Although we usually associate Christmas with being at home, an increasing number of people are starting to travel during the winter season. There are some wonderful cities all over the world that are ideal to visit at Christmas. The way each city celebrates the Christmas season really varies between different cities, countries and cultures. Spending part of your Christmas in another city is an idea for those of us who want to do something that is both different and memorable.
If you are planning on visiting somewhere different this holiday season, here are three wonderful and diverse places to go:
Rome
Between Italians and visitors to Italy alike, Rome is probably the most popular place to visit during the festive period. Rome really ‘pulls out all of the stops’ when it comes to Christmas celebrations, largely because of its strong connections to Christianity. The Piazza Navona, a famous square, is turned into a huge Christmas market with stalls that sell everything from food to decorations and gifts.
The well-known St. Peter’s Square is also transformed with a Christmas tree (although they are not particularly traditional in Italy) and a full-size Nativity which is usually not unveiled until Christmas Eve. There are also other nativity scenes on show and elegantly decorated churches. Other activities such as ice skating are also available.
New York is an extremely popular destination for many people at Christmas, simply because it’s such a fun and festive place to be! The people of New York make a tremendous effort at Christmas time; you only have to go into downtown Manhattan to see this for yourself. Due to its world famous shops, New York is an excellent place for a Christmas shopping spree!
The Rockefeller Christmas tree is situated between 5th and 6th Avenue and now has a whopping 30,000 lights on it and so is definitely worth seeing. There are many Christmas shows and, because there are several parks in New York, it’s a great place to ice skate. It’s advisable to book early because New York becomes extremely busy during the holiday season. Just remember that the weather tends to be very “Christmassy”, so wrap up warm!
Oxford
Outside of London, Oxford is one of the most popular English Christmas cities. Oxford Castle is one of the central attractions at Christmas; a great place to take the kids so that they can visit Santa or for the whole family to go and experience the Christmas market where you can buy festive treats and gifts and do a bit of late night shopping. The Cotswolds is a famous cycling holiday destination and during the festive season there are many themed bike rides that take place with people taking to two wheels dressed as Santa and a whole host of other Christmas characters. There are many musicals, pantomimes and shows that are tailored towards children, so this could be an excellent way to get the whole family active over the Christmas season. The switching on of Christmas lights in early December is also worth visiting if you get a chance.
Vicky is a travel enthusiast who has a particular interest in walking & 
