Home christmas The World’s Most Magical Christmas Destinations: 10 places to travel for the holidays

The World’s Most Magical Christmas Destinations: 10 places to travel for the holidays

by Fuel For The Sole
The top and best christmas and holiday destination to travel for your vacation around the world, usa, canada, europe, bucket list, guide, gear, tips, tricks, hacks, winter, December, snow, markets, must see,

Yes, it is that time of year again. Whether you love it or hate it – the Christmas season is here!

We are big Christmas people. Our home has been decorated since November 1st to ensure we get a solid two months of Christmas. It is a tough task not to fall in love with the twinkling lights, the soft carols, the warmth of tradition, the smiles on children’s faces and the magic in the air.

I have been quite obsessed with Christmas ever since I was a small child. For me, it is a time that family and friends get together to smile, laugh, share and love. And with every year that passes, the more nostalgic the season becomes.

Christmas is the big shot of holidays and is one of few holidays that is celebrated so widely throughout the world – and always in a very grandiose way. Of course, every one wants to be home for the holidays, and as the song says – “And the prettiest sight you see is the holly that will be on your own front door”. But if you happen to be traveling during this holiday season, or just want a change of scenery, there are some pretty incredible celebrations to be seen. And if you happen to be a Christmas Grinch, these enchanting places may just make your heart grow a few sizes this year.

So here is our list of The Top Ten Christmas Celebrations Around the World: 🎄

Want to travel but have no money? Check out our posts on budget travel:

#1 – STRASBOURG, FRANCE

The Capital of Christmas Strasbourg, France is a top travel destination for the holidays - fuelforthesole.com
The Capital of Christmas Strasbourg, France is a top travel destination for the holidays.

I suppose the best destination to begin this list will be with the ‘Capital of Christmas’ itself. This ancient town proclaims to have the oldest Christmas market in Europe and is now known as Capitale de Noël (The Capital of Christmas). The annual Christmas market began in 1570 in the Cathedral Square and continues on to this day. The market is not only old, it is big, with over 300 stalls set up in multiple locations throughout the city center. From November 23rd through to December 30th, experience the magic of Christmas here with kilometers of fairy lights, the majestic Great Christmas Tree (France’s largest real Christmas tree), choirs singing on every street corner, a nativity scene tour, and dazzling shows, storytelling and concerts. Enjoy the holiday specialties of Strasbourg including bredele biscuits, mannele, spice bread and mulled wine.

 

#2 – NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA

Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center in New York City is a Top Christmas and Holiday Destination - Fuelforthesole.com
Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center in New York City is a Top Christmas Destination.

We’ve all seen the iconic shot in all our favourite Christmas movies – the grand Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. But there is so much more holiday happenings in this huge city. You have endless options here and will be truly surrounded by Christmas everywhere you go.

No matter what you love about Christmas, you will find it in New York.

  • Kick off the holiday season with ‘Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade‘.
  • If you crave a Christmas show, the center of all things theater offers incredible annual holiday shows like ‘Holidays With the Philharmonic‘, ‘The Nutcracker’ performed by The New York City Ballet, ‘The Radio City Christmas Spectacular‘ and multiple holiday concerts at Carnegie Hall.
  • Grand Christmas displays will be found at Rockefeller Center with the city’s largest Christmas Tree and along Fifth Avenue which has one window display after another.
  • Do some Christmas shopping at one of New York’s multiple Christmas markets like the Union Square Holiday Market or the Bryant Park Winter Village.
  • For a spectacular light spectacle, the neighbourhood of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn has an unspoken competition where each house tries to outshine the next.
  • Dine at the German restaurant Rolf’s and be surrounded by a ridiculous amount of Christmas decorations and lights.
  • Go ice skating at Rockefeller Center or Wollman Rink in Central Park.
  • Visit the big man, Santa himself, at Macy’s famous ‘Santaland‘.
  • For some real nostalgic fun, do a Home Alone 2 movie tour which includes Wollman Rink in Central Park, Carnegie Hall and The Plaza Hotel.

#3 – BERN, SWITZERLAND

To me, Switzerland looks like Christmas all year round. But for the month of December it becomes even more enchanting as it becomes bathed in golden lights. Stroll through the medieval lanes of the city center and visit the city’s multiple Christmas markets. These markets have been an annual tradition for decades and you will be enrobed in Christmas cheer. If you are lucky enough to be in Bern for the holidays, check out some of their famous Christmas markets like the ones on Cathedral Square (Münsterplatz), Orphanage Square (Waisenhausplatz), Kambly Weihnachtsmarkt, and Huttwil Market.

The markets offer you the perfect place to do all your Christmas shopping inside traditional wooden huts and to find the perfect gift for that special person. They also have puppet theaters, music and fairytales, gingerbread decorating under the skilled supervision of the maîtres confiseurs, numerous crafting activities, walks in enchanted winter forests and the chance to enjoy mulled wine, Emmental specialties and fresh-baked cookies.

If you are looking for something even more adventurous, make sure to take a ride down Gurten on their epic tobogganing slopes.

 

#4 – QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC, CANADA

Quebec City, Canada turns into a fairytale Christmas Village and is a top travel destination during the holidays - Fuelforthesole.com
Quebec City, Canada, turns into a fairy-tale Christmas Village and is a top travel destination during the holidays.

Christmas in Quebec City will have you surrounded by snow, ice and lights, making the world around you sparkle.

During the holiday season, Old Quebec transforms their cobblestone streets into a magical Christmas village that resembles the world created by Charles Dickens in ‘A Christmas Carol’. This annual tradition has been voted North America’s Best Winter Wonderland by USA Today and is a must see for the holiday season.

The city has plenty of Christmas events to keep you merry. Make sure to visit their traditional German Christmas Market, take a themed guided tour to discover traditions of Christmas past, visit Quebec’s churches and concert halls to attend annual Christmas concerts and shows, and dine at Holiday themed restaurants.

Although it does not take place during Christmas, Quebec City is also famous for their Winter Carnaval which takes place at the end of January. This has been an ongoing tradition in Quebec since 1894 and is meant to celebrate the beauty of winter and warm the hearts of it’s citizens. Led by it’s mascot, Bonhomme, this is a festival of red, Carnaval songs, day and night parades, ice sculptures and palaces, sleigh and canoe races, and fabulous parties and masquerade balls.

#5 – VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Quebec City, Canada turns into a fairytale Christmas Village and is a top travel destination during the holidays - Fuelforthesole.com
Vienna, Austria, becomes magic at Christmas and is a top travel destination during the holidays.

Vienna is a very popular destination for the holiday season – and it’s easy to see why as the city becomes a magical place around Christmas.

The already breathtaking streets of the city center become even more dazzling in December when it transforms into a fairy-tale with illuminated trees, thousands of crystals and giant chandeliers overhead, fancy Christmas market stalls, adorable little trains, ice skating rinks and nativity scenes.

True to a traditional European Christmas, Vienna is brimming with markets – 25 in fact – where you can stroll, shop, drink mulled wine (Glühwein) or Christmas punch (Weihnachtspunsch) in elaborate collectible mugs, and eat roasted chestnuts and Austrian sausages.

For a dose of culture and history, attend one of many concerts held throughout the city. Perhaps the most famous of them being the “Strauss and Mozart” Christmas concerts at the Kursalon, where Strauss himself performed.

Are you traveling far away from home this Christmas? Make sure you read our post Top 10 Must Have Items for Long Travel Days and carry along these items to help improve comfort and sleep, and reduce anxiety and stress:

#6 – REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

Why not celebrate Christmas as close as you can get to the North Pole and Santa himself? (Although, according to Icelandic legend, there isn’t just one Santa Claus but 13 Yule lads, as well as their parents, Grýla and Leppalúði, who are bad tempered mountain trolls, and their terrifying Yule Cat).

And what better way to celebrate Christmas than under the dazzling Northern Lights?

The Christmas season in Reykjavik has been growing and getting much more attention in recent years. Throughout the season, the city celebrates their history of storytelling, Icelandic folklore and connect people through stories and conversation.

Celebrate the beginning of the season with the lighting of the Oslo Christmas tree. Around the city, a handful of Christmas villages sell traditional Icelandic Christmas foods like cured herring, smoked meats, gingerbread cookies and mulled wine. Stroll through the Reykjavík Botanical Garden for indoor and outdoor lighting displays. Go ice skating at Ingolfstorg Square. And visit one of over 35 Christmas concerts at Harpa.

Or take a short trip to the neighbouring city of Hafnarfjörður, the ‘Christmas Village’, and meander through their quaint town with plenty of shopping, art, restaurants and lava fields, and swim in their naturally warm geothermal pools.

#7 – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Whistler near Vancouver British Columbia turns into a beautiful Christmas village and is a top travel destination during the holidays - Fuelforthesole.com
Whistler near Vancouver, British Columbia, turns into a beautiful Christmas village and is a top travel destination during the holidays.

If you aren’t that into snow, head to the city of Vancouver for the holidays which enjoys the mildest temperatures in the country.

The city transforms into a magical twinkling land throughout the whole holiday season and there is no shortage of Christmas activities to partake in.

You can’t visit Vancouver without going to Stanley Park – and during the holidays it is even more spectacular than usual. The park is lit up with three million twinkling lights and you can take a ride through the park on the Bright Nights Christmas Train.

Slightly north of the city in North Vancouver, you will find Capilano Suspension Bridge where you can celebrate the holidays 110 feet above the forest floor at the Canyon Lights Celebration. All throughout the winter, the entire park is lit up with thousands of lights. You can also go on a ‘Snowy Owl Prowl’, decorate gingerbread cookies and sing carols with the holiday band.

Spend time in downtown Vancouver and you will never run out of Christmas beauty. Go ice skating at Robson Square. Gaze in awe over the amazing light displays at St. Paul’s Hospital, Pacific Center Mall, the light dome at Nordstrom Pacific Centre and an 80 foot Christmas Tree outside Vancouver Art Gallery. And for a view of it all, get a panoramic view of the city on an aquabus or atop the ‘Vancouver Lookout’ tower.

A short drive north and you are at one of the world’s top skiing destinations – Whistler Blackcomb. The village always look like a Christmasy scene, but during December you will find it decorated with festive lights, an outdoor skating rink and horse-drawn sleighs.

For something truly unique to Vancouver, make sure you go see the annual ‘Yule Duel‘ in Gastown. This large outdoor caroling competition takes holiday music to a whole new level. This annual event has dozens of choirs singing and competing in front of a crowd of thousands and is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Our personal favourite Christmas event in the city is the Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza. This traditional German Christmas Market has 80 wooden huts filled with German eats, sweets and treats, a Christmas Carousel, a huge ornament and decoration shop and live entertainment inside a life sized German Christmas Pyramid.

#8 – COLOGNE, GERMANY

Cologne, Germany is the world's center of Christmas and is a top travel destination for the holidays - Fuelforthesole.com
Cologne, Germany is the world’s center of Christmas and is a top travel destination for the holidays.

 

To me, Germany is the epitome of all things Christmas. Not only does Germany have a beautiful winter backdrop, but the country is also the origin of so many beloved Christmas traditions we practice in North America like Christmas Markets, the advent calendar and Kris Kringle.

In Germany, the center of Christmas is in the medieval city of Cologne. Of course, the city is filled with Christmas Markets to explore – the largest and most impressive being the market outside of the Cologne Cathedral with an ice rink, live music and fabulous light displays. The city lights up at Christmas and you can stroll the streets under twinkling lights, admiring the nativity scenes in over 100 locations and sampling traditional Bavarian foods and hot-spiced wine.

German Christmas Markets represent all things Christmas! Germany is a top travel destination for the holiday season - Fuelforthesole.com
German Christmas Markets represent all things Christmas! Germany is a top travel destination for the holiday season.
 
 

#9 – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Experience Christmas in a whole new way with the summer sun shining over you in Sydney. Just because it’s sunny and warm, doesn’t mean Aussies lack the Christmas spirit!

The holiday season begins on November 24, when the city centre hosts a Christmas party with roaming entertainers, stage shows, late-night shopping and food stalls, popcorn carts, mobile cafés and food trucks. Sydney decorates throughout the city center with beautiful and festive light displays.

Meanwhile, on the beaches, many of the Christmas festivities take off with parties, barbecues, carols and fireworks.

Of course, Sydney has their own traditional Christmas markets to shop at and sample traditional Christmas hams, BBQ’d prawns, puddings and brandy-soaked fruit cake. And make sure to get out every bit of holiday shopping at the famous Boxing Day Shopping Spree’s, the day after Christmas.

#10 – VATICAN CITY, ROME

For a more traditional and religious Christmas experience, you’ll want to spend the holidays in Rome and visit Vatican City.

Celebrate the true spirit of Christmas and how it all began by attending the Midnight Mass with the Pope on Christmas Eve at St. Peters Basilica. And on Christmas Day, hear the Pope’s annual speech on the Balcony of St. Peters Basilica at noon. You’ll also find a giant and breathtaking tree decorated in St. Peter’s Square.

This Catholic centered city celebrates Christmas in a big way. Walking around the cobbled streets of Rome you will find elaborate light displays, window decorations, traditional European Christmas Markets, nativity scenes, Christmas Tours and traditional Italian holiday foods like panettone, pandoro and torrone.

Where have you spent Christmas around the world? What are your favourite destinations? Comment below!

Do you love our post? Share it on Pinterest!

The best and top places and destinations to travel to at christmas and the holidays for vacation, cities, countries, places, usa, canada, europe, bucket list, guide, tips, tricks, hacks, fuelforthesole.com
The best and top christmas and holiday travel and vacation destinations - winter, December, snow, must-see, guide, tips, tricks, hacks, gear, bucket list, photography, canada, usa, europe, the world, family, fuelforthesole.com
The best and top places and destinations to travel to at christmas and the holidays for vacation, cities, countries, places, usa, canada, europe, bucket list, guide, tips, tricks, hacks, fuelforthesole.com


*This post may contain affiliate links that help to keep this blog running. Read our disclosure for more information.

Leave a Comment

20 comments

phd dissertation writing services February 11, 2022 - 8:20 am

writing a doctoral dissertation https://dissertationwriting-service.com/

Reply
emils grayslake slots February 4, 2022 - 3:32 am

free slots no downloads https://www-slotmachines.com/

Reply
hollywood slots February 3, 2022 - 10:38 pm

grand win casino slots https://411slotmachine.com/

Reply
slots free February 3, 2022 - 8:19 pm Reply
baba wild slots casino February 3, 2022 - 4:51 pm Reply
best slots near me February 3, 2022 - 11:41 am

scatter slots characters https://slot-machine-sale.com/

Reply
slots lv February 3, 2022 - 10:10 am Reply
pop slots January 28, 2022 - 6:40 pm Reply
slots winning video 2022 January 28, 2022 - 6:04 pm

caesar casino slots game https://candylandslotmachine.com/

Reply
double diamond free slots January 28, 2022 - 9:13 am

big fish free slots games https://2-free-slots.com/

Reply
north leeds gay dating January 15, 2022 - 4:42 am

gay dating apps described https://speedgaydate.com/

Reply
free live gay web can chat rooms January 14, 2022 - 1:37 pm

gay pnp freegay chat denver https://gay-buddies.com/

Reply
shemale/gay online chat sites January 14, 2022 - 9:27 am

chat room for gay chubs https://gaytgpost.com/

Reply
macro sonic dating sim gay January 14, 2022 - 7:21 am

gay dating macho https://gaypridee.com/

Reply
free gay chat line phone numbers January 14, 2022 - 3:13 am

asain gay chat phone lines https://bjsgaychatroom.info/

Reply
1downpour January 12, 2022 - 1:36 pm

2premier

Reply
The Most Extraordinary Vancouver Events You Need to See - Fuel For The Sole Travel & Lifestyle March 5, 2019 - 6:02 am

[…] Check out a full listing of Vancouver Christmas events, as well as other amazing Holiday events around the world in our post “The Worlds Most Magical Christmas Destinations”. […]

Reply
Charmaine November 21, 2018 - 11:47 pm

I’m on board with that idea!!

Reply
Charmaine November 21, 2018 - 9:59 pm

So many magical Christmas destinations in the world! Who knew? I can attest to the beauty of Vancouver at Christmas time and have always wanted to go to New York City for Christmas. Thank you for this beautiful post. I love your Christmas spirit. You have brightened my own sense of Christmas but you always do! I raise my glass of mulled wine to you and yours. Cheers! We are a very lucky family to have such a spirited girl in it to share the season with. Love.

Reply
Meagan and Andy November 21, 2018 - 10:40 pm

❤❤❤ I think we should experiment with some mulled wine this year.. don’t you??? 😁

Reply

You may also like