Christmas Travel 2026: Where to Go and When to Book
Christmas 2026 falls on Friday 25 December, which is good news for travellers — a Friday Christmas means a natural four-day weekend for anyone who gets Boxing Day off, and a nine-day break with just three days of annual leave. It also means the booking window is tighter than usual, because everyone else has noticed the same thing.
This guide covers the key dates, the destinations worth your money, and — most importantly — when to book so you don’t pay peak prices for a mediocre trip.
Key dates for Christmas travel 2026
| Date | Day | What it means for travel |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day — most of Europe shuts down |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day / St Stephen’s Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Substitute bank holiday in the UK (26 Dec falls on a Saturday) |
| 31 December | Thursday | New Year’s Eve — the most expensive night of the year |
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day — a second long weekend |
Note the UK quirk: because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, the substitute bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December. That creates a four-day weekend from 25 to 28 December.
The best Christmas destinations
Christmas markets in Central Europe
The classic. Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Nuremberg and Strasbourg all run markets from late November to Christmas Eve. They’re at their best in the first two weeks of December — the crowds are thinner, the stalls are fully stocked, and hotel prices haven’t yet hit their peak. Book by early November for the best-value rooms.
Lapland, Finland
For a bucket-list Christmas: glass igloos, husky sleds, reindeer and the northern lights. Rovaniemi is the commercial hub (and the official “hometown” of Santa); Saariselkä and Levi are quieter and better value. December here is dark, cold and genuinely magical — but also the most expensive week of the year. Book six to nine months out.
New York City
Rockefeller Center, the window displays, the Rockettes and Central Park in the cold. New York is at its most cinematic in December. It’s also at its most expensive — expect to pay double for a midtown hotel. Consider staying in Brooklyn or Long Island City and taking the subway in.
A warm-weather Christmas
Not everyone wants snow. Sydney and Melbourne do Christmas in summer — beaches, seafood and outdoor lunches. Maldives, Thailand and Mexico’s Riviera Maya all run peak-season pricing but deliver genuine winter sun. Note that this is the single most expensive week of the year in every one of these destinations.
Japan
Christmas isn’t a public holiday in Japan, but the illuminations are spectacular and the country is far quieter than Europe. It’s a smart choice if you want the festive atmosphere without the closures and the price spikes. See when to visit Japan for the seasonal picture.
When to book
Christmas is the most predictable travel peak of the year, which means the booking windows are predictable too.
- Flights: 3–5 months ahead for the best fares. For long-haul to Australia, New Zealand or Asia over Christmas, 6 months is safer.
- Hotels: 2–4 months ahead in European cities; 6–9 months ahead for Lapland and ski resorts.
- Rail: European high-speed tickets open 3–4 months before travel and are cheapest the day they go on sale.
- Restaurants: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner books out 4–8 weeks ahead in major cities. New Year’s Eve, even earlier.
The pattern is simple: the cheapest window closes about six weeks before Christmas. After that, prices climb steeply and the best rooms disappear.
Planning around the closures
One thing first-time Christmas travellers get wrong: in much of Europe, Christmas Day itself is a shutdown. Shops, museums and most restaurants close — sometimes for 24 and 26 December both. Plan for a hotel with a restaurant, or book a Christmas lunch in advance. If you’re travelling between cities on 25 December, check that trains and flights are actually running.
By contrast, in Japan, Thailand and Mexico, Christmas Day is a normal working day and everything is open.
Frequently asked questions
What day is Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday 25 December. Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December, and in the UK the substitute bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December.
When should I book Christmas travel?
Book flights three to five months ahead, hotels two to four months ahead, and anything in Lapland or a ski resort six to nine months ahead. The best-value window generally closes about six weeks before Christmas.
Where is the cheapest place to spend Christmas?
Central and Eastern European cities — Budapest, Kraków, Prague — offer the best value for a traditional Christmas market trip. Japan and Thailand are also relatively affordable if you book early, because Christmas isn’t a domestic peak there.
Is anything open on Christmas Day in Europe?
Very little. Most shops, museums and restaurants close on 25 December in Germany, Austria, France, Italy and the UK. Hotels remain open, and many serve a Christmas lunch — book it in advance.
Our sources
Dates are verified against official government holiday calendars for the UK, EU member states and other featured destinations. Booking-window guidance is based on editorial analysis of seasonal pricing patterns and is reviewed quarterly. Last reviewed: 15 October 2026.
Disclosure: some links on HolidaysSky may be affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects which destinations we recommend.