Where Everyone Will Be Travelling For Christmas 2026
By Sarah Mansour, Founder of The Travel Edit by Sarah
Every year, I see the same pattern: by the time December comes around, the best places, rooms and experiences are long gone. Christmas travel isn’t just about choosing a destination anymore, it’s about planning ahead to make sure you get the end-of-year holiday you’ve earned.
When it comes to predicting where the hotspots will be for Christmas 2026, there are five places I think will be the most popular.
Each of them offer something slightly different depending on what you want from the festive season. Whether it’s snow, sun, or something truly once-in-a-lifetime, these are the trips my clients are already asking about.
Northern Lights: the ultimate winter spectacle
For couples and families with older children, this is one of those rare trips that genuinely lives up to expectations.
Christmas sits right in the middle of the best aurora season, when the nights are longest and darkest. Places like Iceland, Arctic Norway (particularly Tromsø) and Finnish Lapland offer front-row seats to one of nature’s most incredible displays.
What makes this trip special isn’t just the Northern Lights themselves, it’s the setting. Think snow-covered landscapes and nature that feels surreal. Days are spent dog sledding through forests, ice-fishing, snowmobiling and walking on glaciers with private guides.
Where you stay matters enormously here. Glass igloos and luxury lodges aren’t just a gimmick, they’re built entirely around the view. Watching the sky shift above you from your bed is something many of my clients have said they will never forget.
The key with Northern Lights trips is flexibility. Sightings are never guaranteed, so the best itineraries are designed to maximise your chances over the period you’re there.
And of course, being organised is important. Christmas is one of the busiest times for Northern Lights tourism, so if you want access to the best experiences and hotels, you need to book early. I recommend at least 5-6 months in advance.
Lapland: The ultimate Christmas
If you have younger children, nothing comes close to Lapland at Christmas.
There is a very real sense of magic here that you just don’t get anywhere else. Rovaniemi in Finland, sitting on the Arctic Circle, is officially Santa’s home, and everything from the snow-covered forests to the reindeer roaming freely, culminates in a festive atmosphere unlike anywhere else on earth.
For those looking for a more remote, intimate experience, Swedish Lapland (Kiruna/Abisko) is also a beautiful choice.
But there is a huge difference between a standard Lapland trip and a well-planned one. This is a destination where having a specialist travel planner on hand makes the trip.
My biggest recommendation is the private Santa experience. It changes the entire trip from something enjoyable into something genuinely unforgettable. Add in husky sledding, reindeer sleigh rides and seeing the Northern Lights, and it becomes a once in a lifetime festive experience.
Accommodation has also changed massively. The best properties are more like architectural experiences than family resorts, with glass ceilings, private saunas and beautifully designed spaces.
This is the one destination I always tell clients to book the earliest, often 9-12 months ahead. The best properties and private experiences are often booked up nearly a year in advance - so speak to your travel agent early to lock it in.
The Maldives and Mauritius: trading snow for sunshine
Not everyone wants a cold Christmas. In fact, more and more of my clients are choosing to swap it entirely for warmth and relaxation.
The Maldives and Mauritius are the standouts here. December is one of the best times to visit, as it sits squarely in the Indian Ocean’s dry season. You’re looking at consistent sunshine, calm turquoise seas, world-class snorkelling and that perfect balance of festive atmosphere and beach-side fun.
The Maldives, in particular, is one of the most beautiful winter sun trips you can take. Think overwater villas, private butlers, pools in your room, direct access to the ocean, it’s all exactly as it looks in the photos, and often better.
What people don’t always realise is how well resorts handle Christmas. Private beach dinners, live music, beautifully curated events, it feels special without being overwhelming. The insider advantage here is knowing which resorts genuinely over-deliver at Christmas versus those that charge premium rates without the premium experience. That’s when having the right travel agent on your side is more important than ever.
My top tip would be to book 5-6 months ahead. Overwater villas at Christmas sell out incredibly quickly, so speak with your travel agent early to avoid disappointment.
The Canary Islands: A short-haul escape
For those who want warmth without the long flight, the Canary Islands are hard to beat. The Canary Islands deliver 20-24°C sunshine in December, the most reliable winter warmth within five hours of the UK.
Tenerife and Lanzarote, in particular, mix that sunshine with a real Christmas experience. Think festive lighting, traditional Spanish nativity scenes, artisan markets and beachfront fireworks.
What’s changed in recent years is the quality. Some of the best hotels come with exceptional service, great food and stunning views.
There’s also more to do than people expect. Golf, cycling, private yacht charters, spa days, private tours of volcanic landscapes and artisan villages, Christmas market visits in resort towns, there really is a lot to do.
For bigger families or groups, private villas are a great choice and can be surprisingly good value.
If you are thinking about visiting the Canary Islands at Christmas, speak with your travel agent 3-4 months in advance - especially if you want to lock in a villa or one of the region’s top hotels.
Skiing: the classic Christmas done properly
And then there’s skiing, which remains a Christmas favourite for good reason.
There’s something about the Alps in December that is just magical. The atmosphere, the candlelit villages, decorated chalets and mix of mountain air and open fires. It all comes together in a way few other trips can match.
Courchevel continues to be the pinnacle for luxury ski holidays, with access to one of the biggest ski areas in the world, offering 600km of pistes. Verbier offers a slightly more energetic feel, with a more adventurous terrain and a lively après-ski scene popular with an international crowd.
For those that want to combine adventure with the Christmas spirit, Courchevel at Christmas is as close to a perfect luxury experience as the Alps offer, and it has the dining credentials to match any city in Europe.
What really defines a luxury ski trip now is the private chalet experience. Having your own heated outdoor pool, home cinema and in-chalet chef is the gold standard, but booking in early is important. The best chalets for Christmas week are normally booked 6-9 months in advance, sometimes earlier.
Skiing is also a trip that requires quite a lot of organisation. Working with a travel agent to book everything, from your flights, transfers, villa, ski passes and ski rentals can help make this luxury trip a magical experience from start to finish.
How to get Christmas travel right
If there’s one thing I always say, it’s this: Christmas travel rewards planning.
The best properties and experiences aren’t sitting online waiting to be booked. They’re secured early, often by specialists who have long-standing relationships to lean on.
It’s also important to remember that across the world, Christmas is peak travel time. That means accommodation, transfers and experiences are all likely to be booked up well in advance, so working with someone who can handle the details is incredibly important. What I always say is that when it comes to Christmas, the planning is as important as the destination.
And one small tip that makes a big difference: consider flying on Christmas Day. It’s often quieter, sometimes cheaper, and for clients who've already had their family Christmas at home, it's an easy way to start a holiday.
So, whilst Christmas 2026 might feel a long way off, the reality is that the most popular trips will start to book up sooner than you think.
If you’re considering travelling next Christmas and want help finding the right destination, property and experience for you, I’d love to help.
Get in touch with The Travel Edit by Sarah to start planning your trip.
