When winter approaches, the cold arrives, the roasted chestnuts and yes, also Christmas. The most famous party in the world not only becomes an ideal date to be with the family but also to consider a trip if you want to escape the typical mass dinners and enjoy the competitive prices of some destinations. This year, may Santa Claus look for you in these following destinations where to live an amazing Christmas.
Morocco
The exotic neighbor of Europe has been consolidating itself for years as one of the most curious destinations in which to enjoy an amazing Christmas. Filled with imperial cities battered by the bustle of bazaars, ethnic routes through the Atlas and epic camps in the Sahara desert, Morocco is full of surprises for those looking for a unique Christmas season. Drop by Marrakech, its gardens and souks, to link with coastal towns like Essaouira and reach the desert or, well, explore the north of the country through the mythical Fez and Meknes to get closer to Chauen, a fascinating town painted blue and trapped between the mountains.
New York
Who has not dreamed of a Christmas in New York city? Can ice skating at Rockefeller Center and next to its huge tree to finish at Columbus Circle, in Central Park, getting lost in a Christmas market that includes up to 100 different stands, sounds good, right? If not, you can always wait for a New Year's Eve that reaches its peak here thanks to the New Year's Eve celebrated in Times Square followed by a play of lights that surprises from five different points of the city.
Rovaniemi (Finland)
They say that Santa Claus waits all year in a lost factory where he works with his elves making all the gifts that will be sneaked through the chimneys on Christmas Eve. The good news is that this place exists and is located in the vicinity of Rovaniemi, a city in Finnish Lapland that is home to the famous Santa Claus Village, an enclave where you can discover the factory and house of the most famous fat man in the world followed by stays in igloos, sleigh rides or, especially, the sighting of one of the most fascinating natural spectacles in the world: The Northern Lights!
Fuerteventura
Are you looking for an amazing Christmas in a totally different place? Then it is not necessary for you to go to the other side of the world looking for them: the Canary Islands is a paradise just two hours away by plane, ideal for an impromptu vacation. And although all its islands are recommended, we choose Fuerteventura, "the beach of the Canary Islands", which invites you to a winter dip in the Atlantic before get lost in its sleeping volcanoes, surf towns like Corralejo or beaches like Cofete, which evokes a timeless paradise.
Philippines
Of all the Christmas celebrations in the world, the Philippines is the longest of all. From the beginning of September to January 6, the Asian archipelago is filled with celebrations and parades that fuse national folklore with Spanish influence, completely animating the streets and towns of its geography. The perfect excuse for travel to a tropic where the warmth, beaches like El Nido or fascinating islands like exuberant Bohol make up a paradise for the senses in which the prices (including those of the flight) are especially cheap during these months.
Prague
The capital of the Czech Republic continues to be that unique destination in which to focus all eyes as the Christmas season approaches. Famous for the huge Christmas markets that unfold in the Old City (including a huge Nativity Scene), passing through the classical music concerts of the Prague Opera or its decked streets to walk with mulled wine in hand, Prague is an ideal city for that Christmas getaway in which you always have to do. Something to be surprised with.
Mexico
The Mexican giant is a unique ally for all kinds of Christmas plans. If you want to take advantage of the reduced prices of its resorts and experiences in the Riviera Maya, nothing better than taking a flight and welcoming the new year among sun loungers, beaches, cenotes and Mayan ruins. Otherwise, you can always opt for even more special visits such as the one to the city of San Miguel de Allende, where candles, piñatas and glasses of punch warm a unique Christmas marked by the folklore so characteristic of the country of mariachis.
Amsterdam
The seriousness of that family feast? Hours and hours making a baked chicken along with the rest of dinner? If you are looking to escape from Christmas every year, Amsterdam is possibly the best option. Casual and unique, the Dutch city is among its canals, coffee shops and cultural attractions the best excuse for an amazing Christmas to complement with Christmas markets, classical music concerts but, especially, that show called Lights festival that from the end of November to the beginning of January floods the city center with LED lights. Safety pin.
Salzburg
The Austrian city is also another one of those European cities ideal to get lost during the days of December thanks to its wide range of options: you can visit its Christmas markets and enjoy a classical music concert in the city where Mozart was born, among others. possibilities. Likewise, if you travel on any of the weekends before Christmas, you may be surprised by the Krampus Runs festival, an event starring a typical local demon who serves as a disguise for some locals who make their way with blows.
Madrid
Photograph of Mirador Madrid
The Spanish capital is always a good option when it comes to experiencing a Christmas full of surprises: stroll through the many markets, contemplate the decorations, have a Christmas feast in the trendy bars or, better yet, wait for December 31 in the one that the Puerta del Sol it becomes the most iconic place in Spain. Because yes, you know that you always wanted to spend the end of the year eating the grapes in the heart of the country.
In which of these destinations would you live a Christmas surprising?