Branson Missouri Most Festive City in the United States

These 7 US Cities Are Full of Christmas Cheer

There are numerous opinions as to where Santa really lives. But, one of his many homes happens to be in North Pole, Alaska. However, that’s not the only place in the United States where you can travel for super cheerful, festive vibes. There are lots of great US cities to visit for Christmas.

We scoured the country for the seven cities full of the most Christmas cheer. And, what we found is that there are numerous places in the United States brimming with festive cheer and Christmas decorations year-round.

If Christmas is your favourite holiday then this list is for you. Book your tickets now for a magical holiday season. Check out these seven US cities that are full of Christmas cheer and say hello to Santa while you’re there.

Best US Cities To Visit For ChristmasHow do these rankings work?

1. Santa Claus, Indiana

With a name like Santa Claus, it’s easy to see why this southwestern Indiana city is one of the best US cities to visit for Christmas. It’s home to the Santa Claus Museum & Village, a Santa Claus Church from 1880, and lots of other festive, Christmassy attractions. After learning about the origins of this Santa Claus city at the local museum, head over to Frosty’s Fun Center for exciting arcade games. Then, visit Santa himself; he’s here even during the summer.

Best US Cities to Visit for Christmas
Image: Santa Claus, Indiana

2. North Pole, Alaska

Just 20 minutes away from Fairbanks you’ll find the festive city of North Pole, Alaska. Yes, we’re talking about the real North Pole. Or, well, as close as you’ll get without a sleigh and some reindeer. From magical ice art and a real Santa Claus house, it’s hard to beat the cheerful nature of this Christmas city. You can even send letters to Santa here, where they’ll be postmarked from the North Pole and stamped with an official Santa seal.

Best US Cities to Visit for Christmas
Image: Travel Alaska

3. Leavenworth, Washington

The Christkindlmarkt in Leavenworth, Washington was recently ranked as the No. 1 best Christmas market in the world. So, it’s easy to say that Leavenworth is one of the absolute best US cities to visit for Christmas. This Bavarian-style village is in the Cascade Mountains. And, every winter the “Village of Lights” comes alive during the holidays for a unique winter experience.

Best US Cities to Visit for Christmas
Image: Leavenworth, Washington

4. Snowflake, Arizona

Make all of your friends jealous and head over to the festive town of Snowflake, Arizona. While not as Christmassy as a place like Leavenworth or the North Pole, you’ll find that Snowflake truly takes advantage of their winter wonderland name. They host an annual 12 Days of Christmas where you can engage in exciting holiday activities. Visit for the tree lighting, enjoy a showing of Charlie Brown Christmas, or simply enjoy some hot cocoa with the forested White Mountains as your backdrop.

5. Asheville, North Carolina

While it features no Christmas name, Asheville is by far one of the most festive US cities at Christmas time. If you’re able to make it here for the holidays, plan a visit to the famous Biltmore Estate. It’s known as one of the most haunted houses in America, but at Christmas they turn it into a magical, spectacular light-covered winter wonderland. After indulging in a little holiday cheer, head downtown to Asheville’s main street for more festive lights.

Image: Explore Asheville

6. Bernville, Pennsylvania

While Bernville is a pretty great place to spend Christmas, we’re more specifically talking about the wonderfully magical Koziars Christmas Village here. Upon arriving, you’ll feel as if you’ve reached a fairytale world full of Christmas cheer, charming walkways, and twinkling lights. Truly, visiting Koziars Christmas Village is like heading straight into Santa’s Workshop. This winter wonderland is complete with Santa’s Post Office Shop, a kissing bridge, and a toy shop.

US Cities with Festive Cheer
Image: Koziars Christmas Village

7. Branson, Missouri

We recently ranked Silver Dollar City as one of the best US theme parks to visit during the holidays. So, it comes as no surprise that Branson is one of the most festive US cities to visit during Christmas. If you’re headed to Silver Dollar City, you’ll witness 6.5 million lights twinkling throughout the entire park. However, the entire city truly gets into the holiday spirit, offering driving tours through light-filled neighbourhoods, live Christmas shows, and thousands of decorated trees.

Image: Explore Branson
Elizabeth Thorn

Elizabeth has lived and worked in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, all of which have contributed to her passion for travel writing. When she's not writing, you can find her exploring little hideouts in Colombia or watching photography tutorials on YouTube.

Contact: [email protected]

View stories

1 comment