I’m a big believer in spending Christmas at home. As a child, I loved spending Christmas in my living room around a Christmas tree that my family personally decorated, and I very much envision spending Christmas with my future kids at home one day. That said, as I’ve grown older, I’ve started to see the charm in spending Christmas in a location other than home. And it’s gotten me thinking, if I had to spend Christmas somewhere besides home, where would that be? Here are my top Christmas destinations around the world where you may catch me pre-kids or as an empty nester.
1. Switzerland
Who could say no to a European Christmas? There are several top Christmas destinations in Europe, and I think Switzerland lands at the top for me. Between Lugano, Basel, Zermatt, and so many others, there are dozens of small, cute Christmas towns to explore in the country itself. While you’re not guaranteed a white Christmas, there is a decent chance you’ll wake up with a beautiful dusting of snow.
I also love the idea of going to Switzerland for Christmas because it’s near other great European countries that also have Christmas markets like France, Germany, Italy, and Austria. Switzerland is an expensive destination, but if you know you’re going to splurge on your Christmas vacation, this is the perfect place to do it. You can also check off a bucket list item like skiing in the alps if you want to.
2. New York City
I’m about as anti-New York City as you can get. I know, I know. It’s the greatest city in the world. Except I don’t like it. There are so many other cities in the world that I’d rather spend time in. However, I do think there’s something magical about Christmas in New York City. I love the idea of visiting Rockefeller Center to see the giant Christmas tree and go ice skating, attending mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and staying at the plaza. I’ve clearly been indoctrinated by Christmas movies, but I still think it would be a fun fortune to spend (and yes, I’m aware it would cost a fortune…no gifts that year!).
3. Colorado
A ski vacation meets Christmas holiday is what I’m envisioning on this one. My brother recently purchased a condo in Winter Park, Colorado. While it’s still under construction, my family loosely proposed spending Christmas there next year when it’s finished. If we do, that’ll be my first white Christmas in at least 15 years (if not longer) and we’ll be able to take advantage of all the great skiing that Colorado provides, which is a gift in itself.
4. Banff
Banff, Canada is a bucket list destination for me, but I feel truly torn as to whether I want to visit this destination in the summer or winter. It looks breathtaking in both seasons, and I think it’d be a fun area to ski as well. I’d be ecstatic if it was proposed for a future Christmas. Although I know I’d leave the area wanting to come back to visit Banff and Lake Louise during the summer when it wasn’t as cold and additional activities were available.
That said, there are a wide variety of Banff winter adventures and activities available. This site is just an example of what’s available.
5. London
London is another top Christmas destination. For me, it’s the perfect cross between New York and Switzerland. It’s a major city and has the quintessential atmosphere that provides during the holiday season, but it also has Christmas markets like other European cities. However, since I’ve studied abroad in the city, I feel like it would feel a bit homier than Christmas in another European city would. I also think the cadence of the trip would also be different. If I were to visit Switzerland for Christmas, I would split my time between a few different cities (maybe even countries) because each would be smaller and have less to see. For that trip, my focus would primarily be on the Christmas markets. For London, I could see myself staying for at least 4-5 days and then tacking on an additional destination that wasn’t as Christmas-oriented. This trip would focus more on the city itself and the activities it provides rather than just the Christmas markets.
Final Thoughts
Do you have any top Christmas destinations you’ve been dreaming of? Leave a comment below! I’d love to add some new ones to my list. I’m clearly biased toward chillier locations, but I could be convinced otherwise.