Holiday travel · December 25, 2026
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for Christmas
From Santa's home on the Arctic Circle to Christmas on the beach in Sydney, these are the most festive places to spend December 25.
Jump to hotels ↓Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Why Christmas
Visit Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~21°F (-6°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- family
- adventure
Where we'd stay: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. Glass-fronted suites in the forest near the Santa Claus Village.
Hotels in Rovaniemi →New York, New York, United States
Why Christmas
The Rockefeller Center tree, Fifth Avenue windows and holiday shows.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Peninsula New York. Beaux-Arts hotel on Fifth Avenue with a rooftop bar.
Explore New York City →
Salzburg, Austria
Why Christmas
'Silent Night' was first performed in nearby Oberndorf, and Salzburg's markets glow through Christmas Eve.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Hotel Sacher Salzburg. Riverside hotel facing the Old Town and fortress.
Explore Salzburg →Bavaria, Germany
Why Christmas
Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt runs until Christmas Eve.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg. Art Nouveau hotel near the old town walls.
Hotels in Nuremberg →
Austria
Why Christmas
Vienna's markets, Christmas concerts and the Vienna Boys Choir.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel. 19th-century palace on the Ringstrasse.
Explore Vienna →
England, United Kingdom
Why Christmas
London's lights, holiday theater and Christmas afternoon tea.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~46°F (8°C); damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Savoy. Thames-side landmark with an Art Deco ballroom and the American Bar.
Explore London →
Quebec, Canada
Why Christmas
A snowy, storybook Christmas in Old Quebec.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~25°F (-4°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
- family
Where we'd stay: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Iconic castle hotel above the St. Lawrence in Old Quebec.
Explore Quebec City →
8Rome
Lazio, Italy
Why Christmas
Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica and nativity scenes across the city.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~57°F (14°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel. Elegant hotel near Piazza del Popolo with a terraced 'secret garden'.
Explore Rome →Grand Est, France
Why Christmas
Strasbourg's markets and illuminated old town.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île. Old-town hotel steps from the Christmas markets.
Hotels in Strasbourg →
Capital Region, Denmark
Why Christmas
Tivoli Gardens' Christmas lights and cozy Danish hygge.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Admiral Hotel Copenhagen. A five-star stay in Copenhagen, a strong base for Copenhagen.
Explore Copenhagen →- 11
Gstaad
Bern, Switzerland
Why Christmas
A snowy Swiss village Christmas with skiing.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~34°F (1°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- romance
Where we'd stay: The Alpina Gstaad. Chalet-style hotel above the village with a Six Senses Spa.
Hotels in Gstaad → 
12Zermatt
Valais, Switzerland
Why Christmas
Christmas in car-free Zermatt, skiing beneath the Matterhorn.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~28°F (-2°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- romance
Where we'd stay: Mont Cervin Palace. Grand car-free-village hotel on Zermatt's main street, open since 1852.
Explore Zermatt →- 13
Aspen
Colorado, United States
Why Christmas
Aspen's holiday festivities and early-season skiing.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~32°F (0°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- adventure
- romance
Where we'd stay: The Little Nell. Aspen's only ski-in/ski-out hotel, at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola.
Hotels in Aspen → 
14Santa Fe
New Mexico, United States
Why Christmas
Canyon Road's farolito walk on Christmas Eve.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); sunny, cold
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
Where we'd stay: Inn of the Five Graces. Intimate Relais & Châteaux inn with Silk Road-inspired suites.
Explore Santa Fe →
Guanajuato, Mexico
Why Christmas
Posadas, nativity processions and dry, sunny days.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~73°F (23°C); cold nights
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- romance
Where we'd stay: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende. Colonial-style hotel with rooftop views of the Parroquia.
Explore San Miguel de Allende →Park City, Utah, United States
Why Christmas
Holiday skiing in Utah's light powder.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~32°F (0°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- family
Where we'd stay: Montage Deer Valley. Ski-in/ski-out resort at Empire Pass.
Hotels in Park City →
17Sydney
New South Wales, Australia
Why Christmas
Christmas on the beach in Sydney's early summer.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~77°F (25°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
Where we'd stay: Shangri-La Sydney. The Rocks hotel with harbor views from upper floors.
Explore Sydney →
18Goa
Benaulim, Goa, India
Why Christmas
Midnight Mass in Goa's historic churches and festive beach celebrations.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~91°F (33°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa. Mediterranean-style beachfront resort in South Goa.
Explore Goa →Toiny, Saint Barthélemy
Why Christmas
A Caribbean Christmas in St. Barts' dry season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Hotel Le Toiny. Hillside villas with private pools on the island's quiet east coast.
Hotels in Toiny →
Scotland, United Kingdom
Why Christmas
Edinburgh's Christmas market and festive lights beneath the castle.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold, damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian. Former railway hotel with views of Edinburgh Castle.
Explore Edinburgh →