16 Dazzling Christmas Lights Around the World You Have to See

All it takes is one glimpse at Christmas lights to stir up some holiday cheer. Suddenly, you’re tempted to put on your favourite Christmas movie, blast festive songs all night long, and chill with a cosy blanket over a cup of hot cocoa. From the festive marketplaces of Europe to the stunning light displays of the Philippines, there are plenty of Christmas markets and light displays that bring joy to people around the world. Let’s take a peek at all the best Christmas lights that we can look forward to this year.

Note: For the latest information, check the official websites of each location before making plans to visit.

Also read: 14 Fairytale Christmas Towns & Villages Around the World

Best Christmas lights and festive light displays around the world

1. Galeries Lafayette – Paris, France

We can’t argue with a holiday in France, especially when it’s set in the City of Lights. Over the holidays, the Galeries Lafayette in Paris turns into a shopper’s paradise of lights featuring Christmas ornaments and a glass walkway under a dome. This high-end department store will catch anyone’s eye with its festive shop windows and giant Christmas tree. It takes the excitement of the holidays to new heights, for sure. 

Also read: 16 Paris Airbnbs With Eiffel Tower Views for Every Budget

2. Rockefeller Center – New York, United States

At the end of each year, the lighting ceremony of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center draws thousands of visitors to New York City. And the famous tree, almost as tall as the skyscrapers nearby, is crowned with a star that’s made from not one, not two, but three million Swarovski crystals. Needless to say, this holiday destination is a must-see in the city that never sleeps.

Also read: 14 Best Airbnbs Around Times Square, New York City

3. Carnaby Street – London, United Kingdom

Carnaby Street, one of the prettiest streets in London, turns into a vibrant walkway with neon lights during the holiday season. Once hailed the “Capital of Cool,” this street is lined with independent shops, restaurants, and bars that call back to the “Swinging Sixties” in London’s history. Even today, it’s easy to appreciate this street’s appeal among Britain’s youth. Festive light installations appear during Christmas time, and they take on a different theme each year!

Also read: 12 Gorgeous Yet Budget-Friendly Airbnbs in London

4. Rynek Główny – Kraków, Poland

In Central Europe, the Christmas light displays in Poland are guaranteed to impress! Christmas decorations and fairy lights adorn Kraków’s main market square, Rynek Główny, where they form a gorgeous backdrop in front of the 14th-century Town Hall Tower. Moreover, this UNESCO-listed Old Town boasts cultural performances and charming wooden stalls, as well as a truly magnificent tree in the medieval square. And how can you resist the Cinderella-esque coach waiting to steal you away?

Also read: 18 Underrated Countries to Visit Before the Year Ends

5. Cathedral Square – Vilnius, Lithuania

If you can’t hitch a ride on Santa’s sleigh, what’s the next best thing? Why, hopping on a Christmas train, of course! The Vilnius Christmas Train takes you through the historic Old Town in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, where you can treat yourself to handmade gifts, candied nuts, and hot chocolate. Another beloved holiday tradition in the city is the annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Cathedral Square, which resembles a giant queen chess piece. 

6. Regent Street – London, United Kingdom

Another crowd-favourite place that embraces the Christmas spirit is Regent Street. In 1954, it became the first location in Central London to be adorned with Christmas lights, and this tradition has been a hit with the public ever since. Running from Landham Place to Waterloo Place, London’s most iconic Christmas lights display features giant angelic sculptures, floating high above shoppers and pedestrians. Their glittering wingspans are covered in thousands of LED lights, making them a marvellous sight to behold.

7. Calle Larios – Malaga, Spain

When it comes to Christmas lights around the world, the port city of Málaga can definitely give other European countries a run for their money! In December 2019, the glitzy shopping haven of Calle Larios was decked out in a themed “Christmas Forest,” complete with illuminated angels, suns, and autumn leaves. The streets of the city are filled with people gazing at the glowing lights and arches. Past visitors have said that it feels like walking through a cathedral.

Also read: 12 Best Affordable Summer Destinations in Europe

8. Medellín – Antioquia, Colombia

Known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” the Colombian city of Medellín in Antioquia province showcases over 20 million LED Christmas lights in the form of castles, water lilies, boats, fish, rainbows, and more. This annual Christmas show is called “El Alumbrado” (“Lighting”), and it’s a huge source of pride for the locals, who enjoy helping out in the event preparations all over the city. Consider visiting the Parque Norte, Medellín River, and Parques del Río for the best spots to see the Christmas lights, which have ranked among the most captivating in the world. 

9. VanDusen Festival of Lights – Vancouver, Canada

How about an enchanting stroll across flower beds, tunnels, and garden pathways — lit up with a million lights? At the VanDusen Festival of Lights in Vancouver, Canada, thousands of visitors arrive just to explore Christmas-themed attractions that are named the Gingerbread Walk, Candy Cane Lake, and more. No matter how old you might be, the holiday cheer around these beautifully decorated grounds will have you smiling from ear to ear! 

10. Tivoli Gardens – Copenhagen, Denmark

If you happen to be in Copenhagen over the holidays, consider yourself incredibly lucky! One of the biggest highlights of this Danish city is the Tivoli Gardens. From scenic gardens to fireworks displays to merry-go-round rides, this beautiful amusement park in Denmark is straight out of a storybook. So charming are the gardens and the lake inside the park, that the attraction has inspired storytellers like Walt Disney and Hans Christian Andersen with its peaceful, fairy tale atmosphere. 

11. Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market – Berlin, Germany

Offering no fewer than 50 Christmas markets, Berlin is practically synonymous with the season itself. If your idea of Christmas includes tasting mouth-watering delicacies and shopping until your legs get tired, then the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market makes the perfect addition to your bucket list. Situated between Französischer Dom and Deutscher Dom, the tents at the market sell candles, jewellery, glass-blown products, a special mulled wine called glühwein, and traditional handicrafts from artisans in Berlin.  

Also read: 10 Best Airbnbs in Berlin to Soak Up the Sights of the City

12. Viennese Dream Christmas Market – Vienna, Austria

Some cities are just made for wintertime celebrations, wouldn’t you agree? Austria’s capital brings a unique kind of holiday magic with the Viennese Dream Christmas Market, which resembles a full-blown Christmas village with more than 150 stalls. It’s held on the Rathausplatz, the public square located in front of the Rathaus City Hall. Some of the exciting activities at this festival include buying gingerbread cookies, participating in crafts workshops, skating on the ice rink, and shopping for traditional souvenirs! 

Also read: A Cultural Guide To Vienna: History, Music, and Food!

13. Kobe Luminarie – Kobe, Japan

In the city of Kobe, a dazzling light display called the Kobe Luminarie is commemorated to honour the 6,000 people who lost their lives during the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. Originally, this light festival in Japan was only meant to raise funds and bring hope to the city’s inhabitants for one year. But since its inception in 1995, it has only grown in popularity since then. Over 200,000 painted bulbs adorn the downtown area of Kobe in a sea of lights. 

Also read: 15 Best Winter Illuminations in Japan You Have to See IRL

14. Luci d’Artista – Salerno, Italy

Fancy a winter holiday on the Amalfi Coast? In December, the medieval squares and cobblestone streets in the city of Salerno sparkle with the Luci d’Artista (“Artists’ Lights”), an open-air festival with Christmas activities and lights. The most recent illuminations depict a star-filled sky with LED lights, while other past installations of the festival have included floating light displays of dolphins, mermaids, and the Roman god Neptune. But the greatest view can be found atop the 60-metre-high Ferris wheel on the Piazza della Concordia, where you can enjoy a lookout over this glittering city.

15. Ayala Triangle Gardens – Makati City, Philippines

Without a doubt, the Philippines can give the world a master class on how to celebrate Christmas. As early as September, the country is decorated with bright lights and unique star-shaped lanterns called parol. Meanwhile, shopping malls try to outdo one another with massive Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and reindeer installations.

For those in Metro Manila, the Festival of Lights at the Ayala Triangle Gardens is a must-see experience with its dancing lights, holograms, and Christmas song medleys. Beyond the festive light displays, however, it’s the heartwarming generosity of the locals that will leave an impression on any visitor. 

Also read: 7 Unique Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Philippines

16. Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Step right into a Christmas extravaganza at the Red Square in Moscow, where the streets become the site of a Russian fairy tale. It’s the perfect place to go snowboarding down an ice slide with a view of the Kremlin or take a ride on one of the brightly-lit carousels, just to name a few ideas. Packed with kiosks selling pastries and mulled wine, the joyous scenery in this historic square will keep you warm on the coldest of winters.

Also read: 12 Stunning Winter Train Rides Around the World

December is a wonderful time of the year, and these stunning Christmas lights around the world are guaranteed to melt the hearts of even the grumpiest of Grinches. Got any photos of Christmas light displays that you’d like us to feature? Tag us on IG: @tripzillamag!