Christmas Vacay
It’s that time of year again! Christmas will be here before you know it. Trying to figure out where you’ll spend it? We’ve got you covered. These are, hands down, the best Christmas vacation spots.
Photo Claude TRUONG-NGOC on Wikimedia
5. London, England
Go to London for Christmas and you'll feel like you've stepped right into a Christmas card. This city loves its holiday touchstones like decorated trees, lights on every building, and shop windows full of festive displays. It has some of the best shopping and food in the world - mince pies and a rum toddy, anyone? Plus, Hyde Park turns into an actual Winter Wonderland, with ice sculptures, skating, and an outdoor Christmas fair. If classic Christmas charm sounds like heaven to you, then London is truly the best Christmas vacation spot in the world.
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
To some people, Christmas without snow isn't Christmas. For the rest of us, the holidays are the perfect time to turn up the heat and get a break from winter. There's no better place to do that than Brazil, where the temperature in December hovers in the 70s F. If the country that brought us Carnival has anything to teach us about celebrating a holiday, it’s to go all out. Over-the-top is how most people would describe Feliz Natal in Rio de Janeiro.
Dancing, music, fireworks, light shows, and round-the-clock festivities make Christmas in Brazil quite the event.
Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez on Wikimedia
3. Rovaniemi, Finland
Forget Jesus, the real celebrity here is Santa Claus. Rovaniemi as North as you can go without entering the Arctic Circle, and it’s where Santa Claus calls home. A trip to Finland at this time of year guarantees a White Christmas, with fluffy snow coating the branches of every tree in its vast boreal forests. It’s a beautiful sight to behold - and cold, so pack a parka. The best part about spending Christmas in Rovaniemi, however, is meeting Santa’s furry friends. Yes, reindeer pretty much run amok all winter here, though so far there haven’t been any sightings of one with a glowing red nose.
2. Gruyères, Switzerland
If you spend Christmas in Gruyères, every photo you take will make your friends jealous. Nestled in the alpine mountains, the medieval city is beautiful year-round but exceptionally lovely at Christmas. Decked out lights and evergreen trees, you'll spend your days touring the cobblestone streets and marveling at the stunning views. Visit the famous Christmas Market and stave off the cold with plenty of chocolate and raclette (basically just a fancy word for melted cheese).
1. New York, USA
Everyone should experience a classic New York Christmas at least once in their lives.
Already familiar from countless holiday movies, New York in December is full of yuletide landmarks like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, and activities like ice skating in Central Park. It’s also the best place in the world to celebrate a favorite Christmas pastime: shopping.
