We Ranked the World's Best Christmas Cities for 2025

You know that unique Christmas feeling. The lights, the cold air, the movie magic. But in which city does that feeling hit the hardest?

We all have a dream Christmas destination in our heads. But does the reality match the movie screen? At Sim Local, we help millions of you share your holiday memories instantly all year-round, so we decided to settle the debate once and for all.

For 2025, we analysed the world’s most iconic Christmas cities and ranked them on the only metrics that matter for Christmas: Weather (we want snow!), Activities, Food & Drink, Traditions, Pop Culture, and Shopping.

From the neon lights of Tokyo, the snowy peaks of Quebec to the iconic movie scenes we all know and love in New York & London, we’ve ranked the top 6 best Christmas cities in the world. Who took the top spot?....Keep reading to find out!

(The Sim Local Christmas Index Criteria - 2025 edition)

Tokyo might not be the first place you think of for a "traditional" Christmas, but 2025 travel trends show a massive spike in interest for Japan during winter. Tokyo trades tradition for spectacle. It ranks lower on "snow" but scores a near-perfect result for its world-famous light displays.

• Weather: 5/10 (Chilly, clear skies, but rarely snowy)
• Activities: 8/10 (Winter Illuminations at Roppongi Hills are unmatched)
• Food: 8/10 (The famous "Kentucky Christmas" tradition)
• Movies: 4/10 (Lost in Translation vibes, but few Christmas classics)
• Shopping: 9/10 (Ginza is a shopping paradise)
• Final Score: 7.8/10

🎄 Why it made the list: The "KFC Christmas" bucket is a genuine phenomenon in Japan -you have to order weeks in advance!

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Top Seller

If your main metric is "Must Look Like a Hallmark Movie," Quebec City is the winner. It scores a perfect 10/10 for Weather because a White Christmas here isn't just possible; it's practically guaranteed.

• Weather: 10/10 (Snowy, cold, magical)
• Activities: 8/10 (Tobogganing at Château Frontenac)
• Food: 7/10 (Tourtière meat pies and maple taffy on snow)
• Traditions: 9/10 (Feels like old Europe in North America)
• Movies: 6/10 (Filming location for many Hallmark films)
• Shopping: 7/10 (Boutique craft shops in Petit-Champlain)
• Final Score: 8.2/10

🎄 Why it made the list: Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure that feels more French than France during the holidays.

🎥 Movie Moment: The entire city looks like the set of The Santa Clause - you'll want to share those pics in real-time on social media so stay connected with a Canada eSIM plan.

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Top Seller

Self-proclaimed the "Capitale de Noël," Strasbourg is the heavyweight champion of tradition. The markets officially return on November 26, 2025, bringing back the oldest market in France (dating back to 1570).

• Weather: 7/10 (Grey and cold, creating a cozy vibe)
• Activities: 9/10 (The Christkindelsmärik is the gold standard of markets)
• Food: 9/10 (Vin Chaud, Bredle cookies, Foie Gras)
• Traditions: 10/10 (This is where the Christmas tree tradition began)
• Movies: 5/10 (Less Hollywood, more documentary)
• Shopping: 8/10 (Authentic crafts, less commercial)
• Final Score: 8.5/10

🎄 Why it made the list: The sheer scale. The Great Christmas Tree at Place Kléber is distinctively massive.

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Top Seller

London has just been named the #1 city for "Christmas Tours" in 2025 studies, and for good reason. While it rarely snows (low Weather score), it makes up for it with 10/10 Shopping and massive Movie nostalgia.

• Weather: 6/10 (Rainy, but atmospheric)
• Activities: 9/10 (Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Skating at Somerset House)
• Food: 8/10 (Mince pies, Christmas pudding, Pub roasts)
• Traditions: 9/10 (The King's Speech, Boxing Day sales)
• Movies: 10/10 (Love Actually, A Christmas Carol, Paddington)
• Shopping: 10/10 (Harrods, Liberty, Regent Street lights)
• Final Score: 8.8/10

🎄 Why it made the list: Love Actually. Walking through Heathrow arrivals or St. Luke’s Mews creates an instant emotional connection for millions of travelers.

🎥 Movie Moment: Skating at Somerset House is straight out of Love Actually. Share these Love Actually Christmas moments in real-time thanks to a UK eSIM from Sim Local.

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If New York is the loud, exciting Christmas party, Vienna is the elegant ball. It consistently ranks as the world’s most livable city, and in December, it becomes the most beautiful.

• Weather: 8/10 (Crisp, cold, decent chance of snow)
• Activities: 10/10 (Rathausplatz Market is arguably the world's best)
• Food: 9/10 (Sachertorte, Glühwein, Roasted Chestnuts)
• Traditions: 10/10 (Advent concerts, Krampus parades)
• Movies: 6/10 (The setting for many royal romance movies)
• Shopping: 8/10 (Traditional glass ornaments)
• Final Score: 8.9/10

🎄 Why it made the list: The Rathausplatz. The lighting of the city hall is so spectacular it feels like CGI.

💡 Travel Tip: Vienna’s markets are cash-heavy, but for maps and metro tickets, you need your phone. Download a Europe eSIM to cover you in Austria and neighbouring countries.

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It’s a cliché for a reason. New York takes the #1 spot on our Index simply because it dominates the "Culture" and "Movies" categories so heavily that no other city can catch up. It is Christmas to most of the world.

• Weather: 7/10 (Unpredictable, but magical when it snows)
• Activities: 10/10 (Rockefeller Tree, Dyker Heights Lights, Rockettes)
• Food: 9/10 (Serendipity Hot Chocolate, roasted nuts on corners)
• Traditions: 8/10 (Macy’s windows, Ball drop prep)
• Movies: 10/10 (Elf, Home Alone 2, Miracle on 34th St)
• Shopping: 10/10 (Fifth Avenue is unrivaled)
• Final Score: 9.2/10

🎄 Why it won: You can’t walk down 5th Avenue without feeling like you are the main character in a movie. From the tree at Rockefeller Center to the window displays at Saks, the energy is unmatched.

🎥 Movie Moment: Visiting the Plaza Hotel allows you to live out your Home Alone 2 dreams - just don't run up the room service bill like Kevin did. Speaking of expensive - the USA is notorious for visitors accidentally running up an expensive phone bill. Avoid expensive roaming charges with one of our USA eSIM plans.

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We just ranked the best Christmas cities in the world, but here is one ranking you don't want to be on: The "Highest Phone Bill" list.

Let’s be real - that extra £50 you’d spend on roaming charges? That’s five mugs of Glühwein in Vienna, a bucket of KFC in Tokyo, or a serious head start on shopping in London. Don’t burn your budget on data roaming charges - get an eSIM.

Download the Sim Local app before you fly and purchase your eSIM plan. Land, switch on your eSIM, and ishare your best Christmas travel moments in real-time. Happy Christmas!