From traditional alpine landscapes where you can ramble through festive Christmas markets adorned with brightly-coloured twinkling lights to escaping the cold to enjoy Christmas in the Caribbean for a different kind of Christmas celebration.
Here are some ideas of the best places to spend Christmas in 2022.
Bruges, Belgium
Charming and captivating, this pretty mediaeval city is enchanting year-round, but it’s even more special during the festive season.
If you are looking for a mesmerising travel experience, Bruges should definitely be high up on your best places to spend Christmas list.
Of course, there’s the famous Christmas markets which form part of what the city defines as the ‘Winter Glow’ where you can find everything from Christmas decorations and hand-crafted gifts to artisan food and drink.
What could be more magical than wandering this UNESCO-listed maze of cobbled streets, picturesque squares, and scenic canals?
Make sure that you follow the Winter Glow light trail which takes you on an enchanting journey through a myriad of light installations throughout the city centre.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Regardless of the season you visit in, there’s no doubt that Reykjavik is an alluring destination and it’s one of the best places to spend Christmas
From the snow-clad mountains to the enigmatic Northern lights, there’s really something about the Land of Fire and Ice, but this is magnified even further at Christmas time.
If you are lucky, you might spot the mystical Northern Lights from certain parts of the city. I
f you take a stroll through the streets of downtown Reykjavik you can peruse the festive markets and the colourful Christmas decorations which includes the Yule Cat which has over 6,000 LED lights on it.Â
One of the most popular things to do in Reykjavik at Christmas is to go ice-skating.
Head on over to the Skautahöllin at Laugardalur where you will also find the beautiful Botanical Garden.
You can also try disco skating, during which popular songs are played and disco lights are lighting up the place.
Foodies will adore one of the best food markets in Iceland, Jolakras at Fogetagardurinn Square where some of the best chefs in Reykjavik come together to sell Christmas-themed street food.
New York City, USA
The Big Apple is world-renowned for being one of the best places to spend Christmas and it’s easy to see why.
A festive wonderland, New York is the place to be for a pre-Christmas break and continuously pulls out all the stops to make sure there’s oodles of festive fun for everyone.
From gazing in wonder at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and skating in Central Park to admiring the spectacular window displays on Fifth Avenue and heading to the neighbourhood of Dyker Heights to see the residents’ holiday lights, there’s plenty of things to cross off the things to do in New York at Christmas list.
One of our favourite things to do in the city that never sleeps is to take a twilight walk over a twinkly Brooklyn Bridge.
Not only is it practically a rite of passage for visitors to New York, it’s completely free too and you’ll enjoy some of the most unparalleled views of the New York City skyline. Is it one of the best places to spend Christmas? Absolutely!
Lapland, Finland
It’s not just for kids, but when it comes to a magical Christmas for families, Lapland is one of the best places to spend Christmas full stop.
For couples, why not take a romantic husky-sled ride through the lush forests that are glittering with frost? The romance doesn’t stopÂ
Think glass igloos, cosy wooden cabins and cable cars and gondolas that double up as saunas.Â
Of course, a visit to Lapland whether you’re visiting for the day or staying a bit longer is not complete without a visit to see Father Christmas!Â
This makes for an unforgettable experience where you and your loved ones can make plenty of treasured memories.
Throw in all the snow, the reindeer and the beautiful Northern Lights makes Lapland one of the most memorable and one of the best places to spend Christmas.
Barbados, The Caribbean
Without a doubt, a white Christmas is something very special and whilst there’s not much chance of a white Christmas in the UK, there’s something to be said for feeling the warm sun on your back at least once at Christmas and Barbados has to be one of the best places to spend Christmas to enjoy some winter sun.
Whilst Christmas is most definitely celebrated on this Caribbean island and many of the luxury hotels and resorts offer a traditional Christmas dinner, you also have the opportunity to try delicious traditional dishes like Bajan black cake, sweet potato pie, jug jug, baked ham and more.Â
Food alongside flora and fauna are significant parts of the festivities in Barbados, one particular highlight is the Christmas Candles and colourful poinsettias which are strewn all over the island.
One more for the ‘F’ – it’s fashion! Every Christmas, Barbadians put on their most stylish outfits and head over to Queen’s Park where they can enjoy a fabulous fashion show and you may even find yourself on the front page of the newspaper or on the TV if you really dress to impress!
Vienna, Austria
Get into the seasonal spirit with Vienna and its magical Christmas markets. This pretty city is most definitely one of the best places to spend Christmas in Europe.
From indulging in hot-roasted chestnuts and Christmas punch and shopping for handcrafted goods at the Christmas Village Belvedere Palace to listening to the beautiful carols at one of the city’s atmospheric advent concerts and gliding on the glistening ice at the twirl in the crisp Viennese air.Â
You can pick up some wonderful gifts at one of the Christmas markets such as fashion accessories, leather and pottery items and food items like chocolate, jam, wines, and of course, plenty of schnapps (there’s always room for schnapps!)
Dublin, Ireland
There’s no better way to warm the cockles of your heart on a cold Christmas evening than enjoying a pint of Guinness and a whiskey at a cosy retreat at the Temple Bar to last you through New Years Day.
If you have shopping on your mind, make sure that you head over to the Christmas Market in the Courtyard of Dublin Castle. Take a stroll down Grafton Street and admire the magical lights that stretch up and down the length of the street.Â
From Christmas carolling by candlelight to fun-filled winter-themed parks, Dublin is one of the most exciting and one of the best places to spend Christmas and New Year.Â
