Dreaming of waking up to snow on Christmas morning? While no destination can guarantee fresh snowfall on December 25, some places have a much better chance of delivering a true white Christmas than others.
From the snow-covered villages of Finnish Lapland to the mountains of Switzerland and some reliably snowy spots closer to home, these are some of the best places to spend Christmas if snow is high on your wish list.
I’ve included a mix of destinations where Christmas itself is part of the experience and places where the real attraction is simply being surrounded by mountains, snow and winter activities during the holidays.
Where Does It Snow in December?
If you’re looking for a snowy Christmas vacation, the best places to look are northern destinations and mountain towns where winter is already well underway by December. Lapland, Fairbanks, Banff, Zermatt, and the White Mountains are among the most reliable choices for snow on the ground around Christmas.
Cities such as Quebec City, Reykjavik, Salzburg, and Salt Lake City can also be beautiful in December, although snowfall in the city itself can vary from year to year. If having snow is the most important part of your trip, choose a colder northern destination or stay at a higher elevation.
No destination can promise that snow will actually fall on Christmas Day, but choosing a place with consistent December snow gives you a much better chance of getting the white Christmas you’re hoping for.
Best Places for a White Christmas at a Glance
Lapland, Finland
Best for: Families & Santa
Snow chances: Very high
Quebec City, Canada
Best for: Christmas atmosphere
Snow chances: High
Reykjavik, Iceland
Best for: Northern Lights & Iceland adventures
Snow chances: Good
Zermatt, Switzerland
Best for: A classic Alpine Christmas
Snow chances: Very high
Banff, Canada
Best for: Mountains & families
Snow chances: Very high
Fairbanks, Alaska
Best for: Reliable snow & Northern Lights
Snow chances: Very high
Salzburg, Austria
Best for: Christmas markets
Snow chances: Moderate
Salt Lake City, Utah
Best for: Skiing & city activities
Snow chances: Moderate in town and High in the nearby mountains
White Mountains, New Hampshire
Best for: A classic New England Christmas
Snow chances: High
Lapland, Finland: Best Overall White Christmas Destination
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Lapland, Finland, offers a truly enchanting winter wonderland. With the snow-covered landscape dotted with charming wooden cabins, it’s no wonder this location serves as Santa Claus’ home.
Visitors can enjoy tons of festive activities, such as snowmobiling, dog sledding, and spotting the elusive Northern Lights. Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, is home to the renowned Santa Claus Village, where visitors can meet Saint Nicholas himself and send postcards from the official Santa’s Post Office.
Quebec City, Canada
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Quebec City is one of my favorite places to visit at Christmas. We have been there during the Christmas season, and it really does feel like you’ve stepped into a European Christmas village without leaving North America.
Old Quebec is especially beautiful during the holidays, with lights and decorations covering the historic buildings and snow making the already charming streets even prettier. The German Christmas Market takes over several areas of the Old City, and you’ll find plenty of places to stop for hot chocolate, pastries, and other treats while you wander.
There is plenty to do beyond the Christmas markets, too. You can go ice skating, ride the toboggan near the Château Frontenac, or simply walk through the decorated streets. And because Quebec City is accustomed to winter weather, the cold and snow don’t shut everything down.
If you want a snowy Christmas that feels like Europe but is much easier to reach from the United States, Quebec City is hard to beat.
Reykjavik, Iceland
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Reykjavik is a great choice if you want a white Christmas that feels a little different from the traditional European Christmas market trip. Iceland is dark for much of the day in December, but Reykjavik makes up for it with Christmas lights everywhere. The combination of snow, colorful houses, and lights makes the city feel incredibly cozy.
There is also plenty to do during a Christmas trip. Spend an afternoon soaking in a geothermal pool, take a day trip to see frozen waterfalls and snowy landscapes, or head outside the city at night to look for the Northern Lights.
One thing I love about Iceland in winter is that you don’t have to be a skier to enjoy it. The snow and winter scenery are part of the entire trip, and Reykjavik gives you a comfortable home base for exploring it.
Zermatt, Switzerland
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If your idea of a white Christmas includes snowy mountains and a little Swiss village, Zermatt is probably exactly what you are picturing.
The village sits beneath the Matterhorn and is surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Switzerland. By Christmas, ski season is underway, and there is typically plenty of snow higher in the mountains even if conditions in the village vary.
Obviously, skiing is one of the biggest reasons to come to Zermatt, but you don’t have to ski to enjoy Christmas here. You can ride the mountain lifts for the views, walk through the village, go sledding or snowshoeing, and spend plenty of time warming up in restaurants and cafés.
Zermatt is expensive, especially over Christmas, but if you are looking for that classic snowy Alpine Christmas, this is one of the best places to find it.
Banff, Canada
Banff looks like it was designed for Christmas. Surrounded by the snow-covered Canadian Rockies, the little town is filled with lights and decorations during December, while the mountains surrounding it are usually deep into winter.
Spend the day skiing at one of the nearby resorts, skate on a frozen lake, take a sleigh ride, or simply wander through downtown Banff before warming up over dinner. Lake Louise is also an easy addition to a Christmas trip and becomes especially beautiful once winter settles in.
Banff is a particularly good choice if you want a snowy Christmas without giving up the comforts of a real town. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants, but you can be out in spectacular winter scenery within minutes.
Fairbanks, Alaska
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Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the best places to experience a true white Christmas. It has only seen one snowless Christmas on record and it was in 1934!
If having snow on the ground is your number-one priority, Fairbanks should be near the top of your list. By Christmas, winter has been underway for quite a while in interior Alaska, and the landscape is generally covered in snow.
Fairbanks also gives you something most of the destinations on this list can’t: a good chance to combine Christmas with a Northern Lights trip. December brings very short days and long, dark nights, which means plenty of opportunities to look for the aurora.
The temperatures can be seriously cold, so this isn’t the place I’d choose if you just want a little picturesque snowfall. But if you want to lean all the way into winter—with snow, ice, long nights and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights—Fairbanks delivers.
Salzburg, Austria
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Salzburg is one of those places that already looks like a Christmas card, and snow only makes it better. The Old Town is filled with historic buildings, church spires, and narrow streets, with the Alps rising in the background.
Christmas is a big deal here. The Christmas markets fill the squares with wooden stalls selling ornaments, food, and plenty of glühwein, and lights and decorations are everywhere. Salzburg is also the birthplace of Mozart and has a strong musical tradition, so Christmas concerts are easy to find throughout December.
You can spend most of your time enjoying the city, but the surrounding mountains make it easy to add skiing or other winter activities. Salzburg is a great choice if you want a traditional European Christmas with markets, beautiful architecture, and a good chance of snow.
Salt Lake City
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Salt Lake City is one of the best places in the Lower 48 for a snowy Christmas, especially because the Wasatch Mountains rise just outside the city. Snow in downtown Salt Lake City can vary from year to year, but if the city itself isn’t covered in snow, you’ll usually find plenty of it by heading into the nearby mountains.
I have spent a couple of snowy Christmases in Salt Lake and they don’t disappoint.
That makes Salt Lake City a great choice if you want Christmas festivities and a ski vacation in the same trip. Spend a day exploring the city and seeing the holiday lights, then head into the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, or simply playing in the snow.
Several major ski areas are within easy reach, including Snowbird and Alta, while Park City and Deer Valley are also close enough for a day trip. It’s an especially good snowy Christmas destination for families who want plenty to do without staying in a remote mountain town.
White Mountains, New Hampshire
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You don’t have to leave the United States—or even New England—to find a classic snowy Christmas. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are one of my favorite choices if you want snow, mountains, and a cozy inn or cabin without planning a big international trip.
There are several ski resorts throughout the area, including Bretton Woods, Loon Mountain, Attitash, and Cranmore, so there is plenty to do if your family wants to ski or snowboard. You’ll also find snow tubing, sleigh rides, and other winter activities depending on where you stay.
But you don’t really have to do much at all. Rent a cabin or stay at a cozy inn, find one with a fireplace, and enjoy being surrounded by snowy mountains and forests. For a traditional New England Christmas, the White Mountains are hard to beat.
How to Choose the Best Snowy Destination
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The best snowy Christmas destination depends on what you want your trip to look like. If snow is your top priority, choose a destination with reliably cold December weather, such as Lapland or Fairbanks.
For a traditional Christmas experience with decorated streets and markets, Quebec City, Salzburg, and Zermatt are great choices. If skiing and winter activities are more important, look at Banff, Zermatt, Salt Lake City, or the White Mountains.
You should also consider how easy the destination is to reach and your budget. Christmas is one of the busiest times of year in many of these places, so flights and hotels can get expensive. Once you know whether your priority is snow, Christmas atmosphere, skiing, or simply a cozy winter getaway, it’s much easier to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Christmas Destinations
Where is the best place to have a white Christmas?
Lapland, Finland, is one of the best places for a white Christmas if you want both snow and a full Christmas experience. Rovaniemi is home to Santa Claus Village, and the snowy landscape, reindeer, dog sledding, and possibility of seeing the Northern Lights make it especially fun at Christmas.
Where in the US is most likely to have a white Christmas?
Fairbanks, Alaska, is one of the most reliable choices in the United States for snow on the ground at Christmas. If you want to stay in the Lower 48, mountain destinations such as the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the mountains surrounding Salt Lake City are good choices.
Where can I see snow at Christmas?
Northern destinations and high-elevation mountain towns give you the best chance of seeing snow at Christmas. Lapland, Fairbanks, Banff, Zermatt, and the White Mountains are some of the strongest choices on this list.
Is snow guaranteed at Christmas in these destinations?
No destination can guarantee that snow will actually fall on Christmas Day. Some destinations, however, have a very good chance of already having snow on the ground by late December. If having a snowy landscape is important to you, choose a colder northern destination or a mountain resort rather than relying on a city that occasionally gets December snow.
What is the best white Christmas destination for families?
Quebec City is one of my favorite choices for families because there is so much to do without making the entire vacation about skiing. The Christmas markets, decorations, toboggan slide, ice skating, and beautiful Old Quebec make the trip feel special even when you aren’t doing organized winter activities.
Lapland is another fantastic choice, particularly with younger children who would love visiting Santa Claus Village.
What is the best place in Europe for a white Christmas?
Lapland, Zermatt, and Salzburg all offer very different Christmas trips. Choose Lapland for snow and Santa, Zermatt for a classic Swiss Alps experience, or Salzburg for Christmas markets, historic architecture, and Austrian Christmas traditions.
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