10 Unforgettable Places to Spend Christmas & New Year 2025-26 Around the World
I’ve spent years chasing holiday magic across continents, and I can tell you this: not all Christmas markets are created equal, and not every New Year’s Eve fireworks show is worth freezing your face off for.
The 2025-26 holiday season is shaping up to be one of the best travel years we’ve seen in a while. Flight routes are expanding, many destinations are offering better deals than pre-pandemic prices, and honestly, we all deserve a holiday that feels genuinely special after the last few years.
I’ve put together this list of places that deliver real experiences instead of just Instagram moments. Each destination has something that makes it worth the trip, whether that’s reindeer sleigh rides through arctic forests or fireworks over Sydney Harbour that literally light up half the city.
Let’s get into it.
1. Lapland, Finland: Where Christmas Actually Lives
Best for: Families and anyone who still gets excited about snow
If you’ve ever wanted to step inside a snow globe, Lapland is your place. I’m talking about proper winter wonderland stuff here: forests blanketed in snow, reindeer pulling sleds, and darkness that makes the northern lights pop like neon signs in the sky.
The Christmas vibe in Lapland hits different because this is where Santa’s official residence is located. The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi sits right on the Arctic Circle, and yes, you can meet the man himself. It sounds touristy, but when you’re standing there at midnight watching green lights dance across the sky while snow crunches under your boots, you forget to be cynical.
For New Year’s Eve, head to one of the glass igloos scattered across the region. You’ll ring in 2026 from your bed, watching auroras through a ceiling made entirely of thermal glass. It’s quiet, it’s intimate, and it’s absolutely surreal.
Quick tip: Book accommodations by September, as this place fills up fast. Temperatures average -16°C to -3°C in December, with occasional lows as low as -30°C, so invest in proper winter gear. A week here runs around $2,500 per person, including flights from Europe, but you can cut costs by staying in Rovaniemi instead of remote wilderness lodges.
2. New York City, USA: The Holiday Chaos You’ve Seen in Every Movie
Best for: People who thrive in crowds and want maximum holiday energy
New York at Christmas is exactly what you think it is, and somehow that’s not a bad thing. The Rockefeller Center tree, ice skating in Central Park, and department store windows on Fifth Avenue were transformed into miniature theatrical productions. It’s all there, it’s all real, and it’s all ridiculously crowded.
I love New York during the holidays because the city commits to the bit completely. Every storefront is decorated, every restaurant has a special menu, and the entire place hums with a manic, festive energy that’s either exhilarating or exhausting, depending on your tolerance for humanity.
Times Square on New Year’s Eve is its own beast. A million people crammed into a few blocks, standing in the cold for hours, no bathrooms, no escape. It’s miserable and magical in equal measure. If that sounds like your nightmare, head to Brooklyn instead for rooftop parties with Manhattan skyline views, minus the sardine-can experience.
Quick tips: December weather averages 6°C during the day, falling to -1°C at night, so layer up. Hotel prices spike during the holidays; expect to pay $300+ per night for anything decent. Book Broadway shows and restaurant reservations months ahead. Budget around $3,000 per person for a week, including mid-range accommodation.
3. Vienna, Austria: Christmas Markets That Justify Every Travel Cliché
Best for: Market lovers and anyone with a sweet tooth
Vienna’s Christmas markets are what every other Christmas market wishes it could be. I’m not exaggerating. The city sets up over 20 markets, each with its own personality, selling everything from hand-carved ornaments to mulled wine that actually tastes good, not like someone microwaved cheap red wine with cinnamon.
The Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz is the main event. It’s a sprawling market in front of the illuminated City Hall that looks like it was designed by someone who took the phrase “winter wonderland” as a personal challenge. You’ll find ice skating rinks, children’s workshops, and food stalls selling potato pancakes and roasted chestnuts.
New Year’s Eve brings the Silvesterpfad, a trail of stages and parties winding through the inner city. It’s free, it’s massive, and at midnight, the entire city erupts in fireworks and waltzes. Yes, actual waltzing in the streets. Very Vienna.
Quick tips: Markets run from mid-November through December 26. Temperatures sit around 0°C, so bring warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes. A week here costs roughly $2,000 per person. Stay in districts 6, 7, or 8 for walkable access to everything without paying inner-city hotel prices.
4. Tokyo, Japan: Christmas Reimagined Through a Japanese Lens
Best for: People who want holiday vibes without traditional Christmas pressure
Japan doesn’t do Christmas the way Western countries do, and that’s precisely what makes Tokyo fascinating during the holidays. Christmas here is less about tradition and more about spectacular illuminations, couples dining out, and yes, KFC. The fried chicken thing is real and deeply embedded in Japanese Christmas culture.
The winter illuminations transform entire neighborhoods into light shows. Shibuya Blue Cave covers the street in blue LED lights, creating a tunnel effect. Roppongi Hills drapes millions of lights across trees and walkways. These displays run through February, so you get maximum sparkle for your visit.
The New Year in Tokyo is an authentic cultural experience. The city shuts down for three days, families visit shrines for hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year), and temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight to symbolize cleansing from earthly desires. It’s peaceful, meaningful, and completely different from Western New Year celebrations.
Quick tips: December weather is cold but manageable, around 10°C. Book hotels early, because New Year’s Day is Japan’s biggest holiday and everything fills up. Budget $3,500 per person for a week, including flights from North America. Many restaurants close December 30 through January 2, so plan accordingly.
5. Sydney, Australia: Summer Christmas and the World’s Best Fireworks
Best for: Anyone tired of winter and people who take fireworks seriously
Christmas in summer feels wrong until you’re doing it in Sydney. Picture this: Christmas lunch on Bondi Beach, surfing on December 25, and temperatures hitting 30°C while your friends back home are shoveling snow. It’s disorienting in the best way.
The city decorates despite the heat. Martin Place hosts a massive Christmas tree, Queen Victoria Building gets wrapped in projections and lights, and Sydneysiders embrace the bizarre juxtaposition of Santa hats and shorts.
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are legitimately the best in the world. I’ve seen fireworks in dozens of cities, and nothing comes close to what Sydney does over the harbour. Two shows, over 100,000 pyrotechnics, the Harbour Bridge turned into a waterfall of light, and over a million people gathered around the water’s edge. Get a spot on Mrs Macquarie’s Chair by 4 pm or pay for a harbour cruise to see it from the water.
Quick tips: This is peak summer travel season, so flights and hotels are expensive. Budget $4,000+ per person for a week. Public vantage points for fireworks fill up by mid-afternoon. The weather is hot and can be humid, so pack sunscreen and light clothes.
6. Reykjavik, Iceland: Fire, Ice, and Fireworks
Best for: People who want dramatic landscapes and unique experiences
Iceland does winter holidays with volcanic flair. Reykjavik at Christmas is cozy, with the city glowing under strings of lights while snow-capped mountains loom in the background. The Christmas markets are small but charming, focusing on Icelandic crafts and traditional foods.
What makes Iceland special is what you do outside the city. Soak in the Blue Lagoon or any of the dozens of geothermal hot springs scattered across the country. Hunt for northern lights across empty lava fields. Explore ice caves that glow electric blue from compressed glacial ice.
New Year’s Eve in Reykjavik is controlled chaos. Iceland has no fireworks restrictions, so the entire city lights up at midnight in a spontaneous, city-wide fireworks free-for-all that lasts for hours. Head to Hallgrimskirkja church for elevated views of the madness, or join one of the massive bonfires scattered around the city.
Quick tips: December days are short with only 4-5 hours of sunlight. Temperatures hover around 0°C, but the wind makes it feel colder. A week costs around $3,000 per person. Rent a car to explore beyond Reykjavik, but check road conditions daily because winter storms close roads without warning.
7. Quebec City, Canada: European Christmas Without the Jetlag
Best for: North Americans who want European vibes close to home
Quebec City in winter looks like someone relocated a French village to Canada and covered it in snow. Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, transforms into a Christmas card come to life, with cobblestone streets, stone buildings, and the Château Frontenac towering over it all like a fairy-tale castle.
The German Christmas Market in Old Quebec brings authentic European market vibes minus the transatlantic flight. You’ll find mulled wine, handcrafted goods, and French-Canadian holiday treats like tourtière and butter tarts. The entire Old Town glows with lights and decorations that reflect off the snow.
New Year’s Eve features live music, street performances, and fireworks over the St. Lawrence River. The city also hosts a massive winter carnival starting in late January, if you want to extend your trip and experience ice palaces, snow sculptures, and outdoor activities that embrace the cold rather than hide from it.
Quick tips: Temperatures drop to -15°C in December, so come prepared for severe cold. A week costs around $1,500 per person for Americans, less for Canadians. Book accommodations inside Old Quebec to maximize the atmospheric experience. Most locals speak French, but English is widely understood in tourist areas.
8. Dubai, UAE: Maximum Luxury With Perfect Weather
Best for: People who want glamour and guaranteed sunshine
Dubai doesn’t do subtle, and that extends to how they celebrate Christmas and New Year. The city transforms into a glittering showcase of lights, decorations, and over-the-top displays. The Dubai Mall features a massive Christmas tree. Hotels compete to create the most elaborate festive displays. It’s excessive and impressive.
December in Dubai means perfect beach weather at 25°C. You can spend your days lounging by pools, shopping in air-conditioned malls, or exploring the desert on safari tours. The city maintains its full entertainment schedule, so attractions like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain operate normally.
New Year’s Eve centers on the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, which becomes a canvas for a spectacular light-and-fireworks show broadcast globally. Downtown Dubai fills with half a million people watching projections dance across the building’s facade while fireworks explode from multiple levels.
Quick tips: This is peak tourist season, so book everything early. Hotels near Downtown Dubai cost $400+ per night during the New Year. Budget $4,000 per person for a week, including mid-range accommodation. Alcohol is only available in hotels and licensed venues. Dress modestly outside tourist areas.
9. Edinburgh, Scotland: Hogmanay and Historic Holiday Magic
Best for: Party lovers and history enthusiasts
Edinburgh at Christmas feels like stepping into Dickens. The city’s medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town create a dramatic backdrop for Christmas markets, ice skating, and festive events that run throughout December. Edinburgh’s Christmas market spreads across East Princes Street Gardens with rides, food stalls, and a massive observation wheel offering views over the city.
But Edinburgh’s real party happens at Hogmanay, Scotland’s legendary New Year celebration. This isn’t just a night. It’s a three-day festival featuring torchlight processions, street parties, concerts, and a midnight fireworks display launched from Edinburgh Castle that lights up the entire city skyline.
The street party on Hogmanay night draws 80,000 people into the city center for live music across multiple stages, dancing in the streets, and the traditional singing of Auld Lang Syne at midnight. It’s cold, it’s crowded, and it’s unforgettable.
Quick tips: Hogmanay street party tickets sell out months in advance and cost around £40. December temperatures hover near 5°C but feel colder with wind and rain. Budget $2,500 per person for a week. Book accommodation outside the city center for better prices, as Edinburgh hotels charge premium rates during Hogmanay.
10. Mexico City, Mexico: Warm Weather and Deep-Rooted Traditions
Best for: Culture seekers and anyone avoiding cold weather
Mexico City celebrates Christmas with traditions that blend indigenous customs with Catholic practices in ways that feel authentic and deeply meaningful. Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration before Christmas, features neighborhood processions reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter. Locals break piñatas, share tamales, and gather for community celebrations that welcome visitors.
The Zócalo, one of the world’s largest public squares, hosts an enormous Christmas tree, ice skating rink, and nightly performances throughout December. Markets sell traditional crafts, nativity scenes, and seasonal foods like ponche, a warm fruit punch that tastes better than it sounds.
New Year’s Eve brings family gatherings, fireworks, and the tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight for good luck in the coming year. The city’s neighborhoods each host their own celebrations, creating pockets of parties and fireworks across the massive metropolis.
Quick tips: December weather is mild during the day at 20 °C, and cooler at night. Mexico City sits at a high altitude, so take it easy for your first few days. A week costs around $1,800 per person, including accommodation and food. The city is safe in tourist areas, but stay alert and use official taxis or Uber.
Planning Your 2025-26 Holiday Adventure
The best holiday trips happen when you book early and plan smart. Flights to popular December destinations spike in price starting in September, so locking in travel by August saves you serious money. Accommodation in places like Vienna, Edinburgh, and Sydney fills up months ahead. Waiting until November means settling for expensive hotels far from the action or nothing at all.
Consider what kind of holiday experience you actually want, rather than defaulting to wherever looks good on social media. If crowds stress you out, skip Times Square and head to Iceland. If you want profound cultural experiences, choose Mexico City or Tokyo over Dubai. If you’re chasing winter magic, Lapland delivers better than anywhere else on earth.
The 2025 holiday season won’t wait, and neither should you. Start researching flights, checking accommodation options, and mapping out the experience you want, not the one everyone else is having. Because the difference between a good holiday and an unforgettable one often comes down to choosing the right place and planning.
Need help turning your holiday travel dreams into reality? Head over to The Chica Travelista for detailed destination guides, insider tips, and practical travel advice that goes beyond the basics. I share real experiences, honest recommendations, and the kind of information that helps you navigate these destinations like someone who’s actually been there.
Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2026?