Best Things to do at Christmas Around the World

Fourth in this year’s Best Student Cities index is popular Australian destination Sydney. If you’re lucky enough to be here at Christmas, you’ll surely be headed for one of the city’s nearby beautiful beaches. In a party mood? Join the crowds at the famous Bondi Beach, where there’s even a Christmas Day music festival.

One place behind Sydney is fellow Australian student hot-spot, Melbourne. Again, with Christmas falling in the middle of the Australian summer, the best things to do at Christmas here typically involve spending time enjoying the sunshine – and what better way to do that than with a cruise on the Yarra River? You can even enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch as you’re guided through the sights and history of the city’s landmarks.

Switzerland’s Zurich, sixth in the Best Student Cities, is one of Europe’s top destinations for Christmas markets, promising magical lights and decorations, a warming aroma of glühwein (mulled wine) wherever you roam, and a good chance of getting that coveted ‘white Christmas’. The Christmas markets themselves are full of traditional food, drink and gifts – but you don’t have to do any actual shopping to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

If you’re craving those younger years when Christmas was full of childhood wonder, why not recreate that experience by unleashing your inner child at Hong Kong’s very own Disneyland? The theme park, located on Lantau Island, is full of shows, rides and life-sized fictitious characters come-to-life – and at Christmas time all the excitement and sparkle gets cranked up a notch even higher than usual.

In Boston, ranked eighth in the latest Best Student Cities, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the city’s oldest park, Boston Common. This is the site for the city’s main Christmas tree, and crowds gather every year for the ceremonial switching on of the lights, accompanied by a firework display. There’s also an ice-skating rink on the park’s pond during the Christmas period.

Over in Canada, one of the best things to do at Christmas in Montréal is to join the traditional Christmas Eve service at Notre-Dame Basilica. Located in the city’s historic Old Town, this gothic-style Roman Catholic church is also known for its music concerts, with lots of special performances in the run-up to Christmas.

Back in Europe, Munich is another of the continent’s most popular destinations for Christmas markets (like Zurich, above). In fact each year more than 20 markets pop up for the festive season, with Marienplatz hosting the largest. Traditional gifts and treats sold here include lebkuchen (biscuits similar to gingerbread), glassware, wood carvings, candles and cakes – and there’s also a daily music concert.

What do you think are the best things to do at Christmas around the world? Share your own experiences and traditions in the comments below.