Year-end Travel: 10 Cities for a Magical Christmas
As December unfolds, the world is abuzz with festive cheer, gearing up for the grand celebration of Christmas and the joyous welcome of the New Year. While Santa, with his red suit and hearty hohoho, prepares for his global journey, have you ever wondered where you'd spend your holidays if you had a few extra nights? Here, we bring you the top 10 cities around the world that promise a magical and unforgettable Christmas experience.
1. Lapland, Finland
Best Things to Do: Meet Santa Claus in his village, post a letter from Santa Claus’ Post office, go husky sledding, visit a sauna, cruise through the frozen wilderness on a reindeer sleigh, hop across the Arctic Circle, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, ride on a frozen river at night on a snowmobile, dine at a snow hotel, and dig your own amethyst in an amethyst mine.
Must-eats: gingerbread, joulutorttu (pastries), and glog (mulled wine).
2. Prague, Czech Republic
Best Things to Do: Visit the Old Town Square Christmas Markets, walk the Vltava River at night, climb to the top of the Old Town Tower & Charles Bridge Tower, explore Christmas markets at the Castle Hill, indulge in hot chocolate from Cafe Slavia, and view the Vrtba Gardens from Hotel Aria.
Must-eat: Fried Carp, Potato Salad, Bread, Mushroom Soup, Jaternice (Czech sausage), Pečená Kachna (roast duck), Medovník (Honey Cake), and Trdelník (hollowed out pastry dough covered in cinnamon sugar).
3. New York City, USA
Best Things to Do: See the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree, Dyker Heights & lights, visit the Winter Village at Bryant Park, explore the GingerBread Lane (the world's largest gingerbread village), Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Holiday Train Show at Grand Central terminal, Grand Central Holiday Fair, Bronx Zoo Holiday Light show, and Frost Fest at Luna Park in Coney Island.
Must-eat: Pigs in a Blanket, Roast beef, cookies (chocolate chip, sugar, fudge, M&M, and Snickerdoodle), and coffee from Ralph’s Christmas-themed Coffee Truck.
4. London, UK
Best Things to Do: See the Christmas lights; visit the Christmas markets at Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street; enjoy a Christmas Carol at St. Paul's; explore the Southbank Centre Winter Festival; skate in Hampton Court Palace ice rink, and have a Christmas Day lunch cruise on the River Thames.
Must-eat: British ploughman’s lunch, Traditional British Christmas Pudding, Cranberry orange relish, Foggy Pudding, Mincemeat Tarts, and British Brandy Butter.
5. Dublin, Ireland
Best Things to Do: Visit Dublin Castle & the 18th-century style Neapolitan Crib in the heart of the Chapel Royal, head to the Liberties for the Stillgarden Christmas Market, explore the Craft market at National Botanic Gardens, admire window displays of Brown Thomas and Arnotts, and experience a Christmas dip in the sea.
Must-eat: Roast turkey and stuffing, Clove-studded baked ham, Crispy goose fat potatoes, Steamed Brussels sprouts, Buttery sweet carrots, and Crispy parsnips.
6. Vienna, Austria
Best Things to do: Visit Hofburg Palace & the Giant Christmas Bow, step inside the Vienna State Opera House, see Vienna by the night, explore the Christmas Market at Rathausplatz, and take a city tour by horse & carriage.
Must-eat: Knödel (bread dumplings), Maroni (roasted chestnuts), Kletzenbrot (Austrian fruit bread), Sachertorte, and Traditional apple strudel.
7. Nuremberg, Germany
Best Things to Do: Enjoy a stagecoach tour of Christmas markets, try the Christmas Market Smartphone Game, walk through the Old Town, embark on the X-Mas Crime Game Self-guided Tour, and visit the Imperial Castle.
Must-eat: Nuremberg Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Feuerzangenbowle (red wine and rum punch), and Mulled wine. Don't miss Feuerzangenbowle, a rum-soaked sugar cube set on fire, dripping into the mulled wine below.
8. Rome, Italy
Best Things to do: Attend the Pope’s message in the Vatican City, explore the Christmas market at Piazza Navona, take a bus tour to see the city’s lighting, attend the Mass in Pantheon, take a picture at the Colosseum Christmas tree, and go ice skating at Castel Sant’Angelo.
Must-eat: Abbacchio (lamb roasted with garlic, rosemary, and ham), Feast of the Seven Fishes (Christmas Eve dinner), Pangiallo (sweet bread stuffed with walnuts, dates, chocolate, and honey), Pandoro (star-shaped sweet bread), and Panforte (fruit cake flavored with cloves and other spices).
9. Hong Kong
Best Things to Do: Explore Hong Kong WinterFest at West Kowloon Art Park, experience Fairytale Christmas at Pacific Place and Starstreet Precinct, visit Polar-bear mountain at Landmark Atrium, attend Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival, witness ‘In-Between the Sky: A Festive Beacon' (digital light show), and explore Discovery Bay & Stanley Plaza Christmas Markets.
Must-eat: Pumpkin soup, Lobster bisque, Maple-glazed roasted turkey, Slow-cooked beef Wellington, Honey-glazed Gammon ham, and Christmas buffets in various hotels.
10. Montreal, Canada
Best Things to Do: Explore the Christmas market at the Atwater Market, visit the Kingdom of the Elves, featuring an assortment of activities for all ages; enjoy Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal’s adaptation of The Nutcracker; attend Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, experience Charlie Brown Christmas at Bourgie Hall, and join Carols by Candlelight at the historic Church of St Andrew and St Paul.
Must-eat: traditional Christmas turkey, Meat pie, Ragoût de boulettes, Ragoût de pattes de cochon, and Deep-dish Tourtière du Lac-St-Jean made with cubed meat, wild game, and potatoes.
In these enchanting cities, Christmas isn't just a day; it's a season filled with joy, wonder, and the warmth of festive traditions. Whether you dream of a white Christmas in Lapland or a culturally rich celebration in Prague, each city offers a unique and unforgettable experience for your holiday season. So, pack your bags and embark on a Christmas adventure that will leave you with cherished memories for years to come.
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