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The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. You can spend them in your hometown with your friends and family, or you can travel to another country and experience Christmas in a different way. We put up a list of ten Christmas villages around the world that you can visit to add magic to your holidays!

1. Aarhus, Denmark

IK's World Trip

Have a magical Christmas in Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city. Christmas villages, festivals, and museums are on the menu. Head to the central town squares to visit festive markets where you can find the most adorable gifts for your loved ones. If you're more of a foodie, don't miss the Aarhus Central Food Market, where you can try to most delicious delicacies. That's not all! The local amusement park, "Tivoli Friheden," turns into a wonderland during Christmas time. Enjoy the decorations and fairy lights. 

2. Colmar, France

Jorge Franganillo

Paris is not France. There are so many cities and towns you need to visit in the country of fine cuisine and fashion, and Colmar is one of them. Colmar is an old town that is located in northeastern France, near Germany. The narrow alleyways and century-old houses add magic to the holidays. The town is renowned for its Christmas markets that feature wine-tasting, guided tours, shows, concerts, and many more fun activities! 

3. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

traveljunction

Natives of Rothenburg ob der Tauber have been celebrating Christmas through large festivities since the 15th century. So, rest assured you are going to have a lot of fun because they know what they're doing! Drink mulled wine, try grilled sausages, and wander in the beautiful streets of this picturesque town. 

4. Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Station Mont Tremblant

Nothing screams Christmas like the Great White North. Spending the holidays in the Canadian alps is always a good idea. Mont Tremblant is the hub for winter activities such as skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, ice finishing, horse sledding, and many more exciting activities! Don’t forget to try maple taffy, which is an authentic Quebec dessert.

5. Vienna, Austria

 

The Christmas market tradition in Vienna traces its roots back to the 13th century. The Vienna Christmas World on Rathausplatz features 150 booths that offer Christmas trees, decorations, handicrafts, food, and drinks. The city hall park turns into an ice skating rink that allows you to explore the park from a different perspective. Children can also enjoy a reindeer train. 

6. Cologne, Germany

 

Cologne is a 2,000-year-old-city in Germany, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is home to the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary, which is an architectural masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year, Cologne invites you to visit the chocolate museum that hosts 600,000 visitors per year. The Heinzels Winter Fairytale is the largest and oldest Christmas market in Cologne, so make sure to visit it!

7. Tokyo, Japan

toooooool

Christmas markets originated in Europe, but they’re going international. Japanese people added their own twist to Christmas. They have fried chicken for dinner, mainly from KFC, and have strawberry shortcake for dessert. However, they also like to celebrate Christmas the European way. Christmas villages around Tokyo offer Christmas decorates, mulled wine, and sausages! You can experience both Japanese Christmas and European Christmas in Tokyo!

8. Grindelwald, Switzerland

 

Grindelwald is a magnificent Swiss village that is surrounded by mountains. It's the perfect place to engage in winter activities, most notably skiing and hiking. If you're a movie buff, you're going to love the fact that some scenes of blockbuster movies were shot in Grindelwald. Some of the scenes of The Golden Compass, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith were shot there. 

9. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

The Netherlands religiously observe Christmas traditions throughout December. There are Christmas markets across the city, and the best part is that you can use Amsterdam's advanced and reliable public transport to visit them. If you have a friend or relative who loves skateboarding, you get them a Wasteboard, which is made from recycled bottle caps. 

10. Prague, Czech Republic

 

Spending Christmas in Prague is definitely an unforgettable experience. Historical squares are decorated and turned into magical Christmas villages where you can purchase a range of things: from decorations to mouthwatering desserts. The Prague Castle, which was built in the 9th century and is the largest castle in the world, hosts a gigantic Christmas market every year. Fancy, huh?

 

Where are you spending the holidays this year?