PA city among the best destinations across the globe for Christmas, travel magazine says

Matt DiSanto
·3 min read

One Pennsylvania city recently appeared among a collection of spots across the globe that offer the best entertainment, decorations and atmosphere each Christmas season.

The list, compiled and published by Condé Nast Traveler, recognizes 32 of the best global destinations for Christmas travel. Nominees include cities and landmarks in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa.

Here’s what you need to know about Pennsylvania’s representative among Condé Nast Traveler’s favorite Christmas destinations in 2023.

Spending Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Split between Northampton and Lehigh counties in eastern Pennsylvania, this city has adopted the nickname “Christmas City USA” since 1937. Bethlehem claims to be the first U.S. city to feature a decorated Christmas tree.

As you might expect, there’s plenty to do in this historic city during the holiday season. Condé Nast Traveler suggests visiting the downtown district’s “live” advent calendar or staying at Hotel Bethlehem, whose holiday display features more than 35,000 Christmas lights, 36 wreaths, life-sized toy soldiers and a larger-than-life gingerbread house of the lodge.

“For the past three decades, the little town of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania has channeled its name and transformed into ‘Christmas City’ for the holidays,” Condé Nast Traveler wrote online. “Celebrations are centered around the Christkindlmarkt at the SteelStacks, with more than 50 booths featuring artisan crafts, as well as live music and special evens with Santa Claus himself.”

Other events in the area this holiday season include tree tours, carriage rides, pictures with Santa Claus and plenty of light displays. Visitors can often expect live music, including trombone ensembles and carolers, throughout Main Street, according to Discover Lehigh Valley, the region’s official tourism bureau.

One particularly appealing option for newcomers to Bethlehem is the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Night Motorcoach Tour, which takes guests on a guided tour offering the best views during the holiday season. Tours are offered in several time slots each night for $25 per person.

Visit historicbethlehem.org/visit-us/series-category/christmas for a full list of Bethlehem’s coming Christmas events throughout the holiday season.

Condé Nast Traveler’s top Christmas destinations

Here’s a full look at the magazine’s 32 favorite places to spend Christmas this year. The latest compilation organized the destinations by alphabetical order.

  • Asheville, N.C.

  • Basel, Switzerland

  • Berlin, Germany

  • Bethlehem, Pa.

  • Bruges, Belgium

  • Cape Town, South Africa

  • Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Dublin, Ireland

  • Edinburgh, Scotland

  • Gdańsk, Poland

  • Hong Kong, China

  • Inari, Finland

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Málaga, Spain

  • Montreal, Canada

  • New York City, N.Y.

  • Paris, France

  • Park City, Utah

  • Prague, Czech Republic

  • Quebec City, Canada

  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Rome, Italy

  • Salzburg, Austria

  • San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

  • Sibiu, Romania

  • Strasbourg, France

  • Sydney, Australia

  • Taipei, Taiwan

  • Tbilisi, Georgia

  • Tokyo, Japan

  • Vilnius, Lithuania

You can read Condé Nast Traveler’s full feature on the best places to spend Christmas 2023 by visiting cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-12-08/copenhagen-to-quebec-14-cities-that-do-christmas-best.