This Pennsylvania Town Nicknamed ‘Christmas City’ Is One of the Most Charming Places to Visit for the Holidays

The holiday season is here, and if you’re looking for extra cheer, you should head directly to a Christmas market. But that doesn’t mean you need to book a plane ticket to Europe. 

Vacation property rentals company HomeToGo recently put together a list of its top-tier choices for domestic, European-style Christmas market destinations. The ranking was determined by the number of searches conducted on HomeToGo domains between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1, 2024. These places, it says, “offer the magic of Christmas without the long-haul journey.” 

And Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, located two hours northeast of Philadelphia, was the company’s No. 1 pick. 

“Bethlehem fully embraces its nickname, ‘Christmas City, USA,’ each holiday season thanks to its stand-out Christkindlmarkt, packed with festive fare, handmade gifts, and performances,” HomeToGo reports. “The destination’s historic architecture adds a unique backdrop to celebrations, especially in the National Historic Landmark District district, where horse-drawn Christmas carriage rides are available.”

This year, Bethlehem’s Christmas City Village will be open from Nov. 15 through Dec. 22. The event’s signature Christmas Huts on Main, which involve local vendors setting up shop within holiday-themed, wooden huts in the Moravian Historic District, will be open on Fridays through Sundays until Dec. 22.

But that isn’t Christmas City’s only holiday attraction — it’s also hosting the Red and Green Holiday Cocktail Trails on Nov. 16 from 12 p.m. through 5 p.m. and the Silver and Gold Holiday Cocktail Trails on Nov. 26. For $45, visitors will get a “passport” to 12 participating stores and restaurants in Historic Downtown Bethlehem, each serving a distinctive holiday cocktail. And if you have the kiddos in tow, they can visit Jolly Old Saint Nicholas himself at the free Santa’s Haus event on Nov. 30, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Coming in at second place on HomeToGo’s list is Saint Paul, Minnesota, which is known for its European Christmas Market at Union Depot and Rice Park’s cheery holiday light display. Next up is Seattle with Pike Place Market’s Annual Magic in the Market event and Woodland Park Zoo’s WildLanterns experience.

Rounding out the top five is Frankenmuth, Michigan, known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” and home to Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store. Lastly, there’s Philadelphia, which is famous for the traditional German market-style Christmas Village at LOVE Park.

If you want to learn more about these destinations or splurge on the real European deal, see HomeToGo’s recommendations at hometogo.com.