Best Christmas destinations

The month of December is a prime time for traveling, mainly to see how the rest of the world celebrates Christmas. These cities are worth a visit any time of year, but they seem to be exceptionally magical during the holiday season. Whether they're European classics, Asian cities or ski paradises in the U.S., some celebrations are worth the price of a plane ticket. Here are the best places to spend Christmas this year.
 

Bruges, Belgium

One of Europe’s best-preserved medieval city oozes charm year-round, but is especially charming during the holidays. It's hard to imagine a place more magical as you wander the cobblestone streets, admire the shimmering lights, and warm up with mugs of Belgian hot chocolate in cafés. Try ice skating with someone special at the picture-perfect ice rink, located near the downtown Christmas market.

Tokyo

The city turns the voltage up each year with its winter illuminations, with different districts competing with each other to create some truly sensational displays. And don't worry if you can't get there before December 25, the winter illuminations have become so popular that most remain up until February.
 

Quebec City, Canada

Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America, and its colonial French architecture gives it an unmistakably European feel. The cobbled streets of the Old Town are packed with quaint shops and delicious bistros, all merrily decorated for the holidays.

Cape Town

If you're looking to escape winter this Christmas, you can't do much better than Cape Town (it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere). You can even visit one (or several) of the South African city's holiday markets without having to wear a coat and scarf.

Paris

It's hard to dampen the spirit of Paris at Christmastime: the city shines on, from the lights along the Champs-Élysées to the Christmas market at Les Halles to some of the most decked-out window displays in the world.
 

New York City

There’s no shortage of ways to make your New York City Christmas magical, whether it's ice skating at Rockefeller Center, window shopping down Fifth Avenue, or lurking around 34th street hoping to witness a miracle.