If you’re wishing for something a bit different this holiday season, then hop on your sleigh and fly to one of these 12 great Christmas holiday destinations!
Tromsø, Norway
Chase the Northern Lights from Tromsø!
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Why not take it a step further and spend the festive season at the Arctic Circle?
The island city of Tromsø, though completely engulfed by darkness throughout winter, comes alive during the month of December. Smells of clementines, spruce branches and gingerbread follow you at every step. The cheery sounds of carols fill the magnific hall of the Arctic Cathedral. Locals come together at Christmas markets, and with so many temptations around you, it’s easy to give in. Try the traditional ingefærnøtter, gingerbread cookies shaped like little balls, and a glass of crowberry cordial to keep you warm.
One huge benefit of being in total darkness is that you might spot those elusive Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis. Watch out for them between 6pm and midnight and, while waiting for them, take advantage of the abundance of snow: go dogsledding, do some cross country skiing or engage in a good ol’ snowball fight.
Recommended Tromsø hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora (rates start at 1,140 NOK [£113] per night)
Küssnacht, Switzerland
Klausjagen Lanterns © Adnan Yahya
In most corners of the world, Santa Claus is welcomed into our hearts and homes with open arms. The same can’t be said for the village of Küssnacht, resting on the northern shore of Lake Lucerne, where around 20,000 guests turn up every December 5th to hunt out the bushy-bearded gift giver.
The showdown is called the “Klausjagen”, aka “Chasing the Claus”, and is among Europe’s strangest Yuletide celebrations, not least because it began its life in the Middle Ages as a pagan tradition, when communities would try to drive out evil spirits with unbearable blasts of noise. The event was so rowdy that it was banned in the 1700s, only to be reintroduced a century later in a new Christian form, when old Saint Nick was up for the sleighing slaying.
The all-night long parade features 180 tub-thumping horn blowers, 200 men adorned with “iffeles”, giant candle-lit bishop’s mitres designed to look like glowing stained glass windows, and 700 whip-cracking cow bell-percussionists “chasing” the rebel known as Claus and his four dark elves right out of town.
Recommended Küssnacht hotel: Romantik Hotel Beau Rivage Weggis (rates start at 259 CHF [£209] per night)
Find a flight to nearby Zurich
Douz, Tunisia
Camel-racing in the desert © mckaysavage
Famed as the shooting location for the Star Wars movies, the mid-eastern town of Douz is often labelled the sleepy “Gateway to the Sahara”. But for the last four days of December, the Arabic tribes living here transform this barren dust bowl into a magnificent Bedouin spectacle.
The International Festival of the Sahara draws in a huge crowd, with tourists the world over joining the nomads travelling from neighbouring North African countries to experience the festival’s sand-hockey tournaments, hearty food offerings, craft fairs and traditional belly-dancing performances.
In Douz, the humble camel is both king and man’s best friend, and the 50,000 visitors every year take great delight in seeing these humped mammals take part in rodeos and races through the desert landscape. There’s not a spot of Christmas tinsel in sight, but this annual Tunisian party is just as festive!
Recommended Douz hotel: Golden Yasmin Sun Palm (rates start at 145 TND [£46] per night)
Find a flight to nearby Tozeur
Castleton, United Kingdom
Small village, many Christmas trees – Castleton, England
The month building up to Christmas can be a stressful time of gift-shopping, cleaning sprees and preparing scrumptious dishes. Escape it all by hiding away in Castleton, a charming English village, where giving in to the basic joys of life will become your second nature.
The festive season starts with switching on the Christmas lights. Each shop goes out of their way to create magical decorations and a welcoming atmosphere towards locals and visitors alike. Most will have extended opening hours during this season, and often organise themed events and competitions, such as quizzes, crafting workshops and various games for the little ones.
Home to four caves, Castleton puts these to good use during the Christmas period. At Peak Cavern, carols by candlelight is a long-standing tradition. There’s a new brass band invited for each concert, and you’ll be welcomed with mulled wine and mince pies. It’s easy to surrender to the carefree rhythm of this charming village!
Recommended Castleton hotel: Losehill House Hotel & Spa rates start at £224 per night)
Find a flight to nearby Manchester
Kyoto, Japan
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove © ajari
Kyoto is the very belly of Japanese Buddhism. So, as you might imagine, Christmas is a little different here. With no strong religious connection to the Yuletide, locals celebrate the season with an abundance of twinkling decorations and a bit of old-fashioned romance, with couples stepping-out in their thousands on Christmas Eve to frequent the city’s swankiest restaurants, bars and “love hotels”.
Once you’ve tried a little inner-city tenderness, the Chion-in temple’s annual “O-minugui Shiki” (Wiping Ceremony) on December 25th is a spectacular and musical tribute to the birth of Pure Land Buddhism. Finish up the big day with a trip to the western outskirts of Kyoto for a hike in the Arashiyama. Registered as a national “Place of Scene Beauty”, trekking through the sea of green bamboo stalks is like stepping into another world – a truly magical way to spend Christmas Day!
Recommended Kyoto hotel: Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa (rates start at 8,783 JPY [£62] per night)
Provence, France
The perfect Christmas decoration – bring a santon home!
Gastronomy, nativity scenes and fairy-tale decorations … welcome to Provence!
The colder weather doesn’t put a damp on the famous French joie de vivre. The cities teem with enchanted street decorations, and shop-owners go to great lengths to adorn their windows. Once the decorations are up, locals prepare for the santons fairs, where small clay figurines – or santons – handcrafted by local artisans are on display. Originally, the santons were used to create nativity scenes, but in the 19th century, they began to portray everyday life as well. Spot santons depicting various professions, such as bakers, priests, fishermen, singers and butchers.
Food, as you might expect, is taken very seriously here. Christmas Eve dinner includes seven lean dishes, honouring Mary’s seven sufferings. These come served with 13 bread rolls followed by 13 desserts, representing the Last Supper with Jesus and the 12 apostles.
Recommended Provence hotel: Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel (rates start at €136 [£125] per night)
Find a flight to nearby Marseille
Honolulu, Hawaii
‘Mele Kallkimaka’, or Merry Christmas! © gabesk
If you’re looking for Christmas in paradise, where better than Ho-Ho-Honolulu in Hawaii?! The USA’s most isolated state has been celebrating the traditional Western Yuletide since the early 19th century, but with a unique Hawaiian twist. Today, locals in the capital city celebrate in a big way, sharing Christmas joy with a one month-long party throughout the whole of December, filled with fireworks, parades, and Christmas carolling with ukulele accompaniment.
It’s probably the only place in the world where Santa Claus is so relaxed that he turns up to the luau wearing a red sarong, flip flops and (you’ve guessed it) an Aloha shirt, carried along in a canoe pulled by dolphins. No, seriously …
Recommended Honolulu hotel: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (rates start at $210 [£162] per night)
Tallinn, Estonia
Charming and friendly: Tallinn’s Christmas Market © Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar
Tallinn’s old city centre is postcard-pretty: old churches, baroque architecture, colourful rooftops and cobbled streets. All of it preserved so well, you’ll think you’ve travelled back to medieval times. Though the freezing cold engulfs the Baltic country during wintertime, Tallinn shines like a (Christmas) star during the Yuletide season.
Allegedly, Tallinn is the home of the first-ever Christmas tree put on display in Europe. In 1441, the first tree was erected in the Town Hall Square by the Brotherhood of Blackheads guild, an association of unmarried merchants, who sang and danced around the tree. The local celebration of Christmas still revolves around the Christmas tree, where one of the best European Christmas markets is organised every year. Browse through the various stands selling everything from wool hats and ceramics to scented candles and wooden decorations. All of it produced by local craftsmen.
In-between shopping sessions, stop by for sauerkraut, blood sausages and a glass of mulled wine at one of the market’s food stalls.
Recommended Tallinn hotel: Meriton Old Town Garden Hotel (rates start at €60 [£55] per night)
Livingstone, Zambia
A moonbow at Victoria Falls
As a predominantly Christian city, Livingstone is always cheery during the month of the happy holiday, with locals welcoming guests with open arms to sing a Christmas carol, watch a nativity play or take part in the community gift giving.
But the best Christmas present one can grant oneself, is an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage site Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park just outside of the city. The park plays host to diverse wildlife, rainforest and the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls waterfall, otherwise known as the “The Smoke Which Thunders”, which connects Zambia to its neighbour to the south, Zimbabwe.
Locals are extremely proud of this noisy national landmark, and Zambia’s relatively low tourist count means that you can often venture into this rainforest and not have to share it with other, snap-happy crowds. Don’t forget the camera though, Victoria Falls is noted as one of the world’s most impressive (and hopelessly romantic) lunar rainbow – or “moonbow” – spots, and the kaleidoscopic range of colours will certainly be a vision worth saving.
Recommended Livingstone hotel: Aha The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa (rates start at 3,765 ZMW [£318] per night)
Budapest, Hungary
All aboard the lights! © rotkivagrav
Looking for a bit of last-minute Christmas cheer on a budget? Then the Hungarian capital has jolly charms aplenty!
First up is the obligatory Christmas market in the Vörösmarty Square. Often heralded as the cheapest festive market in all of Europe, the regular touristy memorabilia is replaced by hand-made Hungarian crafts and trinkets – great for some last-minute Christmas presents. If the frosty December temperature and snowfall puts you into a chill, then warm-up with a plunge in Budapest’s largest thermal bath, the Széchenyi.
And then there’s the fairytale trams! For the whole month of December, three central tram lines are decked out with dazzling fairytale lights. Peering out of the windows of these futuristic sleighs is a wonderful way to see the criminally underrated Budapest beaming by nightfall.
Recommended Budapest hotel: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest (rates start at 42,658 HUF [£128] per night)
Sydney, Australia
Surf’s up, Sisters of Christmas © martintom
In the lead-up to Christmas, Sydney is known for hosting a series of festive events similar to any Yuletide-loving capital in the northern hemisphere.
Traditional choirs herald in the season in Pitt Street Mall, and The Very Merry Christmas Rocks Market presents everything from handmade gifts to delicious food. For a bit of sing-along, enjoy Australia’s largest free Christmas concert, Woolworths Carols in the Domain. This popular annual event is set near the Royal Botanic Garden and promises to deliver all your festive favourites.
But in Australia, there are no chestnuts roasting on an open fire or Jack Frost ripping at your nose. There are, however, prawns roasting on a barbie (barbeque, that is) underneath the scorching summer sun. So, if that winter chill is not for you this year, head to Bondi Beach. Australia’s most lively beach is the perfect spot to meet someone under the mistletoe, surf the waves on your sleigh surfboard and grill that Christmas dinner the Aussie way.
Recommended Sydney hotel: Medusa Boutique Hotel (rates start at 217 AUD [£134] per night)
Nassau, The Bahamas
Junkanoo party! © MissChatter
If you’re looking to escape the post-Christmas funk with some scorching sun, outlandish attire and the pulsating rhythm of goombay drums that are simply impossible not to dance along to, then invite yourself to Nassau’s Junkanoo!
Taking place on December 26th and then again on New Year’s Day, it’s the oldest street festival in all of the Caribbean, and even rivals the likes of New Orleans’s Mardi Gras and the Rio Carnival with costumes so bright, bejewelled and downright bonkers.
In-between all the partying and merriment, the month of December is perfect for people looking to kick-back and relax on the less crowded Cable Beach, or dive into the blue for some world-class scuba diving.
Recommended Nassau hotel: Atlantis Coral Towers Autograph Collection (rates start at 277 BSD [£214] per night)
