Isn’t Christmas just the most magical time of the year? From time off to time with loved ones and time-old traditions, it’s just about time to start Ho-Ho-Hoping for the perfect holiday season! Whether you’re spending it with family or friends, in the snow or the sun, nothing beats that special magic of the festive season. And if you’re a Christmas fan like us, you’ll agree it’s never too early to start spreading the cheer.
So, this Christmas, Expat Explore is giving you the ultimate holiday itinerary to ask old St. Nick for on Santa’s List Day, celebrated annually on 4 December. Get your pen and paper ready because we’ve found the world’s absolute best, most fun and family-friendly Christmas events and attractions to explore! Are you ready to write that list to Santa?
Take a look at the top Christmas attractions around the world:
Say Hi to Santa himself in Finland
We’d be remiss not to start this list with the home of Santa Claus, Finland! That’s right; Lapland in Finland is home to Santa Claus Village, a popular vacation spot that welcomes swarms of visitors eager to sit on Santa’s lap and witness his Christmas creatures, elves and reindeer, for themselves.
Spend your festive time exploring the winter wonderland that St. Nick calls home, or opt for a traditional Finnish Christmas complete with traditional rice porridge, a soak in the sauna and a highly anticipated visit from the jolly bearded man.
Related: Visit Helsinki, Finland’s capital city over the festive season on our Northern Explorer Christmas & New Year tour!
Carol around a gigantic tree in the USA
Another country that’s big on Christmas is the USA! New York City, specifically, is home to quite a few Christmas events and attractions. For starters, make any kid’s Christmas dreams come true with a visit to the gigantic tree in Rockefeller Center followed by the perfect ice-skating movie moment. Or, give the Radio City Rockettes a visit and sit back as they dance and kick for Christmas.
New York City is also home to some incredible Christmas markets, and if a winter wonderland is what you’re after, snowy Central Park is a sight unlike any other.
Related: Speaking of movie moments, check out these movie locations you can visit!
Toast to the 12 days of Christmas in Ireland
Ireland brings us a fun twist on the classic 12 days of Christmas as popularised by the holiday song of the same name. But instead of the 12 gifts, the Irish opt for the gift of the pub! And instead of 12 days, it all happens in one night. That’s right, visitors in Ireland around Christmastime can partake in the annual tradition of the 12 Pubs of Christmas, where the aim is to visit 12 pubs in one night.
While this celebration might not be fit for the whole family, fear not! The entire city of Dublin turns into a festive wonderland over Christmas, with family-friendly attractions ranging from elf workshops and visits to Santa’s grotto to pantomimes and street concerts. See it for yourself on our UK & Ireland Christmas & New Year tour!
Related: Find out what makes a festive UK & Ireland tour life-changing!
See a shimmering ship in Greece
Just because Greece might not be a winter wonderland, doesn’t mean it has no Christmas spirit! In fact, the coastlines of Greece are a popular holiday attraction over the festive season. To this day, the tradition of adorning ships and boats at the harbour with fairy lights still lives on. Visitors can expect to see an array of sea vessels and trees decorated in bright, sparkly lights along the coastline.
What’s more, the city centre also pays homage to the tradition with town squares draped in Christmas lights and trees decorated top to bottom.
Related: Eat and drink like locals with these must-try dishes and drinks in Greece!
Run away from Krampus in Austria
Austria offers Christmas lovers a completely different take on the festive season! While the rest of the world celebrates the jolly bearded man known for spreading cheer and presents, Austria focuses on a rather more sinister character – Krampus. Santa’s so-called evil counterpart, Krampus, is known and responsible for terrifying the children who made it onto the naughty list. Spend your festive season running from a sea of Krampus characters in the Krampuslauf, but only if you dare!
Admittedly, this attraction is on the scarier side but people young and old are drawn to it from around the world. If in doubt, rather reserve this experience for older children, teenagers and adults.
Related: Ensure an incredible trip with the best places to visit in Austria!
Feast on festive treats in Germany
Germany is home to the largest and longest-running Christmas market in the world! The Striezelmarkt in Dresden has attracted millions of visitors and Christmas fans alike, so it should certainly be one of the Christmas attractions you add to your bucket list.
Enjoy a variety of traditional German dishes fit for a festive feast, taste the holiday drinks, admire handmade goods, enjoy fairground rides, and marvel at the huge wooden advent calendar!
Related: Say “guten tag” to the top 10 destinations to visit in Germany!
Witness a winter wonderland in the Netherlands
If you’re looking for a truly unique yet festive Christmas experience, look no further than the Netherlands! Valkenburg is home to a must-see attraction consisting of an underground Christmas market inside the city’s famous caves.
This awe-inspiring winter wonderland features life-sized nativity scenes, local stalls, dazzling Christmas trees, twinkling lights and strings of decorations, all tucked away beneath Valkenburg.
Related: Spend Christmas Day in Amsterdam on our Europe Escape Christmas & New Year tour!
That wraps up (and ties a bow around) our list of the top Christmas attractions around the world! We hope you and your family get to experience one, if not all of these must-see festive experiences at least once.
If you’d like to visit all the destinations on our list family-style, book a trip on one of our festive multi-country tours. Santa and his helpers are waiting!