The Ultimate Holiday Travel Bucket List
Like I’ve said before, there aren’t many things better than the holidays, and the world is filled with many places to experience the holiday season. From historical Christmas markets, amazing light displays, to Santa’s Village, it’s clear the world embraces holiday cheer. Here are the 25 top experiences to add to your holiday travel bucket list.
The Ultimate Holiday Travel Bucket List
EUROPE
Visit the hometown of Santa Claus in Lapland, Finland: Experience a winter wonderland in the official hometown of Santa Claus, complete with a visit to Santa’s village, reindeer sleigh rides and seeing the Northern Lights.
Visit the “Capital of Christmas”, Strasbourg, France: Strasbourg, France, definitely earns its title as the "Capital of Christmas" and is one of the top Christmas destinations in the world. The city’s medieval half-timbered houses and cute cobblestone streets are decorated for the holidays, making the city feel like a fairytale. Strasbourg is also home to some of the oldest (and famous) Christmas markets in Europe.
Experience the Christmas Markets of Vienna: Vienna is another charming and enchanting destination during the holiday season. The city’s centuries-old traditions are displayed through its Christmas markets. You can try warm mugs of mulled wine and taste Austrian pastries like strudel and gingerbread.
Attend the Festival of Lights in Berlin: The Festival of Lights is another top holiday travel bucket list item. There are light installations and projections on the cities iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, and the TV Tower. Berlin lights up with so many colors and is so magical.
Discover the Christmas Markets of Prague: Stroll through the charming markets in Old Town Square, surrounded by historic buildings and the majestic Prague Castle.
Visit the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in London: Another holiday travel bucket list tree lighting ceremony is in London. The Christmas tree was a gift from Norway as a symbol of their gratitude for Britain’s support during World War II. During the tree lighting ceremony, there are also are choirs singing carols and the air is filled with excitement!
Explore the Christmas Markets of Brussels: Another amazing Christmas market in Europe is Grand Place in Brussels. There is a ferris wheel, ice skate rink, and hundreds of food and gift stands. Be sure to try the Belgian chocolates and waffles as you wander through the market.
Take a Christmas River Cruise in Europe: A Christmas River cruise is the perfect way to embrace the holiday season and see as many holiday-sights as possible. You can sail along the Rhine or Danube rivers and stop at charming villages and festive markets along the way.
Visit the Edinburgh Christmas Market: The Edinburgh Christmas Market is surrounded by the city’s medieval architecture. Around the holidays, it has such a magical charm with holiday decorations and lights. The Christmas Market is spread across the historic squares of the Old Town and has stalls filled with handcrafted items and delicious Scottish foods. There is also an ice rink and fairground rides, making it fun for families.
Participate In Ireland’s 12 Pubs of Christmas: The "12 Pubs of Christmas" is an Ireland tradition that involves a holiday pub crawl with friends. Everyone dresses up in Christmas sweaters, Santa hats, etc and enjoys a drink at each stop.
Explore the Christmas Markets of Tallinn, Estonia: Want to see a Christmas tree dating back to the 1400s? Head to Tallinn Estonia where you can see the oldest Christmas tree displayed in Europe. You’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time as you wander through the medieval old town, decorated for the holidays. The market has traditional Estonian Christmas dishes, a Santa who arrives in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, and a merry-go-round.
Experience A Christmas Pantomime in London: Pantomimes (or pantos) are comedic theater performances traditionally during the holidays. They are often held in venues like the West End theaters and geared towards audiences of all ages. Most often, they are based on children’s classics like Peter Pan, Beauty And The Beast, etc.
Visit the Christmas Markets of Salzburg: Discover the birthplace of Mozart while strolling through the festive markets of Salzburg. In addition to the market stands, there are live choirs and performances each week. You can also take a Salzburg Christmas tour to learn about the history of the market and do food tastings.
NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA
Go Ice Skating in Central Park, NYC: Going ice skating in Central Park, with the city skyline as your backdrop, is a quintessential New York City holiday experience.
See the Rockefeller Tree Lighting In NYC: The Rockefeller Tree is another iconic symbol of the holidays in NYC. Located in Rockefeller Center, it’s decorated with ornaments and thousands of twinkling lights. The annual tree lighting ceremony kicks off the holiday season in NYC.
Attend the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, Orlando: Experience the Christmas story in the ultimate way. The Candlelight Processional has celebrity narrators, a mass choir, and a 50-piece orchestra.
Go Sleigh Riding In Vermont: A sleigh ride is another quintessential holiday bucket list item. Experience the classic charm of a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered landscapes of New England.
Experience a White Christmas in Aspen, Colorado: Aspen is a picturesque place, especially around the holidays. The mountains are filled with snow and there are festive activities like the art and light display, Snowmass Luminescence.
Take a Polar Express Train Ride Through Alaska: Hop aboard a Polar Express-like train ride through Alaska on the Aurora Winter Train. You can see the Northern Lights in the open-seating dome car and see views of Denali National Park covered in snow. The train ride starts in Anchorage and ends at Fairbanks, which is only a ~20 minute drive from North Pole, Alaska.
Celebrate in Quebec City, Canada: Québec City is a special place anytime of year, but especially during the holiday season. It’s charming squares come alive with Christmas lights, gorgeous decorations, and beautiful window displays. There are a number of Christmas markets, including the famous German Christmas Market filled with European treats, crafts, and live performances. The grand Château Frontenac towers over the city and really adds to the festive spirit with its majestic display of lights.
Experience The Alumbrados In Medellín, Colombia: One of the most notable parts of Medellín's holiday spirit is its dazzling Christmas lights display, known as the Alumbrados. It’s an annual tradition that transforms the city into a wonderland of colorful light designs all over parks and buildings. There are street performances, traditional music, and delicious local food during the holiday season, making it a festive experience.
AUSTRALIA
Experience a Southern Hemisphere Christmas in Sydney: If you’re looking to take a break from the typical “winter wonderland” vibe of the holiday season, head to Bondi Beach. Experience Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere complete with barbecues and beach days.
Experience the Christmas Lights Trail in Perth: The Christmas Lights Trail is an annual tradition in Perth, Australia. The trail has light displays and projections, including a 105-foot-long tunnel. The trail opens in mid-November and usually goes through January 2.
ASIA
Witness the Christmas Lights of Kobe, Japan: Another holiday travel bucket list item is to witness the Christmas Lights of Kobe, Japan. As the sun sets over Kobe, millions of lights illuminate the streets, parks, and waterfront. The streets are filled with decorations and people in the holiday spirit.
Christmas Wonderland At Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay: Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay is a must when visiting Singapore any time of year. During the holidays, Gardens By The Bay turns into a Christmas Wonderland filled with light displays, rides, holiday treats, and performances.
Happy Holidays!