The Best Cities to Celebrate Christmas and Escape the Cold – Sweett Blog

Nothing gets us in the mood for the festive season more than Christmas markets. And it seems we’re not the only ones. The world’s best Christmas markets attract millions of visitors every year. An estimated three million people now flock to Germany’s oldest Christmas market, Striezelmarkt in Dresden, every year – and that number is expected to rise this winter.

However, there is one thing that tends to rival our longing for a cozy Christmas market… and that’s the allure of the winter sun!

Many of us start dreaming of trips to warmer regions as soon as the weather turns cold. According to ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) almost half (46%) of people surveyed are booking or considering taking a winter holiday in 2021.

So what if we combine the two? Taking a trip to a Christmas market also allows us to escape the cold and enjoy a little winter sunshine, while still feeling the excitement and joy of welcoming the holiday season! What could be better?

Our team decided to see if it was possible. To do this, we ranked cities by scoring them based on the number of Christmas markets and the hottest temperatures in November and December, then gave each destination an average score of 10.

Here are the top destinations for celebrating Christmas in the sun.

1. UAE, Dubai (average score 10)
2. USA, Miami (average score 7.87)
3. Portugal, Porto (average score 7.54)
4. Spain, Barcelona (average score 7.38)
5. France, Cannes (average score 7.19)
6. France, Grimaud (average score 6.70)
7. Italy, Florence (average score 6.57)
8. French, Good (average score 6.15)
9. Italy, Milan (average score 5.75)
10. Ireland, Dublin (average score 5.73)
11. Belgium, Brussels (average score 5.60)
12. Germany, Berlin (average score 5.67)
13. Austria, Graz (average score 5.57)
14. France, Paris (average score 5.54)
15. Austria, Salzburg (average score 5.52)
16. Belgium, Bruges (average score 5.50)
17. Israel, Jerusalem (average score 5.49)
18. France, Lyon (average score 5.45)
19. Austria, Vienna (average score 5.37)
20. Belgium, Ghent (average score 4.95)
21. Germany, Cologne (average score 4.90)

Dubai

Dubai’s hot desert climate means guaranteed sunshine all year round – even in mid-December. But that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the excitement if you travel here.

Dubai City is home to 12 Christmas markets, meaning there is a Christmas market for every 3km2 in the area. And that makes it our top destination for enjoying some festive winter sunshine.

Where to stay in Dubai.

Miami

Miami is another popular destination to soak up some winter sunshine. In December, the average high temperature is 24 degrees, but of course, Miami residents still go outside to celebrate Christmas!

This year, Miami is hosting a massive Christmas market, brought to the city straight from New York. Urbanspace, the company behind NYC’s largest Christmas market, will open its highly anticipated Lincoln Road Christmas Market on November 15th.

Where to stay in Miami.

Cannes

Head to France for warmer Christmas celebrations, delicious traditional cuisine and some amazing Christmas markets. If you’re looking for winter sunshine, Cannes is a great choice.

The average temperature is around 14 degrees in December, and Christmas in Cannes is an experience not to be missed. Visit the Cannes Christmas village to see what you can expect this winter.

Where to stay in Cannes.

Barcelona

Barcelona is an amazing place to celebrate Christmas. Enjoy the best Spanish holiday treats, take part in traditional celebrations, and shake off the cold as you make the most of December’s 15-degree temperatures.

In Barcelona, ​​​​you will find many interesting Christmas markets, such as La Fira de Santa Llucia, Fira de Reis, Fira de Nadal del Port Vell, and Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família. These four amazing markets make Barcelona one of our top destinations for enjoying some winter sunshine at Christmas.

Where to stay in Barcelona.

Ibiza

The average temperature in Ibiza is around 16 degrees in December, making it a popular destination for those looking to escape the cold. And there’s no shortage of great ways to celebrate Christmas here. The Ibiza Town Christmas Market is not to be missed, with 24 stalls selling everything you need to celebrate in style.

Where to stay in Ibiza.

Milan

Temperatures in Milan during December are slightly lower than some of our other top picks, at around seven degrees. However, this destination is really interesting when it comes to Christmas markets.

There are seven markets to choose from in Milan, and each one has a beautiful atmosphere and is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit. Choose from Mercatino di Natale in Piazza Duomo, Fiera degli Oh Bej! Oh Bej!, Piazza Portello Magic Christmas, Wunder Mrkt and many more.

Where to stay in Milan.

Jerusalem

Nowhere in the world celebrates Christmas like Jerusalem, so if you’re looking for something different this year why not book a trip to the Holy City.

Jerusalem is home to beautiful Christmas markets, where you’ll find amazing souvenirs, delicious food and exciting entertainment for the whole family. And the temperature here is about 14 degrees in December.

Residence in Jerusalem.

Dublin

Dublin treats its residents and visitors alike to a wide selection of Christmas markets, making it one of our top picks for a festive trip.

While Dublin doesn’t have the cool temperatures of Dubai or Ibiza in December, the average high temperature in Dublin is around nine degrees, so it’s not too cold to enjoy the festivities here.

This year’s Dublin Christmas Markets include Dublin Castle Christmas Market (Christmas at the Castle), Mistletown, Swords Castle Christmas Market, Terenure Christmas Festival and Bumper Craft Market, Guinness Storehouse Winter Festival and Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival. Find out more about options here.

Residence in Dublin.

Florence

Italy is a very popular destination during the festive season. If you’re looking for winter sunshine and amazing Christmas markets, Florence is hard to beat. There are five Christmas markets in Florence, and the temperature in December is around 11 degrees.

Visit the markets in Piazza Santa Croce and Piazza del Duomo or visit the Giardino della Fortezza to see Europe’s longest skating rink. There is also the Florence Winter Park and the Mercato Natale profile at Palazzo Corsini.

Where to stay in Florence.

Good

Nice is only home to one Christmas market – but what a market it is! The city of Nice in France always celebrates Christmas by building a complete Christmas village for residents and tourists to explore.

Nice Christmas Village has sixty fully themed chalets selling all kinds of festive treats, along with a Ferris wheel, skating rink and of course Santa’s Grotto. And with temperatures of 13 degrees in December, it’s an ideal destination for those looking to escape the winter chill. Find out more about Christmas in Nice here.

Place to stay in Bagus.

Beat the chill this Christmas with a trip to one of the warmest and most festive destinations in the world. With so many amazing Christmas markets taking place everywhere from Jerusalem to Dubai, the options are truly endless. Book your next vacation now and start planning a winter getaway like no other.

Methodology: Average temperature data for each city in December was taken from NOAA and information about Christmas markets is listed below. Temperature and number of markets per km2 are both scored separately out of 10, which is equivalent to an overall average score out of 10.