10 Destinations Around the World Every Christmas Lover Needs to Visit Once

Mar. 15, 2025

01of 10Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in LondonFrank Augstein/APEvery November, an elaborate carnival opens in London’s sprawling Hyde Park. It truly is a wonderland: There’s a huge ice rink, a Ferris wheel, an ice bar and plenty ofholiday treatsto get your hands on.Visit London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland02of 10Santa Claus, IndianaKevin Pang/Chicago Tribune/MCT via GettyThe town of Santa Claus, Indiana, goes all out during the holidays in honor of its namesake. This enclave has less than 3,000 residents, but boasts the title of “America’s Christmas Hometown” year-round. There’s a lights display, numerous Christmas-themed events and even a group of volunteers who reply to the many letters the town gets fromchildren looking for Santa.Visit Santa Claus, Indiana03of 10Santa Claus' Village in Rovaniemi, FinlandJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/GettyIf you can’t get to the North Pole,Rovaniemi, Finland, is pretty dang close. Located in the country’s northernmost region, the town takes its geographic position just inside the Arctic Circle very seriously. There, you can find an amusement park known as Santa Claus' Village, which is fitting for a town known as the “official” home of the big man in red. A more grown-up bonus: You can also catch the Northern lights from Rovaniemi.Visit Santa Claus' Village in Rovaniemi, Finland04of 10Circus Conelli in ZurichGettyWith the majestic Alps just a few hours away, Zurich is the perfect setting for any winter celebration. The city really gets in the spirit with the arrival of the annual Circus Conelli, which sets up every year on the small island of Bauschänzli in the middle of the Limmat River, and boasts plenty ofChristmas spirit.Visit Zurich’s Circus Conelli05of 10Christkindlmarket in ChicagoNam Y. Huh/APWant the feeling of a traditional European Christmas market without the transatlantic flight? Head to Chicago’s Daley Plaza, where you’ll find a German-themed Christmas market, complete with holiday treats, ornaments and other gifts.Visit Chicago’s Christkindlmarket06of 10Rockefeller Center in New York CityNoam Galai/GettyCountless Christmas treespop up in New York City during December, but none shines quite as bright asRockefeller Center’s coniferous centerpiece. It’s lit every year in epic fashion, with musical performances and tourists galore. It’s also adjacent to the famous ice skating rink and Radio City Music Hall, where the Rockettes perform their annualChristmas Spectacular.Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree07of 10Krampus Runs in Salzburg, AustriaMartin Schalk/APSalzburg gets even more charming come December with the addition of multiple Christmas markets in the town’s streets, but it gets a little scary, too. Every year, there are “Krampus” runs, a parade where several people dress as a demon that gives punishments to bad children. Think of it as a dose of Halloween at Christmas.Get more information on Salzburg’s Krampus run08of 10Eiffel Tower Ice Rink in ParisKENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/GettyParis is always magical, but it’s got a little something extra during the holidays when the city’s most famous landmark opens up an ice rink underneath. It’s an ultra-romantic holiday spot for visitors to the city of love.Visit Paris' Eiffel Tower Ice Rink09of 10Three Kings Day Celebration in Barcelona, SpainGettyIf you want to experience Barcelona at its holiday prime, it’s best to wait until after Christmas. The real celebration comes on Jan. 5, also known as Three Kings Day, when the city goes wild to commemorate the arrival of the three kings to Bethlehem. How wild? There are fireworks, canons, parades (with elephants and camels!), as well as a swimming competition in Santa suits.Visit Barcelona’s Three Kings Day Celebration10of 10Christmas Markets in Cologne, GermanyOliver Berg/picture-alliance/dpa/APCities all over Europe open up Christmas markets come December, butCologne, Germany’s markets are particularly worth a visit. There are eight separate markets in total, dotted along the Rhine River, where you can get all your holiday shopping done in one fell swoop.Visit Cologne’s Christmas Markets

01of 10Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in LondonFrank Augstein/APEvery November, an elaborate carnival opens in London’s sprawling Hyde Park. It truly is a wonderland: There’s a huge ice rink, a Ferris wheel, an ice bar and plenty ofholiday treatsto get your hands on.Visit London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

01of 10

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London

Frank Augstein/AP

Every November, an elaborate carnival opens in London’s sprawling Hyde Park. It truly is a wonderland: There’s a huge ice rink, a Ferris wheel, an ice bar and plenty ofholiday treatsto get your hands on.

Visit London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

02of 10Santa Claus, IndianaKevin Pang/Chicago Tribune/MCT via GettyThe town of Santa Claus, Indiana, goes all out during the holidays in honor of its namesake. This enclave has less than 3,000 residents, but boasts the title of “America’s Christmas Hometown” year-round. There’s a lights display, numerous Christmas-themed events and even a group of volunteers who reply to the many letters the town gets fromchildren looking for Santa.Visit Santa Claus, Indiana

02of 10

Santa Claus, Indiana

Kevin Pang/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty

The town of Santa Claus, Indiana, goes all out during the holidays in honor of its namesake. This enclave has less than 3,000 residents, but boasts the title of “America’s Christmas Hometown” year-round. There’s a lights display, numerous Christmas-themed events and even a group of volunteers who reply to the many letters the town gets fromchildren looking for Santa.

Visit Santa Claus, Indiana

03of 10Santa Claus' Village in Rovaniemi, FinlandJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/GettyIf you can’t get to the North Pole,Rovaniemi, Finland, is pretty dang close. Located in the country’s northernmost region, the town takes its geographic position just inside the Arctic Circle very seriously. There, you can find an amusement park known as Santa Claus' Village, which is fitting for a town known as the “official” home of the big man in red. A more grown-up bonus: You can also catch the Northern lights from Rovaniemi.Visit Santa Claus' Village in Rovaniemi, Finland

03of 10

Santa Claus' Village in Rovaniemi, Finland

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty

If you can’t get to the North Pole,Rovaniemi, Finland, is pretty dang close. Located in the country’s northernmost region, the town takes its geographic position just inside the Arctic Circle very seriously. There, you can find an amusement park known as Santa Claus' Village, which is fitting for a town known as the “official” home of the big man in red. A more grown-up bonus: You can also catch the Northern lights from Rovaniemi.

Visit Santa Claus' Village in Rovaniemi, Finland

04of 10Circus Conelli in ZurichGettyWith the majestic Alps just a few hours away, Zurich is the perfect setting for any winter celebration. The city really gets in the spirit with the arrival of the annual Circus Conelli, which sets up every year on the small island of Bauschänzli in the middle of the Limmat River, and boasts plenty ofChristmas spirit.Visit Zurich’s Circus Conelli

04of 10

Circus Conelli in Zurich

Getty

With the majestic Alps just a few hours away, Zurich is the perfect setting for any winter celebration. The city really gets in the spirit with the arrival of the annual Circus Conelli, which sets up every year on the small island of Bauschänzli in the middle of the Limmat River, and boasts plenty ofChristmas spirit.

Visit Zurich’s Circus Conelli

05of 10Christkindlmarket in ChicagoNam Y. Huh/APWant the feeling of a traditional European Christmas market without the transatlantic flight? Head to Chicago’s Daley Plaza, where you’ll find a German-themed Christmas market, complete with holiday treats, ornaments and other gifts.Visit Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

05of 10

Christkindlmarket in Chicago

Nam Y. Huh/AP

Want the feeling of a traditional European Christmas market without the transatlantic flight? Head to Chicago’s Daley Plaza, where you’ll find a German-themed Christmas market, complete with holiday treats, ornaments and other gifts.

Visit Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

06of 10Rockefeller Center in New York CityNoam Galai/GettyCountless Christmas treespop up in New York City during December, but none shines quite as bright asRockefeller Center’s coniferous centerpiece. It’s lit every year in epic fashion, with musical performances and tourists galore. It’s also adjacent to the famous ice skating rink and Radio City Music Hall, where the Rockettes perform their annualChristmas Spectacular.Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

06of 10

Rockefeller Center in New York City

Noam Galai/Getty

Countless Christmas treespop up in New York City during December, but none shines quite as bright asRockefeller Center’s coniferous centerpiece. It’s lit every year in epic fashion, with musical performances and tourists galore. It’s also adjacent to the famous ice skating rink and Radio City Music Hall, where the Rockettes perform their annualChristmas Spectacular.

Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

07of 10Krampus Runs in Salzburg, AustriaMartin Schalk/APSalzburg gets even more charming come December with the addition of multiple Christmas markets in the town’s streets, but it gets a little scary, too. Every year, there are “Krampus” runs, a parade where several people dress as a demon that gives punishments to bad children. Think of it as a dose of Halloween at Christmas.Get more information on Salzburg’s Krampus run

07of 10

Krampus Runs in Salzburg, Austria

Martin Schalk/AP

Salzburg gets even more charming come December with the addition of multiple Christmas markets in the town’s streets, but it gets a little scary, too. Every year, there are “Krampus” runs, a parade where several people dress as a demon that gives punishments to bad children. Think of it as a dose of Halloween at Christmas.

Get more information on Salzburg’s Krampus run

08of 10Eiffel Tower Ice Rink in ParisKENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/GettyParis is always magical, but it’s got a little something extra during the holidays when the city’s most famous landmark opens up an ice rink underneath. It’s an ultra-romantic holiday spot for visitors to the city of love.Visit Paris' Eiffel Tower Ice Rink

08of 10

Eiffel Tower Ice Rink in Paris

KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty

Paris is always magical, but it’s got a little something extra during the holidays when the city’s most famous landmark opens up an ice rink underneath. It’s an ultra-romantic holiday spot for visitors to the city of love.

Visit Paris' Eiffel Tower Ice Rink

09of 10Three Kings Day Celebration in Barcelona, SpainGettyIf you want to experience Barcelona at its holiday prime, it’s best to wait until after Christmas. The real celebration comes on Jan. 5, also known as Three Kings Day, when the city goes wild to commemorate the arrival of the three kings to Bethlehem. How wild? There are fireworks, canons, parades (with elephants and camels!), as well as a swimming competition in Santa suits.Visit Barcelona’s Three Kings Day Celebration

09of 10

Three Kings Day Celebration in Barcelona, Spain

If you want to experience Barcelona at its holiday prime, it’s best to wait until after Christmas. The real celebration comes on Jan. 5, also known as Three Kings Day, when the city goes wild to commemorate the arrival of the three kings to Bethlehem. How wild? There are fireworks, canons, parades (with elephants and camels!), as well as a swimming competition in Santa suits.

Visit Barcelona’s Three Kings Day Celebration

10of 10Christmas Markets in Cologne, GermanyOliver Berg/picture-alliance/dpa/APCities all over Europe open up Christmas markets come December, butCologne, Germany’s markets are particularly worth a visit. There are eight separate markets in total, dotted along the Rhine River, where you can get all your holiday shopping done in one fell swoop.Visit Cologne’s Christmas Markets

10of 10

Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany

Oliver Berg/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Cities all over Europe open up Christmas markets come December, butCologne, Germany’s markets are particularly worth a visit. There are eight separate markets in total, dotted along the Rhine River, where you can get all your holiday shopping done in one fell swoop.

Visit Cologne’s Christmas Markets

source: people.com