16 spectacular places to spend Christmas this year

Whatever your perfect Christmas vacation looks like, there's a destination waiting to become part of your holiday traditions.

TL;DR

Looking for the best places to spend Christmas? Here are 16 unforgettable destinations grouped by the kind of holiday experience you're dreaming about.

• Best Christmas markets: Vienna, Budapest, Strasbourg, the Rhine, Prague

• Best snowy Christmas vacations: Quebec City, New York City, Aspen

• Best warm-weather Christmas escapes: Riviera Maya, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, Maldives

• Best cozy Christmas getaways: Salzburg, Tuscany

• Best bucket-list Christmas experiences: Lapland, Tokyo

What kind of Christmas are you dreaming about?

What?! You’re not dreaming about Christmas right now, in the middle of summer? Believe me, I get it. But here's the truth: if you want to get away for the holidays, I’d recommend starting to think about it now, while there’s still availability and prices aren't sky-high.

Switch gears from summer to winter, and let’s dream a little bit.

Maybe your idea of holiday magic is strolling through centuries-old Christmas markets with a warm mug in hand while church bells echo through medieval streets.

Maybe you'd rather watch snow fall outside a cozy mountain lodge. Or you want to build memories with your grandkids. Or you'd rather trade winter boots for flip-flops, and celebrate Christmas on a beach.

The beauty of Christmas travel is that there isn't one right answer!

Here are 16 spectacular places to spend Christmas, each with its own kind of holiday magic.

Strasbourg, France pics from the last time I was there...unfortunately, not at Christmas!

Christmas markets and river cruises

If you've never experienced a European Christmas market, get ready to see why so many travelers look forward to them, year after year. Wooden stalls glow with thousands of lights, choirs fill historic squares with music, and the scent of roasted chestnuts, cinnamon, and fresh pastries drifts through the crisp winter air.

Better yet, you can unpack once and wake up in a different festive city every day, if you’re on a river cruise.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna practically invented elegant Christmas.

The palaces, the grand boulevards, horse-drawn carriages, and dozens of Christmas markets create an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a holiday storybook. Be sure to visit the famous Christkindlmarkt in front of City Hall and enjoy a concert featuring Mozart or Strauss.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest glows during the holidays.

Its Christmas markets are among Europe's best, and after exploring festive stalls, you can soak in one of the city's historic thermal baths while snowflakes drift overhead. That's a pretty memorable way to warm up.

Strasbourg, France

Known as the "Capital of Christmas," Strasbourg has been celebrating the season for centuries.

Its half-timbered buildings, winding canals, and beautifully decorated squares make it one of Europe's most enchanting Christmas destinations.

The Rhine River & its towns

A Rhine Christmas Market river cruise connects you with some of Europe's most beloved holiday towns.

Visit charming villages and cities in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Every stop offers another festive market, another cathedral glowing with lights, and another excuse to sample gingerbread or local holiday treats.

Prague, Czech Republic

Although Prague isn't directly on the Danube or Rhine, it's one of the most popular pre- or post-cruise extensions for Christmas market travelers.

Its Old Town Square, Gothic architecture, and astronomical clock become even more magical when surrounded by twinkling lights and a towering Christmas tree.

Me in charming Quebec!

Snowy Christmases in North America

Sometimes you just want the Christmas movies to come to life.

Here are some destinations that deliver:

Quebec City, Canada

If Europe isn't in the cards this year, Quebec City is probably the closest you'll get without crossing the Atlantic.

Cobblestone streets, French architecture, horse-drawn carriages, and sparkling lights make Old Quebec feel like a living Christmas village.

New York City

There’s probably not another city that embraces Christmas quite like New York.

Go ice skating under the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, admire the elaborate Fifth Avenue window displays, visit the holiday markets in Bryant Park, or just walk through Central Park after a fresh snowfall. Christmas spirit for sure!

Aspen, Colorado

If you’re looking for all the ingredients for a classic mountain Christmas, visit Aspen.

Think crackling fireplaces, snow-covered peaks, horse-drawn sleigh rides, world-class skiing, and cozy restaurants where everyone seems happy to hang out and chat.

Warm-weather Christmas escapes

Who says Christmas has to be cold?

If you're ready to swap snow boots for sandals, these sunny destinations offer unforgettable holiday celebrations with plenty of sunshine.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Celebrate Christmas beside turquoise water while someone else prepares dinner.

Luxury all-inclusive resorts decorate beautifully for the holidays, making this an easy choice for families, couples, and anyone wanting a truly relaxing Christmas vacation. ( I talked about getting away to the Riviera Maya in December in last week's article.)

Costa Rica

Spend Christmas ziplining through rainforests, spotting monkeys and sloths, hiking volcanoes, or relaxing beside beautiful Pacific beaches.

For adventurous families, couples, or singles, it's hard to beat.

St. Lucia

If romance is on your Christmas wish list, St. Lucia delivers.

Its iconic Piton mountains, luxurious resorts, lush rainforests, and spectacular sunsets make it one of the Caribbean's most memorable holiday destinations.

Maldives

For many people, the Maldives is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

Imagine waking up in an overwater villa, snorkeling with colorful fish before breakfast, and watching Christmas Day end with one of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever see. It would be a memorable vacation, no question!

Slow, cozy Christmases

Not every holiday needs to be filled with sightseeing from dawn until dusk.

Sometimes slowing down is the greatest gift. Some great places you can slow down:

Salzburg, Austria

Mozart's birth place feels tailor-made for Christmas.

Baroque squares, festive concerts, nearby Alpine villages, and traditional markets create an atmosphere that's both joyful and peaceful.

If you love The Sound of Music, this destination becomes even more special.

Tuscany, Italy

Christmas in Tuscany isn't flashy. It's slower.

Imagine wandering quiet medieval villages decorated with simple lights, lingering over long family dinners, visiting local Christmas markets, and sipping hot chocolate while overlooking rolling vineyards.

It's less about checking off attractions and more about savoring the season.

Once-in-a-lifetime Christmas experiences

Some Christmas vacations become family legends. Here are two bucket-list Christmas destinations, in different parts of the world and completely different experiences:

Lapland, Finland

If you've ever wanted to meet Santa Claus, this is the place!

Ride a reindeer sleigh, glide through snowy forests on a husky safari, sleep beneath the Northern Lights in a glass igloo, and cross the Arctic Circle.

Children love it. Adults secretly love it just as much.

Tokyo, Japan

Christmas in Tokyo is unlike anywhere else.

Although Christmas isn't celebrated as a religious holiday by most residents, the city goes all out with breathtaking light displays, dazzling illuminations, festive shopping districts, incredible seasonal treats, and one of the world's most unique holiday atmospheres.

It's modern, energetic, and wonderfully unexpected.

Which Christmas vacation fits you?

Still deciding? Here's a quick recap.

Choose Christmas markets if you love history, charming towns, festive food, and unforgettable river cruises.

Choose snowy destinations if your perfect holiday includes fireplaces, hot chocolate, skiing, and winter scenery.

Choose tropical escapes if you'd rather spend Christmas relaxing on a beach than shoveling your driveway.

Choose cozy destinations if you're looking for slower travel, meaningful moments, and plenty of time around the dinner table.

Choose bucket-list adventures if you're ready to make this Christmas one your family will be talking about for decades.

The best Christmas gift could be the trip itself

Long after the decorations come down and the wrapping paper is recycled, the memories remain.

You'll remember wandering a Christmas market with snowflakes drifting through the air. Watching your grandchildren meet Santa in Lapland. Sharing a beach sunset on Christmas Day. Laughing over hot chocolate after a day of exploring a festive city.

Those are the gifts that don't get tucked away in a closet after the holidays.

How about now? Are you thinking about Christmas now?

If you want to spend Christmas or the holidays somewhere extraordinary this year, don't wait too long. Holiday flights, river cruises, and the most popular resorts start filling up months in advance.

I'd love to help you find the Christmas destination that feels just right for you, your people, your traditions, and the memories you want to create. If you’re thinking about a Christmas getaway, near or far, contact me ASAP so we can get planning!