Visit Christmas movie locations around the world

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Something magical about Christmas movies lies in their twinkling lights, snowy landscapes, and feel-good moments. If you’ve always dreamed of stepping into your favourite festive film, we’ve got you covered.

Experience its real-life magic for yourself. From the bright lights of New York City to Santa Claus’s own home, here are our favourite Christmas movie locations. You can visit them in real life.

1. Home Alone 2 – Lost in New York (New York City, United States)

When Kevin McAllister ended up in New York at Christmas, he stayed at the iconic Plaza Hotel. Then he visited the city’s most magical places. He went ice-skating at Rockefeller Center. He also walked along Fifth Avenue and looked at the famous shop windows.

Your Christmas in New York should include:

• Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park
• Browsing the Christmas Markets at Bryant’s Park Winter Village
• Watching the Rockettes perform during at Radio City Music Hall
• FAO Schwarz flagship store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (a real-life alternative to Duncan’s Toy Chest)
• The Battery is at the southern tip of Manhattan Island. You can enjoy wide river views of the Statue of Liberty.

2. Last Christmas (London, United Kingdom)

The film might break your heart, but the festive charm of its fairytale setting in London’s West End will have it mended in no time. From the towering Norwegian spruce in Trafalgar Square, to the sparkling lights on Regent Street, London knows Christmas.

Your Christmas in London should include:

• Exploring the magic of Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland installation
• Munching on hot, roasted hazelnuts as you browse Oxford Street’s boutiques and department stores
• Wandering through the arcades of Covent Garden
• Soak up the city’s sights from on high with a scenic flight on the London Eye

3. The Holiday (Surrey and the Cotswolds, United Kingdom)

Although half the movie takes place in Los Angeles, the real star of *The Holiday* is the snowy English countryside. The filmmakers built Iris’ idyllic Rose Cottage for the movie and took it down after filming ended.

Your Christmas in rural England should include:

• Enjoying a pint in the cosy White Horse Inn in the village of Shere
• Staying in a quaint country cottage near Holmbury St Mary
• Rambling along the towpath that follows the River Wey from Godalming to Weybridge
• Exploring Blenheim Palace, Great Chalfield Manor or other renowned stately homes in the Cotswolds

4. The Polar Express (Rovaniemi, Finland)

Set on Christmas Eve, this animated classic tells of a boy who regains his Christmas belief.

He does so after riding a magical train to the North Pole. The film has inspired several real-life rail experiences around the world, including Finland’s Santa Claus Express. After traveling from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in northern Finland, you can visit Santa Claus at Santa Claus Village.

Your Christmas in Finland should include:

• A reindeer-drawn sleigh ride (complete with steaming hot chocolate and cosy blankets)
• A photo opp as you step across the Arctic Circle into Finland’s polar region
• Husky sledding or snowmobile safari through endless snowy forests
• An overnight stay in a glass igloo, gazing up at the world’s best light show: the Aurora Borealis

5. Die Hard (Beverly Hills, United States)

Debate exists about whether this is a Christmas movie.

But you don’t need to be a die-hard fan to enjoy a Christmas break in Los Angeles. The Nakatomi Plaza building, where John McLean and Hans Gruber face off on Christmas Eve, is the 34-storey Fox Plaza. It stands in Century City, just a short distance from Beverly Hills.

Your Christmas in Beverly Hills should include:

• A stroll through the Christmas wonderland of Rodeo Drive’s ‘Enchanted Holiday Dreams’ installation
• The breathtaking light show at the Beverly Hills Sign and Lily Pond
• A festive afternoon tea or cookie decorating class at the Beverly Hills Hotel
• A ride aboard the ‘Jolly Trolley’: a Christmas-themed historic trolley bus that takes in all the main holiday sights in Beverly Hills

6. The Last Holiday (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic)

We can’t think of a more perfect winter place for Christmas dreams than the postcard town of Karlovy Vary. Set on the banks of the Ohře and Teplá rivers in west Bohemia, this UNESCO-listed spa resort is famous. The elegant Grandhotel Pupp is in this real-life setting.

Your Christmas in Karlovy Vary should include:

• A relaxing soak in the mineral-rich waters at your chosen spa (the town has dozens to choose from)
• A favourite includes the Elizabeth Spa and the Sauna
• A gentle stroll through the historic Colonnade to browse the Christmas markets
• Sample the local mineral water, which is traditionally served in a delicate porcelain cup
• Take a ride on the funicular for sweeping views across the valley from the historic Diana Tower
• A day trip to Prague to drink mulled wine in the Old Town Square

7. The Grinch (Zermatt, Switzerland)

Even the grinchiest visitors can’t help but fall in love with Zermatt, which feels like the real-life inspiration for Whoville. Nestled in a beautiful valley in the Swiss Alps, this lovely village has chocolate box houses. The distinctive Matterhorn overlooks it. At Christmastime, soft white snow often blankets the village.

Your Christmas in Zermatt should include:

• Enjoying the car-free tranquillity as you browse the boutiques and bakeries of Bahnhofstrasse
• Riding the cogwheel train to Gornergrat to witness the ‘alpenglow’ as the sun sets, illuminating the valley and snow-capped peaks
• Hit the slopes of Matterhorn Ski Paradise, famous for offering more than 360 kilometres of pistes. Be sure to take a break at one of the resort’s many mountain huts to enjoy a mug of steaming hot chocolate
• A festive feast of gooey raclette, indulgent fondue, aromatic mulled wine and rich dark chocolate

8. A Castle for Christmas (Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom)

If your idea of a cosy Christmas holiday involves snow-dusted landscapes, crackling fireplaces, romantic castles and living like royalty, even if it’s just for a night or two, then maybe you should be asking Santa for a festive Highland fling.

Your Christmas in the Highlands should include:

• A leisurely, guided whisky tasting in a wood-panelled distillery room
• An epic road trip through quiet villages and along dramatic, untouched coastlines
• A romantic stay in an authentic Scottish castle. They filmed the movie at Dalmeny House near Edinburgh. If you prefer a true Highlands escape, try luxury castle stays. You’ll find equally atmospheric options in Pitlochry, Fort William, and Argyll
• Soaking up the Christmas atmosphere along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and ice-skating in the Princes Street GardensIf your idea of a cosy Christmas holiday involves snow-dusted landscapes, crackling fireplaces, romantic castles and living like royalty, even if it’s just for a night or two, then maybe you should be asking Santa for a festive Highland fling

8. Bridget Jones 2 (Austrian Alps)

The Austrian ski resort town of Lech am Arlberg was the snowy setting for Bridget’s romantic ski holiday with her beloved Mark Darcy. Don’t be put off by her misadventures on skis – in reality, Lech feels like a perfect snow-globe brought to life in the heart of the Austrian Alps.

Your Christmas in the Austrian Alps should include:

• A day on the slopes of the Ski Arlberg region, which is renowned for its 305 kilometres of pistes and reliable snowfall.
• Cosy apres-ski evenings of fondue and schnapps by a roaring fire
• Long walks or horse-drawn sleigh rides through quiet, snow-clad forests and postcard-perfect valleys

Ready to step into your favourite Christmas film?

Whether you’re dreaming of a white Christmas in a cosy mountain resort or a fun-filled, festive city break, our favourite movie-inspired locations are designed to make you the star of your own special Christmas escape. To start bringing your festive travel plans to life, contact your nearest Personal Travel Manager and let us help you to direct a Christmas getaway that’s worthy of the big screen.

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