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23 US Cities That Go All Out for Christmas

By Caitlin Morton

Think of the phrase “Christmas in America” and you’ll likely imagine the usual suspects: giant trees festooned in twinkling lights, people of all ages caroling and singing “Silent Night,” ubiquitous tributes to the jolly man in red named Santa Claus, and gingerbread. Lots of gingerbread. But take a closer look and you may be surprised: Christmas celebrations across the United States can look very different, depending on the environment, local history, and present-day cultures of the people who live there. Not everything is a winter wonderland—in fact, maybe a warm-weather destination for the holidays is exactly what you need. Regardless of temperature, these 23 destinations are some of the best places to spend Christmas this year.

These places below are known for the ways they come alive at Christmastime: from the glitzy and glam festivities of big cities like New York or Chicago to the Santa-hats-and-shorts vibes of Santa Fe and St. Augustine. Of course, your Christmas vacation ideas in the US are far from limited to just these places. Here's one idea: Head out on a multi-destination road trip to check out some fantastical drive-through Christmas lights displays . And while there are a great many places to celebrate Christmas around the world , experience one Christmas in America and you’ll be a person changed for the better.

Here are some of the best places to go for Christmas in the United States this year, ranging all types of atmosphere and styles: from Kennebunkport to Las Vegas , from Dallas to North Pole, Alaska (note the missing the ). No matter where you choose, there are plenty of activities to participate in, events to check out, and places to stay. Happy holidays, y’all.

This article has been updated since its original publish date. All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Alexandria, Virginia

Why we go: Located about 20 minutes south of Washington, DC, Alexandria is a picture-perfect place to spend the holiday season. The Old Town’s row houses and centuries-old brick streets look even more charming when adorned with snow and Christmas wreaths, and you can expect a ton of seasonal activities. The festivities kick off along the Potomac River shoreline with the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights (December 2 at 5:30 p.m.) and the annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade (December 3). Come Christmas Eve, try to spot Waterskiing Santa along the Potomac River.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Get a taste of the Christmases of yore at nearby Mount Vernon (George Washington’s former home), where you can take a candlelit guided tour, and enjoy some cider and cookies (with special events on November 24 and 25, December 1, 2, 8, 9, and 17).

Stay here: Book a stay at The Alexandrian, Autograph Collection , which is on King Street, in the heart of Alexandria’s shopping and entertainment area.

Asheville, North Carolina

Why we go: Asheville is easily one of the country’s best places to spend Christmas, offering all the light displays and holiday shopping—not to mention the perfect tucked-away location in the Blue Ridge Mountains —any vacationer could wish for. Some of the city’s seasonal offerings include a lit-up wonderland at the North Carolina Arboretum , and the 29th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition at The Omni Grove Park Inn (on display from November 27 to January 2).

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Christmas at Biltmore Estate is just as spectacular as it sounds, with 100 hand-decorated trees, 10,000 ornaments, and 100,000 holiday lights drawing visitors through the new year in January.

Stay here: Cozy up in The Foundry , a hotel that opened in 2018 with a James Beard-nominated chef running its in-house restaurant. It’s Asheville’s best boutique hotel, filled with authentic touches—from lots of exposed brick to the restaurant’s modern spins on comfort food.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Why we go: This Christmas, visit the little town of Bethlehem—in Pennsylvania, that is. The city’s German-inspired Christmas City Village and Christkindlmarkt (November 17 to December 17) feature rotating displays by artisans, live music, and glass-blowing demonstrations. After stocking up on handmade ornaments and nutcrackers, take a carriage ride through Downtown Bethlehem to take in all the Christmas lights.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The Winter Light Spectacular (through December 31) at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, about 30 minutes northwest of Bethlehem, features more than a million lights and illuminated scenes throughout the zoo.

Stay here: The Sayre Mansion Inn has warm and comfortable rooms, private six-course dinners, and beautiful Christmas decorations. If you want to venture out into the town, Lehigh University, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Steel Stacks Performing Arts Center, and the Wind Creek Casino are all nearby.

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Why we go: Normally, you wouldn’t expect an Arctic experience in southern Kentucky, but Bowling Green is shaking up the holiday game this year. The Christmas spirit is definitely alive at the city’s Reindeer Farm , where families can feed reindeer, watch holiday movies, and drink cocoa while writing letters to Santa. (There's even wine tasting for the grown-ups.)

The one thing to get you in the spirit: End your festive vacation at the SoKY Marketplace Ice Rink , an outdoor rink where you can skate with Santa and the Grinch.

Stay here: Opened in mid-2019, the Lodge at Olde Stone offers 12 cozy, Kentucky-inspired suites and a restaurant serving up Southern dishes. And if you’re a golfer, be sure to pack your clubs: the property boasts 9- and 18-hole courses onsite.

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Caitlin Morton

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Branson, Missouri

Why we go: Sort of like a family-friendly little sister to Las Vegas, Branson pulls out all the stops every holiday season. The Ozark Mountain town transforms into a winter wonderland with 1,500 Christmas trees in and around town, ice skating under the Branson Ferris Wheel, and several drive-through light displays .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Head straight to the 1880s-themed amusement park Silver Dollar City for the annual An Old Time Christmas festival. The party lasts until December 30 and includes 6.5 million lights, 1,000 trees (including an eight-story one), outdoor shows, parades, and, of course, rides.

Stay here: Chateau on the Lake is one of the nicest hotels in town, with beautiful lake views, a full-service luxury spa, and the Chateau Marina, where activities include fishing, water skiing, and tubing (though you may want to wait for warmer weather—or not, if that’s your thing).

Charleston, South Carolina

Why we go: Charleston is the perfect destination for any fan of the holidays, but not of the frigid weather that often comes with the season. There are plenty of Christmas-oriented events and festivities in the city that are fit for every type of tourist. Check out the Festival of Trees at The Charleston Place , where 16 Christmas trees, each one decorated by a local Charleston business or organization, will be on display throughout the beautiful hotel’s second floor. For something that sounds (and is) magnificent, catch The Sound of Charleston , where you can hear the music that tells the city’s story: gospel spirituals, music by George Gershwin, Civil War songs, and jazz. For something pleasantly aquatic, head over to the South Carolina Aquarium, which presents the dazzling light show Aquarium Aglow after the sun goes down on select evenings this November and December (be sure to say hi to “Scuba Claus” in the Great Ocean Tank).

The one thing to get you in the spirit: As far as classically Christmassy merrymaking goes, it doesn’t get any more traditional (minus the freezing temperatures) than the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park featuring a spectacular light show that features over two million tiny light bulbs.

Stay here: There are plenty of options in South Carolina’s beautiful port city: There’s the perennial favorite French Quarter Inn , which welcomes guests with a glass of Champagne and is just a few steps away from the famous Charleston City Market. Meanwhile, The Vendue , the city’s first art hotel concept, offers an ever-evolving experience—the hotel has a full-time docent and rotating exhibits. And for something classic, there’s Hotel Bennett , voted the very best hotel in Charleston by Traveler readers in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 ; its old-world grandeur and good ol’ Southern charm make this Marion Square hotel irresistible. (The place also hosts a holiday tea on Thursdays and Fridays until Christmas.)

Chicago, Illinois

Why we go: From its European-inspired Christkindlmarket (from November 17 to December 24) to light shows galore (there’s the Let It Shine drive-through Christmas lights display), Chicago knows a thing or two about embracing the Christmas spirit (and freezing temperatures). Can’t-miss activities include visiting the 51-foot Christmas tree in Millennium Park and cozying up in a heated igloo at The Godfrey Hotel .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Be dazzled by 2.5 million LEDs at ZooLights (from November 17 through January 7), an annual light festival held at Lincoln Park Zoo. Check out the event’s calendar for sensory-friendly visit times.

Stay here: As far as hotels go, travelers truly have their pick of the litter in the Windy City. One top choice is The Langham, Chicago , housed in a landmark Mies van der Rohe building along the Chicago River. It's just a Chicago hotdog’s throw away from Magnificent Mile, where you can get all your holiday shopping done. For the sportier among us, there’s the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel , which has a strong local following for its historic lobby, indoor bocce, foosball in its game room, and the gem-like Milk Room bar, among other things. On the rooftop, and mostly enclosed by an atrium, Cindy’s cranks it up with large format cocktails, shareable dishes, and some of the best views of Millennium Park.

Dallas, Texas

Why we go: Proving you don’t need cold temperatures to get in the Christmas spirit, the holiday celebrations in Dallas put most northern cities to shame. Most notable is Holiday at the Arboretum (now through January 5), a Christmas village with millions of lights, a 50-foot tree with lights animated to music, and visits with Santa Claus. Elsewhere in town, you can drive through the Dallas Zoo Lights route (from November 17 to January 2) and skate next to the country’s tallest indoor Christmas tree at the Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Throw a few back at Miracle , a Christmas-themed pop-up bar that returns to Dallas this year at the cocktail bar Royal 38 in Uptown Dallas.

Stay here: If you really want a festive experience, check in at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek , where the grounds are beautiful and the food is so tasty, you could dine on property every night.

Denver, Colorado 

Why we go: Unwrap the magic of the holidays in Denver this season with special events and millions of twinkling lights. Enjoy a family outing to the Denver Zoo Lights , or a fun day of shopping and ice skating downtown. Get a dose of culture with a viewing of A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker (see the full calendar here ), then visit the Mile High Tree at the 16th Street Mall (it’s actually 110 feet tall, but that’s still pretty impressive).

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The Denver Christkindlmarket (one of the best German markets in the country) returns to Civic Center Park this winter, open daily now through December 23.

Stay here: The Crawford Hotel , a boutique property in LoDo’s Union Station, boasts Art Deco rooms, and the city’s most beautiful lobby. Soaring ceilings and sky-high chandeliers hang overhead, while oversized sofas and leather chairs create a casual and bustling “living room” frequented by travelers and locals alike.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Why we go: If you’re wondering where to go for Christmas celebrations unlike anywhere else, look no further. Every December, this tiny New England town bursts with holiday cheer during its annual Christmas Prelude ; check out the site and you’ll see a live countdown to the event’s start date—it’s that highly anticipated. It’s an 11-day bash that’s about as New England as it gets: one of the main attractions is a tree made of lobster traps. Speaking of, the legendary lobster rolls at hotspots like Scales , The Highroller Lobster Co. , and Miyake will make you forget about gingerbread and sugar plums altogether.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Santa Claus’s arrival at the Christmas Prelude on a lobster boat.

Stay here: According to this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Traveler readers love the 14-room Cape Arundel Inn & Resort for its oceanside location and restaurant serving up fresh seafood—and, unlike a lot of Maine resorts, it’s actually open during the winter months.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Why we go: If you thought Las Vegas was dazzling before, just wait until you see it decked out for Christmas. Basically, the entire Strip transforms into a winter wonderland full of festive events for the entire family. This year's activities include rooftop ice skating at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (beginning December 2), colorful displays outside The LINQ promenade , a 6-foot-tall gingerbread man at ARIA , and a massive holiday display—complete with a 42-foot Christmas tree—at the Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Catch an iconic show at the Fountains of Bellagio to see performances set to “Santa Baby,” “Carol of the Bells,” and other holiday classics.

Stay here: It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to the hotels on the Strip in Las Vegas , especially as each property tries to outdo each other—whether for the holidays or just around the year. That said, for a classic experience, stay at The Venetian . The whole place is so marvelously over-the-top that it doesn’t matter that it looks nothing like the real Venice . That’s not the point. This is Vegas, baby.

Nashville, Tennessee

Why we go: The Music City is all about the—wait for it—music during the holiday season. From November 10 through January 1, enjoy “Country Christmas” at Gaylord Opryland , with tons of Christmas shows, plus ice skating and acres of light displays. Or head to the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and take the two-mile drive through Jingle Beat , a light show set to remixed versions of classic Christmas carols. And when in doubt, you can always catch a yuletide show at the Grand Ole Opry .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Given the Christmas season, a hotel named Noelle seems as perfect a place as any to spend the season. Its Holiday Glow Package is a nice deal, but even cooler is its Ralphie’s Christmas experience, inspired by A Christmas Story, which features Oval-tinis and other seasonal bites (happening in the hotel’s Hidden Bar until January 8).

Stay here: Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Stay at the Noelle—officially Noelle, Nashville, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. It’s in the center of the downtown Nashville action, and its emphasis on art, design, and local artists and designers will help you get to know the city all the more.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Why we go: It’s no surprise that New Orleans leans into the holiday season, but we still get all tingly thinking about Christmas in the city. NOLA lights up with events like LUNA Fête , where the Central Business District around Lafayette Square fills up with installations and animated graphics from December 7 to 10. City Park also becomes a wonderland for the entire month with Celebration in the Oaks (November 23 to December 30), a festival with vendors, food and drink stands, and decorations adorning the centuries-old oak trees.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The annual Christmas Eve lighting of the bonfires along the banks of the Mississippi River is a seasonal tradition that's as authentically “New Orleans” as they come.

Stay here: The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans has lots of holiday offerings this year, including gingerbread house building and a four-course dinner on Christmas Eve.

New York City

Why we go: There’s no shortage of ways to make your New York City Christmas magical, whether it’s ice skating at Central Park, window shopping along Fifth Avenue, visiting the tree at Rockefeller Center, seeing the Rockettes in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, or lurking around 34th Street hoping to witness a miracle.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Prepare to be incredibly and thoroughly overwhelmed (in a good way!) by the Christmas spirit in this Brooklyn neighborhood, which famously goes all out on the holiday decorations each year. Think candy cane lanes, giant snowmen, illuminated snowflakes, and too many glowing Santa Claus figures than the census can count. Lights go up after Thanksgiving and last through the New Year, so whether you’re driving through in a car or taking the pedestrian route, there’s plenty of time to take in the wall-to-wall displays of life-size nutcrackers, enormous twinkling trees, and lawn ornament reindeer. Big sleigh.

Stay here: Easy answer: The Plaza . If you've ever watched Home Alone 2 , you’ll recognize it as the hotel where young Kevin McCallister, while lost in New York, lived lavishly in a posh suite for the holidays. Fittingly, the hotel has a “Home Alone 2: Fun in New York” experience package, offered throughout the year, that lets guests mimic memorable moments from the movie. It includes a limousine ride all over the city to landmarks like Central Park and Radio City Music Hall, a large cheese pizza (to be eaten in the limo, naturally), and the Home Alone sundae, made to fit Kevin’s exacting taste (specifically: 16 scoops of assorted ice cream, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, M&M’s, brownie bits, chocolate, caramel, and raspberry sauce). If a more traditional Christmas is what you’re looking for, there’s also the “Suitest Season of All” package that comes with a seven-foot-tall decorated Balsam Hill tree placed directly in your suite.

Newport Beach, California

Why we go: The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is one of the longest-running holiday festivals in the entire country, celebrating its 115th anniversary this year from December 13 to 17. (To compare, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting has been running for 90 years.) The “parade” takes place in the harbor of Newport Beach, where yachts, boats, and kayaks have been known to show off up to $50,000 worth of decorations to millions of visitors.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: View the parade from Balboa Island , where the decorated houses threaten to upstage the passing boats.

Stay here: The nautical, all-American feel at Lido House, Autograph Collection fits in perfectly with the theme of the holiday events—especially with the addition of bright, colorful Christmas decorations in the cottages.

North Pole, Alaska

Why we go: Even though this North Pole is 1,700 miles south of the true North Pole, the quaint Alaskan town is 100 percent saturated with Christmas cheer. Most famous for the Santa Claus House (the self-proclaimed “official” home of St. Nick), the North Pole’s nominal spirit even extends to its street names: Snowman Lane, Saint Nicholas Drive, Holiday Road, and Santa Claus Lane, which has light poles shaped like candy canes. Just as adorable is the town’s post office, which gets flooded with tens of thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus each year.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The annual tree-lighting ceremony has plenty of photo ops with Santa himself.

Stay here: The North Pole Cabins are comfortable and warm log cabin retreats, located just a mile from the Santa Claus House.

Park City, Utah

Why we go: As if the world-class skiing isn’t reason enough to visit Park City this winter, the town also happens to be a wonderful place to spend Christmas. The former Olympic city has ample opportunities for skiing, fly fishing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding—with no shortage of resorts to warm up in between runs.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Hop on a 90-minute train ride with the North Pole Express at Heber Valley Railroad, where you can sip hot cocoa and meet Mrs. Claus.

Stay here: The 12-room Washington School House is just a hop away from Park City’s lit-up Main Street, and its Christmas decorations are some of the prettiest ever seen. In nearby Deer Valley, there’s also the iconic Stein Eriksen Lodge , a luxurious chalet with easy ski-in/ski-out access. And just 25 minutes from downtown Park City Auberge Resorts’ The Lodge at Blue Sky is a perfect place to unwind in luxury.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Why we go: Santa Fe’s already-beautiful plaza becomes downright magical with the addition of Christmas lights—but the holiday spirit doesn’t start and stop there. The city also offers midnight mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis de Assisi , holiday exhibits at the New Mexico Museum of Art , holiday flamenco performances at El Flamenco Cabaret , and seasonal shopping at the Winter Indian Market. Even when Christmas is officially over, you can keep busy at Taos Ski Valley and Ski Santa Fe —both just an easy drive away.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Santa Fe’s annual Canyon Road Farolito Walk , a Christmas Eve event consisting of farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and topped with a votive candle) lining the streets and walls of adobe buildings, is sure to get you in a pleasant and festive mood for the occasion.

Stay here: Condé Nast Traveler ’s Readers’ Choice Award favorite Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi has a tangible warmth to it, with gaslit kiva fireplaces and hand-carved four-poster beds adorning the rooms.

Seattle, Washington

Why we go: Aside from the delightful sight of a Christmas tree atop the Space Needle, there are plenty of reasons to visit Seattle over the holidays. Your one-stop shop for holiday cheer is Winterfest at Seattle Center (November 24 to December 31), which has family-friendly activities like train rides and ice sculpting demonstrations. There’s also a huge celebration just eight miles east of Seattle in the town of Bellevue: Snowflake Lane (November 24 to December 24), a nightly light show with caroling and snow machines ensuring a white Christmas.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Sheraton Grand Seattle ’s annual Gingerbread Village is probably Seattle’s most beloved holiday tradition, in which the city’s top architecture firms and culinary teams get together to create next-level gingerbread houses. This year’s event runs from November 21 to New Year’s Day.

Stay here: With its mountain lodge interiors, The Edgewater Hotel is one of the best places to cozy up in the Pacific Northwest. If you like to fall asleep while staring out at gentle waves glistening in the moonlight, you won’t find a better spot in the city.

Seneca Falls, New York

Why we go: It’s a Wonderful Life may have been shot on an RKO soundstage in Los Angeles, but the fine folks of Seneca Falls , New York, swear that their five-square-mile upstate hamlet is the inspiration for the real Bedford Falls . Each December, they host an array of old-timey activities to prove it. This year, the event runs from December 7 to 10 and will include special film screenings, gingerbread house contests, and museum exhibits.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The “It's a Wonderful Bonfire” event on Friday, December 8, which includes caroling, a visit from Santa, and a tree-lighting ceremony.

Stay here: The Gould Hotel has elegant rooms and a restaurant serving hearty, local meals that will warm you from the inside out.

St. Augustine, Florida

Why we go: Christmas in St. Augustine is truly something to behold. The holiday season kicks off this year with the city’s annual Christmas Parade, then continues through January 28 with the famous Nights of Lights festival. During the celebration, St. Augustine glows with three million tiny white lights over the Bridge of Lions and through 20 city blocks in the historic district. Bonus: You can enjoy the whole show without wearing a coat and gloves, because, you know, Florida.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Climb aboard the Old Town Trolley’s Famous Nights of Lights Tour, which departs nightly from November 19 through January 28.

Stay here: The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens pairs all the charm of a bed and breakfast with all the amenities of a true luxury hotel. No little detail is overlooked, from interesting on-site activities (like watercolor painting in the courtyard) to immaculate turndown service. The hotel has an age minimum of 16, making this a great retreat for harried parents.

St. Louis, Missouri

Why we go: It’s been almost 80 years since Judy Garland first graced the world with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” at the end of Meet Me in St Louis , and the Missouri city has embraced its role as one of America’s yuletide capitals ever since. Make sure you hit all the classics, like Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo, the poinsettia show at Jewel Box in Forest Park , and ice skating at Steinberg Rink . For the third year running, there's even a Polar Express -themed train ride at the Union Station development.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Walk among a million dazzling lights at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s annual Garden Glow , which runs from November 18 to January 6.

Stay here: You can’t beat the glittering, Gateway Arch-facing views at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis .

Washington, D.C.

Why we go: There are few holiday displays in the nation that compare with Washington, DC’s National Christmas Tree, but other seasonal perks include private igloos at the Watergate Hotel, the Downtown Holiday Market (now through December 23), and a glorious absence of field trip groups in the Smithsonian museums.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Make it a priority to amble over to the Ford’s Theatre, which puts on an annual run of A Christmas Carol for the holidays.

Stay here: The InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C., an IHG Hotel , is just a few blocks away from the White House and National Christmas Tree, and offers a holiday afternoon tea and tons of gorgeous decorations. You’ve heard it a thousand times: “There's no place like home for the holidays.”

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The 30 Most Magical Christmas Towns in the U.S.

Head here for holiday cheer.

Seeking someplace where snow will almost be a guarantee? Book tickets to Park City, Utah or Leavenworth, Washington. More in the mood for a warm-weather holiday? Head to Delray Beach, Florida, which lights a 100-foot tall tree each year, or go with the small-town charm of Solvang, California, where Julefest takes place all December long. And we’d be remiss not to mention the year-round Christmas towns of Santa Claus, Indiana and North Pole, Alaska, which find ways to honor the holiday 365 days a year.

Ready to make all your Hallmark Christmas town dreams come true? Then alert the in-laws, bundle up the kids, and hit the road. These magical American Christmas towns are ready to embrace you with open arms, opportunities for new Christmas traditions , and, of course, a warm cup of hot chocolate or two. Happy Holidays, y'all!

Middleburg, VA

Settle in for an old-fashioned Christmas in the heart of Virginia’s horse and hunt country, where you can cheer on a parade of loyal hounds as they ride through the streets, sip on small-batch hard ciders at Mt. Defiance , and shop for old-world holiday decor, including Wilhelm Schweizer pewter ornaments, and Wendt & Kühn windup music boxes, at year-round holiday shop The Christmas Sleigh .

Gruene, Texas

A two-steppin' Texas Christmas awaits in this cotton town-turned-thriving historic district located within the community of New Braunfels. Pose for pics with Cowboy Kringle, Gruene's distinctive wrangler spin on Father Christmas, take in the annual Pony Express Ride, a beloved holiday tradition that sees a horseback cavalcade carry a message of yuletide cheer from the state governor straight through town, then head to Gruene Hall , Texas’s oldest continuously running dance hall, for a calendar jam-packed with holiday shows.

Plan Your Trip

Woodstock, VT

In the heart of the Green Mountains, a Christmas card-worthy village and its surrounding hamlets shine with New England charm. Go cross-country skiing, visit covered bridges, and bundle up for horse-drawn sleigh rides through snow-covered pastures at Billings Farm & Museum .

Plan your Trip

Stockbridge, MA

Stockbridge might look just like a Norman Rockwell painting—and that's because it is! Each year, the town re-creates the 1967 Rockwell painting, "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas)" during their annual festival . Old-fashioned cars line the main street to re-create the painting, and the public can tour historic homes decorated for the holidays.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Park City, UT

Why not escape to a literal winter wonderland for Christmas? Park City is a breathtaking place nestled in the mountains. There are tons of Christmas events throughout December such as holiday markets , sleigh rides , and a Christmas Eve torchlight parade , where skiers and snowboarders come down the mountain carrying torches to lead Santa into town.

Franklin, TN

Step back in time at the annual Dickens of a Christmas festival in historic downtown Franklin. The festival, which is in its 35th year, brings characters from A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist to life throughout its weekend-long festivities. Roam the Victorian Village and try Victorian-era Christmas treats like sugar plums while listening to carolers. Stop for a chat with Jacob Marley or Ebenezer Scrooge before visiting Father Christmas.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Essex at Christmastime. Ride the North Pole Express , then keep things locomotive-themed at the annual Holiday Train Show , or do some Christmas shopping at the holiday village where you can also catch a stunning light show. Have dinner or even stay at the historic Griswold Inn for the perfect New England holiday.

Cape Cod, MA

Looking for boatloads of Christmas cheer with a New England twist? Head to Cape Cod ! There are few things more picturesque than lighthouses decked to their nines in Christmas garlands, wreaths, and lights. What's more, the quaint seaside destination hosts dozens of craft fairs, parades, theater productions, and even a Train to Christmas Town .

Ann Arbor, MI

There's so much to love about a Christmas in Ann Arbor, from the dozens of holiday events offered (think: free outdoor markets, German food fairs, lantern parades, s'mores roasting, and live music, just to name a few). The annual "Sing Along with Santa" event, presented by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra , is a can't-miss spectacle. It's just what is sounds like: A carol sing-along featuring Santa himself, plus plenty of cookies and cider.

North Pole, AK

Bet you never thought you could make a trip to the North Pole ! This town may not be the real thing, but it's got the name—and it boasts year-round Christmas spirit. There's also a "Santa Claus house" with live reindeer, a mayor who goes by the name of Santa, and candy cane street lamps. How's that for a winter wonderland?

New York, NY

It may not be a tiny town, but it's still got all the charm—and it'd be impossible to make a list of the best Christmas towns in America without including the Big Apple ! There's simply no place quite like New York City at Christmastime. With its countless attractions, skating rinks, and shopping opportunities galore, it's an obvious choice for at least one of your family's Christmas trips.

Bethlehem, PA

Spend Christmas in Bethlehem without shelling out a fortune on airfare or traveling back in time! This Pennsylvania town boasts horse-drawn carriage rides and a "Christmas City Stroll" that'll have your entire family smiling and laughing.

Greenville, SC

Want to feel like you're walking around on the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie? Then you'll want to head to Greenville, South Carolina, where the sidewalks twinkle with lights as Santa’s electric sleigh drives by with an elf in tow. There's even a miniature outdoor skating rink on Main Street, a "Festival of Trees" competition, tree lighting ceremonies, and more. It's downright magical!

Solvang, CA

Take a trip to gorgeous wine country this holiday season and visit Solvang , located in the Santa Ynez Valley . The town hosts Julefest , which lasts all December long. Guests can go on go on a Holiday Lights Tour, take part in the Santa Sprint, listen to live holiday music, and much more.

Andalusia, AL

It doesn't get too cold in Andalusia , but that doesn't stop the town from turning into a winter wonderland. Every weekend in December, residents flock to Candyland, a kid-friendly event where children of all ages can ice-skate, visit the different holiday cottages, and meet Santa. The best part? Admission is free!

Bardstown, KY

This Kentucky town kicks off the holiday season the day after Thanksgiving—that's November 23 this year—with the Light Up Bardstown celebration . Kids will have a blast at the Fun Christmas Corner, where they can enjoy sweet treats and face painting. Everyone in the family will love the annual Christmas tree lighting and an appearance by Santa Claus himself.

Leavenworth, WA

On any day of the year, this Bavarian village gives off an Alpine holiday air. But during snowy December, visitors are met with 21 miles of lights along the homes and fences, and can also anticipate handbell concerts, a lively Christkindlmarkt, harp music, and a weekly festival with carolers, Gluhwein, and sledding gathered 'round the town's tree.

Branson, MO

Each year, this Missouri city hosts the Ozark Mountain Christmas festival, a month-long extravaganza with festive music, light shows, and plenty of parades. You can even hop aboard the Branson Scenic Railway's Polar Express Train Ride and feel like you're in a scene from the classic movie. Don't forget the hot chocolate!

Asheville, NC

Not surprisingly, much of Asheville's holiday focus is on Biltmore , the historic Vanderbilt mansion, which dresses up lavishly with ribbons, garlands, and sparking lights. Elsewhere in this active mountain town, locals gather to watch Santa rappel down Chimney Rock as a warm-up exercise for his upcoming Christmas Eve activities . The well-established arts scene in town makes shopping for unique gifts easy at craft shows and studio visits in the River Arts District.

Frankenmuth, MI

Known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, Frankenmuth's European heritage is on full display during the Christmas season. Some of the town's charming holiday highlights include a traditional Christkindlmarkt, a holiday home tour hosted by the Frankenmuth Women's Club, whimsical light displays, and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the world's largest Christmas store.

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The Best Places to Go for Christmas

These are 20 of the best places to spend Christmas this year.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

For some people, the perfect Christmas vacation involves fully leaning into winter on a snowy mountain somewhere, curled up next to a crackling fire. Others prefer to lounge on a beach as far away from cold weather as possible. Wherever you choose to spend "the most wonderful time of year," you're likely to find some version of holiday cheer.

From the sunny shores of Saint Lucia to the storybook town of Solvang, California, to Santa Claus' own hometown in Finnish Lapland, these are the best places to visit for Christmas this year.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is an idyllic ski destination perched in the beautiful Tetons of Wyoming. Late December here is packed with holiday programming that typically includes ice skating, skiing with Santa, and caroling. The festivities usually kick off with a Christmas tree lighting and end with fireworks on New Year's Eve.

There are several stunning slopeside lodges to choose from, including the luxurious Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa and the ski-in, ski-out Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole . Looking for gifts in downtown Jackson? The iconic elk antler arches that frame the Town Square are illuminated for the holidays, making it feel magical. For a unique adventure that embraces the hot and cold, plan a trip to the Granite Hot Springs Pool , which can be accessed only by snowmobile, fat bike, dog sled, or skis.

New York City

There's truly nothing like Christmas in New York City . The city lights shine brightly year-round, but holiday lights add to the magic. You'll hardly have to look for activities or entertainment with all the famous displays: the enormous tree at Rockefeller Center and the smaller but still dazzling tree at Washington Square Park, the LED-lit Saks Fifth Avenue facade, and the animated window displays at Macy's Herald Square, to name a few. You can sip hot chocolate while you shop for last-minute gifts at German-style Christmas markets and partake in the age-old tradition of watching the Radio City Rockettes perform their annual Christmas Spectacular on a holiday vacation in NYC.

Bruges, Belgium

KavalenkavaVolha/Getty Images

The Bruges Christmas Market is one of the best in Europe. This enchanting event takes over the Markt, the square at the heart of the city, with stands and wooden chalets selling everything from handmade Christmas ornaments to waffles and woolly socks. The colorful storefronts surrounding the square are adorably festooned with holiday decorations, and you'll find confectioneries serving Belgian hot chocolate — no doubt some of the best you'll ever taste. The festivities extend to a smaller market in nearby Simon Stevinplein square. Elevate your stay with a suite overlooking the picturesque canal at the luxurious and historic Hotel Van Cleef .

Beaver Creek, Colorado

Another place to experience the holidays on the ski slopes is Beaver Creek, Colorado, about 12 miles over the road from bustling Vail. This picturesque ski village typically sees festive activities for the whole family, from an annual Christmas tree lighting to changing events like holiday movie nights and cookie-baking competitions.

As for a cozy place to rest your head, The Osprey offers luxurious accommodations and a heated outdoor pool all mere feet from the chairlift. Otherwise, you can book one of just 60 rooms at The Pines Lodge . Both offer ski-in, ski-out access.

Saint Lucia

If your idea of a white Christmas involves soft, powdery sand, consider going to this beautiful Caribbean island. The luxurious Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort , typically offers a full lineup of holiday activities such as visits from Santa, a traditional family Christmas meal, and a New Year's Eve beach bash. Of course, you can also spend your days lounging on the stunning beach between St. Lucia's iconic peaks, the Pitons, or enjoying the resort's regular amenities and activities, including a pool, spa, dive facility, and kayak rentals.

Highlands, North Carolina

If you're looking for a charming, small-town Christmas experience that feels like it's straight out of a Hallmark movie, head to Highlands, North Carolina. This picturesque town is in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest. Throughout December, you'll find storefronts along and around Main Street decorated with wintry displays. The city runs a competition, so cast your vote on which you think is the best. Visit with Santa in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on any Saturday in December leading up to the big day. Old Edwards Inn and Spa and Half-Mile Farm ( favorite hotels among Travel + Leisure readers) offer cozy accommodations with a side of holiday decorations and Christmas cheer.

Salzburg, Austria

Christmas markets, warm glühwein (mulled wine), medieval castles, and a museum wholly dedicated to Christmas will surely get you into the holiday spirit while visiting Salzburg. As you probably know, the city is the birthplace of Mozart and the setting of "The Sound of Music," a movie that seemingly plays on repeat over the holidays. Ice skate around a statue of the iconic composer at Mozartplatz and soak in stunning views of the snow-capped Alps on the south-facing terrace of the Hohensalzburg Fortress . The most luxurious place to stay? That would be Hotel Goldener Hirsch right in Old Town.

Solvang, California

If you won't have a chance to wander through a storybook town in Denmark this holiday season, you can get a similar feel in Solvang. The small city in Santa Ynez Valley was founded by a group of Danes in the early 1900s. They created this adorable community, now known for its Danish businesses and architecture. Solvang typically hosts Julefest , a month-long village celebration complete with outdoor gatherings and holiday decorations. Make the stay even more Christmassy with a stay at The Landsby or the Winston , two of Solvang's coziest boutique hotels.

Stowe, Vermont

A popular ski destination among East Coasters and one of the most picture-perfect places to go for Christmas, Stowe is within driving distance of several major northeastern cities (Boston, Albany, and Montreal, to name a few). The ski season typically starts in November, so this is an ideal place to hit the slopes if you're looking for a white, powder-filled Christmas. Stay at The Lodge at Spruce Peak for beautiful mountain views and ski-in, ski-out access.

Edinburgh Castle, arguably the city's most recognizable landmark, glows over the holiday season. The annual Castle of Light event began in 2019 and draws crowds with spectacular displays projected onto the exterior walls of the 12th-century stronghold. The projections typically get a refresh every year, and have included everything from fire-breathing dragons to flowers. Other holiday must-dos include the festive afternoon tea at Dome , where the stately Georgian Tea Room is enhanced with seasonal decorations. Sip mulled wine at one of the Christmas markets and ice skate on George Street for the full experience. If you're around on New Year's Eve, participate in Hogmanay, Scotland's own end-of-year celebration. Edinburgh puts on a Hogmanay festival that includes a torchlight procession, concerts, and a disco party.

Washington, D.C.

See the National Christmas Tree, ice skate at Washington Harbour, and sing along with a choral concert at the National Cathedral this December. Washington, D.C., hosts an array of holiday happenings throughout the season, and many of them are free, so go ahead and spend some extra money Christmas shopping. Head to one of the renowned Smithsonian museums to escape the cold weather, bundle up and admire the lights at the National Zoo, or walk along the National Mall with a hot cocoa in hand. When it comes to accommodations, The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown can hardly be beat.

Florida Keys

With pleasantly warm December weather, the Florida Keys are an ideal escape for those looking to spend the holidays in a U.S. beach destination. Kick off your Christmas vacation with a scenic road trip through the Florida Keys, stopping at islands en route to Key West. This is a popular time to visit, so consider staying away from the crowds at the secluded Sunset Key Cottages , a 27-acre private island resort accessible by ferry. Upon arriving, you'll find serenity just a short trip from the attractions of Key West.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is a great place to visit any time of the year. Loved for its culture, food, and picturesque setting, the city typically hosts a number of holiday events throughout December. Annual highlights include the Santa Fe Botanical Garden's Glow light display and Christmas concerts inside the impressive Loretto Chapel leading up to December 25. You can even find winter sports at Ski Santa Fe , about 15 miles away. For a special hotel experience, book your stay at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe , which offers a range of festive amenities, or spend the night on the historic and holiday-lit Santa Fe Plaza at La Fonda .

Buenos Aires

Christmas is a summer holiday in the Southern Hemisphere, and Buenos Aires celebrates it with outdoor asado feasts and fireworks. High temperatures in December range from the upper 70s to the low 80s Fahrenheit, which means Papá Noel sometimes wears a tank top. The sunny weather is perfect for sipping cocktails and picnicking on the Plaza Intendente Alvear. While you're in the Argentine capital over the holidays, sample the pan dulce ("sweet bread"), admire the decorations that usually take over the Galerías Pacífico shopping center, or make like a local and escape the city to a nearby beach.

There's just something especially magical about London at Christmastime. Between the glittering lights, cider-slinging holiday markets, themed pop-up bars, and ice skating rinks from Hyde Park to the Queen's House in Greenwich, the city really comes alive for the holiday season. Stay at The Lanesborough for a truly festive experience — the luxurious hotel has beautiful holiday decorations, in-suite shopping from Harvey Nichols, and the option to have your room fully decorated with the hotel's Christmas in Residence program.

Rovaniemi, Finland

Why not spend the holidays in Santa Claus' hometown? Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, is home to Santa Claus Village and SantaPark , where you'll find the man himself and his reindeer sidekicks. During the winter, the arctic landscape is covered by a thick blanket of pretty snow. You'll also have the best chance of the year at spotting the northern lights. There are several hotels in the area with glass igloo accommodations, which provide stunning 360-degree views of the aurora borealis from inside.

The Maldives

If you'd rather wear sandals than snowshoes, the Maldives might be the ideal place for you to spend Christmas. Winter is the dry season, when the weather here is at its best. Daily highs average in the mid-80s Fahrenheit — perfect for a holiday beach getaway. At the end of the day, kick back in luxurious accommodations at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island or The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands .

Bavaria, Germany

Spend your Christmas holidays in this picturesque region in southern Germany. Start your adventure in Munich, where you can sip mulled wine as you stroll through a genuine German Christkindlmarkt. Then head out of the city to find Christmas spirit in small towns like medieval Rothenburg or go skiing in the Alps. Wherever you go, beware of the spooky Krampus, a frightening Christmas beast of local folklore.

Quebec City

Quebec City is about as European as it gets outside of Europe itself. The predominantly French-speaking Québécois celebrate the season with German-style markets, ice skating at Place D'Youville, and shopping in Old Quebec, transformed into a dreamy scene. For a truly Canadian experience, take a ride on Au 1884 (aka the Dufferin Terrace Toboggan Slide), one of Quebec City's oldest attractions. The slide runs right past Fairmont Le Château Frontenac , a castlelike hotel where you can stop for soup or coffee to escape the cold.

The Bahamas

Just a short flight south for East Coasters, The Bahamas is another popular choice for travelers seeking sun and sand during the holidays. Mid-December is the start of the high season here, probably because daily highs in the 80s are such a welcome change to chilly temperatures in much of the U.S. Thanks to a wide range of accommodation options — from resort complexes like Baha Mar with seemingly endless amenities to more intimate private island resorts like T+L reader favorite Kamalame Cay — there's a perfect Christmas vacation waiting for you in this sunny oasis.

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The best Christmas holiday destinations for 2023

By Laura Chubb , Anya Meyerowitz and Emma Love

After years of Christmas travel being put on pause, 2022 saw avid travellers embrace the festive escape once more. Christmas holiday destinations are a contentious issues among large families, however. An amble around Europe's famous Christmas markets is on most people's bucket lists, but then there's the practicalities of finding a cosy bolthole in a new city – to tree, or not to tree? Winter sun spots like Australia and South Africa were out of bounds in recent years due to strict Covid entry requirements, but families are free to reunite on whichever side of the globe they wish – and doing so in droves. With plenty of options back on the agenda, we've listed the best holiday destinations for Christmas in 2023. To stay closer to home, see our pick of the best UK Airbnbs to book for Christmas .

Why? For ultimate beach bliss. Clear water laps against the sandy shores, palm trees sway, and the chill of the UK seems so far away. There’s also something for everyone; larger resorts and villas for families on the larger Thai islands , boutique and big-name hotels on some of the smaller ones, and hostels at every turn for a cost-effective, island-hopping festive experience. Every type of traveller is catered to somewhere, and the beaches are undeniably divine, making it ideal for intergenerational escapes.

Insider tip: Christmas in Thailand is delightful, but New Year’s Eve is another spectacle altogether. Stay on Koh Samui and head to the beaches for raucous parties and kaleidoscopic firework displays, or head to one of the many beach clubs and high-end hotels for a more civilised affair. Alternatively, a two-stop trip could be the bucket list adventure to beat them all. You’ll likely need to pass through Bangkok to reach the islands, so consider sticking around on the return leg to experience the celebrations in one of Asia’s largest metropolises, watching the colourful explosions illuminate the Chao Phraya River.

Where to stay: Splash out on a stay at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui for the most indulgent festive escape, and you’ll barely need to lift a finger. It’s a large resort, but it doesn’t feel that way, thanks to clever landscaping and guest rooms hidden among the towering trees and wild flora. Connor Sturges

Gran Canaria

Why? For (almost) guaranteed short-haul sun. The average temperature can hover around 20C on December afternoons, perfect for long sunny lunches along the harbour and walks along the coast – take a tip if you dare.

Insider tip: Hire a car to experience all Gran Canaria has to offer. December isn’t quite sunbathing season, but it’s ideal for exploring the charming towns, historic churches, markets and natural wonders dotted across the island.

Where to stay: Gran Canaria is an ideal Christmas holiday destination for families with broods in tow, but the island is no longer the reserve of those needing all-inclusive convenience. Adults-only Hotel Veintiuno is set in an 18th-century colonial house and offers cosy rooms, a rooftop swimming pool and a location ideal for exploring the capital Las Palmas. Connor Sturges

The Cotswolds

Why? To experience a quintessentially English Christmas. Chocolate box villages dusted in snow, cosy evenings by pub fires, and the chime of churchbells ricocheting off period properties.

Insider tip: The Cotswolds has some of the cutest Christmas markets around. Broadway’s market is the perfect place to enjoy gooey raclette, a glass of mulled wine and a last-minute spot of shopping from craft stalls.

Where to stay: Cotswolds cottages don’t come cheap at Christmas, but make it a family affair, and it’ll be one to remember. Check out our guide to the best Airbnbs in the Cotswolds for some inspiration, or look to Luxury Cotswold Rentals for gargantuan homes designed to fit all the family… and some. Connor Sturges

Bruges, Belgium

Why: The fairy-tale Christmas scene – snowy, gabled houses and twinkly cobblestone streets – doesn’t get much more quintessential than in Belgium’s prettiest city. The medieval centre is known for its Gothic architecture, and the squares are strung with fairy lights and dotted with market stalls selling crafts and waffles wrapped in paper. Blow away the cobwebs on Christmas morning with a bracing walk alongside the icy canals, followed by a stint in one of the cosy pubs.

Insider tip: Belgian chocolatiers are famous for good reason – and Christmas is a great time to sample the wares of as many different stores as possible. We particularly like Spegelaere, a family-run chocolate shop just outside the city centre. Sarah James

Where to stay: Embrace the romance of the town with a B&B stay. The canal-side Bonifacius was famously used by Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as a green room during the filming of In Bruges . An immaculate breakfast here is served in the intimate Gothic Room. If you can brave the cold, wander up the winding staircase to the roof terrace where you'll find exceptional views over the Church of Our Lady and 13th-century belfry.

New York City, USA

Why : Sure, everyone knows Christmas in New York is special – but do they know it’s romantic, too? From ice-skating under the Rockefeller Center tree, to riding the gorgeously restored, vintage Jane’s Carousel on the East River-front, and strolling hand-in-hand across a twinkly Brooklyn Bridge, this is movie-grade amour .

Insider tip : Cuddle up on a Christmassy date at Williamsburg ’s Nitehawk Cinema . Even better, you can order food and cocktails right to your seat.

Where to stay: For the full New York at Christmas movie magic experience, nothing can beat The Plaza . A stay here is particularly magical for children, where little ones can call on the service of a family 'ambassador' and goodies on offer include a closet full of dressing-up gear, children's terrycloth bathrobes and a $100 gift card for nearby toy store FAO Schwartz. See our pick of the best hotels in New York for more.

Barbados, Caribbean

Why? The Caribbean has always been a favourite destination for cruise-fans over the festive period, with its honey-hued beaches and cerulean waters, and Barbados is arguably its star attraction. The festive season is the island’s sweet spot, where it is at its most relaxed until mid-December and still enjoying balmy temperatures, however the hotel prices often drop and the UK fashion set has yet to jet in for New Year’s Eve. It’s hard to picture a Christmas spent among the coconut palms and rolling surf, doused in sunscreen, rather than curled up in a jumper, but we’re certain you’ll soon get used to it… 

Insider tip: If you can’t bear to miss out on your Christmas Cake fix, tuck into the Bajan version (known as a ‘Great Cake’), made with local rum. Really get the flavour of things by booking a day trip to the Mount Gay rum distillery – we defy you not to be singing carols at the top of your voice by the end of it. 

Where to stay: Swap the supersized resorts for Cobblers Cove , a 40 bedroom bolthole that's dressed delightfully – think millennial- pink accents and candy-cane-striped pool umbrellas – like a tropical country club. For more recommendations, see our edit of the best hotels in Barbados . 

Why: Forget the 12 days of Christmas – the festive season in Iceland lasts a full 26. In fact, most Icelandic traditions at this time of year are bigger and more elaborate than those in the UK – including the 13 Santa Clauses who bring presents to children across the country. The chances of seeing the Northern Lights in December are also pretty good, and experiencing a white Christmas here is all but a given. In the capital Reykjavík , the frozen central pond of Tjörnin is a brilliant spot for ice skating on Christmas Day, while the big celebration is on Christmas Eve, with a supper of smoked lamb and langoustine.

Insider tip: If you stay until New Year’s Eve , you can catch the city’s unique fireworks display – locals purchase their own and the sky is lit up with countless mini displays when midnight strikes.

Where to stay: Reykjavik Edition has a standout location plus a rooftop terrace for viewing the northern lights. Another option is Kvosin Downtown Hotel , a charismatic boutique property with fantastic apartment suites. See our pick of the best Iceland hotels for more. 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Why : This Middle Eastern playground can make every generation feel like a kid again – whether that’s riding the slides of its water parks, sledding down a ski slope in a shopping mall, or jumping around on its giant trampoline park, Bounce . And while Christmas isn’t a national holiday here, bling-bling Dubai can’t resist this twinkly time of year: the malls and hotels are all a-sparkle with lights and enormous trees. Add to that the weather (highs of 26˚C in December), plentiful beaches, and all-ages fun (such as ogling a giant dancing fountain or speeding up the world’s tallest building), and it’s not such an out-there idea.\

Insider tip : Don’t miss the surreal experience of shopping centre Souk Madinat Jumeirah at Christmas, when there’s a German market, a snowball zone, and Santa riding a gondola-sleigh around the mall’s canals.

Where to stay: All of the major players are here but for a change of pace, try the newly opened 25hours Hotel One Central , where 30-something hipsters and creatives move between the co-working spaces, pottery and podcast studios, and mixed-gender saunas. The rooms and suites here are equally un-Dubai, with hammocks, sheik-sized beds, and private bar areas with room for a DJ.

Charley Ward

CNT Editors

Alessia Armenise

Olivia Morelli

Finnish Lapland

Why : It's been a while since we've had a bit of child-like magic at Christmas. Lapland needn’t just be for kids either: throw over Santa and snowmen for cosy nights in glass igloos, and romantic husky-sled rides through forests glittering with frost. Head up to Ylläs and you can even get steamy in a sauna gondola: a cable car converted into a sauna, which takes guests on a 20-minute ride. An outdoor Jacuzzi session and traditional sauna are included in the (admittedly steep) price. Note that a typical Lappish Christmas dinner often involves reindeer, which seems like a truth only suitable for an adult.

Insider tip : If you’re looking to work off all that Christmas food, Ylläs National Park opens up its snowshoe tracks to fatbikers, so you can pedal your way around this wintry wonderland and work up a real sweat.

Where to stay: In one of the glass igloos at Apukka Resort near Rovaniemi, perfect for cosying up to watch the Northern Lights from bed. All igloos have sofa beds so they're great options for families, while self-catering apartments are also available.  

Cape Town, South Africa

Why: For a blast of winter sun with a sprinkling of festive spirit, all without the jet lag. In December , the top draw in Cape Town is usually carols by candlelight at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Children will also love the holiday activities at the V&A Waterfront, from magic shows on the croquet lawn, to puppet shows and face painting at the aquarium. If you're organised, book in to one of the best restaurants in Cape Town for an extra special Christmas or Boxing Day lunch. City centre restaurant FYN recently made it onto The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. 

Insider tip: The most obvious place to spend Christmas Day is at the beach – whether you fancy surfing at Llandudno or people-watching at Camps Bay. For a change of pace, book a table on the terrace at Grande Provence, a stellar wine estate in Franschhoek.

Where to stay: For the best poolside scene in the city, check in to Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel . The Wes-Anderson -style pink palace has clear views of Table Mountain from its main terrace, making it one of the best spots for a sundowner in Cape Town.

The Bahamas

Why: Boxing Day can sometimes feel a little flat – especially if you’ve over-indulged with too many helpings of trifle at Christmas lunch – but not in the Bahamas where the annual Junkanoo Parade brings a carnival party vibe to the streets. The biggest event takes place in Nassau where the sound of drums, horns and cow bells fill the air and musicians and dancers dressed in elaborate bejewelled costumes shimmy their way through the town. Afterwards, pick up a conch salad (try Dino’s, by Compass Point) and head to the beach.

Insider tip: For those wanting a quieter escape hop on the ferry to Eleuthera, known for its coral-pink sand and clusters of cays, and nab one of the chic safari-style tents at The Other Side.

Where to stay: If you're travelling with little ones, SLS Baha Mar is perfectly set up for families, most notably for their poolside cabanas, kitted out with couches, a mini fridge, a flat-screen TV, and waiter service. For couples, check in to the all-inclusive, adults-only Warwick Paradise Island .

St Moritz, Switzerland

Why: What better way to kick off Christmas Day than with an exhilarating family toboggan run from Preda to Bergun? This glitzy Alpine ski resort comes up trumps with plenty of festive sporty fun on offer from ice skating (there are two rinks, at the Kulm Country Club and Lake St Moritz ) to snowshoe hikes and even snowkiting on the Bernina Pass. Those who prefer to slow the pace can wrap up warm for a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride or tap into centuries-old spa traditions – the Kulm Hotel has a heated open-air pool that looks out onto a winter wonderland.

Insider tip: After a morning spent swooshing down the slopes, refuel at an Alpine hut with panoramic mountain views, such as El Paradiso Mountain Club or the legendary Alpina Hutte. See our St Moritz insider tips for more. 

Where to stay: The obvious options are Badrutt’s Palace and the Kulm Hotel but for something cosier, book one of the seven rooms at the art-loving Villa Flor in nearby Zuoz. 

St Lucia, Caribbean

Why : Caribbean islands don’t come more romantic than St Lucia , with its dreamy views of the Pitons, incredible beaches and chocolate plantations (meaning you can expect chocolate-covered spa treatments, and couples’ chocolate-making classes). Thanks to a strong Catholic culture, Christmas is a big deal here, too: St Lucian twists include its traditional, deep-red sorrel drink (made with cinnamon, cloves and ginger), and black Christmas pudding (soaked in red wine). While roast turkey remains on the menu, expect sweet potatoes and plantains in place of parsnips and sprouts.

Insider tip : The island ’s most interesting restaurant for a romantic meal is undoubtedly The Rabot Hotel , at Hotel Chocolat’s cocoa-plantation-set boutique residence. Along with head-on views of Petit Piton, you’ll eat a cacao-infused menu, featuring dishes such as tuna-dorado tartare with cacao nibs and cacao beer pork tenderloin.

Where to stay: The Rabot Hotel was also voted the best hotel in the Caribbean in our Reader's Choice Awards. 

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Why: Mexico goes big on Christmas – elaborate nativity scenes, street processions, plazas decked with fairy lights, festive piñatas – so it’s ideal for a taste of tradition with a side of sunshine. Forgo the rowdy Caribbean coast for the more laid-back Pacific side, where family-friendly town Puerto Vallarta excels at ‘something for everyone’: snorkelling trips around the Marietas Islands’ ‘Hidden Beach’; a sunset boat ride to Las Caletas cove for a traditional dance show; wandering around botanical gardens and eating at torch-lit waterfront restaurants.

Insider tip: The Malecón is Puerto Vallarta’s seafront promenade, the centre of community activity and a riot at Christmas, with craft markets, street-food vendors, palm trees hung with stockings and Santa-hat-wearing sand men.

Where to stay: At handmade hotel Verana , where 10 casas are embedded in the jungle with spellbinding views of the ocean. Families will love One&Only Mandarina where you can opt to stay in oversized treehouses or ocean-facing villas, and the fantastical kids’ club was designed by Academy Award-winning art director Brigitte Broch, whose wonderland sets have been seen in Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet .

Why : A tropical Christmas in Hawaii still feels festive. On Oahu, Honolulu City Hall is festooned with lights, and has a heavily decorated 50ft-tree out front; on Maui, Santa rocks up at Wailea Beach on Christmas Eve via outrigger canoe. Any one of these preternaturally gorgeous islands will appeal across the generations, with their mix of white-sand beaches, watersports, and family-friendly hijinks.

Insider tip : On Oahu’s North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center hosts a Christmas marketplace; on certain days, real snow is brought in for making snowmen. Check out Hukilau Marketplace for updates.

Where to stay: At Four Seasons Resort Hualãlai , fresh off a multiyear, multimillion-dollar renovation that saw a refresh of every guest room, the expansion of its family-friendly villa offerings, a sleek new pool and several updates to its world-class golf course. 

Whistler, Canada

Why : Dreaming of a white Christmas? It doesn’t get much merrier than North America ’s favourite ski resort, where snow is guaranteed, as are festively freezing temperatures. As well as a heap of family entertainment (the weekly Fire & Ice show sees skiers jumping through fiery hoops), there’s everything from ice skating to snowmobiling for the kids, and the slopes stay open on Christmas Day. Large, luxurious chalets are plentiful around Whistler Village: many with gorgeous views of Blackcomb Peak, patio heaters for outdoor evenings, and games rooms to keep all ages entertained.

Insider tip : Canadians are more likely to feast on pumpkin pie than Christmas pud on 25 December. Save the hassle of making your own and pick one up at local favourite Peaked Pies – it’s actually an Aussie bakery, but Whistler’s hungry skiers love it.

Where to stay: If it's your first time, opt to stay amongst the action of Whistler Village at Sundial , a boutique hotel with a rooftop hot tub, or nearby at Four Seasons Resort Whistler.

Bali, Indonesia

Why: You don’t have to look hard for the romance in Bali . Horseback rides on the beach? Check. Gripping each other tightly on a scooter, zipping past 50-shades-of-green rice fields? But, of course. Glamping in the jungle, with your own private saltwater pool? Well hello, Capella Ubud. And then, when you’re hankering for a festive fix, there’s the Canggu Xmas Bazaar: a unique blend of traditional wooden Balinese architecture, festive crafts and Indonesian street food. Kitschy, yes – but it’s Christmas, after all.

Insider tip: Top off Christmas Day with a fireworks display: locals love setting them off once darkness falls, and if you head to the beach in Canggu you’ll catch one of Bali’s more fabulous sunsets, too.

Where to stay: For a private stay, takeover one of these villas in Bali . In Ubud, we like the look of Sharma Springs , a six-storey bamboo villa that sleeps up to ten (a fifth bedroom is located in a separate guest house) and has its own private pool and yoga pavilion.

Salvador, Brazil

Why: Rio de Janeiro might be the kingpin Brazilian party capital on New Year’s Eve but for festive cheer, head north to the Bahia city of Salvador . With a fusion of African and Brazilian culture, this place crackles with energy all year round – but cranks it up several notches at Christmas. The pastel-hued houses of the UNESCO historic quarter make a colourful backdrop for impromptu marching band parades where the drummers dress up as Santa, and live music and dancing in the squares.

Insider tip: From here, it’s a two-hour (often choppy) boat trip to Morro de Sao Paulo, on the tip of Ilha de Tinharé. There are five numerically-named beaches: first beach is crowded and for watersports, by the time you reach fifth, you’re likely to have the sand to yourself.

Where to stay: The grand Hotel Fasano Salvador stands tall in a carefully restored 1930s building – once the former headquarters of the A Tarde newspaper – and has spectacular city views from its rooftop pool.

Berlin, Germany

Why : If you’re looking to combine Yuletide cheer with a breathless party scene, you won’t go far wrong with Berlin . The Germans practically invented Christmas (we have them to thank for embellishments including decorated trees, baubles and tinsel), and they’re the undisputed world champions of the Christmas market (find a toboggan run and ice rink at Potsdamer Platz; Alexanderplatz packs a Ferris wheel and Christmas ‘pyramid’ with more than 5,000 lights). The city’s club scene hardly closes down as December comes to a close, however; on the contrary, it often ramps up, making it one of the best Christmas holiday destinations for those looking to party before spilling out into the snow.

Insider tip : Clubbing stints require planning: wear sturdy shoes and at least one T-shirt change. Dresses and heels aren’t simply impractical – they usually induce the bouncers to turn you away.

Where to stay: If you're here for the nightlife, Orania.Berlin — a luxury hotel in the edgy Kreuzberg district – is surrounded by some of the city’s best clubs. Radisson Collection Hotel , with its two-storey-high freestanding cylindrical aquarium, is an ideal option for families.

Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Why : Morocco isn’t exactly big on Christmas, though you’ll still find traces of it in big-city malls and hotels, and there are Catholic churches throughout the country (thanks to historic Spanish and French influences). Make a beeline for the remote Atlas Mountains just outside Marrakech . 

Insider tip : If you’re set on scaling Mount Toubkal, be aware that this time of year requires serious skills, crampons and ice axes. Alternatively, stay below the snow line with treks through Ouirgane National Park and Azzaden Valley, which are excellent in their own right, but also have great views of Toubkal.

Where to stay: Handily, some smart retreats have sprung up in this rugged region, so you can go off-grid in style. Berber Lodge – village-like and set inside an olive grove – is low-key, glam and gorgeous.

Kilimanjardo, Tanzania

Why: Christmas is one of the busiest times of year to climb the Roof of Africa . So, if you’re travelling solo, but fancy meeting new people, this is a great way to tap in to some group spirit while also ticking off a life goal – pack your Santa hat for commemorative pictures at the top. As Christianity is a major religion in Tanzania , the holiday is very much celebrated: though it’s more low-key than the West’s commercial circus, you’ll see enough trees and baubles to feel suitably full of good cheer. Forget the turkey, though: Tanzanian families tend to go all out and buy a goat or a cow for the big dinner.

Where to stay: It’s practically mandatory that you follow up the Kili trek with a restorative break in Zanzibar. The village-style Zuri hotel has 56 standalone bungalows set amid dense bush and spice gardens, with Indian Ocean waves rolling just beyond your window.

Val d'Isere, France

Why : This St-Tropez -on-snow is the party ski resort, and a Christmas card-worthy delight this time of year, too. Here in the powder-swept Alps , there’s no shortage of festive markets, steaming vin chaud , or decadent Christmas menus paired with Champagne . On Christmas Day, ski lifts are open as usual and Dick’s Tea Bar , the party place-to-be, brings the après with resident DJs. 

Insider tip : Luxury travel specialist Scott Dunn tells us you can’t beat L’Atelier d’Edmond for a decadent Christmas dinner. This double- Michelin-starred stunner typically rustles up a tasting menu that forgoes turkey for the more refined flavours of Arctic char and deer.

Where to stay: Val has been outdoing itself with ultra-luxe chalets lately: seven-room Chalet Husky has a climbing wall, infinity waterfall and space for rifle shooting and archery; at Arctic Townhouse , you’ll find a sauna, indoor hot tub and screening room. For more, see our where to stay in Val d'Isere guide. 

Dude ranch, Colorado

Why : For a solo Christmas with just the right mix of adventure and home comforts, playing cowboy (or cowgirl) at a dude ranch in the Rocky Mountains could be ideal. You’ll spend your days getting active in that crisp mountain air – riding horses, learning to shoot and lasso – and evenings sharing hearty home-cooked meals, swapping stories around a campfire or square-dancing at the local saloon. Colorado’s little mountain towns come alive with holiday lights and festivities this time of year, and the region is stuffed with dude ranches offering seasonal packages, which typically include a snowy horseback ride and family-style feast on Christmas Day.

Where to stay: Dude ranches come in all styles and sizes, so do your research on the vibe. Sundance Trail Guest Ranch , for example, is small and low-key, with a real focus on a homestay-style experience, while C Lazy U Ranch is more like a hotel and goes all-out with sleigh rides and Santa PAs.

Volunteering in Cusco, Peru

Why : Christmas is a time for giving, so if you feel like doling out some good cheer, try a festive break with International Volunteer HQ . You could even combine it with a pilgrimage – in Cusco, for example, IVHQ volunteers wrap presents and prep Christmas decorations for underprivileged local children; why not independently tack on the Inca Trail trek to nearby Machu Picchu , too?

Insider tip : Cusco’s Plaza de Armas is a brilliant spot for Christmas Eve, with its market and incense-filled churches. Stick around to see the whole city explode with fireworks at midnight.

Himalayan Trekking, Nepal

Why : Sometimes, in order to escape Christmas, you need to escape the world entirely. Even in Kathmandu, a colourful clash of Hindu temples and Buddhist prayer flags, Christmas Day is a recognised holiday – with Santa hats, decorated trees and glittering lights to match. There’s never been a better time, then, to leapfrog the masses and head for the Roof of the World on an Annapurna trek. Though it can get cold up in the Himalayas this time of year, the trails are blissfully quiet. Even better, a proper trek should take at least a week, so if you head off on Christmas Eve, it’s all about New Year by the time you’re back – when Santa will be safely absent 'til next winter.

Insider tip : December’s daytime temperatures and clear skies make ideal hiking weather, but come nightfall, the mercury will usually dip below freezing. Be sure to bring a down sleeping bag and plenty of layers.

Cartagena, Colombia

Why: ‘Partying’ in Colombia might once have been synonymous with cocaine, but if there’s one place that really shows how the country has changed, it’s Caribbean seaside city Cartagena : no longer a best-kept secret, but a bona fide tourism big-hitter. Crowds come for the buzz of the picturesque Old Town, livelier than ever at Christmas: where festivities spill into cobblestoned streets, public squares shimmer with over-the-top trees and giant baubles and the colonial mansions’ famous flower-filled balconies are strung with lights.

Insider tip: Formerly sketchy, now shabby-chic Getsemani isn’t just Cartagena’s hippest neighbourhood (with interactive pop-up dining and factories-turned-pizza-restaurants), it’s the best damn nightlife spot in the city, too. Bazurto Social Club is the place for sultry salsa dancing with locals, or touristy Café Havana – all retro 1930s style, Panama hats and lethal mojitos – pops five nights a week until 4am.

Where to stay: Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena , a former 17th-century monastery located a short walk from the beach. 

Sydney, Australia

Why : This is where probably the world’s most famous Christmas Day beach party is held. On 25 December, Santa-hat-wearing crowds descend on Bondi ’s beloved crescent for barbecues and frolics. Lifeguards even plant a fir tree in the sand and, in the absence of snow, many folk build festive sandmen. However, anyone planning a rowdy booze-fest will be disappointed: the entire beach is an alcohol-free zone. Christmas just not Christmas without grog? Nearby, The Bavarian Bondi Beach will be a beery riot, and even does a Christmas roast .

Insider tip : For a less crowded experience, try Balmoral Beach, where the Bathers’ Pavilion usually puts on both a booze-included buffet and a three-course lunch. The restaurant’s wall of glass patio doors, which look out to sea, just might seal the deal.

Where to stay: Park Hyatt Sydney , beloved for its location tucked beneath the Harbour Bridge and it mosaic rooftop pool that is one of the city's great spots. 

Salzburg, Austria

Why? Incidentally, just voted one of the top 20 best cities to visit in the world in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2021 , Salzburg really turns on the charm over the festive period. Decked out in its finest baroque regalia and surrounded by the Alps’ lofty peaks – smothered in snow – a December spent among the clock towers and chocolate box architecture of the Old Town begs a knitted jumper, rosy cheeks and a constant sense of occasion. The Salzburg Christmas Market on Cathedral Square conjures the sort of romantic, fairytale scene that might be plucked from a cheesy rom-com, and there’s no finer way to escape the cold than to take your seat for a Mozart concert in the composer’s own birthplace. 

Insider tip: In Austria , warming up chilly fingers over a hot chocolate is an unmitigated delight, and one that the city takes very, very seriously. You’ll have no trouble finding somewhere to stop, but for an extra special treat, head for Mozart’s favourite café, Café Tomaselli. 

Where to stay: For a spectacular view, we love the look of the large sun terrance at this penthouse apartment on Airbnb , located at the foot of Gaisberg and a 10-minute bus or car ride from  Salzburg city centre. 

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25 best Christmas towns in the US for a winter getaway

It's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year!

With the holiday season fast approaching, you may be looking for extra magical places to travel to. From California to Connecticut and everywhere in between, TODAY has compiled a list of 25 Christmas towns to put on your travel list this holiday season.

Park City, Utah

Park City, located in the mountains of Utah, is bound to bring you a white Christmas this year. From sleigh rides in the picture-perfect town to holiday markets for your festive needs, Park City has everything you need to make a Hallmark holiday.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod puts a classic New England twist on the Christmas town concept, from lighthouses dressed up with garlands to lights lining the streets. The seaside town is perfect for a bit of Christmas and a bit of the ocean, complete with parades and theater productions.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

The home of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a quaint town with tons of holiday-themed events, from German food markets to live music to a carol sing-along. Plus, the town has the potential to be a winter wonderland just in time for Christmas.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

If you want to ditch the cold weather and opt for a warmer, more coastal holiday, check out Carmel-by-the-Sea in sunny California. Trade out the chilly outdoor markets for dinner on the beach, complete with holiday lights.

Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock is the picture-perfect Hallmark town, with plenty of charm to go around. From horses pulling buggies to carolers serenading the lighting of a Christmas tree, this town might look like it's fresh off a holiday postcard.

Annapolis, Maryland

This quaint capital city of Maryland, located on the Chesapeake Bay, puts a nautical twist on classic holiday traditions. From grand Victorian homes to a gorgeous holiday tree on the dock, Annapolis tops off its holiday celebrations with an annual lighted boat parade each December.

Duluth, Minnesota

Every year, the city of Duluth puts on Bentleyville, a massive light display that's free to the public. The city also sets up a Christmas village and has a scenic train ride along Lake Superior to tie the bow on top!

Newport, Rhode Island

A seaside town, Newport boasts a monthlong holiday celebration complete with an annual tree lighting, concerts, tours of its grand mansions and more.

St. Augustine, Florida

Festive doesn't mean it needs to be snowy and cold all the time! Head to St. Augustine for some holiday spirit in the sun with Christmas lights, quaint décor and other holiday activities. Plus, the beach is right there if you want a tropical holiday!

But coming off of the heels of hurricane season (and the damage from Hurricane Ian , in particular), be sure to check the status of the town before making your plans.

Sheridan, Wyoming

If you want that small-town, Hallmark holiday movie feel, check out Sheridan in the Equality State. The town hosts an annual "Christmas Stroll," coupled with snowy weather and the charm of a small town during Christmas.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Nantucket also has an annual Christmas stroll, but this one has that classic New England charm to it. Plus, winter is the off-season for the Massachusetts town, so you likely won't be running into big crowds during the holidays.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg is home to colonial holiday traditions like caroling with torches, historical programs and other performances. The holiday season is topped off with a grand display of fireworks and a historic gun salute. For a quieter holiday celebration, you can also check out Busch Gardens' Christmas Town.

Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville is another one of those towns reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. With lights lining the streets, a miniature ice skating rink and tree-lighting ceremonies, Greenville will bring all of the Christmas magic (and maybe some warm weather, too!).

Blue Ridge, Georgia

If you're looking for some Southern charm this holiday season, add Blue Ridge to your holiday destination list. The town has a train ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the gorgeous natural scenery of the northern Georgia destination is perfect for holiday pictures.

Taos, New Mexico

Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, honors its Indigenous culture by hosting a religious procession every Christmas Eve in the Indigenous community with bonfires, lights and a historic gun salute. Taos also hosts tree-lighting ceremonies, concerts and fairs.

Branson, Missouri

Head to the Midwest to experience Branson's Ozark Mountain Christmas festival, a monthlong celebration with music, shows and lights. The city also has a Polar Express Train Ride reminiscent of the classic holiday movie.

North Pole, Alaska

This town just might be the closest you'll ever get to the real North Pole — and it's festive all year round! There's a Santa Claus house, a mayor whose name is Santa and plenty of festive decorations to make it feel like the real thing.

Santa Claus, Indiana

For another year-round holiday treat, head to Indiana's Santa Claus, which calls itself "America's Christmas Hometown." In this town, Santa's elves send replies to children's letters, and holiday celebrations include parades, a light show and a candy castle.

Franklin, Tennessee

Franklin is perfect for any Charles Dickens fans. The town hosts an annual Dickens of a Christmas festival for a weekend full of Dickens-related festivities. Franklin also puts on a Victorian Village complete with Victorian-era treats.

Big Spring, Texas

Located in the heart of West Texas, this charming town was dubbed the "Lighted Poinsettia Capital of Texas." Big Spring goes big on holiday spirit, including Hotel Settles, which has a beautifully decorated lobby and massive Christmas tree (and some presents underneath!).

Asheville, North Carolina

The historic Biltmore mansion in Asheville gets dressed to the nines during the holiday season with garlands, lights, ribbons and more. The city also hosts festive craft shows in the River Arts District and boasts beautiful mountains to complete the picture.

Durango, Colorado

A historic mining town, Durango puts its local steam engine to festive use with wintery rides through the scenic mountains. In December, the train operates on a special "Polar Express"-inspired trip for children along with rides to find and cut down Christmas trees to bring back home.

Darby, Montana

Nestled in Montana's gorgeous Bitterroot Mountains, Darby brings some Western twang to the perfect holiday trip. The city hosts all sorts of festive events from horseback riding to ice fishing and more, with plenty of holiday décor to complete the experience.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

A modest Pennsylvania town, Bethlehem brings the small-town charm to Christmas without breaking the bank. Take part in the town's horse-drawn carriage rides to enjoy the lights or go on the Christmas City Stroll to get in the holiday spirit.

New York, New York

It's not a small town, but it's undeniable that there's no place like the Big Apple for the holidays. You can go ice skating and enjoy the iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center , or walk through one of the many holiday markets, like the one at Bryant Park. In this winter wonderland, the opportunities are endless.

CORRECTION (Nov. 10, 2022, 9:40 p.m.): An earlier version of this article mentioned a scenic train ride along Lake Michigan in Duluth, Minnesota. It is along Lake Superior, not lake Michigan.

Laya Neelakandan is a reporter for CNBC.

41 Magical Places to Visit During Christmastime

There's plenty of holiday cheer to go around at these spots in America, including NYC and Christmas Town USA.

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There's no better way to capture the magic of the holidays than to see it right before your eyes. Sure, you're able to take in some of it in your hometown thanks to your neighbors' festive decorations and local tree lighting ceremonies, but if you want to see what Christmas cheer America really has to offer, head out of town for a bit and visit one of these top Christmas places.

From magical New York City to Santa Claus, Indiana, any of these spots would make the perfect December getaway . All that's left to do is buy your tickets or fill up the car, and start packing. Just don't forget to bing the presents!

If you're looking for more vacation ideas, check out our 2024 Family Travel Awards .

Woodstock, Vermont

Looking for that quintessential New England holiday charm? You'll feel like you stepped into a Hallmark Christmas card in the historic charming town of Woodstock, which annually hosts an iconic holiday celebration called Wassail Weekend (think carriage rides, twinkling lights, decorated homes and more!).

Solvang, California

If you want to feel like you've traveled to Europe without leaving the country, you'll love the charm of this small city in California and the festive Danish-style holiday celebration they host every year called Julefest .

New York City, New York

Is there anything more iconic than Christmastime in New York? You'll of course want to take in the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza (where you can also ice skate!), before marveling at the gorgeous Christmas window store displays along Fifth Avenue. Don't forget to catch The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular show!

RELATED: Fun and Festive Things to Do on Christmas Day in NYC

Vail, Colorado

For the ultimate winter getaway, head to the ski town of Vail, Colorado. You can spend the perfect snowy Christmas season at the ski slopes before strolling the idyllic winter wonderland of Vail Village. There, you can visit the Kris Kringle Market and witness the big tree lighting ceremony.

Seneca Falls, New York

If your favorite Christmas movie is It's A Wonderful Life, you need to visit Seneca Falls — the town believed to have been the real-life inspiration for the film’s fictional town of Bedford Falls. Each December, Seneca Falls holds a festival to celebrate the Christmas classic , complete with a movie screening, a meet-and-greet event with the cast, a parade and more.

Stockbridge, Massachussets

This Massachusetts town was once depicted in a 1967 Norman Rockwell painting (titled "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas") — and now, every holiday season, Stockbridge recreates the art, complete with vintage cars lined up on Main Street. Plus, the annual celebration also includes historic property tours, a holiday concert and more.

North Pole, Alaska

Every kid has dreamt of visiting Santa Claus at the North Pole — and as it turns out, you actually can! This quaint Alaskan town is home to the “Santa Claus House,” where you can also stroll down Santa Claus Lane, see live reindeer, and marvel at the world’s largest Santa statue. What could be a better way to celebrate Christmas?

Hershey, Pennsylvania

What better way is there to celebrate Christmas than with tons of chocolate? The whole family will love spending the holidays at Hersheypark ' s Christmas Candylane , where you can enjoy holiday rides, visit Santa (and his reindeer!) and take in more than 5 million lights decorating the fun-filled chocolate theme park.

Oahu, Hawaii

Forget winter wonderlands — if you’d rather go somewhere warm and sunny this year, a tropical Hawaiian Christmas is exactly what you might need. You’ll find plenty of holiday cheer (without the cold!) in the island of Oahu, especially aboard the Waikiki Holiday Lights Trolley tour and the annual Honolulu City Lights event.

McAdenville, North Carolina

McAdenville is known as " Christmas Town USA " — which, of course, makes it the perfect holiday season destination. Every winter, the small town transforms into a twinkling wonderland adorned with thousands of lights and Christmas decorations, drawing thousands of visitors every year.

Aspen, Colorado

This beautiful ski resort town is a well-known haven for ski bunnies and travel enthusiasts, but it also holds plenty of Christmas activities during the holiday season, including an annual tree lighting, a fun-packed "12 Days of Aspen" event and holiday shows (like The Nutcracker ) at the Opera House.

New Orleans, Louisiana

You may first think of Mardi Gras when you think of New Orleans, but the Crescent City also pulls out all the stops during the holidays, too. After enjoying the city's dazzling light displays and bonfires, be sure to check out Celebration in the Oaks , which is said to be one of the most spectacular holiday lights festival in the country.

Taos, New Mexico

For those seeking a one-of-a-kind holiday experience, a must-go location is Taos, which offers a unique New Mexican spin on holiday traditions every year. The ski town celebrates the season with its annual Yuletide in Taos , which features holiday markets, bonfires and other ultra-festive events.

Branson, Missouri

There are light displays galore, as well as the massive event called An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City . But perhaps our favorite Branson holiday activity is hopping on the Polar Express, where you and your kids can witness the Chris Van Allsburg classic come to life.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston may be a great destination spot any time of the year, but it's especially magical (and still warm!) around the holidays, when the city goes all out on the Christmas festivities. This year, you can enjoy the Holiday Festival of Lights from your car before strolling down the streets to shop, eat and marvel at the city's historic mansions decked out for the holidays.

Jackson, New Hampshire

Around the holidays, there's no more apropos destination spot than the Christmas Farm Inn & Spa . After enjoying skiing and plenty of other outdoor activities, be sure to hop aboard a sleigh ride for the festive Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour , where you can taste test handmade chocolate while enjoying the sights.

Chicago, Illinois

There's nothing like winter in The Windy City, which celebrates the holidays with much cheer. From the Christkindltmarket to ice skating at Maggie Daley Park and a Christmas tree exhibition , there are plenty of holiday activities to enjoy. BOOK NOW

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth likens itself to a "swirling snow globe," and you'll definitely see why when you browse through photos of the Leavenworth Village of Lights . The Bavarian-style town has an annual tradition of hanging up beautiful Christmas lights downtown, and you'll be able to take it all in this year (though there won't be a big reveal at an official lighting festival as usual).

Cleveland, Ohio

You might recognize this home from the beloved Christmas movie A Christmas Story . Ralphie's iconic house has been restored as a museum , and now you can go inside and even stay the night . And yes, leg lamps are available for purchase (but remember, they're very fragile ).

RELATED: Here's Where 'A Christmas Story' Was Filmed 37 Years Ago

Andalusia, Alabama

Head down south this December for Andalusia's Candyland , the town's ultra-festive holiday event held throughout the month. Admission is free of charge, but includes a small $4 fee for horse-drawn carriage rides. You can also enjoy the Snow Show, take photos with Santa, hop on the holiday train and more!

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The 20 best places to go for Christmas

From classic festive getaways to Scrooge-friendly destinations to escape, these are the world’s greatest places to spend Christmas

The most magical time of the year has a habit of transforming destinations around the world: cities get decked out in dazzling decorations, streets teem with local traditions and squares are taken over by pop-up festive markets.

That said, some destinations are great to visit at Christmas for precisely the opposite reason: because you might not even realise it’s Christmas at all. Who hasn’t sometimes wanted to hibernate in the sun until the madness is over? 

And so, when considering the best destinations to visit at Christmas, we haven’t just included places with quirky traditions or an unmissable festive atmosphere - there's plenty of Scrooge-appropriate destinations on here too. Dive into our festive travel list below and you’re guaranteed to find somewhere great to spend the season. 

RECOMMENDED: 💝The best Christmas markets to visit in Europe and worldwide ❄️ The best places to travel in December 🎄The 50 best Christmas movies of all time 🎊The 65 best Christmas songs of all time

At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines . This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines .

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The best places to go for Christmas

1.  New York City, USA

Best for:  shopaholics 

From the dreamy romance of ice skating at the Rockefeller to Broadway’s dazzling festive shows, there are plenty of reasons why the Big Apple has such a rep at Christmastime. NYC is a classic festive choice and, with its selection of department stores, markets and bazaars, there remains nowhere quite like it when it comes to shopping, either.

Read more: The best Christmas things to do in NYC

2.  Lapland, Finland

Best for: wannabe Santa elves 

There are few destinations as legendarily Christmassy as Rovaniemi, which, as the capital of Lapland, is also the official hometown of Santa Claus. But Rovaniemi isn’t all about Santa. Once you’re done exploring Santa Claus Village and getting reindeer rides about town, be sure to sweat out your worries with a festive sauna – a Finnish Christmas tradition.

3.  Edinburgh, Scotland

Best for: Christmas markets

Sure, each city centre twinkles with lights and exudes wafts of mulled wine throughout December, but few do it as well as Edinburgh. East Princes Street Gardens dazzles every year with a whole host of market stalls, festive food and fairground rides, plus plenty of whisky stands for a warming Christmassy bev. Sticking around for New Year's? The city's Hogmanay celebrations are a world-renowned way to launch 2024. 

4.  New Orleans, USA

Best for: an unconventional Christmas

New Orleans is packed full of alternative Christmas traditions, from its bonfires on the banks of the Mississippi and charmingly redecorated streetcars to its lively carol concerts and glam AF hotel lobby decorations. With daytime temperatures hitting about 17C, it’s also that bit warmer than much of the rest of the continental US at this time of year.

5.  Reykjavik, Iceland

Best for: the lads!

No, not those kinds of lads. We’re talking about the ‘Yule Lads’, 13 folkloric dudes who traditionally leave gifts in boots for Iceland ’s well-behaved kids. Christmastime is also just a rather lovely time to visit Reykjavik, with the city boasting markets and ice-skating – as well as, thanks to its extra-long nights, great opportunities for viewing the Northern Lights .

6.  London, UK

Best for: traditional romantics 

Festive cheer sweeps through London sometime in early November and doesn’t let up. By the time the end of December comes around, Christmas vibes hit a fever pitch: the already-very-romantic UK capital finds itself lined by fir trees, twinkling with Christmas lights and sound-tracked by jangly festive tunes. Aye, it’s exactly as magical as it sounds.

Read more: The best Christmas lights in London

7.  Nuremburg, Germany

Best for:  Weihnachtsmarkt fanatics

Germany ’s Weihnachtsmarkts (traditional Christmas markets) are famous the world over – and Nuremburg’s is one of the country’s oldest, biggest and best. Notes of gingerbread and mulled wine waft through a mini city of wooden stalls teeming with candy canes, scrummy lebkuchen and handmade decorations.

8.  Sydney, Australia

Best for: Christmas dinner on the barbie

Looking for somewhere that goes full-throttle for Chrimbo but isn’t so, erm, wintry ? Australia ’s likely your best bet. Sydney has all the festive lights, trees and even ice skating of a typical Christmas-celebrating city, but with toasty average temperature highs of 25C. Don’t knock an Xmas dinner cooked on a beachside barbeque until you’ve tried it.

9.  Bruges, Belgium

Best for: chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate

Turkey, mince pies, and pannetone are all the festive foods that might spring to mind at first, but it wouldn't be Christmas without chocolate. And where's the best place to go for that? Well, it has to be Bruges - from the divinely rich hot chocolates on offer at the market to the traditional Yule log, this little city has bags of Christmassy confection to fill those stockings, or to gorg on under the twinkly lights. 

10.  Tokyo, Japan

Best for: the culturally disconnected 

With no public holiday and everything open as usual, Japan doesn’t really celebrate Christmas – but that’s also its charm. The country is nicely disconnected from the rest of the world’s Xmas mania but still has tonnes of festive stuff to see and do, from Tokyo’s gorgeous winter illuminations to the annual Japanese tradition of getting KFC on Christmas day.

11.  Caracas, Venezuela

Best for: religious roller-skaters

Think you’ve got a neat ride when it comes to heading down to church (if that’s your jam, anyway) during the Christmas period? Check out the locals in Caracas. From December 16-24 before 8am, roads are closed in the Venezuelan capital so that churchgoers can roller-skate to mass. It’s also common for rollerbladers to dress up in Santa gear... does it get much cooler than that?

12.  Marrakech, Morocco

Best for: festive escapees 

Christmas isn’t celebrated by the vast majority of people in Marrakech, making it perfect for escaping conventional festive vibes. The Moroccan city also isn’t anywhere near as hot in December as it is in the summertime (hitting highs of 20C without dipping too low at night), so exploring its medina, souks, mosques and riads is even more pleasant.

13.  Greenland

Best for: adventurous eaters

The festive period in Greenland is best known for its food: specifically mattak (essentially a strip of whale skin) and kiviak (a kind of fermented seabird). Both are a delicacy to natives, but they’re likely a bit more, er, stomach-testing to the rest of us.

14.  Phuket, Thailand

Best for: clubbers and beachside chillers

Sure, if you really want to, you can have a perfectly Christmassy time in Phuket. The island has plenty of carol concerts and festive dinners if you so want them. However, it’s an ideal place to get away from all the usual festivities, too. As a largely Buddhist country, Thailand doesn’t really celebrate Christmas – leaving you free to chill out at a beachside bar or go clubbing as if it’s any normal day of the year.

15.  Prague, Czech Republic

Best for: aesthetes

With its awesome gothic churches and winding baroque streets, Prague is one of Europe’s most dazzlingly pretty cities at any time of the year. But at Christmastime? Well, the Czech capital somehow gets even prettier. The key attractions here are the markets, which take over the likes of Prague Castle and Wenceslas Square with local specialities such as medovina (honey wine), rybí polévka (traditional fish soup) and perníčky (spicy gingerbread).

16.  Vienna, Austria

Best for: total festive immersion

Whether you’re watching Krampuses (a sort of nightmarish Austrian anti-Santa) roam the streets, munching on toffee apples at one of the city’s many Christmas markets or simply soaking in the very, very pretty street decorations, we challenge you not to get totally swept up in Vienna’s all-encompassing Chrimbo vibes.

17.  Cape Town, South Africa

Best for: sun bunnies

The beauty of the southern hemisphere in December is that the climate is precisely the opposite of the chilly north. With its long days of uninterrupted sunshine and temperatures in the high 30Cs, Cape Town offers a totally different Chrimbo vibe. Festive picnic atop Table Mountain or in the lush Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, anyone?

18.  Singapore

Best for: light display fanatics

With main thoroughfare Orchard Road hosting a celebration on Xmas Eve complete with countdown and fireworks, Christmas in Singapore has a unique New Year’s Eve feel about it. Most legendary, however, are the city’s light displays. From the Christmas Wonderland in the Gardens by the Bay to the light shows at Vivocity, Singapore sure knows how to put on a mesmerising electrical show.  

19.  Guatemala City, Guatemala

Best for: demon banishers

There’s something very purifying about burning stuff – and Guatemalans know that so well that they’ve made a tradition out of it. Every year on December 7, Guatemala celebrates the ‘Día del Diablo’ (or ‘Day of the Devil’), kicking off the Christmas period by burning an effigy of the devil. The act is intended to symbolise the cleansing of bad spirits.

20.  Colmar, France

Best for: Christmas dreamers

Even in the height of summer, Colmar, a thirteenth-century town in the eastern French region of Alsace, looks rather a lot like it’s made out of gingerbread. Add a dusting of snow, some tasteful Christmas lights and a characterful festive market? You’ve got one of the world’s most picture-perfect Xmas destinations.

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The 32 best places to spend Christmas around the world

By Caitlin Morton

We’re all for cosying up with loved ones at home, but we also love seeing how cities around the world transform every December. The best places to spend Christmas, in our book, run the gamut from European classics with storybook Christmas markets to Asian cities with over-the-top light displays, and even merry mainstays right here in the U.S. There are even some spots in the southern hemisphere where temperatures hover in the 80s on 25 December, in case your idea of a perfect holiday includes lounging by the pool with a cocktail.

While the jollity may look a bit different from city to city, these global destinations keep the holiday cheer going year after year. And if you already have your plans solidified for this upcoming season, it’s never too early to start planning a fabulous winter vacation for 2023.

Bruges, Belgium

Why we go: Europe’s best-preserved medieval city oozes charm year-round, but especially during the holidays. It’s hard to imagine a place more magical as you wander the cobblestone streets, admire the shimmering lights, and warm up with mugs of Belgian hot chocolate in cafés.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Follow the Winter Glow light trail with stops at 10 installations through the historic part of the city centre, including lights at the Church of Our Lady Tower and a projection at Gruuthuse.

Stay here: Grand Hotel Casselbergh (steps away from the Markt) has inviting touches like exposed wooden beams in the rooms, a lobby bar with a fireplace, and a wellness centre located in a 16th-century cellar.

Why we go: If you’re looking to escape winter during Christmas, you can't do much better than Cape Town – it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere, after all. You can even visit one (or several) of the South African city’s holiday markets without having to wear a coat and scarf.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: They’re not exactly Santa’s elves, but the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 African penguins at Boulders Beach – where you can get close enough to take portrait-mode photos of them – are sure to warm your heart just the same.

Stay here: The light and breezy rooms sitting above the Atlantic Ocean at Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa are the perfect antidotes to the winter blues.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Why we go: For the past three decades, the little town of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania has channelled its name and transformed into “Christmas City” for the holidays. Celebrations are centred around the Christkindlmarkt at the SteelStacks, with more than 50 booths featuring artisan crafts, as well as live music and special events with Santa Claus himself.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: A “live” advent calendar at the Goundie House on Main Street features a downtown merchant emerging from the door at 5:30 p.m. every night with treats for all who are waiting.

Stay here: Hotel Bethlehem is a wonderland of its own, with 35,000 Christmas lights, 36 wreaths, life-sized toy soldiers, and a gingerbread house of the hotel.

Why we go:  From its European-inspired Christkindlmarket to light shows galore,  Chicago knows a thing or two about embracing the Christmas spirit (and the freezing temperatures). Can’t-miss activities include visiting the 55-foot Christmas tree in Millennium Park and cosying up in a heated igloo at The Godfrey Hotel.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Be dazzled by 2.5 million LEDs at ZooLights, an annual light festival held at Lincoln Park Zoo. Check out the event’s calendar for sensory-friendly visit times.

Stay here:  Fresh off a $100 million renovation,  The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago guarantees the most luxurious stay in the town – especially if you book a suite overlooking Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. Be sure to book a festive afternoon tea or five-course winter truffle dinner at the delicious on-site restaurant, Torali.

Cologne, Germany

Why we go: Nothing embodies old-world yuletide charm like the Christmas market, and nobody takes Christmas markets more seriously than the Germans , with Cologne’s festivities drawing some four million visitors each winter.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Take in the merry sights from the observation deck of KölnTriangle, the tower directly opposite the Cathedral on the Rhine.

Stay here: The Hyatt Regency Cologne has great views of the Cologne Cathedral, plus excellent multi-course meals at Glashaus Restaurant.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Why we go: According to the World Happiness Report, Denmark is one of the world’s happiest countries , making it a great place to spend the holidays. Things are even jollier at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens , where antique amusement park rides decorated with lights are surrounded by yet another adorable, alpine village-style Christmas market selling gifts and snacks. The park has also been known to deck out its tree with Swarovski crystals .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Book a table at Restaurant Vita for some andesteg , a traditional Danish holiday dish of crispy, succulent roast duck served with prunes and apples.

Stay here: Never mind hygge – Hotel Sanders takes Danish comfort and contentment to new heights.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Why we go: Dubai does Christmas the same way Dubai does nearly everything – in true, over-the-top fashion. Catch the tree lightings happening around town, including the ones at Towers Rotana, Fairmont The Palm, and The Irish Village, and then watch the jolly ol’ St. Nicks making a run for it at the Santa Run. And since no visit to Dubai is complete without several shopping sprees, set aside time to stock up on goodies at one of the city’s Christmas markets .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Dubai Mall is an air-conditioned winter wonderland, complete with an ice skating rink, and you'll find indoor ski slopes at Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates.

Stay here: Jumeirah Al Naseem earns high marks for its posh rooms, easy beach access, and superior dining and spa options.

Dublin, Ireland

Why we go: If your idea of Christmas merriment includes an authentic Irish pub crawl (we get it), then Dublin is your place. Holiday offerings also include Christmas markets, decked-out shops on Grafton Street, and tree-lighting ceremonies galore.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: For 66 years, The Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate’s basement has been charming families with its mechanical figures depicting scenes like Noah’s Ark.

Stay here: The Westbury becomes even more luxurious during the holidays, with prime views overlooking the lights of Grafton Street during afternoon tea.

Why we go: Hong Kong ’s yuletide urban offerings rival that of NYC ’s, with holiday markets, window displays, and concerts galore (they even have a Santa Con). Then there are the lights. The Symphony of Lights show – held nightly at 8 p.m. – will leave you breathless, thanks to an extravagantly choreographed neon show displayed across more than 40 of the city’s iconic skyscrapers along Victoria Harbor.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Experience the Symphony of Lights during a harbour-front dinner cruise.

Stay here: As if the Ritz-Carlton wasn’t swanky enough, the hotel hosts Christmas parties, dinners, and afternoon teas all season.

Inari, Finland

Why we go: While most tourists flock to the Lapland city of Rovaniemi come Christmas, we suggest heading even further north (like, within reach of the Arctic Ocean north) to the village of Inari. Located in the heart of the scenic Ivalo region – reachable via a 1.5-hour flight from Helsinki – Inari is a pure winter wonderland dotted with hotels and restaurants that keep things nice and cosy. It’s hard to imagine a more authentic winter holiday than one spent riding dog sleds, feeding reindeer , and chasing the Northern Lights .

The one thing to get you in the spirit: A private Northern Lights safari will have you sitting in a heated sleigh and sipping sparkling wine while waiting for the aurora to dance. (Rough life, huh?)

Stay here: Finnish Lapland is known for its glass-igloo accommodations, as well as in-house winter activities and cosy, panoramic cabins at Aurora Village Oy . (Heated windows ensure the snow doesn’t cover your view.) Plus, daily reindeer feedings are available.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Why we go:  If you're wondering where to go for Christmas celebrations unlike anywhere else, look no further. Every December, this tiny New England town bursts with holiday cheer during its annual Christmas Prelude, an 11-day bash that's about as New England as it gets – one of the main attractions is a tree made of lobster traps. The lobster rolls at The Clam Shack – considered to be some of the best rolls in Maine – will make you forget about gingerbread and sugar plums altogether.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Santa Claus’s arrival at the Christmas Prelude on a lobster boat is (obviously) the star attraction.

Stay here:   White Barn Inn epitomises New England luxury all year, but just wait until you see it over the holidays. This year’s seasonal offerings include Christmas cookies and eggnog by the fire, special Christmas feasts at the White Barn Inn Restaurant, and afternoon tea attended by Santa Claus himself.

Leavenworth, Washington

Why we go:  Love the idea of a Bavarian holiday but hate the idea of a transatlantic flight? Enter  Leavenworth . This town tucked away in the Cascade Mountains was modelled after Germany’s alpine villages, complete with half-timbered houses and epic food halls. As you can imagine, the city comes alive during Christmas with over-the-top holiday lights and tons of winter sports.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum features a collection of some 9,000 nutcrackers from more than 50 countries – definitely worth stopping by between snowshoeing and skiing excursions.

Stay here:   Icicle Village Resort is just as magical as it sounds, with a relaxing spa, in-room fireplaces, and a restaurant serving up Bavarian favourites.

Why we go: Christmas in London has timeless appeal – chalk it up to the decorated Georgian townhouses, lively pubs, and a dash of Dickensian charm. Our step-by-step guide to spending the holidays in London covers the perfect place for afternoon tea , a steak to tuck into after a day spent gift shopping, and a martini to sip on Christmas Eve – and that’s just for starters.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: One of the most magical experiences is gliding around the frozen 18th-century courtyard of Somerset House, a sprawling neoclassical building off the Strand.

Stay here: Claridge’s – because there's no better place to ring in Christmas than in one of the best hotels on the planet.

The Maldives

Why we go:  Visiting the Maldives in December guarantees you’ll have a white Christmas – only we’re talking about the dazzling white sand, not snow. While the atoll doesn’t officially celebrate the holiday, many resorts cater to Western travellers with themed dinners and decorations. But let’s face it: you’ll be too busy with spa treatments and snorkelling trips to even bother with those proverbial visions of sugarplums.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  If you really want a traditional burst of holiday cheer, head to  Conrad Maldives Rangali Island for a tree lighting ceremony, followed by cocktails on the beach.

Stay here:  Conrad Maldives Rangali Island really is one of the best resorts in the country, famous for its lavish suites and  underwater restaurant , Ithaa. Guests lucky enough to visit during the holidays can also enjoy champagne and lobster beach barbecues, lavish pool parties, winter-themed spa treatments, and special underwater meals on Christmas Day.

New York City

Why we go: There’s no shortage of ways to make your New York City Christmas magical, whether it’s ice skating at Rockefeller Center, window shopping on Fifth Avenue, or lurking around 34th street hoping to witness a miracle.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: There’s no such thing as going overboard with Christmas decorations in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighbourhood. Join a walking tour organised by the area’s residents.

Stay here: The Plaza , full stop. (If it's good enough for Kevin McCallister ...)

Why we go:  Can you really think of a more magical place to spend Christmas than Paris? The city provides  festive activities at every turn, from the light installations on the Champs-Elysées to any number of pop-up markets and ice skating rinks. Even if you don’t feel like shivering out in the cold, warming up with a mug of hot chocolate at Angelina will still get you in the spirit.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Whether you gawk at the window displays outside, or the massive Christmas tree inside,  Galeries Lafayette is well worth elbowing a few fellow tourists to check out.

Stay here:   Hôtel Lutetia is a Left Bank stunner with gourmet holiday menus and an Art Deco lobby decked out with lights and trees. Upgrade to a higher room category for oversized bathtubs and balconies overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

Prague, Czech Republic

Why we go: Prague ’s holiday markets easily make the city one of the world’s best places to spend Christmas: they run for a full month, with locals and travellers passing through for mulled wine, sticky pastries, and roasted ham. The main markets take place in the Old Town and Wenceslas squares, just 10 minutes apart by foot – and are set to the backdrop of some of the prettiest Gothic architecture you’ll ever see.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Sip on Svařák, a Czech mulled wine with a citrusy touch from a market stall. Or, for a sweeter taste, indulge in a hot chocolate at Cafe Slavia, founded in 1881.

Stay here: Aria Hotel is located within walking distance of Prague Castle, and its music-themed suites are always a hit.

Quebec City, Canada

Why we go: Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America, and its colonial French architecture gives it an unmistakably European feel. The cobbled streets of the Old Town are packed with quaint shops and delicious bistros, all merrily decorated for the holidays.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The Au 1884 toboggan run by Château Frontenac (open from mid-December to mid-March) is one of the city’s oldest traditions – and quite the thrill. Zoom down icy tracks overlooking the city on a wooden sled reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

Stay here: You can’t go wrong with Auberge Saint-Antoine and its lobby fireplace, heated bathroom floors, and a Christmas package that includes a five-course dinner, holiday movie screenings at the in-house theatre, and a personal visit from Santa in your room.

Reykjavík, Iceland

Why we go: Reykjavík shines on the streets and in the sky in December. Strings of glinting Christmas bulbs illuminate the city during its very long nights, and on the clearest evenings, the Northern Lights can be seen from the city’s darker streets and parks.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The 13 Yule Lads, a group of holiday trolls you’ll see about town, are Iceland’s equivalent to Santa Claus in local folklore (and have actually been around a lot longer than St. Nick).

Stay here: Hotel Borg , the city’s oldest and most elegant hotel, still reigns supreme.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Why we go:  Who says Christmas has to be about ugly sweaters and hot cocoa? December in Rio is all about kicking back on a  spectacular beach – with daily temperatures hovering in the 80s. The city also happens to host the world’s largest display of full-sized nativity scenes during its annual Festival de Presépios (“Crib Festival”), found at Jardim de Alah between Leblon and Ipanema.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  For the very best display in town, ride a bike around the Rodrigo Freitas Lagoon and enjoy views of the world’s largest floating Christmas tree from every angle.

Stay here:  The  Fasano Hotel along Ipanema Beach has an infinity pool overlooking the ocean that will make winter seem very, very far away.

Rome, Italy

Why we go: The streets around Rome will be festively alight, sure, but the home to the seat of Catholicism is an excellent option for folks seeking a more sacrosanct Christmas experience.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Hear hymns echoing off the walls of the 1,900-year-old architectural marvel during midnight mass at the Pantheon.

Stay here: Aside from classically designed guest rooms, Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese offers festive amenities like themed dinners at the rooftop restaurant and chauffeured tours of Rome’s holiday lights in a vintage Fiat 500.

Salzburg, Austria

Why we go: It’s no surprise that Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City that served as the backdrop for The Sound of Music also fills its famed Christkindlmarkt with song. With roots dating back to the 15th century, sing-alongs and traditional wind music are as much a part of the festivities as the mulled wine and market stands. We’re not mad about the bauernkrapfen (fried pastries), either.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: It’s literally Christmas all year round at the Christmas in Salzburg shop on Goldgasse, known for its frilly ornaments (especially those hand-painted on eggshells).

Stay here: Hotel Goldener Hirsch is just steps away from Christkindlmarkt, although we’d be fine staying in these comfortable rooms all day.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Why we go:  Christmas in San Miguel de Allende kicks off on 12 December (aka Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe), and the rest of the month is equal parts solemn and celebratory. You may encounter nativity scenes and church services one day, then parades and fireworks the next. But seeing as it all takes place in one of the friendliest, most beautiful cities in the world, we’re guessing you’ll be able to easily enjoy every moment.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Between 16 – 24 December, most of Mexico participates in Las Posadas, a religious festival honouring the Nativity story. Once a day, two people dressed up as Mary and Joseph lead a procession to a different home and ask to be let inside (as in the biblical journey to Bethlehem), and the reenactment typically ends with carols, food, and pinatas.

Stay here:  The city has its share of swank hotels, but it’s hard to compete with the spa amenities and rooftop bar at  Rosewood San Miguel de Allende .

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Why we go:  Puerto Rico prides itself on having the longest holiday season in the world, lasting a whopping 45 days between the end of November and the middle of January. That gives you even more time to enjoy the island’s festive decorations, folk music, midnight mass services, and coquito – a coconut-based drink that puts eggnog to shame.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Stroll around Old San Juan to see Christmas lights strung up on colourful buildings, with some of the best displays near the central Plaza de Armas.

Stay here:  Our readers love  Condado Vanderbilt Hotel for its hammam spa (the only one in PR), ocean-facing rooms, and four relaxing pools.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Why we go:  Santa Fe’s already-beautiful plaza becomes downright magical with the addition of Christmas lights – but the holiday spirit doesn't start and stop there. The city also offers midnight mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis de Assisi, holiday exhibits at the New Mexico Museum of Art, holiday flamenco performances at El Flamenco Cabaret, and seasonal shopping at the Winter Indian Market. Even when Christmas is officially over, you can keep busy at Taos Ski Valley and Ski Santa Fe – both just an easy drive away.

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Don’t miss the annual Canyon Road Farolito Walk, a Christmas Eve event consisting of farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and topped with a votive candle) lining the streets and walls of adobe buildings.

Stay here: 2022 Hot List winner  Bishop’s Lodge has a tangible warmth to it, with wood-burning kiva fireplaces and hammered bronze tubs adorning the rooms.

Strasbourg, France

Why we go: Strasbourg is home to the oldest of France’s Christmas markets, dating back nearly 450 years. There are 12 in total to check out, which is sure to keep you busy. Pro tip: Though the markets will be full of delicious goodies, many choose to indulge in the king of Alsatian delicacies: foie gras, which is also a French Christmas tradition.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The superlative market sits beneath the stunning Strasbourg Cathedral, the tallest surviving structure built entirely in the Middle Ages. How’s that for a photo op?

Stay here: We’re huge fans of the impossibly luxurious Hôtel Les Haras , installed in Louis XV’s historic stables in Strasbourg.

Sydney, Australia

Why we go: You haven't seen Christmas lights until you’ve seen Sydney's Christmas lights. Plus, the holiday season lasts an entire month here (take that, 12 days of Christmas) with “Sydney Christmas.” The festival features the city’s largest Christmas Tree at Martin Place.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Wonder at the 3,500 twinkling lights at the Strand Arcade or the 85,000 twinkling LEDs at the incredible Pitt Street Mall Canopy of Light.

Stay here: Celebrate with a Christmas Day lunch followed by a nap by the rooftop pool (remember, it’s summertime Down Under) at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.

Taipei, Taiwan

Why we go: 25 December isn’t a public holiday in Taipei, but it’s still one of the best places to spend Christmas, as the city celebrates with incredible lights displays, festive attractions, and events. During the weeks between mid-November and the New Year, pretty much the entire Banqiao District transforms into Christmasland – which is exactly what it sounds like. We’re talking massive Christmas trees, rides, concerts, and markets selling local goods.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Don’t miss the Christmasland section over in the Fuzhong Business district, with a magic forest and Boshou light park.

Stay here: We love the Mandarin Oriental for its decadent decor and wide range of food options.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Why we go:  Due to the Georgian Orthodox Church’s use of the Julian calendar, Christmas isn't officially celebrated in Tbilisi until January 7. Decorations and festivities start much earlier, however, with city-wide light displays, Christmas markets, and musical performances ready to dazzle visitors starting in December. 

The one thing to get you in the spirit:  Located in Tbilisi’s Freedom Square, the Liberty Monument (which depicts Saint George slaying a dragon) is covered with cascading lights to create a massive makeshift Christmas tree.

Stay here:  The cosy-chic vibes at  Stamba Hotel are unparalleled – think buttery leather sofas, lush hanging plants, and floor-to-ceiling shelves of vintage books.

Why we go: The city turns the voltage up each year with its winter illuminations, with different districts competing to create some truly sensational displays. Standout illumination sites include the almost 10-foot-tall snow globes with falling snow at Tokyo Midtown and a massive Baccarat crystal chandelier at Yebisu Garden Place. The bright lights are so popular, they stay up well past Christmas day – often through January or February.

The one thing to get you in the spirit : One of the most famous illuminations is the Blue Cavern ( Ao no Dokutsu ) in Shibuya, which is inspired by the blue grottos of the Mediterranean.

Stay here: Aman Tokyo , a two-time Gold List winner, has a multi-level spa and deep furo soaking tubs in each room.

Vienna, Austria

Why we go: Vienna practically sparkles with holiday spirit during the Christmas season (the lights covering nearly every building might have something to do with that). The city is known for its markets, with the Viennese Christmas Market at City Hall and the holiday tree at Rathausplatz stealing the show. Also nearby are the Nativity Trail and the Tree of Hearts.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: Enjoy the crystalline tones of the one and only Vienna Boys Choir – which has been around for more than 500 years and traditionally performs in its hometown during the holidays.

Stay here: The Park Hyatt Vienna is within walking distance of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and features some of the largest rooms in Vienna.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Why we go: Vilnius becomes a true winter wonderland in December, with a Christmas train that weaves through Old Town, 3D nativity stories projected onto buildings, and Christmas markets in the city’s squares.

The one thing to get you in the spirit: The headline-making Christmas trees are no joke. This year’s main tree was designed to look like a giant multi-layered birthday cake to honour the city’s upcoming 700th anniversary.

Stay here: The warm and inviting Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius is as close to all the Christmas delights as you can get.

A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveler US .

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The Best Cities to Visit for Christmas

By Brianna | November 25, 2018

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In cities and towns across the globe something magical happens each year during the Christmas season; streets are adorned with lights and garland, carolers joyfully share their melodies and the scents of cinnamon and sugar grace the air. Holiday celebrations fill city squares from Scandinavia to Mexico with revelers taking to the streets with wishes of good tidings and cheer. If you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer as he prepares for the big night. Whether you’re looking for Old World tradition or big city splendor, these are the best cities to visit for Christmas.

This post contains affiliate links. The Casual Travelist recieves a small commision for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

New York City

A popular destination anytime of the year, New York City is at its best during the holiday season . Admire the festive window displays along Fifth Avenue, glide around the ice rink in Central Park and check out the glorious Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center bedecked with over 50,000 twinkling lights. The Radio City Music Spectacular, featuring the world famous Rockettes, is a holiday classic that always delights and be sure to check out the European-style Christmas market and Bryant Square Park to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

New York City Hotels

Salzburg,Austria

Nestled in the Austrian Alps Salzburg gets high marks for traditional Christmas charm. Wander the  beautifully decorated cobblestone lanes of the Altstadt, or Old Town, with a warm mug of gluwein in hand before tucking into one of Salzburg’s many cafes to warm up with a slice of apple strudel. Explore one of the many Christmas markets around Salzburg in search of the perfect ornament before heading out to nearby Oberndorf, the tiny alpine town where the iconic Christmas carol “Silent Night” was written.

Salzburg Hotels

Rovaniemi, Finland

Instead of patiently awaiting for Saint Nick’s arrival on Christmas Eve what about heading up north to pay him a visit? The small town of Rovaniemi in the northern reaches of Finnish Lapland is known as the official hometown of Santa Claus and panning a Christmas trip to Finnish Lapland is a great way to celebrate the season . Check out the festivities at Santa Claus Village where you can bake gingerbread with Mrs. Claus or take a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride through the snowy northern forests. If you’re lucky you may even get to experience the magic of the Northern Lights!

Rovaniemi Hotels

Alexandria,Virginia

Minutes from downtown Washington D.C. the colonial streets of Alexandria ring in the holidays with a European flair .  Join 45 Scottish clans on Alexandria’s brick-paved streets during the annual Scottish Christmas Walk, where tartan clad pipe and drum bands herald the arrival of Santa. For a more colonial Christmas stop by the historic Carlyle House where you can experience the holidays as they were celebrated during the American Revolution or enjoy a candlelight tour of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. With over 160 independent shops in Old Town Alexandria you’re sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Alexandria, Virginia Hotels

London, England

Photo Credit: Cassie Sereda

Come Christmas time the streets of London sparkle with lights and festive decorations. Wander around the traditional Christmas markets in Hyde Park or take a spin around the ice rink at the Tower of London. Be sure to save room for a traditional British Christmas pudding, a delicious steamed dessert typically served with a splash of flaming brandy.

London Hotels

Prague, Czech Republic

The winding cobblestone streets and spires of Prague are even more magical during the holidays. In Old Town Square the Tyn Church serves as a backdrop for the majestic Christmas tree brought in from the northern forests of the Czech Republic while revelers peruse the traditional Christmas Market where you can shop for traditional wooden toys, ornaments and marionettes. Warm up with a mug of mulled wine and a tredlnik , a traditional pastry coated with sugar and toasted nuts.

Prague Hotels

Quebec City, Canada

Quebec City is one of the best cities to celebrate Christmas in Canada . Beautifully decorated lights and a blanket of snow highlight the old world charms of Quebec City during the holidays. The cobblestone streets of the Rue de Petit-Champlain evoke the spirit of Christmas past while the hotel Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac , the grande dame of Quebec City, is dressed in her holiday finest. Live out your Frozen fantasies at the Quebec’s Ice Hotel , a winter wonderland made completely from snow and ice.

Quebec City Hotels

New Orleans, Louisiana

It’s no secret that New Orleans knows how to celebrate and that goes double for the holidays. Bonfires along the levees light the way for Papa Noel while carolers sing in the season in Jackson Square. Take in a dazzling light display in City Park or tour homes in the French Quarter and Garden District decked out in their Christmas finest. Food is at the heart of any celebration in New Orleans, ring in Christmas Eve with a traditional Reveillon dinner at one of the many great restaurants in New Orleans .

New Orleans Hotels

Chicago, Illinois

With over one million Christmas lights and dazzling holiday displays adorning store windows, Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is even more magnificent. Take a spin on the ice skating rink at Millennial Park to work up an appetite for kringle and hot chocolate at Chicago’s Christkindlmarket, Chicago’s largest open-air Christmas Market inspired by the traditional markets of Germany.

Chicago Hotels

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

The beautiful colonial city of San Miguel de Allende celebrates with Christmas season with a decidedly Mexican flair. Festive processions fill the cobblestone streets while revelers (with cups of ponche, a Mexican hot toddy , in hand) celebrate with posadas reenactments, fireworks,  live music and dancing all against the backdrop of pink spires of the stunning La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel .

San Miguel de Allende Hotels

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Bell | Wanderlust Marriage says

December 4, 2015 at 8:31 am

This is a great list of places to visit for Christmas. We’re living in Boston and so close to 2 places! Though I’d love to make to Finland to see Santa 🙂

Brianna says

December 9, 2015 at 8:34 pm

Boston is one of my favorite cities, lucky you!

Charles McCool says

December 4, 2015 at 8:37 am

Washington, DC is not too bad. Everything is decorated and there are two national tree areas (at the Capitol Building and on the Ellipse). The Botanic Gardens is magnificent at Christmas time. I would love to visit all of these cities at Christmas!

December 9, 2015 at 8:36 pm

You know I love DC anytime of year! Don’t forget the Zoolights 🙂

Aparna says

December 4, 2015 at 9:32 am

These look so magical! I would love to go to Iceland (Reykjavik) for Christmas, or try Munich with all the holiday markets. Goa (India) is great this time of year too.

December 9, 2015 at 8:39 pm

Munich is also super high on my list and the beaches of Goa would be amazing.

Jessica van Dop DeJesus says

December 4, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Concur with Charles! DC is magical this time of the year!

December 9, 2015 at 8:40 pm

I agree 100%!

Stefan says

December 6, 2015 at 5:45 am

I would love to see NYC and Salzburg covered in a blanket of snow.

So pleased my home city (London) made the cut – it’s grey, cold and miserable weather wise at Xmas, but the Christmas atmosphere, particularly around Oxford Street and Regent street makes it magical.

December 9, 2015 at 9:03 pm

I’d love to see London all lit up 🙂

Jen Joslin says

December 6, 2015 at 9:26 am

Out of all the places on this list I’ve only been to NYC at Christmas. I would love to go to Finland to see the northern lights and Santa’s village!

December 9, 2015 at 8:46 pm

How cool would it be to see the Northern Lights after visiting Santa?

Brenda Tolentino says

December 6, 2015 at 10:28 am

I’m happy to see my hometown, NYC, Christmas is definitely the best time to visit! I’m also excited to see London, England because we are spending Christmas this year in that lovely town, we can’t wait to go to The Christmas markets in Hyde Park and have pudding!

December 9, 2015 at 8:48 pm

How lucky you guys are to be spending time in London during the holidays!

LeAnna says

December 6, 2015 at 10:42 am

OMG! What a fun list! I’ve never heard of Rovaniemi. I could see that being an amazing trip with little ones…oh who am I kidding, it’d be fun for adults, too!

Who wouldn’t love to visit Santa?

Lesley says

December 6, 2015 at 11:37 am

I love the lights over London; they look like snow.

Rovaniemi, Finland is on the top of my list for winter destinations.

December 9, 2015 at 8:50 pm

I want to go meet Santa and make a new reindeer friend.

December 6, 2015 at 12:42 pm

I visited Quebec City in the winter for the Ice Festival. It was 30 degrees BELOW zero. This made nothing fun….take into consideration the weather at Christmas if you choose Quebec City. It is a wonderful and lovely city, but winter is no joke!

30 below is nuts, yikes!

Karilyn says

December 6, 2015 at 1:49 pm

I have been to London and New York are pins Christmas but haven’t been to any others. Christmas really does turn places into a super magical place. Thanks for new inspiration for our holidays!! I already have Finland on the list. Got to make it before my son no longer believes!

December 9, 2015 at 8:52 pm

Going to Finland would be just magical with kids!

December 6, 2015 at 11:02 pm

I was in Paris for Christmas a few years ago, and it was pretty spectacular. I loved getting to see Notre Dame all decorated. We went both on Christmas eve and day because it was so beautiful.

December 9, 2015 at 8:55 pm

Paris is always a good idea, I bet its just splendid during the holidays.

December 6, 2015 at 11:27 pm

I will be spending Christmas in my hometown of NYC per usual. But I would love to see some reindeer. That would be amazing.

December 9, 2015 at 8:56 pm

Who wouldn’t love a new reindeer friend?

Janna C says

December 7, 2015 at 3:48 am

Oh my! I love Christmas and it’s my favorite holiday. What a great list. I would definitely head to Finland to see that reindeer! So adorable. And of course nothing beats NYC during the holidays. Holidays in New York reminds me of the movies I used to watch like You’ve got mail. 😀

December 9, 2015 at 8:58 pm

NYC Christmas makes me think of Elf, hands down my favorite Christmas movie!

Gemma Two Scots Abroad says

December 7, 2015 at 3:02 pm

This is really getting me in the mood! We are going to visit the Christmas market in Vancouver and have just been skiing at Whistler so B.C does very well! I like the look of Finland for some festivities! Great post. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

December 9, 2015 at 8:59 pm

Merry Christmas to you two as well!

Christina @ Christina's Cucina says

December 9, 2015 at 7:28 pm

Oh yes, my favorite so far is Cologne, Germany! They have so many Christmas markets, all walking distance in a totally walkable city! It was such a fabulous atmosphere and the food and gluhwein were fantastic! I wouldn’t be against visiting any of these cities on your list, though!

Kelly @ TastingPage says

December 9, 2015 at 7:46 pm

So many lovely places to visit! Living in CA, it never feels quite like XMas with all the sunshine and palm trees, but one of my favorite XMas memories was touring the Christmas markets in France and Germany. Everything is so well decorated with great food and wine. It definitely gets you in the spirit!

December 10, 2015 at 3:31 pm

I am not a huge fan of the holidays, but I do love the Christmas markets in Strasbourg, France – amazing holiday eat treats!

December 19, 2015 at 10:59 am

Truth be told food is my favorite part of the holiday season (and any other season for that matter.

December 12, 2015 at 8:27 pm

I love the excitement and decorations of big cities at Christmas. We were in San Francisco around the holidays a couple of years recently and it was a lot of fun to see Union Square all lit up and the tree, ice rink, etc. I also love Italy at Christmas. The decorations are so beautiful.

December 19, 2015 at 11:02 am

I’d love to see SF done up for the holidays, I’m sure its just beautiful!

December 13, 2015 at 1:34 am

Great list. London and NYC would be near the top of my list for Christmas also, though my favorite is Austin Texas, not only is it the live music capital of the world, during Christmas we also have Trail of lights, The Austin Trail of Lights is consistently included in Top 10 National Light Festivals by USA Today. MY 2nd favorite is Vienna Austria, the christmas market outside the city center si amazing!

December 19, 2015 at 11:04 am

You’ve mentioned two of my favorite cities, I’m sure both are even better during the holidays!

December 13, 2015 at 1:49 am

What a great selection of cities that can make Christmas look great. I’m not surprised I didn’t see Los Angeles, my hometown, among them. Nothing feels like Christmas here. It was in the upper 70s today. I miss a little snow at this time of year.

December 19, 2015 at 11:05 am

Anda, I’m sure a few people have put lights on their palm trees 🙂

Karla | karlaroundtheworld says

December 13, 2015 at 6:37 am

You know, I have never spent Christmas elsewhere but in the Philippines. It’s something I have been meaning to try though. Despite that, I guess, I am happy that I am with family during the holiday season. They’re not a big fan of holiday rush so we spend it all in one place but all celebrating and happy anyway, so that is good too.

December 19, 2015 at 11:07 am

Spending time with family and friends is really what the holidays are about aren’t they?

Andrea Leblang says

December 13, 2015 at 9:38 am

Fabulous post! My husband and I will be in Nice, France for the holidays this year. Hoping it’s a festive spot as well, but reading this made me want to experience Finland! Maybe next year 🙂

December 19, 2015 at 11:09 am

I’m sure Nice will be just lovely! Is there ever a bad time to spend time on the RIviera?

Toni | 2 Aussie Travellers says

December 13, 2015 at 4:22 pm

Some fabulous looking options here but my biggest surprise was Tokyo, Japan. In a country that doesn’t officially celebrate Christmas they have the most amazing Christmas light displays.

December 19, 2015 at 11:10 am

I never would have thought of Japan for Christmas but I’m sure the light displays are spectacular!

December 13, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Very nice collection of cities. I am surprised no cities from Germany made the list. Finnish Lapland sounds like a fun place to visit during the holidays, we just came back from seeing some Reindeer this afternoon. sadley no sleigh rides though.

December 19, 2015 at 11:11 am

I came close as many of the traditions we associate with CHristmas are German in origin.

December 13, 2015 at 5:30 pm

What a great list of cities to choose from. I visited Quebec City for the first time in May this year and can imagine how fabulous it would be at Christmas.

In Europe can I also suggest Munich? Its Christmas market is very unappreciated and there is Dallemeyer for fabulous food treats. Visiting Neuschwanstein in the snow is a magical experience

December 19, 2015 at 11:12 am

Quebec City is gorgeous anytime of year isn’t it?

Murissa says

December 13, 2015 at 6:17 pm

NYC and London are on my Christmas wish list. I would like to add Honolulu or the island of Oahu in general. Will be spending Christmas there this year for the second time. Just love it!

Joe Ankenbauer says

December 13, 2015 at 10:15 pm

You forgot Vienna! Haha! That’s my #1 right now, with NYC a close second. I love the list, it just goes to show you how many beautiful places are out there celebrating the best holiday besides my birthday 😉

December 19, 2015 at 11:13 am

Being that Salzburg ws on the list I made the tough choice not to include Vienna(another city I love).

Sue @NoFixedAbodeForSue says

December 13, 2015 at 10:31 pm

I have visited a few on your list and will be heading to London today to enjoy a few days of festive spirit. I think NY is fun during the holidays and Chicago is always on my go to list. I really need to visit more European cities next year and Prague is towards the top

December 19, 2015 at 11:14 am

Prague is a gorgeous city, I’m sure you’ll love it!

Carolann & Macrae - One Modern Couple says

December 14, 2015 at 1:05 am

Some of these were surprising to us! We’d love to see New Orleans at Christmas – it seems like it would be such an interesting experience!

We were just recently in Rothenburg, Germany and it was a pretty magical experience with their Christmas market at the centre of the walled city and all the shops with christmas displays and decorations.

December 19, 2015 at 11:15 am

New Orleans is always a good idea 🙂

Stephanie says

December 14, 2015 at 7:08 am

I think Salzburg is a gret place to visit at Christmas time. I visited at the end of November and unfortunately missed the markets. The city is so quant and beautiful though. I really want to visit New York at Christmas!

December 19, 2015 at 11:16 am

Salzburg is charming any time of year 🙂

antonette - we12travel says

December 14, 2015 at 5:32 pm

I love to get away for Christmas because it’s my birthday then and I’ve spent it at various places. My pick from your list would be Rovaniemi, so I could finally spot the Aurora and go dogsledding 🙂

December 19, 2015 at 11:18 am

It doesn’t get any better than visiting the home of Santa does it? THe Northern Lights are definitely on my travel wish list.

Elaine J Masters says

November 21, 2016 at 10:05 pm

Nice round up. I’d love to do Christmas in San Miguel, in most villages of Mexico!

December 1, 2016 at 9:40 pm

San Miguel looks magical!

Chloe GOGO Budget Travel says

November 22, 2016 at 8:32 pm

Oh Christmas! All too lovely and the cities have the perfect feel!

Connies Tricklin says

October 1, 2017 at 1:27 am

Every year we celebrate our Christmas in our home. but this time we want to celebrate it in another place. For this reason, we finding which city is best to visit for Christmas. After reading your article I collect much information. I think new york city is the best place to visit for our next Christmas. thanks for sharing your article.

Holly Bird says

November 25, 2018 at 9:52 pm

I love to travel during Christmas! Your list is awesome and I now have a couple of more holiday vacations to take! Thank you so much!

Euro Travel Coach says

December 5, 2018 at 3:21 am

What a fantastic list of great cities to visit at Christmastime. There is something very special about each one. We absolutely love Salzburg and London during the Christmas season. This year we got to also visit Bristol and Bath, UK which both have terrific Christmas markets. Thank you so much for a terrific post. Wonderful pictures and descriptions. You’ve added some more places to my list of cities I’d like to visit during the magical holiday season.

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• Top 20 Places to Celebrate Christmas in the World

23 Mar 2023

A distinct festival rooted in the tunes of carolers and European traditions, the Christmas season which is also dubbed as the most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. From the ultimate winter wonderland experience in the Himalayan highlands to making your way to the New York Times Square for the big celebrations, December holidays are the perfect embodiment of the festive spirit.

Whether you are planning to travel domestically—staying as close to home as possible, or planning to enjoy the merriment of the occasion with a safe trip abroad, here’s our top 20 places to celebrate Christmas in the world .

20 Popular Places to Celebrate Christmas in the World

From sparkling castles to vibrant escapades, the following are the best places in the world to celebrate Christmas:

1. Bethlehem, West Bank

Bethlehem, a cultural homeland and the biblical birthplace of Jesus is an iconic destination nestled south of Jerusalem. Glancing the celebrations at Manger Square and capturing the impeccable sights of the Old City during the time of Christmas is truly an experience of a lifetime. The festivities at St. Catherine Church, including the midnight mass, attracts travellers from across the globe to witness the massive celebrations of the birth of Christ.

Suggested Read: Bethlehem Birthplace Of Jesus Christ: A Handy Guide To The Holy City

2. New York City, USA

New York City is known for its vibrant Christmas lights, featuring musical ambience and dust of snow covering the region. Being one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in the world , the city hosts numerous events and live performances where one can witness world-class artists. The charm of the tallest Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center is unmatchable, and wandering across the local streets, checking out the exclusive flea markets installed during the festival are amongst the most popular things to indulge in.

3. Lapland, Finland

The city features exquisite scenes of Christmas where you can see a joyful local in his red and white attire traversing through the streets with his reindeer sleigh. He is the most admired resident in the city, and one can witness him recreating Christmas Day for everyone. Santa Park, located in the city centre, is a fun place that hosts various activities, especially for kids.

Suggested Read: The Lapland Guide That Will Inspire You

4. The Vatican, Italy

The Vatican City is the place that remains charming throughout the year, and when it comes to celebrations, the experience is beyond words. During this time, pilgrims visit Vatican City to attend the Midnight Mass at St Peter’s Basilica. Many observe it as a day of remembrance and cherish being part of this celebration. The Vatican Christmas Tree placed in Saint Peter’s Square is a popular site to visit during this time.

5. Bondi Beach, Australia

It is an ideal place for adventure freaks to plan their Christmas vacay. Being a hub of backpackers, Bondi Beach features incredible celebrations full of colourful people around. You can expect electrifying bands and DJs performances. If you wish to have a vacation beyond sparkling lights and melodious carols, then Bondi Beach might be a perfect place for you!

Suggested Read: Sydney Travel Guide: To Plan Your Oz Vacay Effortlessly

6. Munich, Germany

Munich is known for its enticing winters, and when it comes to Christmas celebrations, the place remains the best to sneak peek at the pious beliefs and customs. Walking down the glittering streets to reach the 100-foot tall Christmas tree placed at Marienplatz gives you a chance to be a part of the festivity. You can check out collections at the dozens of Christmas markets installed across the streets. The trams that connect the old city serve delicious mulled wine and gingerbread during this time. Savour the delicacies if you wish to check out the authentic taste that has remained unchanged for decades. The city hosts live holiday music at the town hall, where you can glance at the festivity.

7. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is another best place to celebrate Christmas in the world. Here, the sagas of Santa Claus are melodiously versed, and locals celebrate the festival in their traditional ways. The city observes the rituals introduced almost 400 years ago, and the neighborhood gets sparkled with synchronized lighting. Christmas celebrations here are extended until New Year’s Eve when you can witness electrifying fireworks at Dam Square. The Dutch capital features Christmas celebrations with enormous trees of the city twinkling in festive colors.

Suggested Read: 7 Spectacular Beaches In Amsterdam To Visit On Your Vacation To Netherlands!

8. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is an ideal place to plan your Christmas vacation as the experiences purveyed by the city are truly enchanting. Dublin hosts numerous festival markets, workshops, and exhibitions, where travelers can have a good time with their loved ones. The 12-days exclusive Christmas Market at Docklands is the best place to catch the festival vibe. The streets of the city glitter throughout December, where one can attend workshops and live acts by Elves. The colorful vistas of Dublin promise a holiday that will remain in your memory for a lifetime.

9. Prague, Czech Republic

Christmas markets in Prague are the iconic places to check out the festival magic of the Czech Republic. Lightened up with thousands of twinkles, this spectacular ‘heart of Europe’ turns into a ‘winter wonderland’ during Christmas. Ornate wooden huts beside the streets serve authentic Christmas meals that add spellbinding flavors to the celebrations. Prague is undoubtedly one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in the world , and you get a chance to explore the historic site of Mala Strana and capture the vistas of Gothic architecture. You can attend an opera performance or be part of the live events hosted at the city square.

Suggested Read: 14 Places To Visit In Prague For A Fab Vacation In The Czech Republic

10. Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is known for its chocolates, cobbled streets, snowy mountains, and Christmas celebrations. Travelers from across the world visit Zurich throughout the year, and the city welcomes visitors warm-heartedly. However, Christmas brings in a spree of excitement, and grand exhibitions and shows are organized that allure art lovers and designers from near and far. You can also go on a guided Christmas walk that takes you to the singing Christmas trees. Visiting the Christmas village at Sechseläutenplatz near Bellevue and attending local celebrations can be added to your plan if you wish to interact with locals. The Christmas markets in Zurich offer plenty of local delicacies including punch, mulled wine, raclette, etc.

11. Valkenburg, Netherlands

The Christmas celebrations at Valkenburg are famous among globetrotters. Those interested in witnessing the iconic castle ruins that turn majestical during Christmas plan their expeditions here and unravel the hidden escapades of Valkenburg with an ardent spark of festivity. The rustic medieval streets get illuminated with dazzling lights and light music. The exotic caves of MergelRijk that feature old-world charm get enchanted with nativity scenes. Shopping from Christmas markets that offer authentic Polish handicrafts is a popular thing to indulge in here during the festival. Home to an enormous and oldest Christmas Market, Valkenburg is a paradise for shopaholics who wish to kick-start their new year in style.

Suggested Read: Celebrate Christmas In The Netherlands And Know About The Intriguing Dutch Traditions

12. Vienna, Austria

Vienna hosts one of the best Christmas celebrations in the world with a picture-perfect snowy backdrop. A Christmas trip to Vienna evolves around colourful sights, mystic sounds, authentic recipes, and cultural interactions. If you wish to have a vintage-style Christmas celebration, then you can plan a trip to Vienna. The essence of Mulled Wine in the environs, majestic imperial architecture glistening up with soothing lights, and classical melodies retreating your ears are some unique experiences that make Vienna a popular place to spend Christmas week with your mates.

13. Copenhagen, Denmark

The Christmas vibe in Copenhagen is related to the concept of hygge, which is the feeling of contentment or well-being. The locals believe in staying around good company and spend time with family and friends during Christmas. Every family indulges in Christmas shopping which sums up with a warm cup of glogg. The Tivoli Garden, which is the heart of the city, features the ultimate setting during this time with around a million sparkles and innumerable Christmas trees. Restaurants host culinary fiestas, giving you a perfect chance to savour the authentic flavours of the region.

Suggested Read: 15 Unique Things To Do In Copenhagen To Experience The City Like A Local

14. Riga, Latvia

Riga, the largest city of the Baltic states, features an enormous variety of traditional, stylish, and innovative Christmas trees. The magnificent architecture with splendid festival decorations, synchronized markets setting, live music scenes, and mega feasts makes Riga one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in the world. The city also organizes numerous events for kids, and one can enjoy taking pony rides and a horse-drawn carriage. Christmas in Riga is the perfect time to enjoy local delicacies and check out handmade items such as woolen socks, wooden candlesticks, and woven mittens.

15. Berlin, Germany

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is known for its spellbinding Christmas scenes. One can attend classical Christmas concerts, and various theatre artists recreate Christmas stories with an amalgamation of local beliefs and customs. The city hosts over 50 exclusive markets during the time of Christmas. Indulging in historical rides is a perfect thing to catch the festival vibe.

Suggested Read: 10 Places To Visit In Berlin You Must Not Miss On Your Germany Trip

16. London, England

Christmas in London is such an experience that features almost everything that makes your holiday memorable. From stunning Christmas markets to serene mass prayers, ice-skating rinks, to enthralling live events, the encounters of London are one of its kinds. Strolling through the charming Oxford Street with glittering lights showering festivity is admirable. The exclusive Christmas markets in London give you a gorgeous window to check out products from high-end fashion boutiques, local bookshops, and more. ZSL London Zoo, Royal Albert Hall, WWT London Wetland Centre, and Rainforest Café are the prime places to visit in London during Christmas.

17. Edinburgh, Scotland

The festivity begins in Edinburgh with the commencement of December. One can indulge in browsing through the traditional Christmas markets and attend local celebration ceremonies hosted across the city. Amusement rides such as Star Flyer purveys the best idea of capturing the festival vibe of Edinburgh. Christmas afternoon teas with locals followed by attending a performance at the majestic theatres on Christmas eve is an exquisite experience that winds the sense of culture and customs. You can relish local recipes while glancing at the skies lighten up by electrifying fireworks. Edinburgh celebrates Christmas in its unique style that lures travelers from across the world.

Suggested Read: Edinburgh Castle: Your Detailed Guide To Scale Historical Heights In Scotland!

18. Tallinn, Estonia

The Christmas celebrations in Tallinn can be traced back to 1441. If you wish to encounter the unparalleled mystics of Christmas, then you can plan to unravel the traditional setups of historical markets dusted with fresh snow. Tallinn gets covered under a blanket of snow during the time of Christmas. The lightened lanterns glorify the cobblestone streets that lead to the vibrant celebrations full of contentment and togetherness. The first Christmas tree of the world was established here in the city in the year 1441. The tree still stands in Town Hall Square as the legendary tree.

19. Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is home to themed Christmas villages that turn into a fairytale location during the time of Christmas. Events such as live concerts, theatres, exhibitions, storytelling, etc., are organized during this time across the city. Hosting the oldest Christmas market in France, Strasbourg is an ideal place to understand European culture. You can walk around the streets with your significant other and taste local delicacies served exclusively during Christmas to catch the festival spirit.

Suggested Read: 27 Incredibly Charming Places To Visit In France

20. Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is amongst the best places in Asia to celebrate Christmas. Sparkling skyscrapers, glittering shores, and dazzling Christmas markets featuring musical ambiance all around the city make Hong Kong city one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in the world. Disneyland, Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Philharmonic, WinterFest, and the Grand Symphony hosts grand Christmas celebrations.

Suggested Read:

13 Festivals In Hong Kong That Best Showcase The City Culture

So, where are you planning to go on your Christmas trip? Don’t forget to consider the above-mentioned best places to celebrate Christmas in the world before planning your future tour. Check out the best international holidays with TravelTriangle and enjoy the festival like never before. You can also get your itinerary customized by mentioning your preferences.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Places to Celebrate Christmas In The World

Is it safe to travel during Covid times?

You need to follow all the mandatory travel guidelines prescribed by the respective authorities to ensure a safe travel experience. Remain masked at public places and maintain social distancing. It is advised to sanitize your hands after touching surfaces and carry disinfectant sprays. Check the official website of the place you are visiting and don’t forget to carry your negative RT-PCR report as you may have to produce it at various entry and exit points.

What are the best places to visit in the world during Christmas?

Bethlehem, New York, Tallinn, London, Hong Kong, etc. are known for hosting some of the best Christmas celebrations. However, it depends upon you what you want to explore on your Christmas holiday. Whether a vintage style celebration with an orthodox vibe or electrifying city fiestas is in your mind!

Where is the oldest Christmas tree?

The first Christmas tree of the world was established in the city of Tallinn in the year 1441. The tree still stands in Town Hall Square as the legendary tree.

What are the best places to celebrate Christmas in India?

Goa, Pondicherry, Shillong, Kerala, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc. are known for amazing Christmas celebrations in India. You can also attend exclusive events hosted across the country which includes mass prayers, live band performances, DJ parties, and more.

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13 Best Christmas cities in Europe to visit in December

Dreaming of spending Christmas in Europe? It’s a magical time to visit, here is my pick of 13 of the best Christmas cities in Europe. Our guide to the best Christmas destinations in Europe covers…

Dreaming of spending Christmas in Europe? It’s a magical time to visit, here is my pick of 13 of the best Christmas cities in Europe.

Our guide to the best Christmas destinations in Europe covers the length and breadth of the continent. We show you the best Christmas markets in Europe, and also some of the best places to experience Christmas in Europe.

When we talk about the best Christmas cities in Europe, we mean places where you can stay over the actual Christmas holiday period, and places where you can enjoy the run-up to Christmas, including at one of the many Christmas markets Europe has.

Most of the European Christmas markets are held over the Advent period in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s worth noting that the German Christmas markets close a day or two before 25 th December, whereas some cities’ markets continue into the New Year.

Many of the best cities in Europe for Christmas are spread across the centre and north of the continent. This is where you’re most likely to get the authentic cold weather Christmas experience, and where you’ve got the best chance of a magical white Christmas in Europe.

Table of Contents

1. Christmas in Prague

We found Prague to be one of the best places for Christmas in Europe, staying over one magical Christmas a few years ago. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and makes for an amazing setting to enjoy the festive season.

The Czechs have their main celebration on Christmas Eve, when they get together for their main dinner.  This includes fish soup followed by fried carp. This is the only time everything really shuts down, as many places open again on Christmas Day.

Prague Christmas Markets stay open until the New Year, so if you’re staying over for Christmas, you get the best of everything. There are several markets around the city, including in the Castle District and Wenceslas Square.

But the best of all is the Old Town Square Christmas Market. The setting is incomparable. Old Town Square Prague is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe , and you’re surrounded by amazing architecture wherever you look, including the fairytale Gothic spires of the Our Lady Before Týn church. We ended up doing half of the following year’s Christmas shopping while we were there. The mulled wine, spit-roasted trdelnik cake and wonderful Czech beer went down beautifully as well. One of the best cities to spend a Christmas vacation in Europe.

See Also: Brno Christmas Market Guide

2. London at Christmas

London is one of the must visit cities in Europe, compelling at any time of year. The run-up to Christmas is one of the most magical times of year, as the whole city gets lit up and goes festive.

Each year the people of Norway donate a Christmas tree which takes pride of place in Trafalgar Square, and some of the famous streets in London are lit up for the occasion.

Oxford Street and Regent Street, the main department store hub, get the full lights treatment. Traditional stores like Harrod’s and Fortnum & Mason also get the decorations out for seasonal celebrations.

One of our favourite things to do in London at Christmas is to visit the beautiful ice rinks around the city. The rink at Somerset House is spectacular, surrounded by a gorgeous Neoclassical courtyard.

There’s also the rink outside the magnificent Tower of London, and another outside the Natural History Museum in Kensington.

There is also a Winter Wonderland over at Hyde Park, which also has a fun fair and food and drink stalls. You can also find plenty more of the latter at the South Bank Christmas Market, close to the South Bank Centre.

Christmas Day in London tends to be a quiet affair with the Tube (underground trains) and buses closed for the day. However, some pubs, bars and restaurants do open on Christmas Day – you’ll need to take a taxi, Uber or, better still, walk to get around.

3. Cologne at Christmas

Cologne is one of the best cities for Christmas breaks in Europe. It’s a long-time favourite of ours, a wonderful city with one of the best arts scenes in Germany. In December, it’s also home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

There are actually six Christmas markets in Cologne , and there’s no doubt which is the best of them.  The square below Cologne’s vast Dom, or Cathedral is an incredible setting for a market.

The twin spires of the Dom soar over 500 feet above, and inside you’ll find the shrine purportedly containing the relics of the Magi (the ‘Three Wise Men’ who followed the star to Bethlehem to visit Jesus). You can’t really top Christmas credentials like that.

Cologne’s Cathedral Market has all the German Christmas traditions – the aromas of gluhwein, gingerbread and roast chestnuts mingling in the cold evening air, the wooden hut stalls with mini-villages of ornamental houses. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric market.

The other Cologne Christmas markets are great too – the Alter Markt in the Old Town is lovely. The Harbour Market at the Chocolate Museum on the Rhine offers something unusual and different, including entertainment from the Rhine pirates. There’s also a gay and lesbian Christmas market, with pink and purple stalls and lots of events.

Cologne is also a regular stop on Christmas river cruises in Europe, and can usually be visited for a day as part of a package. It’s only a short distance from Bonn, the former West German capital, which has another lovely atmospheric market in the square outside the Münster church.

4. Zagreb at Christmas

We ended up returning to Zagreb almost by accident, and serendipitously ended up there for the opening of the Zagreb Christmas Markets. They had won several visitors’ polls for best Christmas markets in Europe, and were excluded from last year’s vote, presumably to give someone else a chance. It turned out to be worth the hype – and then some.

Zagreb is a bit of a step back in time, and is well worth visiting if you want to experience the feel of a lovely Central European city like Prague before mass tourism arrived.

The markets in the parks between the main railway station and the city centre have a wonderful intimate feel, and there’s also a huge ice skating course.

The best part is up on the hill in Gornji Grad, Zagreb old town. Bars and food stalls are huddled together along Strossmayer Setaliste, a pedestrin-only walkway along the ridge overlooking the city.

Start at the bars below the Lotrscak lookout tower and stop for a drink or two until you reach the end, with the Instagrammable view of the twin spires of medieval Zagreb Cathedral.

5. Nuremberg at Christmas

The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg is one of the best Christmas markets in Germany, and therefore Europe. Many of the Christmas traditions in Europe originate from Germany, and the Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest celebrations of Christmas, dating back to the 16 th century.

The market is held in the main market square, outside the iconic Frauenkirche church. It’s one of the most evocative Christmas markets in Europe, with the 180 wooden hut stalls beautifully lit, almost a child’s ideation of a warm, cosy Christmas.

The Christmas food and drink is excellent – the city gave the world the Nuremberg bratwurst, delicately flavoured with marjoram and mace and served in a bun with mustard or ketchup.

The larger bratwurst is now a staple at Christmas markets all around the world. Another of its innovations is Feuerzangenbowle, a hot spicy brew with wine and rum that is extremely potent.

Nuremberg is the capital of Franconia, the region of northern Bavaria. It also sits on the upper reaches of the Danube, so receives plenty of visits from Christmas cruises in Europe.

Nuremberg is also near the ‘Romantic Road’ cities of Rothenburg, Würzburg and Bamberg, so it’s also a popular destination on Christmas markets in Europe tours.

6. Dresden at Christmas

Dresden makes for one of the best Christmas breaks in Europe. This stunning Saxon city on the river Elbe is around two hours south of Berlin and is close to the Czech border. Somehow, nearly thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it hasn’t really been embraced for what it is – one of the most beautiful cities of Europe.

Dresden was infamously levelled by an intense aerial bombardment in February 1945, and it took over 60 years for its architectural glories and treasures to be fully restored. The Baroque Frauenkirche was the last to be finished, completing the stunning city skyline which you can view from the banks of the Elbe.

The main Dresden Christmas Market is one of the oldest in Germany – the Striezelmarkt was first documented in 1434. It is open until Christmas Eve, as are most of the German Christmas markets.  It’s well-known for its candle pyramid, from the nearby Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains).

One of the food highlights of the Christmas Market in Dresden is the Christstollen, a famous fruit bread now sold worldwide.  The Dresden version is shaped like the entrance to a mine tunnel – the word ‘stollen’ originally meant a post supporting such an entrance.

Another Dresden speciality to look out for is the Pfaumentoffel, an edible chimney sweep’s boy made out of prunes.

7. Bath at Christmas

Christmas in Bath, one of the most beautiful cities in England, is also magical. One of the prettiest cities in Europe with its harmonious Georgian architecture, it deserves a visit at any time of year. The run-up to Christmas is one of the best times of all.

The Bath Christmas Market has a relatively short run – it’s open in 2021 from 25th November to 19 th December. We’ve visited a few times, and believe it’s one of the best Christmas markets in the UK.  Its setting is stunning, beneath the Perpendicular windows of Bath Abbey in Abbey Churchyard and along neighbouring York Street.

One of the great things about Bath is that several of the main sights are very close to each other. The Roman Baths are right next door to the Abbey, and late on a winter afternoon is one of the most atmospheric times to visit, with the Great Bath lit up by torchlight at twilight.

The adjoining Pump Room was the place to be seen in 18 th century Bath high society, and lunch or afternoon tea there is a great part of the Bath experience.

Much of the city of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best places to see Georgian architecture in Bath are around a ten-minute walk from the Abbey. The Circus and Royal Crescent are a few minutes apart – they’re magnificent 18 th century terraces.

Bath is ideal for a Christmas break –  some Bath hotels offer luxury packages including spa treatments over the Christmas period.

8. Vienna at Christmas

Vienna is one of the best tourist cities in Europe, a capital city with outstanding culture, coffee and cakes. It’s also a popular stop on many Christmas tours in Europe: it’s also on the River Danube, so if you’re on a Christmas river cruise in Europe there’s a good chance you’ll be stopping at Vienna for a day or so.

The Christmas Market in Vienna is one of the oldest in Europe. In 1298 Albrecht I granted Vienna’s citizens the right to hold a ‘December market’, and it has grown over the following seven centuries and more.

The main Vienna Christmas Market takes place in the Rathausplatz, outside the City Hall, a magnificent setting. The Rathaus also hosts a special area for kids where they can try out making gingerbread or other handicrafts.

There are over twenty Vienna Christmas markets in all, with some of the most enchanting at Belvedere Palace and Schönbrunn Palace. Expect to find gluhwein and all kinds of foodie treats everywhere you go.

Look out for one Viennese treat in particular – vanillekipferl are delicious crescent-shaped biscuits flavoured with ground almonds and, you guessed it, vanilla.

9. Salzburg at Christmas

Salzburg is another candidate for putting on the best Christmas in Europe. It’s the birthplace of Stille Nacht – Silent Night – one of the best-known Christmas carols of all.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was also born in Salzburg, and his legacy is everywhere, with music playing a big part in Christmas in Salzburg.

Salzburg’s Altstadt, or Old Town, looks much as it would have in Mozart’s time. Much of it dates from the 17 th and 18 th century, resulting in one of the most exquisite Baroque cities and skylines in the world. The whole scene is overlooked by the mighty Hohensalzburg fortress, whose origins go back over 900 years.

The main Salzburg Christmas market is in Residenzplatz, next to the Baroque cathedral, a gorgeous setting.

Salzburg’s Christmas traditions go back around 600 years, and it makes for a magical place to stay for Christmas. The Market is open until the 26 th of December. I haven’t done it myself, but you can also join a Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, and learn all about the von Trapp Family Singers.

10. Rovaniemi at Christmas

As a boy, I always used to wonder where Santa Claus is from, and was always told ‘Lapland’ or the North Pole.  Santa’s exact place of origin remains a closely guarded secret, but he has an official residence. That is in the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, which is indeed in Lapland, and inside the Arctic Circle.

Rovaniemi is one of the best Christmas destinations Europe has, because it’s home to so many popular Christmas traditions. The Santa Claus Village a few miles from the city is a great place to start. It’s next to the main Santa Claus Post Office, which is where your letters requesting presents end up. You can meet Santa, of course, and his many helpers.

One of the best things to do in Rovaniemi is to take a reindeer sleigh ride through the snow, a magical experience no matter what your age is. You can also meet the elves who help him get organised for his trip around the world, and wave him off on December 23 rd .

11. Tallinn at Christmas

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is one of the prettiest cities in Europe, and it has been celebrating Christmas longer than most. A Christmas tree was first put up in the Town Hall Square – Raekoja plats – in 1441.

The Tallinn Christmas Market is open for seven weeks between mid-November and 6 th January, so if you opt to spend Christmas in Tallinn, you get to enjoy it as well as the rest of the city.

The Christmas Market in Tallinn is like the city itself, small but wonderful.  There’s something for all ages – Santa Claus and fairground rides for the kids, traditional Estonian craft stalls, and mulled wine and gingerbread to guard against the cold. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the square.

Christmas dinner in Estonia is also quite different to anything in western Europe. The main meal is served on Christmas Eve, and includes black pudding, pork, sauerkraut, potatoes and lingonberry jam.

As Tallinn is situated in the northerly latitudes of the Baltic Sea, there’s also a fair chance of experiencing a white Christmas when you’re there. Undoubtedly one of the best Christmas cities in Europe.

12. Merano at Christmas

Southern Europe hasn’t had much of a look in so far, but Merano, in northern Italy, deserves a place on our list. Merano Christmas market is smaller than most others on our list with around 80 stalls, but it makes up for this in atmosphere.

Merano – Meran in German – is a lovely town in Trentino Alto Adige, the Alpine far north of Italy also known as Südtirol. Merano has one of the best Christmas markets in Italy, and with Austrian and Italian heritage, you get a taste of both worlds. So as well as gluhwein and roast almonds and chestnuts you get pizza straight out of a woodfired oven.

There are also plenty of other things to do in Merano. It has a beautiful old town, and some fine hiking trails close by. These include the gentle Tappeiner Promenade which has outstanding mountain views, and the riverside Sentiero di Sissi (Sissi’s Path).

13. Cardiff at Christmas

Christmas in Cardiff, the capital of Wales and one of our former home towns, is a wonderful surprise.

The Winter Wonderland, a funfair and ice rink outside the elegant City Hall, is a long-term fixture. The walls of the Castle are brightly lit, and the streets around St John’s Church and The Hayes become home to the Cardiff Christmas Market for a few weeks.

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

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Where to See the Solar Eclipse: The 15 Best Cities to Watch the Event

By Katherine McLaughlin

If you’re a fan of astronomy or otherwise interested in unique natural phenomenons, you may be wondering where to see the solar eclipse today—or if the big event will be visible from your home. Today, a number of cities throughout Mexico , the United States, and Canada will experience brief moments of dawn- or dusk-like darkness right in the middle of the day. Officially described as a total solar eclipse, the occurrence happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth and blocks the entirety of sun’s face.

Because it’s not something that happens everyday, the marvel has been prompting locals and travelers alike to scope out the best viewing locations, but fear not if you don’t have your spot figured out yet. Todays’s eclipse will travel along a wide, densely populated path. NASA estimated that 31.6 million people live in an area that will see the total solar eclipse and another 150 million are within 200 miles of it. What’s more, there won’t be another total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044, according to NASA , making it all the more important to catch this one.

For most of the United States, the eclipse won’t happen until the afternoon, meaning there’s still time to figure out how you’ll watch it. Here, AD covers everything you need to know about the upcoming event, including the 13 best cities to see the eclipse.

What is a total solar eclipse?

There are a number of different types of eclipses, which offer different views of either the sun or moon. As NASA explains it, “A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun’s light in some areas.” A total solar eclipse means the moon will completely block the sun’s face, and if you’re in the path of the eclipse, you’ll be able to see the sun’s corona and outer atmosphere, weather permitting. Other types of eclipses, like a partial solar eclipse, occur when the moon covers only some of the sun, resulting in a crescent shape.

A total solar eclipse is seen on a partly cloudy day.

How do you safely watch the total solar eclipse?

Not only are solar eclipses special because of their relative rarity, they’re unique in how they’re watched. For the few minutes when the moon is fully blocking the sun—know as totality—viewers can look directly at the sun without any eye protection. Any other time, including the hours before and after totality when you’ll see a partial eclipse, it’s important to wear protective eye gear, such as solar eclipse glasses. “As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun,” NASA explains.

How often do solar eclipses happen?

Solar eclipses, of one kind or another, happen between two and five times a year. Total eclipses happen about once every 18 months. However, this doesn’t mean one will be visible from your home this often. According to the Natural History Museum, London , a total solar eclipse is viewable from any one place about once every 400 years. For example, the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States happened in 2017 and followed a track from Oregon towards South Carolina. This year, the solar eclipse’s path will start in Texas and move northeast towards Maine. The next total solar eclipse will happen in 2026 and will be visible from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.

How long will the 2024 solar eclipse last?

Total solar eclipses can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. The difference in totality length has to do with how far apart the sun, moon, and Earth are at any given time, since the latter two bodies both orbit in elliptical paths.

When the Earth is furthest from the sun—making the star appear smaller—and the moon is closest to the Earth—which makes the moon look big—totality can last for over seven minutes. As Astronomy Mag reports, these circumstances will line up in about 160 years, when a solar eclipse on July 16, 2186, will see almost seven-and-a-half minutes of totality. On the other extreme, if the Earth is at its closest point to the sun and the moon is at its furthest point from Earth, humans won’t see a total solar eclipse, even if all of the celestial bodies are in line. Since totality is all about the perspective of the viewer, this is also why each city will experience the 2024 eclipse differently.

This year, totality will last for a little over four minutes in some areas, which is significantly more than the two minutes that people experienced during the 2017 eclipse. As NASA notes, “During the 2017 total solar eclipse, the moon was a little bit farther away from Earth than it will be during the upcoming total solar eclipse, causing the path of that eclipse to be a little skinnier.” Seven years ago, the path of totality—which shows which parts of the world will be able to see the total solar eclipse—was only about 62 to 71 miles wide. This year, that path ranges from 108 to 122 miles wide. “Meaning at any given moment this eclipse covers more ground,” NASA explains.

How to read maps showing the 2024 solar eclipse

As noted, this year’s path of totality is about 110 miles wide. Cities closer to the center of the path will sustain total darkness longer than those on the edges. In addition to longer totality than in 2017, this year’s path of totality covers more densely populated areas than the previous one. This means more people should be able to experience the total solar eclipse.

The 2024 solar eclipse map from NASA shows where totality will occur on April 8.

Any part of the country that is not within the path may see a partial eclipse, and the closer a location is to the strip, the smaller the crescent of visible sun will be. In these locations, it won’t be safe to look directly at the eclipse without protective glasses or a viewing device. NASA has put together an interactive map , which allows viewers to see the eclipse timing in their city.

Where to see the solar eclipse

According to NASA , cities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will experience the total solar eclipse. Parts of Mexico and Canada will also fall within the eclipse’s path. Read on for the best places to see the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Mazatlán, Mexico

By Bianca Giulione

By Stefanie Waldek

Mexico’s pacific coast will be the first place in continental North America to experience the eclipse. Mazatlán, a popular resort city, is an ideal location to see the occurrence, as it is directly in the eclipse’s path. Totality will begin around 11:07 a.m. local time and last for 4 minutes and 17 seconds. Because it’s such an optimal place to see the 2024 solar eclipse, NASA is hosting a viewing event at Vidanta Mazatlán . Here, visitors will be able to watch screens showing telescope views of the eclipse in addition to other hands-on activities, such as projects for kids and touchable moon rocks.

Torreón, Mexico

Located more centrally in the country, the solar eclipse will also be visible from Torreón. Totality will start just before 12:19 p.m. local time and last for 4 minutes and 12 seconds. A partial eclipse will also be visible before and after totality, starting at 11:44 a.m. and ending at 1:54 p.m.

Texas Hill Country

Part of Texas Hill Country, Kerrville is a prime location to watch the 2024 eclipse. Near the Mexican border, it will be among the first US cities to experience totality, which will begin at 1:32 p.m. and last for almost four and a half minutes. Austin and Dallas are also in the path of totality, but will only experience the darkness for about two minutes and a little under four minutes, respectively. NASA is also hosting an event here, which will take place in Louise Hays Park and include live music, speakers, and programming for kids.

Dallas, Texas

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is among the most densely populated places from which the eclipse will be visible. Totality will last for 3 minutes and 51 seconds and begin at 1:40 p.m. The city has put together a list of ideal places within the city to watch the event, including the Dallas Zoo, Dallas Museum of Art, and White Rock Lake Park.

Russellville, Arkansas

Russellville, about 85 miles east of Little Rock, will experience 4 minutes and 12 seconds of totality, starting at 1:50 p.m. The city has planned a number of exciting programming for the historic event, including a solar eclipse festival and a concert with Grammy-winner Rhonda Vincent.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Located along the Mississippi River, Cape Girardeau is one of the best places in Missouri to watch the 2024 solar eclipse. According to NASA’s map, totality will last for a little over four minutes, beginning at 1:58 p.m. Head to Old Town Cape, where the city is hosting a block party on the day.

Carbondale, Illinois

Informally known as Little Egypt—possibly because the area delivered grains to northern parts of the state during the 1800s famine or because the southern tip of Illinois is similar to the Nile delta region in Egypt—Carbondale will experience 4 minutes and 10 seconds of totality, beginning at 1:59 p.m. The city also experienced totality during the 2017 eclipse, though it will see a longer dark period this time around. Home of Southern Illinois University, the school is hosting public viewing at its football stadium.

Bloomington, Indiana

Much of central and southern Indiana will experience totality during the 2024 solar eclipse, but Bloomington, largely a college town and home to Indiana University, will be among the best places in the Hoosier state to watch the event, since totality will last for about four minutes. The town is home to Indiana University, which is among our list of the most beautiful college campuses in America. Spend the afternoon strolling through the campus’s Gothic- and Romanesque-inspired buildings, and then catch the eclipse at 3 p.m.

Indianapolis, Indiana

They don’t call Indianapolis the crossroads of America for no reason: The state capital is at the intersection of four major US highways, Interstate 65, Interstate 69, Interstate 70, and Interstate 74. This means it’s a relatively accessible location for those in surrounding areas and among the best places to travel to for the solar eclipse. Here, totality will last for about 3 minutes and 47 seconds and start at 3:06 p.m. NASA is hosting an event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will have experts on-hand to answer all questions about the eclipse. The city has also suggested White River State Park as an ideal solar eclipse viewing location, where a number of food trucks, local vendors, and other activations will be set up.

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland won’t be in a solar eclipse’s path of totality again until 2444 , making it a once in a lifetime experience for any locals hoping to watch the eclipse from their hometown. The city will experience maximum darkness at 3:15 p.m., which will last for just under 4 minutes. To commemorate the moment, the Great Lake Science Center is hosting a Total Eclipse Fest on April 6 through April 8. The free outdoor event will include speakers, concerts, performances, and hands-on science activities.

Erie, Pennsylvania

Only a small portion of northern Pennsylvania will be within the path of totality. Erie, located along the shores of the lake of the same name, will be one of the best places in the state to see the eclipse. Totality will last for 3 minutes and 42 seconds, starting at 3:16 p.m. The local government has put together a map of public parks and other viewing locations to watch the spectacle.

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York, will see 3 minutes and 46 seconds of total darkness, beginning at 3:18 p.m. There are a number of public “ watch parties ” happening in the city, which the government has compiled for visitors and locals. Midcentury-modern architecture fans may want to use the day to visit Graycliff, a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed estate, which is hosting a special open house on April 8, allowing guests to watch the eclipse from the property.

Niagara Region, Ontario

Small parts of Canada will also witness total darkness during the 2024 eclipse. The Niagara region is the best place to see totality, which will start at 3:19 p.m. and last for 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Montreal will also experience totality, but only for a little over one minute.

Burlington, Vermont

Much of New England will miss out on totality during the 2024 eclipse, as the path will only cover parts of northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Burlington is among the best places for those in the region to travel to, as it will experience 3 minutes and 19 seconds of darkness, starting at 3:26 p.m.

Houlton, Maine

Maine is the northern most place in the United States to see the total eclipse in 2024, also making it the last place in the country to experience totality. Houlton will be among the best places in the state to watch the sight, and darkness will begin at 3:32 p.m. and last for 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

How will weather impact visibility?

Geographically, the cities listed above represent the best places to see the 2024 solar. However, weather will play a major role in just how well those on the ground will be able to see the phenomenon. It goes without saying that cloudy conditions or rain will impact visibility and make it harder to see the eclipse. Currently, meteorologist are forecasting worse conditions in the south-central United States, which could affect those in Texas and Arkansas. Those in the Midwest and northeast have better odds, where conditions are presently forecasted to be sunny and with clear skies.

What will I see during the solar eclipse if my city isn’t along the path of totality?

Though not every city will see a total solar eclipse, most of the United States will see at least a partial eclipse. For example, as NASA’s map shows, Seattle, which is one of the furthest metropolises from the eclipse’s path will still see about 20% of the sun covered by the moon. Here, peak coverage will happen around 11:29 a.m. On the south side of the country, Miami, which is also quite far from the eclipse’s path, will see 46.2% of the sun covered around 3:01 p.m.

On the other hand, cities which are not along the path of totality but are very close will see a greater percentage of the sun covered. St. Louis, for example, which is just outside the path of totality, will see the moon covering 99.1% of the sun during peak totality, which will happen at 2 p.m. For detailed information about your city, see NASA’s interactive eclipse map .

Can I watch the 2024 solar eclipse virtually?

If you won’t be within the path of totality, a number of organizations are live streaming the monumental event (This may also come in handy if a city experiences cloudy weather or rain on eclipse day). To start, NASA is offering live broadcasts in both English and Spanish and live streams from telescopes that will capture the eclipse as it moves across the country. Scientific American will capture the event with jets that have been converted into flying telescopes to chase the eclipse, offering a view that one simply can’t find on the ground.

ABC News and National Geographic are also teaming up to produce “Eclipse Across America,” a live special hosted by David Muir and Linsey Davis. Coverage starts at 2:00 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC News Live, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+, Hulu and Network Social Media Platforms and will broadcast from 10 cities along the path of totality, including Mazatlán, Mexico; Russelville, Arkansas; and Houlton, Maine.

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USA TODAY 10Best

10 best marathons in the United States for 2024

Best Marathon (2024) April 3, 2024

The United States hosts around 1,000 marathons every year, the largest of which see tens of thousands of endurance runners crossing the finish line and conquering the grueling 26.2-mile distance.

To find the top races, USA TODAY 10Best editors and a panel of experts made their nominations, then readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best marathons across the nation for 2024.

No. 10: Hatfield McCoy Marathon - Williamson, West Virginia

The longest-running marathon in the states of Kentucky and West Virginia is the popular Hatfield McCoy Marathon, which traverses both states on its journey. Named after the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud, the challenging course takes runners through the rugged and beautiful Appalachian Mountains and includes both road and trail sections. 

No. 9: Honolulu Marathon - Honolulu, Hawaii

After New York, Chicago, and Boston, this is the fourth largest marathon in the United States. It's tropically scenic and warm, and there's no time limit, so everyone is allowed to finish, making it a great first-time marathon race. The course runs through downtown Honolulu and its famed Christmas lights, through Waikiki and up around Diamond Head, to a stunning oceanside finish in Kapiolani Park. The post-race treats are also legendary, with everyone getting fresh Hawaiian malasadas (scrumptious local versions of donuts dusted with sugar).

No. 8: Bank of America Chicago Marathon - Chicago, Illinois

One of the six World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is typically held on the second Sunday in October. The flat, fast course takes runners past iconic Chicago landmarks on its journey through 29 neighborhoods, starting and finishing in Grant Park. This popular race attracts more than a million spectators each year.

No. 7: Shiprock Marathon - Shiprock, New Mexico

Held the first weekend of May, the Shiprock Marathon takes runners through the rugged desert landscapes of the Navajo Nation. Along the way, participants enjoy a variety of live music to motivate runners, adding to this unique and memorable running experience. 

No. 6: CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon - Indianapolis, Indiana

CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is a good qualifying event, as the USATF-certified course is flat and fast. You'll run through the heart of Indianapolis' historic neighborhoods and enjoy Hoosier hospitality before finishing near the Indiana State House. With a November date, you'll get crisp fall weather, and the final stretch is all downhill, so this is a great marathon for first-time long-distance aspirants. 

No. 5: Coast Guard Marathon - Elizabeth City, North Carolina

If you've ever wanted a running tour of a military base, this one's for you. The Coast Guard Marathon runs through the U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, along the Pasquotank riverfront, and even takes participants on the runway and around one of the last standing WWII airship hangars. Registration is open to both military personnel and civilians. 

No. 4: Big Sur International Marathon - Big Sur, California

Famed for its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged coastline, and picturesque scenery, the Big Sur International Marathon is a favorite among runners and nature lovers alike. In addition to breathtaking vistas, this challenging course features significant elevation changes on its route from Big Sur, north along Highway 1, to the finish line in Carmel. The USATF-certified course has been called “one of the jewels of American running.”

No. 3: Marine Corps Marathon - Arlington, Virginia

Known as "The People's Marathon," the Marine Corps Marathon honors the dedication and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces. The race is known for its rich history and is one of the largest marathons in the world. With a course that winds through the streets of Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., the route passes many of the area's famous landmarks and monuments, including the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol.

No. 2: New York City Marathon - New York City, New York

Known for its enthusiastic crowd support, the famous New York City Marathon embodies the spirit and energy of the city where it takes place. A celebration of diversity and inclusivity, runners from all over the world come together to participate in this iconic event. The course takes runners through all five boroughs of the city, starting in Staten Island and finishing in Central Park. Along the way, runners pass by many of the city's famous landmarks, including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the Empire State Building, and Times Square.

No. 1: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Flying Pig Marathon is loved by runners, and for good reason. It's fun, with pig motifs used everywhere, from the "pig pen" corrals where different speed groups are segregated, to crossing the "finish swine" and attending the post-race party with pizza and beer. The course is also super attractive, albeit hilly, running through the most diverse and scenic neighborhoods of Cincinnati and surrounding townships, and alongside the Ohio River. Finishers get medals and mylar blankets to go with all the post-pig party refreshments. 

About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best .

The Experts

Amy bushatz.

Amy Bushatz is the host and producer of the  Humans...   Read More

Amy Bushatz is the host and producer of the  Humans Outside podcast. A news reporter and editor based in Palmer, Alaska, Amy spends her time ultra running and recreating in the Alaskan wilderness, volunteering in her small town and experiencing everything Alaska has to offer. Her work on outdoors, travel and fitness has appeared in the Washington Post, Runner's World and Market Watch.  Find her at Humans Outside on Instagram. 

Brittany Vermeer

Brittany (Bevis) Vermeer  is a writer,...   Read More

Brittany (Bevis) Vermeer  is a writer, photographer, and media specialist with 15+ years of experience in the world of sports journalism. She and her husband are triathletes who live in Florida, and she chronicles their multisport adventures on her blog, Triple Threat Life.  

Dave Thompson

Dave is an international travel writer and founder...   Read More

Dave is an international travel writer and founder of Dave’s Travel Corner, a premier travel resource since 1996. He is well-traveled (180 countries & territories); while on the road he enjoys the outdoors, backpacking, mountain climbing, meeting people, and experiencing other cultures.   In 2006, he conceived the  Napa Wine Project , a challenging endeavor to visit, taste with and extensively write about every winery in Napa Valley, California. He has now completed 1,100+ visits and written reviews of Napa wineries & producers.

Hilary Topper

Hilary JM Topper, MPA, is a renowned author and...   Read More

Hilary JM Topper, MPA, is a renowned author and entrepreneur. She has penned two successful books on social media marketing, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Social Media,” published in 2008, and "Branding in a Digital World,” first published in 2019 and updated in 2023. She also wrote a compelling memoir/self-help book, "From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete," published by Meyer & Meyer Sports in 2022. In addition to her literary achievements, Hilary serves as the CEO of HJMT Public Relations Inc., and the president of HJMT Media Company LLC. Under her leadership, these companies produce two engaging blogs – NY Lifestyle Blog (HilaryTopper.com) and  ATriathletesDiary.com . Beyond her blogging endeavors, Hilary hosts two podcasts, "Hilary Topper on Air" and "Hilary Topper on Air: The Endurance Sports Edition." Her expertise in digital communications extends to education, where she imparts her knowledge as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University. As an influencer on social media, Hilary works with brands to promote their products on platforms like Instagram. Currently, she is working on her fourth book. 

Kayla Jeter

Kayla Jeter  is a Chicago-based athlete and...   Read More

Kayla Jeter  is a Chicago-based athlete and lululemon ambassador, community consultant, and wellness coach helping professional clients and community members design sustainable healthier lifestyles as a trained behavior change coach and certified functional strength coach. Her expertise has been featured on SHAPE, well + good, ESSENCE, and SELF. For almost a decade, Kayla has leveraged digital content as a coaching tool, community connector, and empowerment of shared human experiences on Instagram , TikTok (@fitandfullbykayla), and Pinterest reaching over 110,000 followers worldwide. Kayla is on a mission to disrupt + diversify homogenous spaces in sports and the wellness industry and in doing so, expand possibilities for BIPOC runners to see themselves not only surviving but thriving in these spaces. Through her annual virtual 100MilesofSummer challenge, she empowers over 260,000 humans of all ages and fitness levels around the world to commit to better health through movement by logging 100 miles walking, jogging, running or rolling starting May 1st to August 31st for the last six years. Kayla is a Cleveland, Ohio native who was exposed to different communities and cultures while playing volleyball at the University of Tennessee, professionally in Finland, and coaching at the University of Cincinnati. After the loss of her father to a sudden heart attack in 2016 and the slow decline of her mother to cancer in 2019, Kayla made it her mission to help others understand the necessity of everyday self-care and stress management. Kayla is a 3x World Marathon Major finisher (all in 2023) and will be running her first ultramarathon in March 2024 with lululemon; FURTHER. the lululemon FURTHER feat is a 6-day race focused on supporting + elevating women in ultramarathon running.

Kelly Roberts

Head coach and creator of the Badass Lady...   Read More

Head coach and creator of the Badass Lady Gang, Kelly Roberts’ pre-BALG fitness routine consisted mostly of struggling through the elliptical and trying to shrink her body. It wasn’t until hitting post-college life, poised with a theatre degree, student loans, and the onset of panic, that she found running. Running forced Kelly to ditch perfectionism and stomp out fear of failure. Viral selfies from the NYC half marathon struck a chord with women who could relate to the struggle, and soon the global women’s running community Badass Lady Gang was born. BALG is about enjoying life with a side of running. Kelly’s philosophy measures success by confidence gained, not pounds lost. If you aren’t having fun, it’s time to pivot. Kelly is an RRCA certified coach and has completed Dr. Stacy Sims ‘Women Are Not Small Men’ certification course helping coaches better serve their female athletes. Over the years Kelly has coached thousands of women from brand new runners to those chasing Boston marathon qualifying times, appeared on the cover of Women’s Running Magazine, and created a worldwide body image empowerment movement called the Sports Bra Squad. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Laura Norris

Laura Norris is the owner and coach...   Read More

Laura Norris is the owner and coach behind Laura Norris Running. She has a Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science, is a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified sports nutritionist through the International Society of Sport Nutrition, and a certified running coach through RRCA and VDOT. She practices evidence-based coaching blended with a holistic treatment of the athlete as an individual. In her 7+ years of coaching, she's coached over 400 runners, from first-time racers to podium finishers. Her personal bests include a 1:34 half marathon and 3:29 marathon. She lives in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. 

Lily Fang is a marathoner and blogger at  Imperfect...   Read More

Lily Fang is a marathoner and blogger at  Imperfect Idealist, where she writes race reviews, GPS watch comparisons, and conscious lifestyle content. She's done 7 marathons and 9 half marathons across the US and Europe, as well as a 50k and a few triathlons. You can follow her running and travel adventures on  Strava  and  Instagram .

Marnie Kunz

Marnie Kunz is a Brooklyn-based fitness trainer,...   Read More

Marnie Kunz is a Brooklyn-based fitness trainer, running coach, and blogger and the founder of  Runstreet.com . She loves to participate in fun and unique running events around NYC. You can follow her running adventures on the  Runstreet blog  and  @Runstreet on Instagram . 

Zach Nehr is a freelance writer, professional...   Read More

Zach Nehr is a freelance writer, professional cyclist, and the owner of ZNehr Coaching . He writes about everything related to bikes and endurance sports, from product reviews and advertorials to feature articles and pro data analytics. You can find Zach’s articles in Cyclingnews, Outside, Velo, TrainingPeaks, and more. You can follow Zach on Instagram  and  LinkedIn .

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,...   Read More

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

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Best 5K Race (2024)

Back to readers' choice.

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Which 'Sex and the City' Star is Most Popular? See Them Ranked From Least to Most Followed on Instagram!

Sex and the City is still a fan-favorite show after all these years!

In the series, Sarah Jessica Parker ‘s Carrie Bradshaw turned to her best friends Miranda ( Cynthia Nixon ), Charlotte ( Kristin Davis ) and Samantha ( Kim Cattrall ) for advice as she experiences love and lust in New York City.

The award-winning series ran on HBO for six seasons from 1998 to 2004. All four ladies then returned for two movies, released in 2008 and 2010. Then in 2021, Sarah Jessica , Cynthia , and Kristin returned for the spinoff series …And Just Like That .

Now that Sex and the City is available for streaming on Netflix, we’re taking a look at which actress has the most Instagram followers.

Keep reading to find out more… Keep scrolling to see who has the most followers…

4. Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon has 1.32 million Instagram followers.

3. Kristin Davis

Kristin Davis has 1.38 million Instagram followers.

2. Kim Cattrall

Kim Cattrall has 1.4 million Instagram followers.

1. Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker has 9.7 million Instagram followers.

Find out which Sex & the City star has the highest net worth !

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Will solar eclipse be visible in Florida? How much will you see? Enter ZIP code for answers

The 2024 solar eclipse is five days away.

For those still unsure, or have been focused on other news, Florida won't see a total eclipse where the moon totally blocks the sun, but will see a partial eclipse on April 8. How much of the sun will be blocked depends on where you are in the state.

Enter your ZIP code to see specifics on what you will be able to see from any Florida location, along with when the eclipse will start, end and maximum coverage of the sun.

Countdown clock to 2024 solar eclipse

What time will the solar eclipse be visible in florida.

While Florida isn't in the path of totality,  residents will be able to see a partial eclipse.  Here's  when you can watch  the eclipse from any Florida location.

Click on your location in the map to see:

• When the eclipse starts at your location
• What the maximum coverage will be
• What time maximum coverage will occur
• When the eclipse ends at your location
• Chances for clear skies based on historical averages for April 8

Roughly speaking, the peak of the eclipse will happen about 1:55 p.m. CDT in Pensacola and 3:02 p.m. EDT on Miami Beach.

Can't see the map?  Open in a new browser.

➤  See exact times to go outside to see the eclipse across Florida

Interactive map: Enter your ZIP code to see when the eclipse starts, peak coverage, when it ends

Can't see our graphics? Click here to reload the page.

Enter your ZIP code to see:

• When the eclipse starts at your location.
• When the peak coverage will be.
• What the peak coverage will be.
• When the eclipse ends.
• How long the partial eclipse will last.
• How are you are from the path of totality.

The time lapse graphic shows what the eclipse will look from Orlando.

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Pineville, best viewing location in Florida

All times are local.

• Start: 12:36 p.m.
• Peak: 1:55 p.m.
• End: 3:13 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 78.6%
• Total time: 2 hours 37 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Pensacola

All times are local. ZIP code 32501.

• Start: 12:35 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 76.6%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Fort Walton Beach

All times are local. ZIP code 32547.

• Start: 12:37 p.m.
• Peak: 1:56 p.m.
• End: 3:14 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 75.4%
• Total time: 2 hours 36 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Panama City

All times are local. ZIP code 32401.

• Start: 12:38 p.m.
• Peak: 1:57 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 72.2%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Tallahassee

All times are local. ZIP code 32301.

• Start: 1:42 p.m.
• Peak: 3 p.m.
• End: 4:16 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 70.1%
• Total time: 2 hours 34 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Jacksonville

All times are local. ZIP code 32034.

• Start: 1:48 p.m.
• Peak: 3:05 p.m.
• End: 4:20 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 65.2%
• Total time: 2 hours 32 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in St. Augustine

All times are local. ZIP code 32080.

• End: 4:19 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 61.8%
• Total time: 2 hours 31 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Gainesville

All times are local. ZIP code 32601.

• Start: 1:45 p.m.
• Peak: 3:03 p.m.
• End: 4:18 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 63.4%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Ocala

All times are local. ZIP code 34470.

• Peak: 3:02 p.m.
• End: 4:17 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 61.4%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Leesburg

All times are local. ZIP code 33585.

• Maximum coverage: 59.8%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Daytona Beach

All times are local. ZIP code 32114.

• Peak: 3:04 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 59.3%
• Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Melbourne

All times are local. ZIP code 32901.

• Maximum coverage: 54.7%
• Total time: 2 hours 29 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Vero Beach

All times are local. ZIP code 32960.

• Maximum coverage: 52.8%
• Total time: 2 hours 28 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Orlando

All times are local. ZIP code 32789.

• Start: 1:46 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 57.9%

All times are local. Timing of 2024 solar eclipse at Disney World

All times are local. ZIP code 32836.

• Maximum coverage: 57.6%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Lakeland

All times are local. ZIP code 33801.

• Start: 1:44 p.m.
• Peak: 3:01 p.m.
• End: 4:15 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 57.2%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Winter Haven

All times are local. ZIP code 33839.

• Maximum coverage: 56.6%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Fort Pierce

All times are local. ZIP code 34946.

• Maximum coverage: 52.2%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Stuart

All times are local. ZIP code 34957.

• Maximum coverage: 51.1%
• Total time: 2 hours 27 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in West Palm Beach

All times are local. ZIP code 33401.

• Maximum coverage: 49.1%
• Total time: 2 hours 26 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Naples

All times are local. ZIP code 34102.

• Start: 1:43 p.m.
• Peak: 2:59 p.m.
• End: 4:12 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 50.6%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Miami

All times are local. ZIP code 33101.

• Start: 1:47 p.m.
• End: 4:13 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 46.2%
• Total time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Key West

All times are local. ZIP code 33040.

• Peak: 2:56 p.m.
• End: 4:09 p.m.
• Maximum coverage: 45.5%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Fort Myers

All times are local. ZIP code 33901.

• Maximum coverage: 52.3%

Timing of 2024 solar eclipse in Sarasota

All times are local. ZIP code 34230.

• Maximum coverage: 56.1%

• Grand Rapids/Muskegon
• Saginaw/Bay City
• All Michigan

Eclipse 2024: Time, best places to watch, latest weather forecast, ZIP code tool, what will you see?

• Updated: Apr. 08, 2024, 11:11 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 08, 2024, 8:17 a.m.

FILE - This combination of photos shows the path of the sun during a total eclipse by the moon Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, near Redmond, Ore. AP

• Leada Gore | [email protected]

Forecast: Solar Eclipse cloud update: Final tweaking of cloud forecast shows where best to see eclipse

The Great North American eclipse is Monday, April 8 and skywatchers – with proper glasses, of course – are ready to see the moon blocking out the sun during a solar eclipse.

What you will see, how long it will last and when it will take place will depend on where you live. While all states in the contiguous U.S. will experience some level of the eclipse, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as small parts of Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee are along the path of totality and will experience the greatest periods of darkness.

In the U.S., the path of totality will start in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CT and will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. ET (2:25 CT.) In those states, the periods of greatest darkness will reach up to 4 minutes, 27 seconds.

Here’s everything you need to know about the total solar eclipse 2024:

2024 eclipse primer

Scientists say the sun is approaching its maximum activity of its cycle this year, meaning it will be sending off more solar flares and eruptions from its surface — potentially making this year’s total solar eclipse much more dynamic.

Best places to watch the eclipse

The path of totality will start in Mexico and move across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading out over the North Atlantic. Small portions of Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee will also experience almost the entirety of the eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

During the eclipse, the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Weather permitting, people in the path of totality will be able to see the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun, NASA explains. Outside the path of totality, viewers will see a partial eclipse with the moon covering varying degrees of the sun.

How much will you see where you live?

People viewing the eclipse from the path of totality will be treated to the ghostly-white outer atmosphere of the sun, known as the corona, when the moon completely blocks out the sun’s disk during the total eclipse, NASA explained. Along the path, the sun will be blocked out for about 4-and-a-half minutes.

Wondering how much of the eclipse you will see? NASA has a tool that lets you search by city or ZIP code to see complete eclipse details. You can use this tool to see when the eclipse will start and end in every state.

Eclipse weather

A big question, for a lot of the nation, is how clear the skies will be for prime eclipse viewing. An updated forecast from the National Weather Service looks like a mixed bag.

The solar eclipse forecast for Monday from AccuWeather shows a mix of low to high amounts of cloud cover across the United States. Viewers in New Jersey can expect some increasing clouds, according to the latest forecast. AccuWeather.com

Eclipse education

From building your own safety glasses to taking scientific data, researchers say there are plenty of ways to make the upcoming solar eclipse a fun learning experience for children.

The April 8 total solar eclipse will have millions of people gazing toward the sky as the moon tracks its way in front of the sun. And while some schools have special events planned, others – especially along the 15-state path of totality – are closing their doors that day.

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The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2024

Our critic, Pete Wells, drops his annual ranking. See what’s new, what moved and what left the list.

By Pete Wells

I should have seen it coming last year when my editors put the following headline on my attempt to name the city’s greatest places to eat: “ The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City 2023 .”

That “2023” implies doing it again in 2024. Still, when they told me that’s exactly what they wanted, my first reaction was surprise. This was followed by the realization that I had a lot of eating to do.

Twenty-two places in this edition of “The 100 Best Restaurants in NYC” are new. I’ve eaten at all 100 in the past 12 months, except for La Piraña Lechonera and the Queens Night Market, both of which are currently closed for the season. (I don’t accept free meals from restaurants I write about.)

New York is a big city, and I tried to find 100 restaurants that represent its neighborhoods, its people and the rewards it has in store for hungry, curious eaters. The list is a tour. If you take it, you’ll see all five boroughs and a wide array of cooking and serving styles.

There are hushed counters where fewer than 10 people at a time enjoy the marvels a great sushi master can conjure, and open-air stalls where jerk chicken soaks up the smoke of hardwood charcoal. And quite a few restaurants in between.

Not many people will eat at all of them. But if you read about them, I hope you will start to see New York the way I see it whenever I look at my options and ask myself where I am going to eat next.

— Pete Wells

Showing all 100 restaurants.

Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi

Le Bernardin

La Piraña Lechonera

Superiority Burger

Una Pizza Napoletana

Jeju Noodle Bar

The Four Horsemen

Trinciti Roti Shop

Jean-Georges

Casa Mono and Bar Jamón

Queens Night Market

Café Carmellini

Shion 69 Leonard Street

Gramercy Tavern

Szechuan Mountain House

Forever Jerk

Clover Hill

Gage & Tollner

Shaw-naé’s House

Yoon Haeundae Galbi

Mercado Little Spain

Great N.Y. Noodletown

Village Cafe

Falafel Tanami

Barney Greengrass

Le Crocodile

Chongqing Lao Zao

AbuQir Seafood

Birria-Landia

Hainanese Chicken House

Mark’s Off Madison

S & P Lunch

Mariscos El Submarino

Temple Canteen

Foxface Natural

Hakka Cuisine

188 Bakery Cuchifritos

Hav & Mar

Hamburger America

Laghman Express

Mapo Korean BBQ

Cka Ka Qellu

Vendors at Junction Boulevard

Shopsin’s General Store

Hyderabadi Zaiqa

Zum Stammtisch

Ewe’s Delicious Treats

Randazzo’s Clam Bar

1. tatiana by kwame onwuachi.

Randy Smith for The New York Times

Go ahead, ask Resy to ping you when a table at Tatiana becomes available. You might as well learn Icelandic while you’re at it, because you’re going to be waiting a while. Deep into its second year, after much of the hype about Mr. Onwuachi’s spirited rundown of Black cooking styles in New York (Southern, Caribbean, West African, bodega-esque) has blown over, Tatiana remains among the very few places in town where reservations are truly hard to come by. It’s quickly becoming an institution. Is it maturing, too? The truffled chopped cheese is now a satisfying and rather lush steak sandwich, a more fully realized recipe even though it may no longer quite qualify as a chopped cheese. Service can still register as under-rehearsed. Yet the people working at Tatiana, many of them newcomers in the restaurant trade, convey genuine warmth and enthusiasm, which I’ll gladly take over the chilly formalities that prevail in other restaurants that charge this much or more for dinner. Mr. Onwuachi clearly wants you to have fun at Tatiana, but I suspect he also wants you to ask why there aren’t more places like it.

When the tasting counter in Roberta’s backyard finally reopened in January, it had something to show for its unusually long pandemic break: a new chef, Victoria Blamey. She works with Carlo Mirarchi, Blanca’s owner, within the nominally Italian outlines he established in its first decade: the esoteric raw seafood plates, the unexpected vegetable courses, the spare and thrilling bowls of pasta, the remarkable cuts of meat aged on site and painstakingly cooked over Japanese charcoal. But she builds on that structure, adding the intense flavors she loves (often from fermentation, as in the yuzu sauerkraut draped over raw surf clams) and some dishes drawn from the Chilean cuisine she grew up with (like tortilla de rescoldo, a flat and nearly black bread traditionally baked in ashes). Her far-reaching and forward-looking menu is served to a soundtrack provided by an open turntable and a stack of LPs. This has to be the only restaurant in the world where you can play side B of “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” while you wait for the pheasant course.

3. Le Bernardin

Karsten Moran for The New York Times

You can drop in for a fairly quick lunch, not the whole multi-installment chef’s tasting megillah, just a simple three courses for $127, in and out, no big deal, and still the cooking will make you feel as if tectonic plates were shifting under your feet. In January, what did it for me was the fluke. Boring old fluke, served all over town, where’s the thrill in that, Eric Ripert? And then one of the servers fills the white space around the fish with a sauce the color of saffron. It smells like fennel and lobster. The inspiration is bouillabaisse, right, but (tremor) why is it so briny and (rumble) rich and hey, um, is that (people run for cover …) sea urchin?

Daniel Krieger for The New York Times

At this point Manhattan must have more Korean tasting counters than kosher delis. Atomix remains the one to beat, though, the leader in finding new ingredients (locally foraged pineapple weed and maple flower are on the spring menu), grounding its experiments in tradition and putting its meals into the larger context of Korean ceramics, fabrics and even chopstick design. The concrete dining room is more chilly than cuddly, but it has little of the pretension that afflicts some other tasting counters. Its earnestness is surprisingly appealing.

5. Via Carota

Nico Schinco for The New York Times

Maybe you waited two hours for a table, maybe you lucked into a bar stool, maybe you took a reservation at one of those in-between times that are the only ones that ever seem to be offered. (At 4:15 p.m., are you having lunch or dinner?) In any case, as you hold up the broadsheet menu with its drawings of artichokes and figs, the old favorites compete for your attention: the crisp olives stuffed with pork, bruschetta under mounds of butter with a folded silvery anchovy on each mound, the slick tangle of tonnarelli studded with explosively fragrant peppercorns, the spreadably soft garlic cloves with golden sections of fried rabbit. There may not be another restaurant in town where so many dishes are indisputable classics, where, just when you think you’ve made up your mind, your eye falls on the meatballs sweetened with raisins and pine nuts …

6. La Piraña Lechonera

Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times

Each winter, the rickety, boarded-up trailer on East 152nd Street looks as if it won’t survive the next strong breeze. And each spring, Angel Jimenez unlocks the door, heats the deep fryer, powers up the salsa music, sharpens the machete and brings the city’s greatest expression of Puerto Rican eating back to life for another season. The frituras, little shrimp-filled pastelillos and shiny golden bacalaitos, are superb. So is the cold octopus salad, crunchy with diced peppers and olives. But the reason we wait all winter for La Piraña’s return is the roast pork. Rubbed with garlic and pepper, splashed with milky garlic sauce and, if you like, some vinegar-and-chile solution swirled in an empty rum bottle, it is the closest a New Yorker can get to a plate of slow-cooked lechon up in the mountains outside San Juan.

Dish picture: Karsten Moran for The New York Times. Interior picture: Lisa Corson for The New York Times.

The city hasn’t quite caught up with Semma yet. To some extent we can blame the Unapologetic Foods group, which opens restaurants faster than Guided by Voices puts out albums. But the real issue is that we haven’t seen anything like Vijay Kumar’s interpretations of South Indian food before. Mr. Kumar doesn’t just toy with the distinction between refined and rustic; he obliterates it. The North Fork snails he sautées with tomatoes and tamarind would be cooked over a campfire in the rice paddies of Tamil Nadu, yet they get along with a glass of Pouilly-Fuissé from the Mâconnais as readily as any Burgundian escargot.

8. Superiority Burger

Diner, vegetarian hangout, greenmarket evangelist, laboratory, improv collective, museum of East Village ephemera — ever since it moved to Avenue A last year, Superiority Burger has been trying out new personas, without discarding any of the old ones. The exceptional, airy focaccia that is the focus of a sizable cult is now sold by the slice, but only at the bar on Monday and Tuesday. Grab-and-go veggie burgers, “hippy poutine” and fried tofu sandwiches that turn every preconception about bean curd on its head are available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 11 p.m. (During this “Night Shift,” you can also eat a pie from the celebrated Chrissy’s Pizza pop-up, as long as you ordered ahead.) There is no time of day when you can’t get gelato and sorbet in freethinking flavors like saffron-labneh or tahini with fudge swirl. Waffles and other breakfast foods now materialize on weekends. Is this any way to run a hamburger stand? Yes, it is.

Evan Sung for The New York Times

At his counter on the Bowery, Tadashi Yoshida can wow you into submission before he hands you the night’s first piece of sushi. Your omakase dinner might begin with a small cocktail of caviar and bigfin reef squid in sweet and tender strands. Mochi might follow, grilled over charcoal until crisp and chewy, then wrapped around sun-dried mullet roe, briny and intense. During certain weeks of the year there could be white sacs of cod milt. Or oysters and tilefish in a rich, breathtaking soup made from hairy crab. Mr. Yoshida’s appetizer repertoire seems to be endless. By the time he fills a brazier with live charcoal to sear the mackerel sushi that is his signature, showstopping dish, your surrender is complete.

10. Torrisi

Torrisi is now turning out the most dazzling and accomplished cooking of all the Major Food Group restaurants. (The distinction used to belong to the Grill, which this year slides to No. 55 in my ranking.) Who knows what the future holds? But Rich Torrisi, standing in one corner of the open kitchen, conducting a crew that is equally adept with Vietnamese octopus as with tortellini folded as gracefully as a silk pocket square, certainly looks like a chef who has found his forever home.

Interior picture: Ben Russell for The New York Times. Dish picture: Ed Lefkowicz for The New York Times.

The food seems slightly more familiar than it did when Ignacio Mattos brought Estela to Houston Street in 2013. One reason for this is that small-plates restaurants across the country have helped themselves to its unexpected flavor harmonies and unforced visual aesthetic. Some even lifted entire recipes. Never mind the imitators, though. An Estela dish can still knock you over with originality. Where else can you get orange segments under a floss of dried shrimp and Thai chile threads? Nowhere, yet.

12. Una Pizza Napoletana

Dish picture: Evan Sung for The New York Times. Interior picture: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times.

A couple of years ago, Una Pizza was half-empty so often that its owner, Anthony Mangieri, was thinking of pulling up stakes. Then he did an about-face — or maybe we did. Now, he and his pizza are acknowledged downtown institutions. Fans buy Una Pizza-branded apparel, extra-virgin olive oil and panettone; they begin lining up half an hour before the doors open; and they’ve made reservations among the city’s most scalpable. The source of this fevered loyalty is the five standard pies and a weekly special, all of them with a fat, tender, char-speckled Hula-Hoop of dough surrounding a low valley of tomatoes or cheese or both. There’s not much else on the menu, but the fire-roasted peppers are worthwhile and the sorbetto can be stunning.

13. Ci Siamo

I know people who refused to try Ci Siamo for a while because it’s located in Nowheresville — the concrete future-scape known as Manhattan West. Then they went, and they got lost. They complained about the schlep before, during and after the next visit. But when they found themselves planning a third meal, they were forced to admit that Hillary Sterling has put Nowheresville on the map. There are other chefs in town with a wood-burning hearth and a love of rustic Italian flavors, but Ms. Sterling’s menu may have the highest percentage of dishes that are flat-out fantastic.

Liz Barclay for The New York Times

It can be depressing when restaurants are cloned, but for Jean-Georges Vongerichten there were undeniable advantages to making a branch of ABCV out of his vegetarian hide-out, Seeds & Weeds, in the Tin Building. For one, an outright copy can be better than a halfhearted imitation. ABCV’s executive chef, Neal Harden, has spent years studying interesting ways to eat grains, roots, fungi and so on. His food is so much more advanced than it is at other, similar places that eating there can be like time-traveling and discovering that the post-livestock future turned out extremely well. If ABCV can be cloned successfully, we may not need to clone meat.

The cooking of Jiangnan, including Shanghai and the cities of the southern Yangtze Delta, gets the nuanced treatment it deserves at CheLi. Instead of, say, scorching chiles or other powerful seasonings, Jiangnan uses Shaoxing wine to provide subtle, invisible emphasis in many dishes, like chilled wine-soaked crab and stir-fried loofah. Dragonwell tea scents the soft curls of sweet Longjing shrimp, which come to the table enveloped in dry-ice fog. Delicate is probably not the best word for CheLi’s mao xue wang, a majestic stew of ham, beef, shrimp, intestines and congealed duck’s blood, all bobbing under a quarter-inch or so of chile oil. But it’s not wrong, either.

16. Jeju Noodle Bar

Cole Wilson for The New York Times

Getting a table is no easy feat, but apart from that, Jeju is one of the city’s most accessible modern Korean restaurants — a crowded category that has more than its share of tasting menus with triple-digit prices. The quietly marvelous mushroom ramen, with Parmesan foam and a squeeze of lime, is a meal in itself, and costs $27. For about the same price there are seafood appetizers, such as rosy cubes of raw kinmedai and clams in a dill- and chive-scented broth, so carefully considered they could be airlifted right into a 12-course degustation, although they’d probably have to be a tenth the size.

17. The Four Horsemen

John Kernick for The New York Times

Whatever picture floats through your mind when you think of a rock star’s restaurant, it probably doesn’t resemble the Four Horsemen, owned in part by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. There is no grandstanding, no concert memorabilia and very little debauchery unless you count the four-top of wine-business insiders in the back drinking magnums of organic, wild-fermented Champagne from Georges Laval. What the restaurant does have is a low-key obsession with excellence. You see it in the attention to brewing tea and coffee, in the basket-drained ricotta made daily in kitchen, in the unfussy seasonality of Nick Curtola’s menus, and in the way the servers seem to know all about the wines but aren’t in a rush to prove it. Like everything else at this serious little restaurant, it just seems to happen naturally.

18. Trinciti Roti Shop

Sometimes when I land at JFK, I am tempted to make the 10-minute drive to Trinciti so I can refresh myself with two or three Trini chicken curry doubles and a couple of aloo pies, slit open and filled with shrimp and tamarind chutney. But the sad truth is that I’m always too tired from traveling, and there’s no place to sit at Trinciti. Plus, you need your wits about you simply to order, particularly on the weekend, when there is one line for bake and shark, another for all the other food, and a third to pay. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the only days you can get bake and shark — spicy, sweet, tangy and crunchy in about five different ways, it is the greatest fish sandwich in the five boroughs. So I treat Trinciti as a destination of its own, worth a separate trip.

19. Jean-Georges

By this point, Jean-Georges Vongerichten shouldn’t have any tricks left up his sleeve. But a six- or 10-course dinner at his urbane, understated restaurant on Columbus Circle is almost sure to deliver something you didn’t quite see coming. Wagyu tenderloin with braised endive might look like a simple steakhouse riff, but how can that sticky and intensely fruity hoisin sauce get along so well with a jus that carries the fragile perfume of bergamot? How can citrus segments, spicy Fresno chiles and shiso oil be piled on top of raw scallops without crushing their sweetness? Sean Considine, the pastry chef, makes sure the surprises start up again with dessert and continue through the final barrage of marshmallows, pâtes de fruits and chocolates.

Mam is still something of a rough draft, but it is looking more and more like a serious restaurant. True, the miniature kitchen, miniature dining room and miniature plastic furniture were part of what made Mam so charming in its early days on Forsyth Street, when Jerald and Nhung Dao Head were dishing out Hanoi-style bun dau mam tom to a small audience at what seemed to be a pop-up. The crowds grew as word got out about the housemade fried tofu, the blood sausage, the fish mint and other Vietnamese herbs, and the fermented shrimp sauce that made everything taste better. But crowds and small quarters are not made for each other. Last year, the Heads signed a lease on a space next door. Meanwhile, Mr. Head has been adding to his repertory, applying his obsessive, detail-oriented attention to, among other things, a pho bo that rivals his bun dau mam tom.

21. Casa Mono and Bar Jamón

According to the second law of thermodynamics, exciting young restaurants are doomed to become less exciting with age. At 20 years old, Casa Mono and its wine-bar annex next door, Bar Jamón, gracefully defy that law every day. Andy Nusser hasn’t lost his appreciation for the strong, elemental flavors of Spanish cuisine: smoky eggplant purée beneath fried baby squid; the paprika blast of the raw, spreadable pork sausage sobrasada, to be smeared on golden toast with waxy chunks of honeycomb. The nose-to-tail fad has come and gone, and Casa Mono sails on placidly, flying the flag of lambs’ tongues and pigs’ ears. The wine list has grown to about 600 Spanish bottles: serious Cava, aged Rioja and avant-gardists from all over.

Colin Clark for The New York Times

There are no bad seats at Kono, a dramatic, black-walled yakitori on an alley in Chinatown. The stools on either side of the grill, though, have the best view of the chef, Atsushi Kono. He never stops moving. All night he’s turning, poking, relocating and examining chicken skewers, placing one over searing heat, letting another rest above a cooler patch of charcoal. His hypervigilance produces degrees of tenderness and juiciness and crunchiness that can make you feel as if you’re eating chicken for the first time.

23. Queens Night Market

You sometimes hear that you can find every cuisine on earth somewhere in Queens. That’s not true yet, but the first place to check would be the lawn behind the New York Hall of Science, where the Queens Night Market runs every Saturday from April to October. Vendors this year will be making cassava leaf stew from Sierra Leone; Fujianese oyster fritters, popularly known as UFOs; ducana, the Antiguan mash of sweet potato and coconut wrapped in banana leaves; and a few dozen other local specialties. As usual, nothing will cost more than $6.

24. Café Carmellini

Rachel Vanni for The New York Times

At Locanda Verde, the Dutch, Lafayette and Carne Mare, Andrew Carmellini’s personal cooking style is buried so deep in the mix that you could eat at all of them and still not be able to say just what an Andrew Carmellini restaurant is. At Café Carmellini, you get to hear his voice. He’s cooking in an elaborate, technically adroit style that he hasn’t used much since his days working for Daniel Boulud. We tend to connect that style with dusty old recitations of haute cuisine, an association the silver domes and somewhat stilted service don’t quite dispel. But there’s nothing antiquated about Café Carmellini’s food. It’s fresh and sharp; he’s having fun showing off skills you don’t often see these days. Even when he blends French and Italian cuisines, not exactly an earth-shattering concept, he puts them together in his own way.

One appetizer at Sailor is a tribute to the chef Judy Rodgers, an antipasto plate of anchovies, celery slices, black olives and pieces of Parmesan that was a fixture on Ms. Rodgers’s menus at Zuni Café in San Francisco. It is as close to a manifesto as we are likely to get from April Bloomfield, the gifted and non-loquacious chef at Sailor. What it might be saying: Creativity is overrated, details are everything, the best cooking is invisible, and the best cooks know when to get out of the way. You might come to the same conclusions on your own when you eat her roasted potatoes stuck to crisp wafers of toasted cheese, her warm hunks of celery root basted with melted butter, her smoked pork shoulder collapsing in on itself and her mahogany-dark caramel sauce clinging to crisp puffs of profiteroles.

For years, Persian food aficionados dreamed of finding a respectable tahdig in the city, or even an acceptable khoresh fesenjan. Today Sofreh, in Prospect Heights, makes those and other dishes in a traditional, homestyle form, while Eyval, in Bushwick, reimagines them as modern restaurant dishes. You can eat well in both restaurants, but when the mood for black lime and saffron strikes me, I’m more likely to head for Eyval. I appreciate the way Ali Saboor uses his wood oven to pin down the smoky character of Iran’s street food. I like the way his boranis repurpose yogurt as a foil for seasonal vegetables. As for the tahdig, it’s been edited down to the crunchy, golden quarter-inch at the bottom of the pan, exactly the thing that makes tahdig worth dreaming about.

Sasha Arutyunova for The New York Times

Participles are all over the menus at King: “crushed celeriac,” “smashed borlotti beans,” “torn Taggiasca olives.” If it was your first time there, that menu would tell you the food is going to look handmade and a little messy, in an appealing way. You’d know, too, that the chefs, Jess Shadbolt and Clare de Boer, have noticed the way rough edges make things taste better. Much of the inspiration is southern French or northern Italian, but the, sensual allure of the food comes directly from cooks who know the value of crushing, smashing and tearing.

28. Le Coucou

Danny Ghitis for The New York Times

The slender white tapers, the soaring toques and the quenelles de brochet refer to New York’s historic Le and La restaurants more than they do to anything in the France of today. (Paris hot spots like Clamato just look like Brooklyn.) The menu brings the domed plates of haute cuisine into the modern world, paying more attention to vegetables and flavors that were unknown at Le Pavillon. The tart and slightly funky counterpoint to halibut in a satiny beurre blanc is provided by a bed of fermented daikon, and the roast venison loin comes with a side of cabbage, draped in smoked cream, that’s sort of astonishing.

29. Zaab Zaab

Portrait picture: Will Englemann. Dish picture: Adam Friedlander for The New York Times

In the two years since its sharply focused larb ped udon and other Isan dishes began drawing enthusiastic crowds to Elmhurst, Zaab Zaab has changed chefs and gone on an expansion tear. Today Zaab Zaabs can be found at the Essex Market in Manhattan; a new retail-residential development in Flushing, Queens; the James Beard Foundation’s food hall on a Hudson River pier; and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, under the name Zaab Zaab Talay. Now led by Kannika Kittipinyovath, the kitchen of the Elmhurst original may have grown stingy with fresh herbs like holy basil, which once made Zaab Zaab’s kapow so thrilling. On the other hand, there’s no shortage of dill in the hor mok, bundles of catfish steamed in banana leaves. And the cooks still throw chiles around like there’s no tomorrow.

Seven years on, with Seoul Salon, Naro and Atomix in their portfolio, the first restaurant Ellia and Junghyun Park opened is still the best introduction to their vision of modern Korean dining. The prices are higher — instead of three courses for $36, you now get four for $75 — but there are rewards. The hard surfaces in the coolly minimalist shoe box of a dining room aren’t as noisy as they were, and the cooking is more self-assured and coherent. Atomix is the place to go if you want to blast off into orbit with the Parks, but Atoboy shows there is a lot of fun to be had back on earth.

31. Houseman

They are becoming hard to find, chefs who put their energy into a single restaurant the way Ned Baldwin does at Houseman. This used to be the goal of many cooks. It still is the dream for a certain kind of diner, those of us who wander Manhattan searching for a neighborhood joint where each detail has been considered, from the day’s weather to the temperature of the butter; where the roast chicken and the burger are prepared with the same care as, say, a slow-roasted short rib served with a casual Cognac-cream pan sauce and a Yorkshire pudding the size of a kitten; where, if you go back again, your next meal won’t be worse than your last — and might be a little better.

32. Shion 69 Leonard Street

Is there another sushi master in town who gets as excited about seafood as Shion Uino? “Forty-six pound grouper from my hometown,” he says, beaming, as he carves pieces of sashimi from the side of an enormous, alabaster-colored fish. A few appetizers later, he serves a tall, meaty hunk of broiled fish under a thin, crisp shell of golden skin. “White grouper, very rare!” He is a student of the Edo style, rarely adding anything to his nigiri. The appetizers are virtually unadorned, too, like the heap of chilled snow crab salad dressed, barely, with vinegar.

33. Gramercy Tavern

Interior picture: Francesco Sapienza for The New York Times. Dish picture: An Rong Xu for The New York Times.

A night at Gramercy Tavern is about as close to a sure thing as Manhattan provides. Michael Anthony’s platings always look colorful and playful. In due time, they reveal that nothing about the way they are put together is accidental. The kitchen always seems to get more out of the Union Square Greenmarket than anyone else in town. The servers never seem to be going through the motions. And, the most bankable of New York City certainties, if you eat in the dining room, you will be sent home with something for breakfast.

The restaurant’s move down the street and around the corner finally happened last summer, and none of the calamities the regulars feared came to pass. The woodwork, the Oxford-cloth shirts, the candles burning on top of the bar and the Negronis mixed at a rate that sometimes approaches one for each customer — all unchanged. There is the rabbit roasted inside a crisp sheath of pancetta, the Cornish hen grilled to a crackle, the lasagna with its sheets of pasta stacked like pages in a book. Give or take a couple of bar seats, the relocated I Sodi is exactly the same restaurant spread over two rooms instead of one, and going there is a little like seeing your favorite movie on the big screen for the first time.

The kitchen at Daniel looks far and wide, and won’t think twice about weaving ingredients like Sea Island peas, Minnesota wild rice and burrata into the menu. Still, the cuisine of France remains the through line of almost every meal you might have in the grand colonnaded dining room. Of his generation of French chefs in the United States, none illuminates the flavors of his home country more faithfully than Daniel Boulud. And nobody works harder to help you see the light, even if it takes a whole plate of the city’s best madeleines to make the bulb click on.

36. Szechuan Mountain House

Its most famous and photographed dish is called “swing pork belly,” steamed bacon strips and bands of shaved cucumber thrown over what appears to be a tabletop laundry rack. You twirl these up with your chopsticks and drag them through a dipping sauce of minced raw garlic in a bowl of chile oil. It may not be the best thing on the menu, but it is pretty great, and it illustrates the inventiveness and subtlety that sets this restaurant apart from legions of Sichuan competitors. Of course, you can get fiercely spicy versions of mapo tofu and Chongqing chicken, too, but meals at Szechuan Mountain House become more interesting when the standards appear side by side with what the menu calls, a little optimistically, “modernist cuisine.”

37. Koloman

The New York dining scene has what diplomats call a special relationship with Europe. The painstakingly high-church Mittel-European cooking of Koloman would seem absolutely bizarre in Miami. On West 29th Street, Emiko Chisholm’s domed cheese soufflé with intense mushroom jam and Markus Glocker’s teacup of duck liver parfait under a clear jelly of trockenbeerenauslese riesling from Alois Kracher are able to slip into the ground floor of an Ace Hotel and pass for casual dining, or something like it.

Interior picture: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times. Dish picture: Colin Clark for The New York Times.

A small, awkward East Village basement that couldn’t seem to get a permanent liquor license doesn’t sound like the place you’d want to plant a world-class wine bar with a powerfully technique-driven kitchen. But this is post-pandemic Manhattan, where our real-estate compromises are even crazier than before. Joshua Pinsky is one of those cooks who pours effort into making things taste better than you think they will. Then he covers up the signs of effort so the deliciousness takes you by surprise. The exception is the devil’s food cake. You can tell from the other side of the room that it’s going to be like shooting pure dopamine into your skull.

39. Rezdôra

There is a full menu, of course. You can order, say, an antipasto and a main course, and tack on a creamy housemade gelato before you go. But those other courses aren’t what you’ll remember later on. That will be the pasta. Which might be considered a reason to skip the other stuff and dive right into the pasta tasting, five in all, each one a specialty of Emilia-Romagna, starting with tiny tortellini in a 12-hour capon broth.

40. Okdongsik

Adam Friedlander for The New York Times

This 13-seat Korean counter on East 30th Street is as good an argument for one-dish restaurants as we’ll ever get, never mind that it actually serves two dishes. One of them is mandoo. They are stuffed with minced pork, tofu and glass noodles, and they are great — no afterthought. But the dish that makes Okdongsik one of the most valuable addresses in New York dining is its dweji gomtang, a clear pork broth. Each bowl, outfitted with almost-firm grains of white rice and very thin slices of simmered pork shoulder, gestures toward transcendence, or as near as you can come to it across the street from a Best Western.

An Rong Xu for The New York Times

If you spotted Misi’s floor-to-ceiling windows while cruising down Kent Avenue on a pedal-assist Citi Bike at the maximum speed of 18 miles an hour, you might mistake it for one of the generic minimalist trattorias that seem to have come out of some gentrification starter kit. But on a closer look you can see the intelligence that organizes Misi’s hard surfaces, including the glass room where cooks roll out ravioli and spaghetti alla chitarra as if they’re on display in a big pasta aquarium. There’s intelligence at work in Missy Robbins’s menu, too. It focuses almost solely on vegetables and pasta, yet the ingredients and seasonings are so appealing you never feel that anything’s missing.

42. Frenchette

West Broadway has two major brasseries, one for each side of our appetite. The Odeon, well lighted and reliable, gives us what we know we want. Frenchette, shadowy and mysterious, gives us things we may not have started to desire yet: a peculiar Loire red that will seem casual one minute and dead serious the next, meaty cod cheeks in red bread crumbs spiked with Espelette pepper, or calf’s liver pinned to a pink sheet of prosciutto and sautéed, like saltimbocca.

43. Ernesto’s

When Basque Country entered the travel plans of people who arrange their vacations around their dinner reservations, it was because of the efforts of Mugaritz, Arzak and a handful of other experimental restaurants. Their forward-thinking cuisine is not what you eat at Ernesto’s. You eat the burly, elemental food that for generations has been passed down, essentially unchanged, by taverns and asadores where sardines are cooked over an outdoor fire. This being New York, the grill on which Ryan Bartlow cooks early spring calçots, whole Montauk fish and juicy cutlets of Ibérico pork is inside the kitchen. But the brawny spirit is the same; even things like white asparagus and a tortilla española with caviar have a rustic touch.

44. Forever Jerk

Clay Williams for The New York Times

Jerk is outdoor food at heart, and the best jerk cooks around the city work on sidewalks or in the street, sometimes with the benefit of a tent or tarp, sometimes without. The king of New York jerk cooks is Oneil Reid, who designed Forever Jerk’s oversize charcoal-fueled rigs to pump smoke into chicken and pork without scorching them. His jerk is tender and juicy, a goal that eludes many chefs. The jerk sauce achieves a taut balance of sugar, sourness and spice, and even seems to have caught some of the smoke itself. The impressively large rig on the side of Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, also used to roast ears of corn and whole sweet potatoes, is the center of the Forever Jerk universe. The location on Guy Brewer Boulevard is an indoor restaurant, which is to say it’s not quite the same.

In the city’s Japanese restaurant scene, udon is the forgotten noodle. It isn’t as popular as ramen or as revered as soba, which can be made well only with a certain amount of practice. This may explain why the two Raku udon restaurants and their chef, Norihiro Ishizuka, aren’t more widely recognized. They do have a loyal following, though. Raku’s fans appreciate the tensile elasticity of the noodles, the sparkling lightness of the dashi, and the delicate and greaseless tempura. For such small restaurants, the menus range widely, swooping from kitsune udon, relatively easy to get here, to less commonly seen varieties like the Japanese adaptation of Chinese zhajiangmian, called ja ja.

46. Clover Hill

Many of Charlie Mitchell’s peers in the rarefied arena of multicourse, multi-hundred-dollar tastings (dinner at Clover Hill is $305 a person) think they’ve met their seasonal/local quota if they strew the petals of some wildflower picked last week around a fish dish they’ve been serving for months. In Mr. Mitchell’s kitchen, the seasons are central; this time of year, this week, is the subject of his menus. In high spring, he might lead off with a horseradish-dusted asparagus tart, the size of a communion wafer; then bring asparagus back a short while later in the company of Hokkaido scallops and puréed nettles; and surround a rich, oily piece of shark-skinned flounder with “a celebration of peas.” He’s as fond of Japanese seafood as he is of local greenery, which is a bit puzzling. But his belief in what he’s doing is total, and it comes through on every plate.

47. Aquavit

Sasha Maslov for The New York Times

Aquavit was gently pushing Swedish food and drink before anyone put the words “New Nordic cuisine” together, and has outlived several exponents of that style. Emma Bengtsson’s kitchen has kept its grip on the old ways — at lunch, the Swedish meatballs and the herring platter are still hard to equal. The rest of the menu is modern, although it avoids the avant-primitivism of Noma in favor of gentle harmonies like salmon with a saffron-tinted swirl of lobster bisque.

48. Gage & Tollner

Jeenah Moon for The New York Times

The 19th-century dining room had been out of commission for so long that when Gage & Tollner finally came back in 2021, almost everybody who came to eat was getting a first look at its marble, mahogany and converted gaslights. Now the place has a reputation again, and those who are lured by its oysters and Parker House rolls, fried chicken, crab cakes and baked alaska are likely to be return customers. That doesn’t mean heads have stopped swiveling.

49. Don Peppe

The jockey silks and other Aqueduct memorabilia on the walls don’t do much to dress up a bluntly monochromatic and overly bright dining room. If you want atmosphere, take a deep breath and smell the garlic. The kitchen must go through bales of it every day. There are no small plates at Don Peppe, where the minimum order of pasta is one pound (before cooking). So make room on the table for a sloshing platter or two of linguine with clams; shrimp Luciano with its own side of spaghetti; and anything on the menu with the name Don Peppe on it, including a salad the size of Cleveland. The food is overflowing not just with garlic, but with the aromas of Southern Italian cuisine in the deliriously intense form it took in the hands of New York City cooks.

50. Shaw-naé’s House

Show up at this Staten Island soul-food restaurant before your table is ready and you’ll be invited to sit in “the living room,” a pair of sofas facing a coffee table next to the orange glow of an electric fireplace. Will it feel like home? It may, if home is a place where a pitcher of rum punch appears at the drop of a hat, where two immersions in a deep fryer produce a whole red snapper that’s juicy down to the bone, and where everybody is eating “soul fries,” a bonkers remix of nachos in which mac and cheese, fried chicken and collard greens are piled over French fries.

51. Barbuto

It’s been 20 years since Jonathan Waxman opened Barbuto, dedicated to the idea of making it all look easy. Easy to make the one true kale salad in a world full of pretenders. Easy to blow people away by spooning salsa verde over a chicken roasted in a pizza oven. Easy to make chocolate budino that has the same relationship to regular pudding that espresso has to coffee at a Nebraska truck stop. But before you decide it must, in fact, be easy, just remember that this kind of accidentally perfect Italian food has been Mr. Waxman’s whole deal since the 1970s

52. Yoon Haeundae Galbi

Cole Saladino for The New York Times

It used to be possible to argue in a good-natured way about where to get the best Korean barbecue in K-town. Since Yoon’s short rib appeared, though, it has really been the only answer. The meat is scored in diagonal slashes, breaking down the connective tissue and carving a network of grooves for the marinade to travel in. The slashes also allow the helmet-shaped tabletop griddle to sear the meat in skinny, deeply browned ridges that are wonderful with Yoon’s ssamjang and seasoned salt

53. Foul Witch

What kind of name for an Italian restaurant is that? At least it lets Sam Pollheimer and his kitchen chase something a little more unusual than penne and tiramisù. You might want a rolled pasta called spaccatelli with braised pheasant that’s been dry-aged to a deep funk, followed by goat shoulder roasted in the wood oven with turnips. Bay leaf ice cream could be cool. But what about that black-pepper gelato with brûléed lardo?

54. Dhamaka

Exterior picture: Emon Hassan for The New York Times. Dish picture: Jenny Huang for The New York Times

A year ago, Dhamaka replaced most of its original menu with new dishes, not the move you’d expect from a place that is turning away diners every night. I’m sure some customers are still mourning their old favorites, and there were many things on the starting lineup that you simply couldn’t find anywhere else in Manhattan. But the truth is that in its first years Dhamaka focused very heavily on chile-laden meats, to the point of redundancy. It’s easier now to put together a meal that has a little rhythm and variety, and you can still arrange to finish with the Champaran meat, a mutton curry so fiery it could light a cigar.

55. The Grill

When the Grill was new, it reimagined midcentury American dining with a stylized sense of theater while managing to hit every single technical mark. The complete mess it made of an $85 chicken potpie, among other glitches at a recent meal, made last year’s top-10 ranking here impossible this year. But so much about this restaurant remains confidently excellent, starting with the cocktails and ending with the layer cakes stacked so tall they look as if they’re trying to fit in among the towers of Park Avenue.

56. Contento

If you get discouraged about the direction of the restaurant business, the fastest antidote is dinner at Contento. It can restore your faith to watch as the staff makes sincere efforts to welcome people in wheelchairs, or those who need specially designed flatware, or diners with visual impairments, or their guide dogs. But there are less obvious ways in which Contento overachieves. The wine list is longer and more interesting than most restaurants this small would attempt, and Oscar Lorenzzi’s cooking can convince you that you should be eating Peruvian food every night.

57. Mercado Little Spain

Ellen Silverman for The New York Times

One of many mysteries of José Andrés that scientists should study is the man’s ability to run New York’s most rewarding food hall when he doesn’t even live here. It is true that Mercado Little Spain is better for snacking than dining, but that’s true of almost all food halls, few of which cover as much ground. You can wander from kiosk to kiosk, grabbing a sugar-crusted xuixo for breakfast, a sack of churros with bittersweet chocolate sauce, a soft tortilla española right out of the skillet, gambas al ajillo sizzling in their fragrant oil, a glass of pretty much any kind of wine you’re in the mood for as long as it’s Spanish. The market’s newest stall, Mr. Lopez, makes the pressed sandwiches called bikinis along with chistorra dogs and smashburgers topped with jamón Ibérico.

58. Le Rock

Can anybody resist Le Rock’s snails, each in its own cup with its own hot bath of garlic butter and its own piece of toast? Or the tender leeks vinaigrette, which the servers unwrap from a cloak of dark outer leek greens as ceremoniously as if they were presenting poularde de Bresse demi-deuil? Or the baba carved tableside and then hit with a healthy glug of génèpy or Chartreuse? Well, occasionally I’ll hear from a reader who went to Le Rock with high hopes and felt ignored, lost in the shuffle, assaulted by the decibels. I’ll apologize about the service and say that in my experience the room does seem to be getting quieter. But, I tell them, any good homage to the French brasserie needs to be a little loud for verisimilitude.

59. Great N.Y. Noodletown

When the dining room is busy, which is just about always, it will be full of old Chinatown locals from Hong Kong, couples who think of Noodletown as their place, young social-media explorers ticking restaurants off their bucket list and older but equally clued-in tourists. These groups will overlap considerably with the soft-shell crab followers, the salt-and-pepper squid obsessives, the suckling pig appreciators, connoisseurs of Cantonese char siu, slurpers of wonton soup, and devotees of the restaurant’s much-imitated ginger-scallion sauce.

60. Village Cafe

The part of Brooklyn between Prospect Park and the Atlantic Ocean is a treasure land of food from the former Soviet republics. At Village Cafe, as with many other restaurants in the area, the kebabs are the backbone of the menu. But the Azerbaijani offerings extend well beyond meat on a stick: There are platters of plov, sweet with dried fruits; flatbreads stuffed with minced greens and fresh herbs; the daunting hash of livers, kidneys, hearts and testicles known as djiz-biz; and fat belts of pasta dressed with chopped lamb cooked in its own fat, a noodle dish that seems to stand exactly halfway between China and Italy.

Of all the restaurants washed up on the city’s shores by the first wave of enthusiasm over New Nordic cooking, the most original, thoughtful and lasting has been Aska. Fredrik Berselius, raised in Sweden, built his own kitchen vocabulary by combining Scandinavian flavors with ingredients farmed or foraged around New York. His intricate, gentle tasting menus show a poet’s feel for fleeting moments and the beauty lurking in nature. One long-running appetizer is a frond of fried bladderwrack daubed with drops of mussel emulsion that look like the plant’s natural balloon structures. A wavy cup assembled from shaved walnuts makes an edible shell for a walnut tart. Even his caviar dishes seem to have been discovered somewhere in Middle-earth.

62. Txikito

When Txikito struck out for Basque Country in 2008, a lot of New Yorkers were still fuzzy on the whole concept of Spanish regional cuisines. Instead of starting out slowly with an introductory Gildas for Dummies course, Alex Raij and Eder Montero immediately complicated the picture, inviting ingredients from China, Japan and beyond into the kitchen. Is there another Basque restaurant in the country where the Russian potato salad is augmented with bonito flakes and the boquerones are laid out over spearlike leaves of rau ram?

One downside of being widely imitated is that, years later, your original ideas can read like copies. This has been Craft’s fate, and if you are eating there for the first time, you probably won’t be bowled over by the dangling filament bulbs, the Chilewich place mats, and the copper pans in which meats and fish are carried to the table. But nobody has figured out how to mimic Craft’s ability to get maximal flavor with minimal means. The been-there-done-that feeling ends when you start eating.

It’s hard to know what to make of a restaurant that gets rid of its single best feature, as Lodi did by closing the bakery that produced destination-quality breads and a flauto al cioccolato so precisely made that its lamination might have been designed by an architect. True, Lodi gained a few tables. Now it is easier to stroll in for elegant cafe dishes like bison tartare and chestnut gnocchi. And yes, drinking a spritz or a sbagliato while sitting on or looking out at Rockefeller Plaza produces a distinctly pleasurable shiver of the kind that only the world’s great cities can provide. But we’re still going to need some time to forget about that flauto.

65. Falafel Tanami

The strange concrete bunker askew from the street grid looks even stranger now that a simple wooden porch has been hammered together. Yet this unprepossessing structure is a titan in Midwood’s highly competitive pita-sandwich scene. There is no shawarma here as at Olympic Pita, no schnitzel as at Corner Street Food. This leaves Tanami free to concentrate on its marvelous pita and its falafel, which have brittle fried shells protecting a hot interior that is bright green with herbs. The sheer number of bins of chopped vegetables and salads can induce panic attacks, and many customers just ask for everything. A screaming yellow streak of amba sauce is probably mandatory.

66. Barney Greengrass

Circle framed picture: Karsten Moran for The New York Times. Rectangle framed picture: Jose A. Alvarado Jr. for The New York Times

The place is a cyclone of smoked-fish commerce on weekends and before any major Jewish holiday. On certain other days, a diner at Barney Greengrass can achieve a state close to serenity. There are eternal questions to contemplate: Sour cream or apple sauce? Nova or sturgeon? Toasted or untoasted? There are minor rituals to be observed — the most sacred of all is laughing at the servers’ jokes. Staring at the faded antebellum scenes of the French Quarter on the wallpaper can lead to the sensation that time has stopped moving forward. By your third cup of coffee and second order of latkes, it should be clear that you are sitting at the spiritual center of the Upper West Side.

67. Le Crocodile

Gage & Tollner is where Brooklyn goes to observe birthdays and anniversaries. Le Crocodile is where it celebrates smaller milestones, like living to the end of another day when the whole damned world didn’t fly to pieces. The brasserie menu is full of standards lifted above the routine by little niceties of craft and imagination, with a few unexpectedly flourishes like a truly good vegetarian pâté and a Waldorf salad liberated from mayonnaise at last.

68. Chongqing Lao Zao

Lanna Apisukh

The many, many people loyal to this Flushing restaurant are happy to wait two hours and sometimes more for Sichuan hot pots in the fiery and numbing style of Chongqing. The spicy broth is ferociously hot; even the mild has been known to draw tears from brave women and men.

69. AbuQir Seafood

Stephen Speranza for The New York Times

Meals at AbuQir, a homage to the seafood stalls on the Mediterranean coast outside Alexandria, begin with a consultation over the whole fish and other seafood stretched out on ice in the back. You should probably walk in with a plan. But if the man who takes your order tells you the grilled scallops are excellent today, or if you were thinking baked porgy and he recommends the blackened branzino, you should throw your plan out the window. A sloshy, garlicky plate of baba ghanouj is a fine thing to dip bread into while your fish cooks; in fact, anything with eggplant is a good idea.

70. Birria-Landia

Jenny Huang for The New York Times

New York has never been a food-truck town. But the meteoric ascent of the Birria-Landia fleet, which now cruises the boulevards of the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, points to a better and more delicious future. It comes as a relief to find that the beef is still as tender and deeply flavored as a fancy French chef’s short ribs, that the consomé hasn’t been watered down, and that the rich perfume of spices can still turn heads half a block away.

71. Shukette

Your first impulse as you take in Ayesha Nurdjaja’s menu, which bounds from dips to four or more kinds of bread straight from the oven, from salads and pickles to the table-dominating Fish in a Cage, may be to ask for one of everything. Reveling in the brighter, fresher side of the Levantine canon, Shukette takes advantage of the energizing effects of sumac, citrus, yogurt and green herbs.

72. Hainanese Chicken House

The poached chicken in the dish called Hainanese chicken rice tends to confuse people trying it for the first time. The ideal texture, which can strike novices as flabby and undercooked, is more important than the flavor, which is supposed to be mild verging on dull. The expectation is that the customer will go to town with the house sauces, which should not be dull at all, and that the chicken flavor that seems to be missing from the chicken itself will be supplied by the rice. The success of the dish, in other words, depends on a series of bank shots, which is one reason it’s exciting to find it prepared as well as it is at Hainan Chicken House. For all that, this is not a one-dish specialist but one of the most impressive Malaysian restaurants New York has seen in years. The name may sell the kitchen short.

73. Mark’s Off Madison

Portrait picture: Joshua Bright for The New York Times. Dish picture: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times.

Anybody who believes a restaurant needs to tell a simple, easily understood story clearly hasn’t been to Mark’s Off Madison. The only concept plausibly tying together the Italian American favorites and Jewish classics and diner staples on Mark Strausman’s menu is that Mr. Strausman knows a good recipe for all of them. You can eat matzo ball soup, or a tuna melt, or a block of lasagna. You can’t eat a story.

A mural in its original Bay Ridge site shows Palestinian children behind bars under the Aqsa Mosque, between the phrases “down with the occupation” and “live in peace.” As Ayat has multiplied locations, it has kept up its paired messages of peace and support for the people of Palestine. For some New Yorkers, Ayat’s family-dinner mainstays, like the lamb stew mansaf, soured with dried yogurt, and the carefully layered chicken and vegetable dish called maklouba, will open new windows into Palestinian culture. For others, obviously, they will taste like home.

75. Dirt Candy

The great thing about tasting menus is that they act as a blank page that a chef can write anything on. The tragedy is how many chefs have nothing to say. Amanda Cohen does, though. Her five-course meals are like a night of one-act plays, or even comedy sketches, on the theme of vegetables. The cooks work on each dish until it’s a self-contained routine. Crunchy Buffalo collard leaves are sprinkled with powdered hot sauce and served with celery and blue cheese dip, and a savory croissant with a mushroom mousse filling comes with a glass of cappuccino that turns out to be mushroom soup. It’s dinner disguised as a continental breakfast.

76. Llama Inn

Vincent Tullo for The New York Times

It may be easier to see Erik Ramirez’s creative streak at his other restaurant, Llama San in Greenwich Village, where he free-associates on the ways Japanese and Peruvian food do, or potentially might, intersect. At Llama Inn he mostly sticks with translating traditional dishes — beef-heart anticuchos, scallop ceviche — into modern restaurant terms. But he works well when he’s staying within the lines, and there’s no question that the space in Brooklyn is roomier and more comfortable, despite being a truncated triangle under the B.Q.E.

77. Oiji Mi

Oiji Mi summons the spirit of New York’s midcentury supper clubs more effectively than places where that’s the explicit aim, like Swoony’s or Monkey Bar. It has leather seats, velvet curtains, deeply curved banquettes and a swooping marble bar. All that’s missing is a cigarette girl. This is not exactly the expected setting for a modern Korean restaurant, but it helps bring out the plush and culture-spanning comforts of Brian Kim’s five-course, $145 menus.

78. S & P Lunch

I am not going to tell you that S & P’s tuna melt is one of the greatest sandwiches of all time, or that it will change your life, or that it is one of the 25 or 50 or 1,000 foods you have to eat before you die. But one day you might find that you must have a tuna melt and that nothing else will do. On that day, I hope you remember to go to S & P, where you will be served a version made with terrific respect, from creamy and soft tuna salad on substantial rye bread. It will be better than you hoped, without deviating in any particular from what you were picturing. And this is true of almost more things on S & P’s menu that you can count, including the Reuben, the meatloaf sandwich, the chopped liver, the pancakes and the egg and cheese on a roll with Taylor ham.

79. Mariscos El Submarino

Last year, Alonso Guzman and Amy Hernandez followed the success of Mariscos El Submarino by opening a second restaurant, Mystica, in Greenpoint. It shows growth and ambition, with its careful plating and long-cooked pork shanks, and suggests these two restaurateurs could be around a while. But Mariscos El Submarino is still their shining contribution to the city, our most detailed and comprehensive tour of Sinaloa-style raw seafood. The aguachile negro, dark with soy sauce and undeniably spicy, has become something of a cult object, but the other aguachiles deliver jolts of their own, and there are equally good arguments for the ceviches, tostadas and tomato-red seafood cocktails in tall plastic cups.

80. Temple Canteen

Circle framed picture: Hilary Swift for The New York Times. Rectangle framed picture: Christopher Lee for The New York Times.

If we wanted to quibble about the South Indian cafeteria in the basement of a temple to the Hindu god Ganesha, we might say that having to listen as order numbers are called out endlessly can gnaw at the nerves. We might also ask whether the vegetable sambar isn’t a little watery. But then we’d remember that nothing on the menu costs more than $10, that the coconut chutney does seem to get better the more of it you eat and that the variety of dosas is sort of stunning, from chewy rava dosas to ice cream cone-shaped ghee roast dosas to paper dosas so long they sprawl from one end of a cafeteria tray to the other.

81. Foxface Natural

You have probably heard that Foxface Natural is a narrow, loud restaurant on Avenue A where deer heart or elk chops or kangaroo might be on the menu on any given night. But Foxface is not simply a purveyor of oddball species; the restaurant’s defining feature may be its pursuit of ingredients that Sysco doesn’t carry. So when the chef, David Santos, cooks octopus Bolognese, the octopus will have been trapped in a clay pot in a sustainable Spanish fishery. When he roasts a turnip, it will be the elusive Gilfeather turnip, which for decades was cultivated exclusively by a secretive Vermont farmer who refused to share its history or its seeds with anyone.

Maybe you got a little confused the last time you tried to remember the difference between gibanica and zeljanica. Perhaps you hesitated when somebody asked whether you prefer sopska or srpska. Or, at a recent wine tasting, you had trouble distinguishing between the Serbian tamjanika and the Slovenian malvazija. If you have experienced these or similar symptoms, it could be an indication that you are overdue for a meal at Kafana, Alphabet City’s rustic, majestic Serbian tavern.

83. M. Wells

Few restaurants take advantage of holidays and occasions as avidly as M. Wells. In the past few months it has served rabbit mole for Easter brunch, whipped up three kinds of fondue for a party in honor of Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, and put on a Thanksgiving dinner that started with braised turkey legs and pig trotters, though of course it didn’t end there. Certainly it’s the only restaurant in Queens that celebrates the start of maple sap season by staging a hockey game on the dining room floor. If you happen to go on a day when nothing in particular is happening, you’ll still find dishes that seem to have been conceived for a feast like mortadella mille-feuille or half of a roasted piglet head on a plate.

84. Hakka Cuisine

It’s been a while since the arrival of a new dish in Chinatown caused as big as stir as the Hakka blossom chicken at Hakka Cuisine. It looks like a chicken that was flattened in some enormous panini press and then cut into squares. Those pieces have golden chicken skin on the top and bottom, but when you pop one in your mouth you discover that the soft and springy filling is made of taro and shrimp paste. Where did the rest of the chicken go? You can look for the solution to this mystery as you work your way through the other fine and elaborate Hakka specialties and Cantonese banquet dishes.

85. Wildair

The past year was a time of retrenchment for Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra, who closed Contra, their statement restaurant, along with Peoples, their small wine bar in the food hall below Essex Market. Wildair, once a casual extension of Contra, has become their chief laboratory for ideas like an éclair with the flavors of a pissaladière inside and a series of Saturday collaborations called Donuts with Friends (exactly what it sounds like). Wildair was a little well-behaved early in life, but now it’s living up to its name.

86. 188 Bakery Cuchifritos

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Few sights in the Bronx, or anywhere else for that matter, can stir the gears of appetite quite like the exterior of 188 Cuchifritos. There is a smiling pig in a bow tie in the sign above the door. A partial list of Dominican and Puerto Rican specialties spelled out in half a dozen different colors of neon. In one window, trays stacked with fried pork skin, chicken and other fritters being kept warm by the heat of bare, greasy lightbulbs. There are approximately 1,000 other things on the menu, but this gives you some idea what you are in for.

87. Hav & Mar

Marcus Samuelsson’s latest project is not like the other seafood restaurants. There are Black mermaids everywhere, and the flavors can come from just about anywhere, with Ethiopia making especially frequent contributions. That’s Berbere spice blend in the cured salmon; the fluffy young fermented cheese ayib is in the beet salad, and injera crisps are provided with the tuna tartare. The combinations never feel superficial or confused, and the servers always seem as if they expect a party to break out at any moment.

88. Eulalie

Chip Smith and Tina Vaughn are immune to trends. He cooks in the regional-American style that flourished at the end of the last century. Nobody’s nostalgic for it yet, but Mr. Smith can make you wonder why not; he cooks it sensitively, and with conviction. Meanwhile Ms. Vaughn runs the dining room with the authority and familiarity only a proprietor can command. Her methods, which involve learning the names and preferences of all her customers, are long out of style, and nobody has written customer-database software that comes close to doing what she does with a pen, a hard-bound reservation book and her memory.

89. Hamburger America

Will George Motz, the hamburger historian and documentarian, want to spend the rest of his life behind a hot griddle, pressing on ground meat with a spatula until he judges the time is right to cover it with a yellow blanket of American cheese? It’s hard to imagine, but he does seem to be enjoying himself. For sure everybody else in the place is having a good time eating subtly but distinctly different burgers made with good beef and historical pedigree. It’s the geeked-out burger stand New York didn’t know it needed.

90. Laghman Express

The menu is not large and mostly focused on different ways of putting together lamb, onions, bell peppers, cumin and noodles made in open view of the dining room. Some noodles are strands so long that you will search and search for a beginning or an end, others are as wide as seatbelts, and the knife-cut pearl noodles are irregular stubs resembling diamonds, squares, pencil erasers — anything, it seems, except pearls. They’re all wonderfully tense and springy and fun to chew. The dark chile-garlic oil is especially good with noodles; it’s probably good with anything.

91. Mapo Korean BBQ

Dish picture: Evan Sung for The New York Times. Exterior picture: Karsten Moran for The New York Times.

This longtime institution across from the Murray Hill station on the Long Island Rail Road is the Peter Luger of Queens: gruff, brisk, straightforward and so thick with the aroma of sizzling beef that the air is almost solid. Pork and even seafood are available, but almost everybody orders galbi, which is grilled over tabletop baskets of charcoal by efficient women wielding sharp scissors.

92. Cka Ka Qellu

The city used to be full of small, amber-lighted, nostalgic restaurants where servers wore Old World costumes, melancholy folk tunes played in the background and everything on the menu evoked the country the owners had left behind. Cka Ka Qellu uses this method to summon Albania. Both locations look like roadside inns from another century, and after putting away platters of veal sausages, creamy dips, stewed beans, soft polenta and Albanian tres leches cake, you may be disappointed to find out there are no featherbeds and fireplaces waiting upstairs.

93. Vendors at Junction Boulevard

Ryan Christopher Jones for The New York Times

After the city evicted all but a small fraction of the Mexican and Ecuadorean vendors from Corona Plaza, the Junction Boulevard stop took its place as the most rewarding street-food destination under the No. 7 train. At the foot of a staircase descending from the tracks, Tacos El Borrego is an impressively well-equipped stand where the most compelling choice is the tacos al pastor, hacked from a spinning trompo the size of a young bluefin tuna. Just off the intersection is Chalupas Poblanas El Tlecuile, where eight tortillas at a time are softened in hot lard and splashed with red and green salsa, then stacked up like pancakes. There are vendors ladling out atole and cafe de olla, cooks pressing fresh masa, flashing and whirring toys for sale for a couple of dollars, and on the other side of Roosevelt, a Bitcoin A.T.M.

94. Shopsin’s General Store

There are a number of restaurants across Essex Street from the I.C.P. but Shopsin’s is the only one that points this out on its website with the helpful footnote “Stands for International Center of Photography (Not Insane Clown Posse).” This is a joke that happens to be true, which you could say about most of Shopsin’s menu. The macaroni-and-cheese pancakes are famous by now, as are the somewhat Mexican-ish eggs called Blisters on My Sisters. Then we come to the Do-Rag pancake, the Bastard and the Wiggly Pete, and this is just on the first of the menu’s two single-spaced pages. Every dish, no matter how weird it sounds, will turn out to be good, at a minimum, and a surprisingly large percentage of the goofiest ones have a stealthy sort of culinary intelligence. Shopsin’s takes nothing seriously and takes everything seriously, a philosophy to contemplate while slowly drinking a Nutella Fluff malted milkshake.

95. Hyderabadi Zaiqa

Here we have an anomaly: a new, tiny, fearless, overachieving Indian restaurant that doesn’t belong to the Unapologetic Foods group. Biryani is the pride of Hyderabadi cuisine and the point of Hyderabadi Zaiqa. More than a dozen are available, from a staunchly traditional and ferociously spiced dum biryani augmented with slow-roasted goat to the Chicken 65 biryani, featuring a spicy, lava-red chicken invented several years ago at a hotel in Chennai. There are curries as well, terrific fried okra and a fish dish that is a close cousin of Chicken 65. How all this is produced is a bit of a mystery. The kitchen can’t be much bigger than a rowboat, and the dining room gets crowded if more than five people decide to eat there at the same time.

96. Caleta 111

Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

Expanding into the space next door transformed Caleta 111 from a narrow ceviche counter to a full-fledged and cheerful Peruvian restaurant. Now you can sit at a table set inside a long narrow boat, nursing a plum-colored chicha morada and looking through the picture window into the kitchen, overseen by Luis Caballero. He makes Chinese Peruvian classics like lomo saltado and seafood fried rice; causas that turn mashed potatoes into an art form; and choritos a la chalaca, chilled mussels dressed with a relish of fresh peppers and tomatoes. But above all, Mr. Caballero is a master of the citric, spicy, cloudy, ginger-spiked liquid that is the base of all his ceviches. One sip of his leche de tigre and you know why you are here, even if you’re not quite sure why you’re sitting in a boat.

97. Zum Stammtisch

Queens lost another remnant of its German legacy in February when Morscher’s Pork Store in Ridgewood closed. You’d never know that the old ways are fading, though, when you’re inside the timbered Bavarian confines of Zum Stammtisch in Glendale. Pilsner is still poured into steins, the giant fresh pretzel comes with two kinds of mustard, and beef goulash over spaetzle is considered an appetizer. There is nothing wrong with the schnitzel, but why resist the wursts? They’re made in the restaurant’s own smokehouse.

98. Lakruwana

Circle framed picture: Dave Sanders for The New York Times. Rectangle framed picture: Tony Cenicola/The New York Times.

The cooking of Sri Lanka that emerges from Lakruwana’s kitchen is tropical, lush, saturated with coconut and chiles. But dinner or lunch there is not just a meal. It’s a cultural immersion. Over the years the Wijesinghe family, who own the restaurant and usually stand guard in the dining room, have filled the dining room with Buddha statues, carved furniture, clay pots, weapons and shields, and about a hundred other objects shipped from Sri Lanka.

99. Ewe’s Delicious Treats

The deeper I get into Ewe’s repertory of Nigerian dishes, the more impressed I am. The egusi and ogbono stews are deeply flavored and complex, and the fish pepper soup has a strong aromatic backbone that is the sign of a careful hunt for ingredients. Chile heat is an accent, but it’s not used timidly, and don’t go looking for relief in the jollof rice, which is an event in itself. The restaurant recently got its beer and wine license, and a bottle from the refrigerator can make a useful companion when the Scotch bonnets make their presence felt.

100. Randazzo’s Clam Bar

There is chowder to start, along with freshly shucked clams and oysters. You can get lobster fra diavolo or linguine with clam sauce, red or white, and a couple dozen other classics of Italian American seafood cookery. But Randazzo’s was put on this earth to serve fried calamari. If you don’t understand how such a pedestrian dish could be the organizing principle of an entire restaurant, you probably haven’t tasted the calamari at Randazzo’s, or dipped it into the hot tomato sauce that seems to have been bubbling on the back of the stove all day, or wondered how the hunk of friselle, a kind of crouton buried under the pile of squid, somehow manages to be dry and wet at the same time.

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What time is the 2024 solar eclipse? Here's when you should look up in your area

On Monday, April 8, the sky will momentarily darken for millions of Americans in the path of totality during the 2024 solar eclipse .

This is the first total solar eclipse to pass through North America in seven years, and the next one will not be seen from the contiguous U.S. until Aug. 23, 2044 , according to NASA .

The exact time the solar eclipse will occur will vary, depending on the state and the time zone. And of course, eclipse visibility will also be dependent on Monday's weather .

Whether you're experiencing the path of totality from home or traveling to witness it in person, here's what to expect for the exact eclipse time.

Solar eclipse 2024 live updates: See latest weather forecast, what time it hits your area

What time is the 2024 solar eclipse?

The eclipse will begin in Mexico at about 11:07 a.m. PDT, Monday, April 8 before crossing into Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT. It will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT. Even if you're not in the path of totality and won't see the full eclipse, you may still see a percentage of it.

To find out exactly when the eclipse will be happening in your area, you can search by USA TODAY's database by zip code for a viewing guide.

Even if you still see a fraction of the eclipse, you can use the database to search the time, duration, peak and percentage in your area.

Here are the major cities in each state where you can expect to experience totality in the United States (note that the included times do not account for when the partial eclipse begins and ends):

• Dallas, Texas: 1:40-1:44 p.m. CDT
• Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CDT
• Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51-1:54 p.m. CDT
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 p.m. CDT
• Paducah, Kentucky: 2-2:02 p.m. CDT
• Carbondale, Illinois: 1:59-2:03 p.m. CDT
• Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 p.m. CDT
• Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 p.m. EDT
• Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16-3:20 p.m. EDT
• Buffalo, New York: 3:18-3:22 p.m. EDT
• Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 p.m. EDT
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 p.m. EDT
• Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 p.m. EDT

Where is the 2024 total solar eclipse?

The eclipse begins in Mexico , and then crosses over into the U.S. through Texas. From there, the path of totality, which is approximately 115 miles wide, extends northeast, crossing through 13 states. In the U.S., totality will end in Maine, but the eclipse will eventually enter the maritime provinces of Canada.

Other major cities along the eclipse's path of totality include San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Indianapolis; and Rochester and Syracuse, New York.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Ramon Padilla and Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY.