December is a time of year when the world suddenly feels softer, brighter, and more magical. Holiday evenings are full of warm lights and cozy moments, whether you’re in a snow-kissed European town or at home decorating for Christmas with family and friends. As more and more people take to social media to tell stories with their travels, aesthetic holiday journeys are becoming more and more popular.
Adventure Traveler readers love traveling during the Christmas season. Whether you’re cozying up in a cabin in the mountains or wandering around a European city, you want to capture a mood that’s festive and feels like Christmas. At its heart, an aesthetic is about visuals, but aesthetic travel—like all travel—is also about how you feel when you experience a place.
Christmas aesthetic travel seeks out the most magical scenes and finds ways to make travel memories look, feel, and even taste like the holidays in the most beautiful ways. If you’re a fan of cozy cabin trips, classic European scenes, urban modern city Christmas celebrations, or picturesque coastal towns with a festive twist, there’s a Christmas aesthetic to suit your tastes.
This ultimate guide will take you around the world to find the best Christmas aesthetics, how to capture them, how to find the one that’s right for you, and Christmas travel planning ideas for inspiration.
What Is a “Christmas Travel Aesthetic”?
A Christmas travel aesthetic is the mood, style, and atmosphere that a travel destination takes on in December and throughout the holiday season.
When you search for Christmas aesthetic travel ideas, you won’t find tips that just focus on a location, country, or region. Travel aesthetics are also about the look, the details that make a trip feel more like a specific experience, and the emotional and visual experiences.
Travel aesthetics can be cozy, minimalist, modern, magical, luxurious, rugged, romantic, charming, nostalgic, tropical, snowy, dramatic, calm, nostalgic, chic, elegant, Scandinavian, minimalist, art deco, modern, and more. Holiday aesthetics can share many of these characteristics.
Christmas aesthetics include:
snowy cabins and wintry mountain landscapes
historical, medieval streets filled with lights and garlands
rustic and cozy holiday decor
warm, glowing Christmas markets
festive nightlife, busy shopping streets, and dazzling skylines
coastal towns with colorful lights hanging from palm trees
minimalist modern interiors with winter greenery and candles
glamorous light displays in major cities and resorts
Holiday aesthetic travel lets you curate a journey that reflects your tastes and the mood you want to capture. If you’re a romantic traveler or someone who loves design and creating stunning Instagram feeds, the right Christmas aesthetic will let you do that with your travels.
1. European Christmas Market Aesthetic
Europe is the gold standard when it comes to classic Christmas aesthetic travel. Medieval European markets are the epitome of Christmas nostalgia, European towns, and the cozy glow of the holiday season.
European Christmas aesthetic travel can take you to Germany, Austria, France, the Czech Republic, and many other countries that have embraced traditional Christmas décor in old towns and cities.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
Germany (Munich, Nuremberg, Cologne, Rothenburg ob der Tauber)
Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck)
Czech Republic (Prague)
France (Strasbourg and Colmar)
Switzerland (Zurich, Basel, Lucerne)
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
charming wooden chalets decked with twinkling Christmas lights
wooden market stalls selling mugs of mulled wine
cobblestone streets aglow with lanterns
Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands strung around every corner
authentic handmade crafts, unique Christmas ornaments, and local food treats
How to Capture It
Snap photos at the Christmas markets early in the morning before the throngs of visitors.
Create flat-lay photos with seasonal treats like gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, and hot chocolate.
Capture the magic at night when the Christmas lights reflect on the stone streets.
Travelers who love nostalgia, romantic photo ops, cozy winter scenes, and warm lights will enjoy the European Christmas market aesthetic.
2. Nordic Winter Wonderland Aesthetic
Nordic and Scandinavian countries are the place to go for the purest Christmas aesthetic and some of the most dramatic and beautiful snowy landscapes.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
Finland (Lapland, Rovaniemi)
Norway (Tromsø, Bergen, Lofoten Islands)
Sweden (Kiruna, Stockholm archipelago)
Iceland (Reykjavík, Vik, the Golden Circle)
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
snow-covered Nordic forests and icy lakes
husky sledding rides
rustic wooden cabins with glowing lanterns in the windows
Aurora Borealis dancing in the winter sky
Scandinavian winter décor with a minimalist color palette
How to Capture It
Shoot wide landscapes that emphasize the serenity of the scenery.
Snap outdoor cabin shots just before or after twilight.
Use soft lighting that emphasizes the muted Nordic color palette.
Minimalist travelers, winter adventurers, nature lovers, and those who seek peace and quiet will appreciate the Nordic winter aesthetic.
3. Alpine Christmas Chalet Aesthetic
A Christmas in the mountains is another cozy winter aesthetic filled with fireplaces, snowy chalets, and the charm of decorated ski towns and villages.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
The French Alps (Chamonix, Megève)
The Swiss Alps (Zermatt, St. Moritz, Grindelwald)
The Italian Alps (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Rocky Mountains in the U.S. (Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge)
Banff and Lake Louise in Canada
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
Chalets with icicles hanging from the roof
snuggly fireside seats in big log cabins
pine trees covered with snow
snowy ski villages and resorts lit up with Christmas decorations
steaming hot chocolate on the balcony with a mountain view
How to Capture It
Warm indoor shots that contrast with the cold outdoors
After-ski candid moments
Snow-covered trees and other holiday scenes with mountains as a backdrop
Luxury travelers, nature lovers, ski resorts, and those who enjoy winter sports in mountain settings will appreciate the alpine Christmas chalet aesthetic.
4. Big City Holiday Aesthetic
Urban holiday aesthetic travel blends classic Christmas touches with more modern and sleek city styling and a high-energy party vibe.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
New York City
London
Paris
Tokyo
Chicago
Dubai
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
Luxurious department store window displays
Iconic city monuments and buildings bedecked with Christmas lights
Tower-sized Christmas trees
Fashionable coffee shops and cozy bistros decorated for the holidays
Upscale urban Christmas markets
Ice skating rinks in major cities and against a backdrop of skyscrapers
How to Capture It
Night cityscape photography
Photos of busy urban scenes with motion blur
Hip, stylish outfit photos on city streets or in festive neighborhoods
Holiday party and nightlife shots
Holiday party-lovers, fashion fans, and those who enjoy bustling energy will love this aesthetic.
5. Coastal Christmas Aesthetic
If you prefer warm-weather Christmas experiences and beachy holiday scenes to snow and freezing temperatures, then the coastal Christmas aesthetic is for you.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
Miami
Los Angeles
the Caribbean
Australia (Sydney, Gold Coast)
Cape Town
Portugal’s Algarve region
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
palm trees dressed up with Christmas lights
beach events and holiday-themed events near the sea
neutral colors, natural materials, and pops of red, green, and white
palm trees instead of pine trees
seafood and tropical drinks instead of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts
festive waterfront promenades
How to Capture It
Holiday-theme photos on the beach
Golden hour photos of palm trees with Christmas lights
Minimalist sun-drenched photos that emphasize festive decor
Travelers who want a warm-weather Christmas will love this aesthetic.
6. Rustic Cabin Christmas Aesthetic
Cozy wooden cabins and days and nights in the woods and mountains are the highlight of this Christmas aesthetic travel.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
Tennessee (Gatlinburg, the Smoky Mountains)
Colorado (Estes Park)
Canadian cabins
Scotland highland cottages
New England countryside
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
pine garlands and tree branches
chunky knit blankets and pillows
wood interiors with warm lighting and natural wood furniture
Vintage-style holiday decorations and homemade crafts
misty mountains, quiet cabins, and secluded woodland
How to Capture It
Natural lighting that emphasizes coziness and warmth
Photograph details like stockings, lanterns, and mugs or tree wreaths
Take exterior cabin photos framed by nearby trees and bushes
Perfect for romantic getaways, slow travel, and quiet holidays.
7. Whimsical and Fairy-Tale Christmas Aesthetic
Imagine places that look like they were made to celebrate Christmas. These cities, towns, and villages feel like another world.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
Colmar, France
Bruges, Belgium
Hallstatt, Austria
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Quebec City, Canada
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
Half-timbered houses decorated with Christmas lights
Beautiful cobblestone streets are ideal for a stroll
Pastel facades in traditional towns and cities
Lovely lanterns and paper garlands
Festive and snowy market squares
How to Capture It
Use a wide-angle lens in narrow streets
Seek elevated town viewpoints
Soft, dreamy editing that enhances fairy-tale vibes
Great for those who love whimsical, storybook settings.
8. Luxury Christmas Aesthetic
Luxury aesthetic travel is all about polished elegance, high-end, designer hotel rooms, luxe décor, refined dining, and posh holiday parties.
Where to Find This Aesthetic
Monaco
Vienna
Dubai
Luxury hotels in New York
Mayfair and Knightsbridge in London
Upscale ski resorts in Switzerland or France
Splendid Hotel Tremezzo (Lake Como, Italy)
Luxury lodges in Banff, Canada
What This Aesthetic Looks Like
Grand hotel lobbies with huge Christmas trees
Gold leaf accents, chandeliers, velvet bows, ribbons, and bows
Sophisticated, elegant, luxurious, stylish decor
Upscale, designer Christmas lights, shopping, and decor
Upscale gourmet dining for Christmas
Designer boutiques and department stores with ornate, themed displays
How to Capture It
Symmetrical photos of hotel interiors or elegant tables
Golden hour photos of city streets or town squares
Close-up details of elegant decor and stylish items
Ideal for travelers who love luxury, elegance, glamour, and the finer things in life.
How to Choose the Best Christmas Aesthetic for Your Trip
Before you start picking a destination for your trip, it’s a good idea to think about how you’d like to spend the holiday season.
Consider:
What climate makes you happiest?
What mood do you want your holiday to have?
What kind of photos or memories do you want to make?
How much activity and movement do you want?
Are you traveling alone or with others?
Once you know the mood you’re going for, the perfect destination becomes a lot easier to choose.
How to Capture Christmas Aesthetic Photos
You can make your holiday photos more aesthetic with a few simple techniques:
Shoot during the “golden hours” of Christmas illumination
Use foreground elements to add depth
Look for symmetry in architecture and decor
Capture candid moments
Focus on details
Try night photography
You don’t need to be a professional photographer. Just pay attention to the beautiful moments.
Final Thoughts: Create Your Own Aesthetic Christmas Story
Travel is about how a journey makes you feel rather than just how it looks. The Christmas aesthetic is just a means of expressing that joy, nostalgia, and meaning through visuals. You can enjoy European Christmas markets or sip hot chocolate in a mountain cabin because you enjoy how they make you feel, but you might want to take some photos that are Instagram-worthy, too.
So wherever you go this holiday season, whether it’s in your own backyard, in a cozy city or ski village, in the mountains or by the sea, choose an aesthetic that suits your style, enjoy the festive sights and sounds, and remember that the most magical travel moments are the ones that you create.
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