20 Destinations Guaranteed to Have a White Christmas

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated:: 9:00 AM ET, Sat December 1, 2018

Family walking together during the holidays. (photo via olesiabilkei/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Welcome sign in Talkeetna, Alaska. (photo via RobsonAbbott/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Budapest, Hungary. (photo via ZoltanGabor/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Christmas decorations in Quebec City. (photo via windjunkie/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Rovaniemi, Finland. The official hometown of Santa Claus. (photo via RPBMedia/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Man telemark skiing in Stowe, Vermont. (photo via Comstock Images / Stockbyte)

Zermatt Valley and Matterhorn Peak in Switzerland. (photo via anshar73/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: A row of snow-covered cabins in Breckenridge, Colorado. (photo via Ben Hershey/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Man and woman skiing in Whistler, British Columbia. (photo via Thomas Northcut/DigitalVision)

Reykjavik, Iceland. (photo via patpongs/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Snow on a bridge over the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland. (photo via BMPix/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Northern Lights over Tromso, Norway. (photo courtesy MuYeeTing/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Saint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow, Russia. (photo via mikolajn / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Salzburg, Austria at Christmas time. (photo via bluejayphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Snow-covered Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. (photo via 7Michael/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: A bull elk stands proudly in the frozen road in Banff, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. (photo via Bkamprath/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan. (photo via maccj/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

A horse on a snowy pasture in Bozeman, Montana. (photo via alancrosthwaite / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Tallinn, Estonia. (photo via bruev / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Snow-covered cabin in Lake Tahoe. (photo via bbourdages/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Antler arches lit up for Christmas time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. (photo via demerzel21/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Winter Wonderlands

1/21

Dreaming of a white Christmas this December? Your wish is all but certain to be granted in one of these cold-weather holiday season destinations.

Talkeetna, Alaska

2/21

Talkeetna experiences nearly 140 inches of annual snowfall on average, with 32 of those coming during the month of December. Experience this quaint small town at Christmas the way it was meant to be with one of the Alaska Railroad's newest winter packages.

Budapest, Hungary

3/21

Christmas in Budapest is nothing short of magical as the city embraces the season's spirit through markets, festivals and other celebrations. Factor in frosty air and the likelihood of snow and you've got the ideal destination to celebrate Yuletide.

Quebec City, Quebec

4/21

Quebec City is arguably the closest you can get to Europe without leaving North America. The historic destination is both charming and romantic as lights and decorations take center stage around the holidays.

Rovaniemi, Finland

5/21

The capital of Finnish Lapland is also the official hometown of Santa Claus, making it a special place to spend Christmas. Tour Santa's charming village and keep your eyes peeled for the aurora borealis.

Stowe, Vermont

6/21

A beloved winter destination among skiers, snowboarders and winter sports enthusiasts, Stowe is no stranger to white Christmases as the average high temperature is just 22 degrees in December while the month's average snowfall total exceeds 40 inches.

Zermatt, Switzerland

7/21

There are many great reasons why travelers should consider Zermatt for their next holiday getaway, including reliable snowfall that almost ensures a white Christmas. The popular ski destination is also family-friendly so no one will be left behind.

Breckenridge, Colorado

8/21

Breckenridge offers a whole lot more than just world-class winter sports come December. Holiday visitors will encounter plenty of snow, of course, but also festive events such as lighting ceremonies, Santa races and holiday markets.

Whistler, British Columbia

9/21

Located less than two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler is a dream destination around the holidays as visitors can take to the slopes during the day and warm up by the fire while they watch the snowfall in the evening.

Reykjavik, Iceland

10/21

The Christmas celebration in Reykjavik lasts for weeks, snow is pretty much guaranteed and you'll even have a shot to spot the northern lights. And don't forget about Iceland's mouthwatering Christmas cuisine.

Glasgow, Scotland

11/21

Glasgow has got everything you need to experience the perfect Christmas in the U.K. Visitors will discover bustling Christmas markets, winter festivals, lights and music that might just be complemented by a fresh blanket of snow if their timing is right.

Tromso, Norway

12/21

One of the best places in the world to experience the northern lights, Tromso is among the largest urban areas north of the Arctic Circle anywhere in the world so the average high temperature in December is still below freezing, providing the perfect conditions for a white Christmas.

Moscow, Russia

13/21

Christmas is celebrated much later in Russia, typically in January after New Year's. Winter in Moscow can be brutal but there's a good chance your holiday will feature snow as the Russian capital endured its heaviest snowfall in more than six decades last winter.

Salzburg, Austria

14/21

Another fantastic stop for travelers looking to revel in Europe's iconic Christmas markets, Salzburg gets quite cold in December and the surrounding mountains are no stranger to snow around the holidays.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

15/21

When it comes to a white Christmas, few states are as promising as Minnesota. Visitors to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region can go gift shopping at the famous Mall of America or make the two-plus-hour drive northeast to Duluth to all but guarantee their holiday is accompanied by snow.

Banff, Alberta

16/21

You won't regret spending the holidays in the Canadian Rockies. Banff, in particular, is a must-visit destination as it boasts a seemingly endless list of festive events and an average of nine days of snow during December.

Hokkaido, Japan

17/21

Looking to celebrate a white Christmas in Asia? Hokkaido is the place to go as it offers plenty of snow-covered ski areas along with festive holiday light displays that the entire family will enjoy.

Bozeman, Montana

18/21

Your white Christmas in Bozeman begins with the annual Christmas Stroll in the city's historic downtown and the festivities continue all month long with special performances, parades, art walks and much more.

Tallinn, Estonia

19/21

Estonia's capital city exudes European charm that's only more powerful around Christmas time. If shopping at an authentic Christmas market while surrounded by the fluffy white stuff sounds like your kind of December vacation, Tallinn should be at the top of your list.

Tahoe City, California

20/21

Tahoe City experiences an average of 38 inches of snowfall during the month of December. That's one-fifth of the destination's yearly total. What's more, there are plenty of events to get you in the Christmas spirit, including the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

21/21

Small town Christmas doesn't get any better than Jackson Hole and the destination's allure is only enhanced by the possibility of scenic snowfall. The winter sports mecca certainly doesn't skimp on decorations or lack holiday spirit.

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Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher