{"id":18081,"date":"2021-11-15T23:00:33","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T23:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/?p=18081"},"modified":"2024-11-22T17:21:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T17:21:41","slug":"festive-destinations-holiday-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/europe\/festive-destinations-holiday-celebrations","title":{"rendered":"5 of the Best Holiday Destinations Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Get out of town and into the holiday spirit!<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s holiday cheer all over the globe, and it\u2019s always worth traveling to find it! Whether you like to shop, discover cultural experiences, get dazzled at holiday light shows<\/a>, or indulge in local food during your getaway, these 5 festive destinations won\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n\n\n

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You won’t find a taller Christmas tree anywhere else in Europe!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

1. <\/b>Lisbon<\/b><\/a> – See Europe\u2019s Tallest Christmas Tree<\/b><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

There are so many impressive structures to see in Lisbon, like the famous Belem tower or the S\u00e3o Jorge castle. But that\u2019s not all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located in the beautiful Eduardo VII Park, Lisbon is home to Europe\u2019s largest Christmas tree. It\u2019s almost 250 feet tall! It\u2019s artificial, but that just means there\u2019s no shortage of lighting designs that can be displayed across its 15,000+ bulbs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official lighting is usually accompanied by live music and fireworks, so there\u2019s no better way to kick off the holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n

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St. Petersburg is packed with scenic bridges over its many waterways.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. <\/b>St. Petersburg, Russia<\/b><\/a> – Enjoy a Performance of <\/b>The Nutcracker<\/i><\/b>  <\/b><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Whether you know it or not, you\u2019ve probably heard (and hummed) the work of the great Russian composer, Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Not convinced? He\u2019s famous for composing music for the ballets Swan Lake<\/i> and The Sleeping Beauty<\/i>, but is best known for The Nutcracker<\/i>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In St. Petersburg<\/a>, you can head to the famous, ornate Mariinsky Theatre (now in its 239th season!) and catch this Christmas classic right where it originated. There\u2019s so much more to see before it leaves the port at 6 PM, like the quintessential Russian domes of the Church of The Resurrection of Christ, and the long red carpet going up the Winter Palace\u2019s staircase, which will make you feel like you\u2019ve stepped into a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Hamburg Town Hall and Christmas Market are quite the sight at night.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

3. <\/b>Germany<\/b><\/a> and <\/b>Scandinavia<\/b><\/a> – Stroll Through the Christmas Markets<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cobblestone streets, lights strung across town squares, vendors selling artisan crafts, and hot chocolate\u2026 who wouldn\u2019t want to bundle up and take a stroll through all that holiday magic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany is famous for its Christmas markets, often in historic city centers and squares. Right in front of the town hall in Hamburg Germany<\/a>, you\u2019ll find all the holiday cheer and one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of booths sell different goods, but many are designed with the cozy, peaked wood roofs of Bavaria. The decorations and lights of the markets make for a perfect romantic stroll! And if you need to warm up, grab some mulled wine\u2014Prost<\/i>!<\/p>\n\n\n

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From Oslo to Copenhagen, Scandinavia is magical around the holidays.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Scandinavia<\/a> is also a magical place to visit this time of year. After all, it is where Frozen <\/i>is based. While the holiday markets are similar to those in Germany, there are plenty of unique items to score and sample, like the uber-warm Norwegian sweaters and tasty cured meats in Oslo, Norway<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copenhagen, Denmark<\/a> pulls out all the stops with real log cabins and reindeer in the markets. And you\u2019ve got to try the spicy, sweet drink called \u201cglogg\u201d while walking along the picturesque waterfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gothenburg, Sweden<\/a> hosts its market inside an amusement park, where you can enjoy traditional Swedish food, like meatballs and mashed potatoes, and even take a glide on the ice skating rink!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. <\/b>Cozumel, Mexico<\/b><\/a> – Celebrate Nochebuena in Style <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Mexico and other Filipino, Hispanic, and Latinx communities across the world, Nochebuena<\/i> (which translates to \u201cGood Night\u201d in Spanish) is one of the most cherished parts of the holiday season! It marks Christmas Eve, when families come together for tasty food, flowing beverages, and plenty of holiday cheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrations vary across the world, but in sunny Cozumel<\/a>, you can expect villancicos<\/i> (Christmas carols), posadas<\/i> (parties), plenty of local shops to browse, and restaurants offering delicious traditional Mexican dishes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

5. <\/b>Charleston, South Carolina<\/b><\/a> – Discover a Christmas Full of Southern Charm<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you hail from the United States, who said you have to leave the country to find that special holiday magic? If you\u2019re looking for a Christmas with plenty of charm, we recommend heading over to Charleston, South Carolina, one of the country\u2019s most picturesque and historic cities. In this beautiful city you\u2019ll find everything from horse-drawn carriage rides to festive local markets. We recommend checking out the Holiday Festival of Lights<\/a>, an annual show stopping display of over two million lights at James Island County Park!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re standing under Europe\u2019s tallest Christmas tree or celebrating Nochebuena with your toes in the sand, these holiday destinations bring the spirit of the season to life in unforgettable ways!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let these destinations inspire you to choose from the locations on the Carnival Christmas cruise list<\/a> and set sail on a journey you can enjoy just as much as the destination. From onboard activities to special performances, a cruise is an undeniably magical way to celebrate the holidays. The best part? You don\u2019t have to lift a finger\u2014 just relax, indulge, and let the holiday cheer wash over you like ocean waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here<\/a> to learn more about spending Christmas at sea with a Carnival cruise vacation!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Get out of town and into the holiday spirit! There\u2019s holiday cheer all over the globe, and it\u2019s always worth … read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":18087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 of the Best Holiday Destinations Around the World<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/europe\/festive-destinations-holiday-celebrations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 of the Best Holiday Destinations Around the World\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Get out of town and into the holiday spirit! 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