Christmas lights have long been a cherished tradition, with families and neighborhoods coming together to decorate their homes and streets in a display of holiday spirit. From lighting up trees in living rooms to stringing colorful bulbs along rooftops and fences, these displays fill the air with warmth and nostalgia. Be it simple strings of lights or elaborate spectacles, they symbolize the joy and togetherness of the season. Rooted in celebration, this tradition has grown into a global phenomenon, and some places take their holiday displays to the next level. Here’s a look at 20 destinations with the prettiest Christmas lights around the world.
Oxford aglow with the magic of Christmas
1. Oxford Street, London
Oxford Street tops the list of Christmassy destinations in London, transforming into a dazzling hub of seasonal lights. Each year, its glowing displays draw visitors, making it the perfect place for both gift shopping and enjoying the holiday cheer. The charm extends to nearby streets like Regent Street, Bond Street, Mayfair, and Piccadilly, which are adorned with millions of LED lights.
2. Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Dyker Heights in Brooklyn is famous for its extravagant decorations, including life-size Santas and snowmen. From Thanksgiving to New Year, homes are adorned with life-size nutcrackers, illuminated snowflakes, and twinkling trees with some houses even playing festive music. Visitors can stroll or drive through the streets to enjoy these festive setups.
3. Rockefeller Center, New York City
Every year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands 77 feet tall and is adorned with around 45,000 lights. This year’s Norway Spruce, sourced from Massachusetts—the first since 1959—will be lit for the first time on December 4, 2024. The tree will remain illuminated daily from 5 am to midnight, with special hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby ice rink throughout the holiday season.
4. Gift of Lights, Canada
The Gift of Lights in Kitchener offers a delightful, family-friendly drive-through experience. This two-kilometer route features a stunning 40-foot LED tree, over 300 animated and static light displays, and light tunnels. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season from the comfort of your car. You can also check out the Magic of Lights in Ottawa at Wesley Clover Parks Campground, and the Winter Wonderland at the Calgary Zoo, which has its own lights and holiday setups to admire from your car.
5. The Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Canada
The Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls is Canada’s largest free outdoor light festival, stretching over eight kilometers with millions of LED lights, 3D sculptures, interactive displays, and beautifully decorated trees. The iconic Niagara Falls themselves, illuminated, are the icing on the cake, a must-see destination for anyone looking to experience the holiday season in full color.
6. Luci d’Artista, Salerno, Italy
Luci d’Artista in Salerno is another free light show, featuring illuminated art installations. Running from November to January, the event draws thousands of visitors with displays, including LED recreations of the night sky, an illuminated zoo, and lemon tree-shaped lights inspired by the Amalfi Coast. A major highlight is the 60-foot ferris wheel offering breathtaking views of the city’s gardens and squares.The traditional Christmas tree in Piazza Portanova is also lit up in early December.
7. Canyon Road Farolito Walk, Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Canyon Road Farolito Walk in Santa Fe is a Christmas Eve tradition that holiday lights don’t always need to be LED to be attractive. Streets and adobe buildings are adorned with farolitos—paper bags filled with sand and lit by candles—and luminarias, small wood bonfires. Visitors admire the gorgeousness of the destination while singing carols and walking under the starlit sky. If you plan to visit, make sure to bundle up, as the walk takes place at dusk on and lasts until late evening.
8. Amsterdam Light Festival, The Netherlands
Amsterdam is at its flashiest every year for the past 12 years from November 28 to January 19. This year’s edition is however a special one as it celebrates the city’s 750th anniversary themed “Ritual.” International artists will transform the city center with light installations, and a display of over 25 artworks created especially for the festival. The lights will be on each evening from 5:00 p.m., turning off at either 10:00 or 11:00 p.m., except on December 31.
9. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark
Christmas is not complete without a visit to the Tivoli Gardens in the centre of Copenhagen. Since its opening in 1843, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens have been a beloved holiday tradition in the Danish capital with over-the-top light displays, fireworks that lights up Tivoli Lake, and additional lights between Christmas and New Year’s. This year, the Christmas markets and other holiday events will run from November 15 to January 5, featuring vendor stalls for shopping and live performances.
10. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, Paris, France
Paris’s Galeries Lafayette is a shopping destination all year round, but during the holiday season, it transforms into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights. This year’s 20,000-bulb display marks the store’s 130th anniversary. The festive window displays, curated by Benoît Laumaillé and Kevin Germanier, draw inspiration from holiday displays of the 1950s. From November 14 to December 31, visitors can also enjoy light and sound shows at the 82-foot-tall Christmas tree.
11. Village de Noël, Nice, France
Nice’s Village de Noël, a festive extravaganza is a Christmas market featuring 60 charming chalets, a large ice skating rink, and plenty of twinkling lights. For the most magical displays, head to Place Masséna along the Promenade du Paillon, where hundreds of LED strands brighten the city’s waterfront, adding even more enchantment to this stunning destination.
12. Vienna’s Christmas light extravaganza
Over two million eco-friendly LED lights adorn 32 shopping streets, powered by nearly 200 kilometers of cable. From grand chandeliers to shimmering red globes, Vienna unfolds into a radiant holiday paradise each year. The centerpiece is the 30-meter spruce in the town hall square, dazzling with 2,000 LED lights and 1,000 baubles. This tree sets the tone for the markets, drawing thousands of visitors every year.
13. Cathedral Square, Vilnius, Lithuania
Cathedral Square in Vilnius is another festive highlight like no other. Each year, the national Christmas tree is a masterpiece—a metal frame artfully decorated with lush, hand-trimmed branches. Recent trees have soared to over 88 feet, adorned with around 70,000 lights that are so radiant they can be spotted from planes landing at Vilnius Airport, four miles away. The tree will be on display from November 28 till January 6, 2025.
14. Tanglin, Singapore
A stroll along this famous shopping street, from Tanglin to Dhoby Ghaut, brings you face-to-face with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and even giant outdoor projections with augmented reality features. Another highlight is the Great Christmas Village, offering family-friendly rides, pop-up stores, and live entertainment. The celebrations kick off in November, with a 14-meter Christmas tree standing tall at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on Orchard Road. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the holiday spirit in Singapore.
15. Saskatoon’s Enchanted Forest, Canada
Saskatoon’s Enchanted Forest at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park has been a cherished holiday tradition for more than 20 years. Each season, the display gets bigger and better, with new additions to keep visitors excited. Families can enjoy the magic of countless sparkling lights and creative displays from the warmth of their car, making it a perfect outing for those cold winter nights.
16. Melbourne, Australia
One of the most popular attractions in Melbourne during the festive season is Christmas Square at Federation Square. There is a giant 17.5-meter LED Christmas tree that shines brightly, surrounded by interactive light installations and even a bell you can swing on. The city’s laneways also get a makeover, making it the perfect place for evening walks. During the Melbourne Christmas Festival, you’ll find late-night shopping, outdoor projections, live music, and pop-up markets.
17. Stockholm, Sweden
More than 40 streets and squares are decorated with lights that celebrate Swedish holiday traditions, including moose, deer, mistletoe, and stars floating above. One of the best spots to see these lights is in the Old Town (Gamla Stan), where the cobblestone streets are lined with glowing lights. The shopping areas like Drottninggatan and Sergels Torg are also beautifully decorated, with sparkling trees and lights. For a full Swedish Christmas experience, don’t miss the market at Skansen, where you can enjoy local treats, crafts and songs.
18. Shibuya Blue Cave (Ao no Dokutsu)
Every year, around 770,000 blue LED lights transform Shibuya Koen Dori Street and stretch all the way to Yoyogi Park, creating an 800-meter path of glowing blue light. The lights cast a mystical blue haze around the crowds, and the reflections in puddles—especially after snow—add an extra touch of beauty to the scene. The Blue Cave first began in 2014 in Nakameguro and moved to Shibuya in 2016, quickly becoming one of the city’s top winter attractions. With millions of visitors each year, it’s no surprise that Shibuya Blue Cave has earned a place as one of Tokyo’s most popular winter illuminations.
19. Tokyo Midtown Christmas, Tokyo, Japan
Celebrate the holidays at Tokyo Midtown, where over 500,000 LED lights light up the park and buildings. The star attraction is the beautiful “Starlight Garden” display, which fills the area with bright, colorful lights. You can also visit the Tokyo Christmas Market which is traditionally held at Hibiya Park. While Christmas isn’t a religious holiday or a deeply rooted tradition in Japan, the festive season still brings a sense of excitement, particularly for its beautiful decorations and aesthetics.
20. Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
From the end of November to early January, Madrid sparkles with festive lights, decorations, and glowing window displays that captivate the city. With around 12 million LED lights, the streets are beautifully lit with glowing garlands, cherry trees, and large nativity scenes at Plaza Mayor and Plaza de España. Twelve towering Christmas trees can be found in the city’s main squares, including Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor adding to the magic.
Travel with Us in 2025
Light up your holiday adventure with a visit to one or more of these stunning destinations this season. Don’t stop there. Join our group trips next year and create even more beautiful memories. Let’s make it happen!
