What is the best city to visit for Christmas in the US?
Atlanta, GA, is ranked as the top U.S. city to visit for Christmas for the second consecutive year due to its high holiday spirit,, numerous, affordable, festive, activities,, and high, concentration, of, holiday-themed, shops, and, attractions. Other top choices include festive, large cities, like New York City, for its iconic, markets, and, Chicago, for, its, holiday, lights, and ice-skating.
Meanwhile, New York City transforms into a holiday capital with festive markets, seasonal performances, and iconic decorations throughout Manhattan. For travelers weighing the best places to visit in the US in December with a mix of culture and winter charm, New York offers both.
Leavenworth, in Washington state USA is commonly rated as the very best Christmas town in the entire world! Nestled in the Cascade mountains it truly is absolutely amazing. Leavenworth is all old world Bavarian architecture that looks beautiful all year, but really comes alive at Christmas time. The beautiful buildings.
The best place for a December trip depends on your goal: for winter sun, consider the Canary Islands, Caribbean (Antigua), or Southeast Asia (Sri Lanka); for festive Christmas markets & city vibes, head to Vienna, Prague, or New York City; and for a snowy adventure, Swedish Lapland (Northern Lights) or the French Alps (skiing) are perfect.
This has been a tradition since the 1950's and they have earned the nickname “Christmas Town USA” over the years! This is McAdenville, North Carolina, and it is only roughly 30 minutes outside of Charlotte!
What is the cheapest place to visit during Christmas?
For cheap Christmas travel, consider Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia), Eastern Europe (Prague, Budapest, Krakow), Mexico (Oaxaca, Bacalar), or warmer Caribbean/US options like Puerto Rico and Las Vegas, focusing on places with lower daily costs for accommodation, food, and activities to stretch your budget during the peak holiday season.
Named Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1741, this quaint city of Bethlehem, PA in eastern Pennsylvania is rooted in holiday charm. And since 1937, the city has appropriately been recognized as Christmas City USA.
One of the most beautiful places in the USA has to be Acadia National Park in Maine. And Acadia National Park in autumn is even more magnificent. While this park is much smaller than a park like Canyonlands, it's filled with some diverse landscape — from forests to rocky coastline to granite peaks.
1. Maui, Hawaii – The Ultimate Winter Paradise. If you're wondering where the best warm place to travel in December in the U.S. might be, Maui tops the list. This Hawaiian gem is one of the best tropical vacation destinations for travelers in search of December sunshine.
For a December short break, consider festive European cities like Berlin, Vienna, or Prague for Christmas markets and winter charm, or head south to the Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife) for winter sun, while destinations like Phuket (Thailand), Goa (India), or Cebu (Philippines) offer warm beaches and culture in Southeast Asia and beyond. For US options, try New York for festive city vibes or Maui, Hawaii, for warm escapes.
The upstate New York city was named the most Christmasy city in the United States by online crypto casino JB. The study, which the company shared with Travel + Leisure, lauded Buffalo for its hundreds of holiday events (up to 800) and typical December snowfall of more than 25 inches.
Grapevine, Texas: The Christmas Capital of the USA. Nestled between Dallas and Fort Worth, Grapevine, Texas is a small town that wears its holiday spirit like a cozy sweater.
