Munich<\/h4>\n![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Christmas-Things-to-Do-in-Munich.jpeg\")
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<\/h4>\nHead to\u00a0Munich<\/a>\u00a0for dozens of festive Bavarian Christmas markets. Your first stop should definitely be Marientplatz, Munich\u2019s biggest Christmas market. Start at the towering Christmas tree in Marienplatz, and then meander through festive, light-strung streets. You can browse booths with handcrafted soaps, scarves, and ornaments to your heart\u2019s delight. Warm up with a mug of\u00a0gl\u00fchwein<\/em>, hot mulled wine, while kids enjoy alcohol-free\u00a0kinderpunsch<\/em>\u00a0and ice skating.\u00a0Check out Munich\u2019s other Christmas markets<\/a>\u00a0like the medieval-themed Wittelsbacherplatz or shop for gifts at Munich\u2019s trendy downtown stores. If you like hops more than wine, get to know Munich through its\u00a0world-famous beer and food<\/a>. Finally, make time to\u00a0explore Munich\u2019s Bavarian architecture<\/a>\u00a0or linger in one of Munich\u2019s cozy cafes.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Czech capital<\/a>\u00a0is home to some of the most spirited Christmas traditions in Europe. Prague has a unique connection to the holiday thanks to the legend of Good King Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech state and the first person in history to save Christmas from a Grinch. Begin near the square named for the Good King and head out on a\u00a0tour of Prague\u2019s Christmas markets<\/a>. Warm up with mulled wine as you learn all about Czech holiday customs like Christmas carp. Continue to a second market and indulge in some steaming mead and roasted almonds beneath the twinkling lights of the Old Town Square\u2019s impressive tree.<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, the place known as\u00a0The City of Light<\/a>\u00a0has no problem turning on the Christmas spirit thanks to the epic light display on the famed boulevard, Champs Elys\u00e9es. Stroll down this illuminated walkway and gaze into shop windows as you pass countless Parisian landmarks. If you want to make it easy,\u00a0join a Paris Christmas tour<\/a>\u00a0that takes you down the famous avenue on the way to the Arc De Triomphe. Walk past Elys\u00e9e Palace on your way to a celebrated patisserie, Ladur\u00e9e, where you will be treated to delicious French macarons. Close out the evening atop the Arc De Triomphe and take in the breathtaking views of Paris at night, including a luminous Eiffel Tower.<\/p>\n If you want a taste of European Christmas without leaving North America, go to Montreal<\/a>. Venture down the cobblestone streets of the Old Montreal neighbourhood and wander through Bonsecours Market to see the French-Canadian holiday traditions on display\u2014and don\u2019t forget to sample all the chocolate treats. To discover the stories behind the twinkling lights, take a guided tour through Old Montreal<\/a> and wander the snowy streets, admiring marvellous window displays along the way. After your guide leads you through the Santa Claus exhibit at Montreal\u2019s World Trade Center, stop by the well-lit Notre-Dame Basilica to enjoy the true spirit of the season\u2014and maybe even hear some Christmas carols.<\/p>\n Victoria<\/a>, also known as The Garden City, is a perfect small-city Christmas destination. Set on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria\u2019s classic architecture, small waterfront downtown, and cozy cafes give it a Hogsmeade-at-Christmas vibe. Instead of loading your car onto a ferry, take the easy way out with\u00a0a guided tour of the best holiday locations in Victoria<\/a>. Experience the wonder of the Magic of Christmas displays at the lush (even in winter) Butchart Gardens. Spot all the festive wreaths, join the chorus of cheery carollers, and even take to the ice at a skating rink.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re always in a Christmas mood or you were inspired by watching the\u00a0Murdoch Mysteries<\/em>\u00a0Christmas special, there are so many quintessentially Canadian Christmas\u00a0things to do in Vancouver<\/a>. Take to the streets of Vancouver for a\u00a0night of merriment and jollity with a trolley ride through the city<\/a>. Sing along to your favourite Christmas carols as you pass the magnificently adorned Stanley Park and its 3 million twinkling lights. Next up is VanDusen Botanical Garden and its Festival of Lights, a fairy tale-like holiday display set in a snowy forest lit up by thousands of bulbs that dance to both traditional and rocking seasonal tunes. Once you\u2019ve had your fill of botanic illuminations, complete the evening with a warm cup of hot cocoa from one of the city\u2019s premier purveyors like Koko Monk Chocolates.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no place in the US that captures the country\u2019s holiday traditions quite like\u00a0New York City<\/a>. Whether you want to see the Rockettes perform their festive holiday show, marvel at the displays in NYC\u2019s iconic shops, or skate at Rockefeller Center, the City That Never Sleeps has a holiday experience for you. If you want to observe the best Christmas light shows in the city, take the\u00a0New York Christmas Tour<\/a> to view the giant crystal snowflake at Tiffany\u2019s, Radio City Music Hall\u2019s decorations, and the Winter Village at Bryant Park. Once you\u2019ve seen all the classic sights, try out Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour<\/a>\u00a0to experience the holidays like a real New Yorker.<\/p>\n Experience the spirit and warmth of Christmas in diverse neighbourhoods along Chicago<\/a>\u2019s lakeshore, where residents share their distinct heritage and special traditions. Wander through any neighbourhood just outside of the Loop and you\u2019ll find countless dive bars filled to the brim with locals celebrating. Join in with a shot of Jeppson\u2019s Mal\u00f6rt liquor, a uniquely flavoured gift from Chicago\u2019s Swedish immigrants.\u00a0 A quick trip to the heart of downtown brings you to the German Christmas market, which was inspired by Nuremburg\u2019s Christkindlmarket<\/em>. Grab a bratwurst and a mug\u2014or two\u2014of mulled wine, and then revel in the holiday cheer. If you want a deeper understanding of the origin of these festivities, check out the\u00a0Chicago Holiday Lights Trolley and Christmas Market Tour<\/a>, which takes you through the Magnificent Mile holiday lights display and along the Chicago River.<\/p>\n One state over from Chicago, you can find even more Midwestern charm in the epicenter of family-friendly holiday things to do\u2014Branson<\/a>. And nothing says Christmas in Branson quite like the\u00a0Andy Williams Ozark Mountain Christmas<\/a>, which has been delighting fans with captivating performances of Christmas songs for nearly 50 years. Though Andy \u201cMr. Christmas\u201d Williams passed in 2012, he still makes a regular appearance at his show thanks to the marvels of modern technology. Keep the holiday cheer going with a\u00a0VIP tour of Christmas lights throughout Branson<\/a>, where you can discover the the city\u2019s one-of-a-kind nativity scenes. Then, close out the night with a cup of hot cocoa at the historic Branson Hotel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Prague<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Prague.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nParis<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Paris.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nChristmas in Canada<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Montreal<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Montreal.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nVictoria<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Victoria.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nVancouver<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Vancouver.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nChristmas in the United States<\/strong><\/h3>\n
New York City<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-New-York-City.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nChicago<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Chicago.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nBranson<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/viewfinder.expedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Things-to-Do-This-Christmas-Branson.jpeg\")
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