Top 20 Hotel Destinations for Christmas
Hotelaholic

Holiday travel · December 25, 2026

Top 20 Hotel Destinations for Christmas

From Santa's home on the Arctic Circle to Christmas on the beach in Sydney, these are the most festive places to spend December 25.

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20 destinations20 bookable stays

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01 / 20

Rovaniemi, Finland

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Glass-fronted suites in the forest near the Santa Claus Village.

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New York, United States

The Peninsula New York

Beaux-Arts hotel on Fifth Avenue with a rooftop bar.

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Salzburg, Austria

Hotel Sacher Salzburg

Riverside hotel facing the Old Town and fortress.

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Nuremberg, Germany

Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg

Art Nouveau hotel near the old town walls.

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Vienna, Austria

Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel

19th-century palace on the Ringstrasse.

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London, United Kingdom

The Savoy

Thames-side landmark with an Art Deco ballroom and the American Bar.

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Quebec City, Canada

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Iconic castle hotel above the St. Lawrence in Old Quebec.

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Rome, Italy

Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Elegant hotel near Piazza del Popolo with a terraced 'secret garden'.

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Strasbourg, France

Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île

Old-town hotel steps from the Christmas markets.

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Copenhagen, Denmark

Admiral Hotel Copenhagen

A five-star stay in Copenhagen, a strong base for Copenhagen.

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Gstaad, Switzerland

The Alpina Gstaad

Chalet-style hotel above the village with a Six Senses Spa.

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Zermatt, Switzerland

Mont Cervin Palace

Grand car-free-village hotel on Zermatt's main street, open since 1852.

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Aspen, United States

The Little Nell

Aspen's only ski-in/ski-out hotel, at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola.

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Santa Fe, United States

Inn of the Five Graces

Intimate Relais & Châteaux inn with Silk Road-inspired suites.

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San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende

Colonial-style hotel with rooftop views of the Parroquia.

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Park City, United States

Montage Deer Valley

Ski-in/ski-out resort at Empire Pass.

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Sydney, Australia

Shangri-La Sydney

The Rocks hotel with harbor views from upper floors.

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Benaulim, India

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa

Mediterranean-style beachfront resort in South Goa.

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Toiny, Saint Barthélemy

Hotel Le Toiny

Hillside villas with private pools on the island's quiet east coast.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian

Former railway hotel with views of Edinburgh Castle.

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Christmas

Where to go

The full list.

From Santa's home on the Arctic Circle to Christmas on the beach in Sydney, these are the most festive places to spend December 25.

  1. Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

    • family
    • adventure

    Why Christmas

    Visit Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~21°F (-6°C); snow
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Glass-fronted suites in the forest near the Santa Claus Village.

    Hotels in Rovaniemi →
  2. New York City, United States

    New York, New York, United States

    • city
    • culture

    Why Christmas

    The Rockefeller Center tree, Fifth Avenue windows and holiday shows.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Beaux-Arts hotel on Fifth Avenue with a rooftop bar.

    Explore New York City →
  3. Salzburg, Austria

    Salzburg, Austria

    • culture
    • city

    Why Christmas

    'Silent Night' was first performed in nearby Oberndorf, and Salzburg's markets glow through Christmas Eve.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Riverside hotel facing the Old Town and fortress.

    Explore Salzburg →
  4. Bavaria, Germany

    • culture
    • city

    Why Christmas

    Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt runs until Christmas Eve.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Art Nouveau hotel near the old town walls.

    Hotels in Nuremberg →
  5. Vienna, Austria

    Austria

    • city
    • culture

    Why Christmas

    Vienna's markets, Christmas concerts and the Vienna Boys Choir.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    19th-century palace on the Ringstrasse.

    Explore Vienna →
  6. London, United Kingdom

    England, United Kingdom

    • city
    • culture

    Why Christmas

    London's lights, holiday theater and Christmas afternoon tea.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~46°F (8°C); damp
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Where we'd stay

    The Savoy

    $$$$

    Explore Hotel

    Thames-side landmark with an Art Deco ballroom and the American Bar.

    Explore London →
  7. Quebec City, Canada

    Quebec, Canada

    • culture
    • city
    • family

    Why Christmas

    A snowy, storybook Christmas in Old Quebec.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~25°F (-4°C); snow
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Iconic castle hotel above the St. Lawrence in Old Quebec.

    Explore Quebec City →
  8. Rome, Italy

    Lazio, Italy

    • culture
    • city

    Why Christmas

    Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica and nativity scenes across the city.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~57°F (14°C); mild
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Elegant hotel near Piazza del Popolo with a terraced 'secret garden'.

    Explore Rome →
  9. Grand Est, France

    • culture
    • city

    Why Christmas

    Strasbourg's markets and illuminated old town.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Old-town hotel steps from the Christmas markets.

    Hotels in Strasbourg →
  10. Copenhagen, Denmark

    Capital Region, Denmark

    • city
    • culture

    Why Christmas

    Tivoli Gardens' Christmas lights and cozy Danish hygge.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    A five-star stay in Copenhagen, a strong base for Copenhagen.

    Explore Copenhagen →
  11. Bern, Switzerland

    • ski
    • romance

    Why Christmas

    A snowy Swiss village Christmas with skiing.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~34°F (1°C); snow
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Chalet-style hotel above the village with a Six Senses Spa.

    Hotels in Gstaad →
  12. Zermatt, Switzerland

    Valais, Switzerland

    • ski
    • romance

    Why Christmas

    Christmas in car-free Zermatt, skiing beneath the Matterhorn.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~28°F (-2°C); snow
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Grand car-free-village hotel on Zermatt's main street, open since 1852.

    Explore Zermatt →
  13. Colorado, United States

    • ski
    • adventure
    • romance

    Why Christmas

    Aspen's holiday festivities and early-season skiing.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~32°F (0°C); snow
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Aspen's only ski-in/ski-out hotel, at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola.

    Hotels in Aspen →
  14. Santa Fe, United States

    New Mexico, United States

    • culture

    Why Christmas

    Canyon Road's farolito walk on Christmas Eve.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~43°F (6°C); sunny, cold
    Crowds · season
    Moderate · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Intimate Relais & Châteaux inn with Silk Road-inspired suites.

    Explore Santa Fe →
  15. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

    Guanajuato, Mexico

    • culture
    • romance

    Why Christmas

    Posadas, nativity processions and dry, sunny days.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~73°F (23°C); cold nights
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Colonial-style hotel with rooftop views of the Parroquia.

    Explore San Miguel de Allende →
  16. Park City, Utah, United States

    • ski
    • family

    Why Christmas

    Holiday skiing in Utah's light powder.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~32°F (0°C); snow
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Ski-in/ski-out resort at Empire Pass.

    Hotels in Park City →
  17. Sydney, Australia

    New South Wales, Australia

    • city
    • beach

    Why Christmas

    Christmas on the beach in Sydney's early summer.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~77°F (25°C); warm
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    The Rocks hotel with harbor views from upper floors.

    Explore Sydney →
  18. Goa, India
    18

    Goa

    Benaulim, Goa, India

    • beach
    • culture

    Why Christmas

    Midnight Mass in Goa's historic churches and festive beach celebrations.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~91°F (33°C); dry
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Mediterranean-style beachfront resort in South Goa.

    Explore Goa →
  19. Toiny, Saint Barthélemy

    • beach
    • romance

    Why Christmas

    A Caribbean Christmas in St. Barts' dry season.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~82°F (28°C); dry
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$$

    Where we'd stay

    Hotel Le Toiny

    $$$$

    Explore Hotel

    Hillside villas with private pools on the island's quiet east coast.

    Hotels in Toiny →
  20. Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Scotland, United Kingdom

    • culture
    • city

    Why Christmas

    Edinburgh's Christmas market and festive lights beneath the castle.

    Typical weather
    Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold, damp
    Crowds · season
    High · Peak
    Price level
    $$$

    Former railway hotel with views of Edinburgh Castle.

    Explore Edinburgh →