Who says you have to spend Christmas at home? If you’ve got a serious travel bug, then why not spend the holidays in a new, beautiful place, soaking up the local culture and celebrating in a unique way?
There are all kinds of ways you can create a special holiday while out of town, whether that means heading out on an outdoor adventure, soaking up the sun at a warm, sunny beach, or taking to the Alpine slopes. Here are just a few ideas of the best spots in the world to spend Christmas.
Tromso, Norway
If you’re not looking to escape the cold, visit this island city for its incredible Scandinavian culture. You can try dogsledding, eat authentic Norwegian food, and enjoy a vast array of markets, concerts, and other free Christmas-themed events.
The best reason to visit at Christmastime? Tromso is located in the actual Arctic Circle, and offers incredible views of the Northern Lights. Who knows – you may even come across a stray reindeer or two.
North Pole, Alaska
If you’ve got Christmas spirit in spades – or if you have children who’ll be making the trip with you – a visit to North Pole, Alaska is in order.
This small town a couple of hours outside Fairbanks is brimming with Christmas spirit. There’s the Santa Claus House Christmas store, a red and white landmark that’s been operating since the 1950s, streets like Kris Kringle Drive and Mistletoe Lane, and even a post office where 40,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus arrive each year.
And when you get tired of the kitsch, you can head to one of the many beautiful parks or wilderness areas that Alaska is known for. Just make sure to look up every now and then – you can see the Northern Lights from here, too.
Durango, Colorado
If staying stateside is what you’re looking for, try heading to Durango, Colorado for Christmas. This Western town is usually snowy starting in the middle of December, and it’s close enough to the ski town Telluride that you can easily head out for some skiing if the mood strikes.
One of the things Durango is most known for is its steam train, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. At Christmas time, you can take advantage of several seasonal excursions: there’s the Polar Express for families, a Christmas tree run that takes you into the forest to cut down your own Christmas tree (and transport it back, of course), and a daily excursion into Cascade Canyon.
You also won’t want to miss the holiday events in town, like carol singing, holiday markets, and more.
Zurich, Switzerland
Featuring incredible views and old-world traditions, Zurich is beautiful at any time of year – but at Christmastime, it really stands out.
You’ll find lots of Christmas events in this Alpine city, from holiday markets and ice skating, to free, daily concerts and Lichterschwimmen, a breathtaking event when children send hundreds of floating candles down the River Limmat. And of course, when it comes to that favorite holiday treat – hot chocolate – you can’t beat Zurich.
Bali, Indonesia
In Bali, Christmas is part of the high season, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend your holidays there.
There are few places on earth that can boast the feelings of peace, tranquility, and goodwill that Bali does. The people are kind and friendly, the pace of life is slow, and the landscape is incredibly beautiful.
While there are plenty of Christmas events, resort deals, and Christmas meals available, you can easily opt for a quieter holiday by staying further out from the city center. A bonus? By moving further from all the people, you stand a better chance of booking a room with an incredible view of volcanoes or rice paddies.
Wherever you are this holiday season, make sure to stay in touch with your loved ones by sending your photos to their Nixplay Cloud WiFi Digital Frame via the Nixplay app! And if you need help creating a photo playlist to share with everyone back home, read our post “How to Create a Meaningful Photo Playlist to Share Your Trip with Loved Ones.”
Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.