12 Surreal Places to Travel for Christmas Around the World

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Christmas travel hits different. Last year, I watched the northern lights dance over Finland’s glass igloos while snow silently blanketed the forest around me. Lying there under a blanket, sipping hot chocolate, and watching nature’s light show, I realized some travel moments feel almost too magical to be real. And that’s exactly what Christmas does to places.

From seeing Prague’s Old Town Square sparkle with thousands of lights (while holding the best mulled wine I’ve ever tasted) to watching reindeer wander through snowy streets in Norway’s Tromsø, these are the most beautiful places in December that feel straight out of a fairytale. Let me share my 12 favorite spots that prove why Christmas might just be the most incredible time to explore our world!

Best Places to Travel for Christmas at a Glance

I’ve spent Christmases on beaches, in snow-covered European cities, and everywhere in between. If I had to pick five destinations that I’d book again tomorrow, these are the ones. Here are my top five places to travel for Christmas if you want a shortlist:

1. Bruges, Belgium: Winter Glow runs through mid-February, Belgian markets stay open through the holidays, and the canal-side light trail is free.
2. Strasbourg, France: 11 markets, 300+ chalets, and the oldest Christmas market in France dating back to 1570.
3. Vienna, Austria: My wife is Austrian, so I’m biased…but the palace markets at Schönbrunn and Belvedere are unmatched.
4. Tokyo, Japan: Illuminations that make Western displays look basic, plus KFC on Christmas Eve!
5. Lapland, Finland: Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, husky safaris, and Northern Lights from a glass igloo.

Every listing below has been updated for the 2026-2027 season with confirmed market dates, verified links, and fresh recommendations. I’ve done the research and checked every date against official sources so you can plan with confidence. If something changes between now and December, I’ll update it.

1. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges doesn’t mess around when it comes to Christmas. This year’s Winter Glow runs from November 20, 2026, to February 14, 2027, and the Christmas Markets at Grote Markt and Simon Stevinplein are open through January 3. Unlike Germany, Belgian markets stay open through the entire holiday period, which takes a lot of pressure off your planning.

Grote Markt is where I’ve spent way too many nights sipping glühwein and watching people wobble around the ice rink beneath the 83-meter belfry. Simon Stevinplein is smaller and focuses on local craft products, and I’d pick it over the main market for food every time. Budget around €4-6 for a Belgian waffle and €3-5 for glühwein.

The free Light Experience Trail is a 3km walk through the old town with 10+ light installations that use the canal reflections brilliantly, lit nightly from 5:30pm. For 2026, two brand-new experiences are debuting including a Winter Legend and a new light and music spectacle. There’s also an ice rink by the Minnewater (Lake of Love) for around €8 including skate rental.

• Read next: Last-Minute Travel Gift Ideas

2. Tulum, Mexico

Trading snow for sand might sound weird for Christmas, but Tulum in December is perfect. You’re looking at temps in the low 80s (around 27°C) with barely any rain the whole month, and the water stays at a warm 81°F (27°C). You can swim on Christmas Day here, and yes, it feels as good as it sounds!

There’s a Christmas Market next to the Palacio Municipal Square that runs until around December 17, selling handmade crafts from regions like Oaxaca, Michoacán, and Yucatán. It’s way more authentic than the touristy stuff on the beach road. The real magic happens from December 16 to 24 during Las Posadas, when locals reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter with candlelit processions, carols, and piñatas through downtown.

I love how Tulum blends traditions. You’ll see Las Posadas processions one block over from beach clubs throwing parties under palm trees wrapped in fairy lights. Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido are a short ride from town and some cenotes host candlelit swimming events during the holidays. I did this and floating in underground caves with twinkling lights above was one of the most surreal Christmas experiences I’ve had.

Book accommodations way in advance. This is peak season and prices get expensive fast. Tulum now has its own airport (TQO), which is much closer than flying into Cancún and saves you the long transfer.

3. Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is where I’d send anyone chasing the perfect European Christmas market trip. The Christkindlmarkt at Dom- and Residenzplatz runs from November 19, 2026, to January 1, 2027, and it’s been going since the 15th century. When those star-shaped lights come on above the stalls at night, the whole square looks unreal.

I always end up eating my way through this market. Kaiserschmarrn (rum-soaked pancake pieces with roasted plums) is the best dessert I’ve had at any Christmas market in Europe, and the Bosna (bratwurst with curry ketchup) is perfect cold-weather fuel. Glühwein in hand, Mozart’s birthplace around the corner, snow on the cobblestones. It doesn’t get more Christmassy than this.

There are several markets across the city. Mirabell Palace runs November 19 to December 31, and Hohensalzburg Fortress has a weekends-only market from November 27 to December 20 with views that are hard to beat. I’d catch one of the Adventsingen concerts at the Grosses Festspielhaus (November 27 to December 13) for traditional Alpine music that sets the tone for the whole trip.

• Read next: Breathtaking European Destinations to Visit

4. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo during Christmas is completely wild in the best possible way. Forget everything you think you know about holiday decorations. Japan takes illuminations to a level that makes Western displays look basic, and most of them run from November through February.

Roppongi Hills is probably the most famous spot. Keyakizaka Avenue gets decked out with 800,000 LEDs in white and blue from November 4 to December 25, and that view with Tokyo Tower in the background is perfect for photos. The Christmas Market at O-Yane Plaza returns alongside it with European-style food and gifts. The Marunouchi Illumination near Tokyo Station covers 200+ trees in champagne-gold lights and runs from mid-November all the way through mid-February, so you don’t need to rush your trip to catch it.

Tokyo Mega Illumination at Oi Racecourse is where it gets wild. It’s themed around time travel through Japanese history, and you can take photos with miniature ponies while surrounded by millions of lights. Plus, there’s matcha tiramisu, which is exactly as amazing as it sounds.

The weirdest and best Japanese Christmas tradition? KFC on Christmas Eve. It’s such a big deal you need to order weeks in advance. Tokyo Midtown goes all out too with garden illuminations and an ice rink, running mid-November through late December. The whole city becomes a futuristic Christmas wonderland!

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5. Sydney, Australia

Christmas in Sydney will completely mess with your head, but in the best way. You’re looking at temperatures around 75-85°F (24-29°C) while everyone else is bundling up. It’s summer Christmas taken to the extreme, and once you’ve done it you’ll wonder why you ever spent December freezing.

Bondi Beach on December 25th is legendary. Thousands of people show up in Santa hats and swimwear for what turns into a massive beach party. The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge get incredible light projections that are best viewed from a harbour cruise. I did this a few years ago and watching the lights reflect off the water while sipping champagne was hard to top.

Carols in the Domain is the big one for locals. For 2026, it’s on Saturday, December 19, with gates at 4pm and the main show at 8pm. Families bring picnic blankets and hang out in the Royal Botanic Gardens for outdoor concerts, fireworks, and even fake snow. Free general admission is available, or you can grab reserved seats.

If you’re still in town on December 26, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race kicks off at 1pm in Sydney Harbour with 100+ yachts heading south. The best free viewing is from South Head or Watsons Bay. Between the beach, the carols, and the yacht race, Sydney packs more into Christmas week than anywhere else I’ve been!

6. New York City, USA

NYC at Christmas is exactly like every holiday movie you’ve ever seen, except somehow even better in person. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree gets lit on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, with a live ceremony from 7-10pm, and the whole area becomes Christmas central for the next month. The tree stays lit daily from 5am to midnight through early January.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes runs from November 4 to January 4 and is touristy as hell, but it’s a must-do at least once. Saks Fifth Avenue does a synchronized light show on their entire building facade that literally stops traffic. I’ve stood there freezing for 20 minutes just watching it repeat. Bryant Park has a great holiday market and free ice skating (skate rental extra), and the Union Square Holiday Market runs November 12 to December 24 with handcrafted gifts and seasonal food.

Central Park when it’s snow-covered is hard to beat, especially if you grab a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow-dusted paths while the city sparkles around you. The Serendipity 3 hot chocolate is legendary, thick enough to eat with a spoon and perfect after walking around in the cold for hours. Window shopping along Fifth Avenue is free entertainment, and the department store displays are works of art. Just remember to dress warmly!l

• Read next: Things to Do in New York City at Night

7. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague in winter looks like someone designed a city specifically for Christmas cards. The Old Town Square Christmas market runs from November 28, 2026, to January 6, 2027, daily 10am-10pm. Walking through it while snow falls on those Gothic buildings is peak European Christmas.

The stalls overflow with handcrafted Czech crafts and trdelník (sugar-coated pastry spirals) that smell incredible from blocks away. Svařák (Czech mulled wine) is way stronger than German glühwein, so pace yourself. There’s a second market at Wenceslas Square running the same dates with more space, better food prices, and an outdoor ice rink. For the real local experience, hit Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky), which closes on December 24 but has the best food stalls and far fewer tourists.

Charles Bridge at night with Christmas lights reflecting in the Vltava River is one of the most romantic spots in Europe. I’ve seen couples get engaged here, and the whole scene is ridiculously photogenic. The tree lighting ceremony kicks off opening day at 4:30pm, and December 5 brings Mikuláš (St. Nicholas Day) with costumed figures roaming the streets.

Local cafés serve goulash and beef svíčková that’ll warm you up after walking around in the cold, and Czech beer is cheap and good. Be prepared for crowds on weekends because everyone knows Prague is incredible at Christmas. Go on a weekday evening for the best atmosphere without the crush.

8. Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik at Christmas is dark, cold, and completely magical. You’re getting about four hours of daylight in December, which means the city is lit by candles, fairy lights, and (if you’re lucky) the Northern Lights. It’s a totally different kind of Christmas to anywhere else on this list.

The Christmas Village in Hafnarfjörður is 20 minutes from downtown by bus and runs from December 1 to 23 this year. It’s small but charming, with wooden huts selling Icelandic crafts, hot chocolate, and seasonal food. Iceland has 13 Yule Lads instead of one Santa, and they arrive one per night starting December 12. Kids leave shoes on the windowsill and wake up to gifts or rotting potatoes depending on behavior.

The Blue Lagoon in winter is incredible, especially when there’s snow on the lava fields around the pool. Grab a hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (it’s been open since 1937 and it’s the best hot dog you’ll ever eat), then spend the evening hunting for the Northern Lights from Grótta Lighthouse on the western tip of the city. New Year’s Eve in Reykjavik is also legendary, with community bonfires and one of the biggest amateur fireworks displays you’ll see anywhere.

9. Lapland, Finland

If you want the full Santa Claus experience done properly, Rovaniemi is the place. Santa Claus Village sits right on the Arctic Circle line (you can literally stand on it), and it’s open year-round with free entry. But December is when the place comes alive, with expanded schedules running from November 23 through early January.

You can meet Santa, send postcards from Santa’s Post Office with an official Arctic Circle stamp, and take a reindeer sleigh ride through snow-covered forest. Husky safaris run daily through the winter season and are one of the best things I’ve done in Scandinavia. Northern Lights tours depart nightly from mid-November through March, with a BBQ by the fire included. Sightings aren’t guaranteed, but the guides know the best spots away from light pollution.

For accommodation, the glass igloos at Arctic SnowHotel let you watch the Northern Lights from bed, which is hard to top. Book early because December availability goes fast, especially for the igloos. This is the one destination on this list where I’d say go all in and do every activity you can!

10. Mauritius

Mauritius is one of the best places to travel for Christmas if you want sun, beaches, and a holiday that feels nothing like home. December is peak summer here, with temperatures around 77-86°F and the island’s red flamboyant trees in full bloom. It’s Christmas under palm trees, and it’s as good as it sounds.

The Creole community goes big on Christmas Eve with midnight mass, traditional seafood feasts, and séga music (live drumming and dancing) that spills out onto the streets. Christmas Day itself is a public holiday, and the beaches fill up with families. I’d recommend staying near Grand Baie for the best mix of restaurants, nightlife, and boat trips to the northern islands.

Between Christmas activities, hike up Le Morne Brabant for panoramic views, visit the Chamarel Seven Colored Earths, and snorkel off Île aux Cerfs. Rum distillery tours at Rhumerie de Chamarel are a great afternoon option. If you’re looking for a tropical Christmas destination that combines beach time with real local culture, Mauritius is hard to beat.

11. Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg calls itself the “Christmas Capital of Europe” and honestly, they’ve earned that title. The Christkindelsmärik has been running since 1570, which makes it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe. For 2026, 11 markets with over 300 chalets open across the Grande Île from November 27 to December 27.

The giant tree at Place Kléber is the centerpiece and gets a light and music show every hour after dark. La Petite France is where the half-timbered buildings line the canals and the whole neighborhood looks like a Christmas card. I’d spend most of my time here and around Place de la Cathédrale, where the stalls sit directly beneath the Gothic cathedral. The food is incredible, from tarte flambée (thin Alsatian flatbread with crème fraîche and lardons) to bredele cookies and cups of vin chaud that keep appearing in your hand.

Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends pull massive crowds, especially in December. The markets close on December 24 at 6pm, but the tree and festive lighting continue through December 27. If you’re looking for the best place to travel for Christmas in Europe, Strasbourg belongs at the top of your list.

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12. Vienna, Austria

My wife is from Austria, and I visit Vienna at Christmas most years. It never gets old! The Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt is the city’s flagship market, running from November 13 to December 26 with an ice rink, carousel, and 96+ stalls in front of the lit-up City Hall. It’s packed on weekends, so go on a weekday evening if you can.

The palace markets are what make Vienna different. Schönbrunn Palace opens earliest (November 6) and runs all the way to January 6, turning into a New Year’s market after December 26. Belvedere Palace is back for 2026 after being cancelled in 2025, running November 20 to December 26. For independent makers and a calmer pace, head to Spittelberg (November 14 to December 23), which is my favorite market in the city.

Punsch (spiced fruit punch with rum) is the drink here, not Glühwein. It’s priced around €5-6 plus a €4-5 mug deposit. Each market has its own collectible mug design, and yes, I have too many of them. Grab an Apfelstrudel from a bakery stall, find a spot near the Rathausplatz ice rink, and you’ll understand why I keep coming back!