NEW YORK – November 05, 2026 -- Travel And Tour World (TTW) has published its Top 50 Christmas Holiday Destinations Around the World for 2026, with Rovaniemi and Finnish Lapland in first place. The independent editorial ranking covers six inhabited continents, from Arctic retreats to tropical holiday escapes.
Quebec City ranks second, New York City third and Vienna fourth. Tokyo takes fifth, and Banff and Lake Louise, London, Zermatt, Aspen and Chicago complete the Top 10.
Rovaniemi offers Santa Claus and the Arctic Circle in one trip
At Santa Claus Village, visitors can cross the Arctic Circle and meet Santa Claus. The underground SantaPark adds Christmas-themed entertainment and family activities. Reindeer sleigh rides, husky adventures and northern lights excursions round out the Finnish Lapland programme.
Quebec City delivers a European-style Christmas in North America
Ranked second, the city centres its festivities on UNESCO-listed Old Quebec, where Château Frontenac overlooks Quartier Petit Champlain and Place Royale. The Quebec City German Christmas Market adds decorated wooden chalets, traditional crafts and seasonal performances. Visitors can buy handcrafted ornaments and try maple-inspired treats.
New York stacks its holiday calendar with landmark events
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and its ice-skating rink anchor the city's third-place showing. Fifth Avenue department-store windows, Bryant Park Winter Village and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes fill out the schedule. Central Park's winter scenery completes the list.
Vienna pairs Advent markets with classical music
The Viennese Christmas Market at Rathausplatz fills the square before City Hall with decorated stalls and craft vendors. Schönbrunn Palace hosts Christmas celebrations, and seasonal concerts run across the city. On the food side, expect Vanillekipferl biscuits, roasted chestnuts and warming punch.
Hamburg closes the list at No. 50 with a maritime twist
The Historic Christmas Market at Rathausmarkt features wooden stalls, handcrafted decorations and a flying Santa Claus. The Winter DOM fair adds amusement rides and family attractions, while illuminated streets line the Binnenalster waterfront. Gingerbread, roasted almonds and Glühwein are on offer.
TTW Editor-in-Chief Anup Kumar Keshan said Christmas tourism can "nurture cultural appreciation, invigorate local economies and foster meaningful human connections."
The full ranking also covers Tokyo's Christmas illuminations, the Philippines' Giant Lantern Festival and Puerto Rico's traditional parrandas, plus tropical alternatives to snowy holidays.