10 Best Christmas Destinations to Visit with Family

For some people, the perfect Christmas vacation involves fully leaning into winter on a snowy mountain somewhere, curled up next to a crackling fire. Others prefer to lounge on a beach as far away from cold weather as possible. Wherever you choose to spend "the most wonderful time of year," you're likely to find some version of holiday cheer.

Looking for inspiration on Christmas destinations? Here is the list of the 10 top Christmas vacation places. Some have snow, almost all have glitter and Christmas spirit is guaranteed. Take a look!!

1. Copenhagen, Denmark - one of the best Christmas destinations

Pick Copenhagen for Christmas. The affordable and friendly capital of Denmark has a glittering city centre and it's easy to get around. If you want full festive fantasy, book tickets in advance for Tivoli Gardens. It's one of the world's oldest amusement parks and is magical at Christmas.

Copenhagen is famous for its castles, which take on a special magical charm at Christmas time. Among the most famous are Kronborg Castle, Christiansborg Palace and Rosenborg Castle.

But the Scandi capital of cool just happens to be pretty cool for kids, too.

- Enjoy park life, Play the slots, Take to the water, Introduce your kids to hygge, Find Dory

2. Dublin, Ireland - best Christmas pubs experience

Find Christmas craic in Dublin during December. The streets feel festive, there are ice rinks and carol singers at St. Patrick's Cathedral. And when you want to get cosy, Temple Bar pubs have you covered. If that sounds like fun, stay at Castle Hotel near Temple Bar.

What also makes Dublin one of the best Christmas destinations is the 12 pubs of Christmas. It's a world-famous competition challenging groups of friends to visit 12 pubs by the end of the night. Needless to say, only the most resilient participants make it to the end.

3. Salzburg, Austria - authentic charming traditions

Experience the festive and very Austrian city of Salzburg. Its famous Baroque architecture looks even lovelier with a snowy mountain backdrop. And it's the birthplace of Mozart so expect a lot of music wherever you go.

It's also home to the oldest Christmas market in Europe which is awash with charming traditions and smells like warm gingerbread. If you want to put that to the test, take a tour of Salzburg Christmas markets with local guides.

4. Berlin, Germany - a mix of cultural and nightlife festivities

Berlin has over 50 neighbourhood Christmas markets, so it's a bit of a festive legend. It's also worth visiting for iconic museums, great nightlife and festive experiences.

From mid-November to the first half of January, the Berlin Botanical Gardens invites you to enjoy a night stroll among the illuminated gardens. During the festive season, there are golden glowing arches, glittering penguin statues and twinkling lights streaming from the trees. Book your visit in advance, tickets sell out very quickly and don't forget to bring your camera to take the perfect festive photo

5. New York, USA - the true spirit of celebration in the metropolis

New York City rules Christmas from the outrageously famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to its dazzling store windows and awesome ice rinks.

One of the recent additions to New York's Christmas atmosphere is the New York Botanical Garden Glow. After dark, you can enjoy a stroll along the mile-and-a-half-long route decorated with all kinds of light installations. Dance performances, ice carving demonstrations and other seasonal activities are also on the agenda.

6. Rome, Italy - Christmas in majestic surroundings

Rome mixes up its festive traditions across the entire city. So you have art collections, museums and monuments combined with Christmassy Italian food and culture. All of that makes Rome one of the best places to visit at Christmas. Plus, there's the Vatican Midnight Mass. So why not have a look around on a private Christmas tour with local guides?

The Christmas tree in the Colosseum in Rome cannot be overlooked. It may be a couple of metres shorter than the one in New York's Rockefeller Centre, but it is a truly spectacular sight.

Italy doesn't miss an opportunity to shine with its famous cooking at Christmas either. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Italian Christmas dinner before midnight mass. Soak up the sights and delights of Ancient Rome.

7. Lapland, Finland - the homeland of Santa Claus

Visit Santa in Finnish Lapland at the legendary Santa Claus Village just outside festive Rovaniemi. It's a kid's Christmas fantasy, and children do love it. But it's also designed to enchant adults. Plus, there's a chance of Northern Lights in December.

Here you can meet the pack of huskies at Apukka and hear their stories before mushing them through the trees on your own sledge.

Explore the surroundings of the Arctic Circle, visit a magical place - Santa Claus Village - try the traditional Lappish food, snow-shoeing.

8. Edinburgh, Scotland - a city steeped in Christmas magic

Edinburgh does a festive atmosphere from its atmospheric Old Town to the Georgian New Town. Edinburgh Castle looks magical, there are colourful Christmas markets and the New Year street party is one of the biggest in Europe.

The Christmas season is the best time to take a magical walking tour of Edinburgh and discover the city where the world of Harry Potter was conceived. Here you will have an opportunity to test your knowledge with an audio-visual quiz, find out your Hogwarts House, and visit Tom Riddle’s grave.

Visit two traditional capitals, London and Edinburgh and discover peaceful Scottish islands.

9. Hong Kong, China - an extravagant Christmas amid glittering skyscrapers

Hong Kong is the most extraordinary city and it dazzles at Christmas. Look forward to illuminated skyscrapers, bedecked shop fronts and Christmas music everywhere. If you want even more glitter, try happy hour with a light show at Sky100 Observatory.

At the Hong Kong Ocean Park, you can have a great time with the kids as well as on your own. Here you'll witness some wonderful world-class Christmas activities and performances. There's also a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree and plenty of roller coasters to suit all tastes.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant and exciting atmosphere of Hong Kong

10. Prague, Czech Republic - an iconic holiday city among the best Christmas destinations

Prague is considered one of the best Christmas destinations for a reason. Festive Prague looks spectacular at Christmas time. How could it not with architecture spanning over 600 years, medieval streets, wooded hills and the lovely River Vitava with its many romantic bridges?

Prague's Christmas markets are in no way inferior to those in other famous Christmas destinations. If you are looking for the most atmospheric and scenic, head to the Old Town Square Christmas Market. Once there, don't forget to make your way to the Old Town Tower to enjoy the view from above.

Also, don't miss out on the opportunity to sample some of the Czech famous Trdelník and Svařák (Czech take on English mulled wine).

The Czech Republic is famous for its beer culture. If you're a beer enthusiast then don't miss these pubs :

U Černého Vola (The Black Ox), Oretánské Náměstí 1

U Kocoura (The Cat), Nerudova

U Hrocha (The Hippo), Thunovská 10

U Rudolfina, Křížovnická

U Zlatého Tygra (The Golden Tiger), Husova 17

Thank you.

Ho Ho Ho!! Merry Christmas!!!!

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