Editor’s note – Sign up for Open World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destination openings, inspiration for future adventures and the latest on aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.
(CNN) — Any place can string a few lights and call it a holiday celebration, but travelers who truly love Christmas want more.
In the year In 2022, many places are returning to the festive season after two years of closed or canceled holidays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
From England to the Philippines, these 15 world destinations offer some of the best holiday conditions for a Christmas-themed vacation.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
While popular history would have us believe that the North Pole is the official home of Santa Claus and his jolly missus, the Finns would have us believe otherwise.
For them, Rovaniemi is the headquarters of Christmas, located in Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle. Children here can make gingerbread with Mrs. Claus, enroll in elf school or take a calligraphy class and make their Christmas wish list with a traditional quill.
You may also want to visit Ranua Wildlife Park, home to baby polar bears, wolverines and moose.
Arcticum is a science center where the mystery of the Northern Lights is revealed.
Those looking for a truly frozen experience can stay at the Arctic Snow Hotel, which is made entirely of ice and snow, but has saunas and hot tubs to melt it.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Close to Philadelphia and New York City, Bethlehem offers a small-town Christmas getaway.
Settled by Moravian colonists in the 1700s, Bethlehem is rightfully proud of its live Advent calendar, which can be enjoyed from December 1 to 23 from 5:30 p.m.
A Town Crier is a free, family-friendly event where a bell is rung on Main Street to call visitors to the Gondi House (the oldest house on Main Street). A child from the crowd is invited to knock three times, then the local business comes out as a surprise to everyone.
“Christmas City” also added new decorations, including a giant LED star, life-sized toy soldiers and thousands of lights strukturý everywhere.
Bath, England
The Christmas market lights up at night behind Bath Abbey.
Allan Baxter/Stockbyte Unreleased/Getty Images
This historic town in southwest England celebrates the birth of Jesus and the birth of Jane Austen with much fanfare.
The Jane Austen Center — and the on-site Regency Tearoom — is the best place to learn about the city’s most famous resident.
Austen mentioned in “North Abbey” and “Persuasion”, the Theater Royal has a varied program of holiday drama, musicals, opera and concerts.
Bath Christmas Market has many wooden chalets selling British handmade crafts in a unique Georgian setting. Between the magnificent Bath Abbey and the venerable Roman Baths, the market offers a delightful way to discover the character of this historic city.
A shower on the snow is a great excuse to pack up and lace up your skis.
San Fernando, Philippines
If Asia had a Christmas capital, San Fernando in the Roman Catholic Philippines would be a top candidate.
Located northwest of Manila, the city is famous for its giant lantern festival that starts on December 17 and ends on January 1. The tradition of making San Fernando lanterns dates back to the late 18th century.
The highlight of the tour here is the Parliament, a colorful, electric Christmas lantern that represents the Star of Bethlehem. The paroles are reminiscent of psychedelic kaleidoscopes, beautiful stained glass windows, prismatic pinwheels or large snowflakes.
Barcelona, Spain.
Anyone who can extend their vacation until the 12th of Christmas — aka Three Kings Day or Epiphany — can meet Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar in Barcelona.
On the evening of January 5th, the kings (also known as the “Three Wise Men”) arrived in the port of Santa Eulalia, their own ship, bearded and dressed in velvet.
Cannons are fired, fireworks are set off and the magic of Maggie officially begins as the mayor hands them the keys to the city.
They parade through the streets in a fantastic cavalcade of camels, elephants, giraffes and glittering costumes.
New York City
New York is full of Christmas traditions. One favorite of tourists and residents alike is ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza.
Roy Rochlin / Getty Images
Nearby Radio City hosts an annual Christmas extravaganza starring the Rockettes.
Located on the southwest corner of Central Park, Columbus Circle hosts over 100 vendors selling holiday clothing, gifts, snacks and beverages.
Big fashion labels join in the festivities and make an appearance With elaborate Christmas displays at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s Herald Square flagship store and other department stores.
Nairobi, Kenya
The magic of Christmas is in the festive chaos of Kenya’s capital.
Visitors will find melodious music blaring in different languages in various stores, public transportation, and in long lines of restaurants and supermarkets.
A visit to a friend’s house or a popular restaurant can mean a piled plate. Chapati (flat bread), spicy rice It smells And roast beef — or Roasted meat In Swahili — to name a few.
Revelers can burn calories on a hike in Karura Forest Reserve, an outdoor enthusiast’s haven made popular by Nobel laureate Wangari Mata’i.
Nairobi National Park offers safari options for visitors to spot rhinos, lions, giraffes and other animals against the backdrop of a sprawling city.
For Christmas gifts, the bustling open-air markets such as Masai offer authentic African paintings, jewellery, clothes and fabrics unique to Kenya.
Nuremberg, Germany
Adults can enjoy spicy gingerbread and spiced wine in Nuremberg.
And for families with children, there is a play museum.
Bogota Colombia
A woman dressed as Santa Claus sits next to a Christmas tree and Christmas star in Bogotá’s Bolivar Square.
Fernando Vergara/AP
Columbia’s high-rise capital lights up its Christmas lights in abundance every year.
In Bogotá, there is a tradition of the “Ruta Navideña” or Christmas Route. Festivals flock to popular spots around the city to witness the vibrant spectacle. Click here for some great spots, including the stunning Monserrate, a towering mountain that dominates the city.
Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) is celebrated on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception. It officially marks the beginning of Christmas in Colombia. People light small candles and paper lanterns, place them on windows and balconies.
Christmas is sweet here. Custard It’s a custard dish that’s similar to flan or pudding and is eaten alongside other holiday favorites. fritters (Fried dough balls are served hot)
Malta
Although December is seasonal, this Roman Catholic island in the Mediterranean has a festive and spiritual activity during Christmas.
to visit Baby bed, or nativity scenes, is an integral part of Christmas here. Every year, the residents proudly close and sometimes even open their garage doors to display their sacred crib sweets to the public.
Downtown Valletta is home to a lively festive spirit, with carolers singing outside the baroque St John’s Co-Cathedral during Advent. Check out the dazzling display of Christmas lights on Republic Street.
A visit to the Malta Toy Museum, which houses toys, soldiers, train sets and clockwork dating back to the 1790s, is a nostalgic tribute to childhood.
Quebec City, Canada
The picturesque streets of Quebec City’s historic Petite Champlain district make for a delightful winter holiday getaway.
Blog / Adobe Stock
An eco-friendly, outdoor-lover’s haven, Quebec bustles with winter activity, offering holiday programs for all tastes.
Old Quebec is transformed into a charming Christmas village. Lovers of sausages and roasted chestnuts can browse the wares at a German Christmas market. The more religiously inclined can display nativity scenes from around the world.
Speed devils can zoom around on snowmobiles from Nord Exp.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Pinatas, Stations And fist Round up the festivities in this colorful city in the heart of Mexico, where Christmas is festive and festive.
Until December 24, visitors are sure to stumble upon Mary and Joseph strolling through the streets as locals call them door-to-door, singing to beg. “Posada(or “shelter”) as they reenact the journey to Bethlehem.
Pinatas And fist (Fruit drink) Wrap up a long evening wandering around this cobbled town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its grand churches, well-preserved architecture and great treasure trove. Zocalos.
Salzburg and Oberndorf, Austria
Salzburg’s Christmas market and associated festivities are truly something to sing about.
ecstk22 / Adobe Stock
Mozart’s birthplace and the film location for “The Sound of Music,” Salzburg is chocolate box perfect. Think snow-capped mountains, baroque architecture and traditional Christmas markets.
It’s even home to “Silent Night.” The famous carol was first performed in nearby Oberndorf bei Salzburg on Christmas Eve 1818.
The city hosts an unusual Yuletide tradition.
Throughout Austria and Bavaria (nearby Germany), people dress up as a terrifying alpine beast known as a Krampus. And they roam the streets looking for naughty children who need punishment. The Krampus Runs in Salzburg are held on different days in December.
Strasbourg, France
Get a taste of both French and German Christmas in this border town that feels the influence of both cultures. In the year Founded in 1570, Strasbourg is said to be France’s oldest Christmas market and one of the oldest in Europe.
Make photographic and visual memories of the 30-meter (98-foot-tall) Christmas tree that comes to the central square of Place Kleber every year and is decorated with ornaments and lights.
Queenstown, New Zealand
A paraglider takes to the skies in New Zealand, where outdoor activities and Christmas meet.
damianalmua/Adobe stock
The traditional Christmas colors of red, green and white take on a whole new meaning in New Zealand.
Here, it represents the color red pohutukawa (New Zealand Christmas tree with ruby-red flowers). It represents white sandy beaches. And green? Kiwi, of course!
Sun lovers looking to join Santa’s pants should definitely head to Queenstown, where warm summer temperatures mean people can go boating, river surfing or paragliding on Lake Wakatipu.
Or visitors can simply set up camp in front of the lake and enjoy a Christmas meal of lamb, seafood and chicken on the barbeque.
Forrest Brown, Roseanne Lake, Laura Ma, Faith Karimi, Maureen O’Hare, and Al Gerard de la Cruz contributed to this article.
