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Home - Travel Destinations - 5 Unusually Different Christmassy Destinations (Experiences)
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We link to affiliated partners at no extra cost to you.
5 Totally different Christmassy destinations like Bethlehem, Italy, Williamsburg, Disneyland, and Germany, – what do they have in common? They all bring Christmas to life through tradition and experience — places where the season is felt through stories, rituals, music, faith, and shared moments that people return to year after year.
Bethlehem sits at the very beginning of the Christmas story. The Church of the Nativity marks the place long believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, and standing here in December feels grounded and quietly powerful. Pilgrims walk the same streets year after year, not for spectacle, but for connection — to faith, to history, and to the origin of a season celebrated across the world.
Christmas in Bethlehem centers on shared rituals rather than sightseeing. Midnight Mass, processions through Manger Square, and visits to the Shepherds’ Field create moments that feel deeply personal, even among crowds. Time here is often combined with nearby places such as Jerusalem and the Jordan River, adding context to the story rather than distraction. Bethlehem works as a place to pause, reflect, and experience Christmas at its source.
Re-discover the true reason for the season in Bethlehem which lies 10 kilometers south of the city Jerusalem. Bethlehem is one of the most meaningful Christmassy destinations, where the story of Christmas comes alive in the streets, churches, and traditions of the town.
Rome at Christmas draws people for one reason that hasn’t changed in centuries: Midnight Mass at the Vatican. Attending Mass in St Peter’s Basilica is about ritual and continuity, not spectacle. The same prayers, the same timing, the same gathering of people from every corner of the world, all coming together at the heart of the Catholic Church.
Christmas Eve in Rome feels calm and deliberate. Locals move through the city with purpose, churches fill quietly, and the focus stays on tradition. Midnight Mass becomes the anchor of the experience, with the rest of the city slowing down around it. For many travelers, this is not just a Christmas trip, but a chance to take part in something that has been observed here for generations.
Rome ranks among unforgettable Christmassy destinations, with Midnight Mass at St Peter’s Basilica offering a timeless, shared experience of the season.
Firstly remember to throw a coin from the right hand over your left shoulder into the fountain. This (according to legend) will ensure that you in the future will again return to Rome.
Furthermore, legend has it (and according to the movie “When in Rome”), that when you through 3 coins in the fountain, the first coin guarantees your return to Rome, the second will ensure a new romance, and the third will ensure marriage. Hmmm, maybe you should try?
..Or just make a special wish.
Williamsburg, Virginia – Busch Gardens offers a very different kind of Christmas, built around shared traditions and family festive scenes. During the holiday season, the park transforms into Christmas Town, where each area reflects a European country and its seasonal customs. The experience is less about rides and more about walking, tasting, listening, and taking it all in at an unhurried pace.
As evening arrives, the focus shifts to atmosphere. Carolers sing in open spaces, themed food stalls serve seasonal treats, and small shows bring classic Christmas moments to life. Families stroll from one country to the next, stopping for warm snacks, theatre performances, and handmade ornaments. It feels like a gentle journey through Europe’s Christmas traditions in one place, making it an easy and joyful way to experience the season without crossing the Atlantic.
Often described as one of the largest Christmas events in North America, Busch Gardens Williamsburg transforms its European-themed villages — including Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, France, and New France — into festive winter settings. The German village, normally home to the park’s Oktoberfest area, takes on a seasonal feel, while Sesame Street adds a playful Christmas touch for younger visitors. It’s an experience designed for families, couples, and anyone who still enjoys the simple joy of Christmas traditions.
Walt Disney World, Florida turns Christmas into a shared celebration that works across generations. Seasonal parades, live shows, and themed events run throughout the parks, bringing familiar characters into classic Christmas scenes. These are full productions, carefully timed and polished, designed to be enjoyed rather than rushed through.
Age fades into the background here. Parents, grandparents, and children experience the same moments together, carried by music, storytelling, and long-standing Disney traditions. A Christmas visit to Walt Disney World feels less like a theme park trip and more like stepping into a place where the season is carefully planned, warmly delivered, and genuinely memorable for the whole family.
It is expensive and it does get busy, but the scale, planning, and shared joy of the experience make it feel like a Christmas memory that will last a lifetime.
Walt Disney World is a must-see on the map of Christmassy destinations, combining parades, music, and family traditions that bring the season to life for all ages.
Germany’s Christmas markets show Christmas at its most familiar and comforting. Town squares fill with wooden stalls selling simple food, warm drinks, and handmade items, all tied to traditions that locals repeat every December. These markets are not staged for visitors; they are part of daily life in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Each city does it slightly differently. Some markets feel intimate and local, others larger and more animated, but the rhythm stays the same — slow walks, shared tables, and time spent outdoors in the cold. Visiting Germany in December offers a way to experience Christmas as it has been lived for generations, centred on food, community, and the simple pleasure of being together.
When asked where the best Christmas markets in the world are, Germany comes to mind immediately — cities like Frankfurt, Nuremberg (Nürnberg), Dresden, Hamburg, Cologne (Köln), and many more. Wandering among the stalls with a cup of hot chocolate or Glühwein in hand, surrounded by the scent of freshly baked treats and roasted chestnuts, you feel the magic of the season in every step.
You can read more about all the Beautiful Christmas Markets in Germany.
Germany’s Christmas markets are classic Christmassy destinations, with twinkling lights, seasonal treats, and centuries-old traditions that fill town squares with festive cheer.
Hamburg transforms into a city of Christmas wonder during Advent. On Saturdays, the streets fill with festive parades — floats glide past, carols drift through the air, and Santa Clauses wave from every corner, inviting you to join in the joy.
Beyond the parades, more than 30 Christmas markets await. Strolling between twinkling stalls, the scent of roasted chestnuts and gingerbread wraps around you, mingling with the warmth of hot chocolate in your hands. Each market has its own character, but all share the same simple magic of the season: moments that make December feel truly alive.
OK so this is not sponsored in any way (I just have to say). I am simply one of the biggest fans of Käthe Wohlfahrt’s shops.
The Käthe Wohlfahrt’s super amazing shop with original Christmas ornaments is a must-stop, must-see, must-visit, must do, must experience – stop in Germany. If you have to wait in line, just wait, as it is definitely worth it. Once you’re inside the most difficult choice ever is what to buy, as I simply want to buy everything.
Furthermore, I love the idea of buying your hot chocolate in a beautiful Hamburg Christmas mug, with the option of keeping it as a souvenir. (Anyone that doesn’t want theirs – Send them to me. I am in love with these mugs.) Bonus – they make the perfect souvenir or even a gift for someone who couldn’t make the trip with you. Keep a look out for them at the Christmas markets.
When you order a Glühwein (mulled wine) at a Christmas market, the price you pay includes a small deposit for the mug (called a Pfand in German). This deposit is usually around €2–€5 on top of the drink price. You can return the mug to any stall later and get that deposit back, or you can skip the refund and keep the mug as a festive souvenir of your trip.
They don’t have to wash all the mugs, and you have a souvenir. This system is eco‑friendly and a great way to take home a little memory from each market you visit
How to plan the trip in 7steps – a guide with travel tips, read more…
