimes the big city is exactly where you want to be for Christmas.
2. Kiruna
If you can handle the cold, why not kick things up a notch with a visit to the world's first ice hotel. Located north of the Arctic Circle, the northernmost city in Sweden is also home to the original below-zero hotel. Not only are the elaborate icy displays worth the price, but you'll also have a good chance of seeing the northern lights.
Stephan Herz (User:Stephan_Herz) on Wikimedia
3. Dresden
Several cities on this list are particularly well-known for their Christmas markets, but they all pale in comparison to Dresden. Dresden's Striezelmarkt has been running since 1434! There are nearly 240 stands to explore with a pastry and cup of mulled wine in hand.
4. Sydney
How about celebrating Christmas down under? Since Australian Christmas falls during summer, you get all the festive cheer without Jack Frost nipping at your nose. One time-honored Sydney tradition is a beach-front barbecue rather than a holiday roast.
5. Reykjavík
Why settle for one Santa when you can get presents from 13 "Yule Lads"? The more's the merrier in Reyjavík, where a horde of pranksters leave gifts in your shoes...provided you've been good! Beyond the allure of extra presents, December is also one of the best times of year to take in the northern lights.
6. Kennebunkport
Forget the 12 Days of Christmas between the big day and the New Year, Kennebunkport, Maine takes things to the next level with an 11-day Christmas Prelude. If you're a little tired of sugar plum fairies and traditional tinsel, they do things a little different in Kennebunkport. Think Santa arriving on a lobster boat.
7. Quebec City
Paris on a budget (don't let any of the locals hear you say that), Quebec City has all the charm of Europe without the jetlag-inducing flight. Quebec City's charming cobblestone streets and colonial architecture will make you feel like you've been whisked away into a cozy fairytale. If you want a bit of a thrill with your cozy cheer, check out the 1884 toboggan run!
8. Edinburgh
A glass of good whisky will warm even the frostiest of hearts, and there's no better place to get it than Scotland. The historic streets of Edinburgh will make you feel like you're the protagonist in your own Christmas movie. Make sure you stay for Hogmanay, a rowdy celebration of the New Year!
9. Strasbourg
Don't confuse Strasbourg with another, similarly-named western European city known for its Christmas markets. Strasbourg's markets are the oldest in all of France, with nearly 450 years of history to back up this claim. You're sure to find unique gifts for everyone on your nice list.
10. Copenhagen
You've probably heard the word "hygge" thrown around a lot around winter; it's a Danish practice of coziness. If you want nothing more from your holiday season than to snuggle up with a cozy sweater and cup of hot chocolate, then you can head straight to the heart of hygge. Copenhagen is possibly the only place to trim a tree with Swarovski crystals.
11. Bruges
Christmas isn't Christmas without one thing: chocolate! And, if you want the best chocolate on the planet, you have to take a trip to Belgium. There's nothing like wandering a cozy Christmas market in a medieval city with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in hand.
12. Aspen
Even if you don't go in for skiing or snowboarding, you should still consider a trip to Aspen. A stateside chalet town, Aspen is a veritable winter wonderland. Christmas feels more cinematic when you have the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.
13. London
London is a classic Christmas destination, thanks in no part to impressive Hollywood PR from Love, Actually. Don't worry, you won't have to knock on every door the way Hugh Grant does to find a healthy dose of holiday cheer. Not even Ebenezer Scrooge himself was immune to London's yuletide charms.
14. Cape Town
Cape Town has it all. From sunny summer days to candlelit concerts and outdoor film screenings, there's no shortage of activities to enjoy in this underrated African destination. You can even chill on the beach with a couple thousand penguins, which is sure to make everyone back home jealous.
15. Elora
We bet you haven't heard of this holiday destination! Just an hour west of Toronto is one of Canada's prettiest villages that looks like something out of a Hallmark movie. Perched along a frosty river, Elora has cozy cafes serving up afternoon tea, storybook architecture, and breathtaking natural beauty.
16. Leavenworth
No, we're not suggesting you pay a visit to the notorious military prison! Leavenworth has to be one of the most charming towns in Washington. Leavenworth is modeled after an archetypical alpine town, complete with a museum of almost 10,000 nutcrackers.
17. Prague
For an entire month, Prague is transformed into a jaw-dropping maze of Christmas markets, including one in Wenceslas Square—yes, as in Good King Wenceslas. While Prague is beautiful year-round, it's absolutely stunning during the holidays. Your Instagram feed will have your friends drooling.
18. Salzburg
We're not sure if The Sound of Music is really a Christmas movie (well, maybe if you only watch the first half), but if it's on your yearly rotation, you can pay homage to the city where it was filmed. In addition to classical concerts and one of Austria's best Christmas markets, Salzburg has some seriously delicious desserts. Save us a few Linzer Coookies.
19. Dublin
Maybe it's the influx of Irish-set Hallmark Christmas movies, but Dublin just seems festive. Each December, Dubliners enjoy caroling, skating, and dynamic lights festivals. Dublin certainly isn't as warm as some of the other destinations on this list, but that's nothing a pint of Guinness won't fix!
20. Rovaniemi
Several places claim—with varying degrees of legitimacy—to be Santa's hometown but nowhere quite commits to it like Rovaniemi, Finland. The capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is like a lifesize Christmas village. Once you've had your fill of Santa, you can enjoy a traditional Finnish sauna, learn about Sámi reindeer husbandry, and check out nature's prettiest light show.
