The Best US Cities To Celebrate Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year. However, travelers will be celebrating all December long and likely into January after the COVID-19 pandemic largely put plans on hold in 2020. Where they choose to celebrate, though, could have a big impact on their experience. WalletHub recently compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities based on more than 30 key indicators of a festive and affordable Christmas across five categories, including traditions and fun, observance, generosity, shopping and costs. Here's a look at the 10 best for 2021.

Rounding out the list of the 10 best U.S. cities for a Christmas celebration in 2021 is Portland, Oregon, which fell two spots from 2020. Portland ranks eighth in the generosity category, which considers factors such as food banks and online giving per capita as well as the share of income donated to charity and the share of the population collecting and distributing food and clothes to the needy. Generosity also weighs Christmas spirit, which is based on WalletHub's "Most Caring Cities" rankings.

After failing to crack the top 10 due to the pandemic last year, New York City ranks ninth overall in 2021, including number one in the all-important category of traditions and fun, which takes into account factors such as Christmas events, Christmas tree farms, bakeries and ice staking rinks per capita, among other things. The Big Apple is tied for the most toy stores and hobby shops per capita and the highest online giving per capita, WalletHub found.

Cincinnati might just be the country's most underrated destination for a joyous Christmas celebration. The Ohio city ranked 19th in 2019, 16th in 2020 and now sits at eighth in 2021. Cincinnati maintained its 19th position for traditions and fun but climbed three spots for observance, ranking seventh nationwide.

Big cities were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Los Angeles was one of the many surprising omissions from the top 10 last year. Despite ranking toward the bottom in terms of observance and cost, the City of Angels ranks fifth nationwide for Christmas traditions and fun.

Seattle has risen four spots from 2020, climbing to sixth overall. The Emerald City is the most generous in America when it comes to the Christmas season, tying for the highest online giving per capita. Its 11th place ranking for traditions and fun certainly doesn't hurt either.

Elsewhere on the West Coast, the Bay Area is also trending up ahead of Christmas 2021, rounding out the top five on the strength of its high marks for traditions and fun (second) and generosity (fourth). San Francisco is tied for the most gift shops and highest online giving per capita.

Cincinnati isn't the only Rust Belt city receiving Christmas love in 2021. Pittsburgh jumped two spots from last year to enter the top five this winter. The city is propelled by its third-place ranking for observance, which considers the share of the Christian population and churches per capita.

Las Vegas is one of the year's biggest risers, climbing from outside of the top 10 in 2020 all the way up to number three in 2021. The Entertainment Capital of the World fares extremely well in terms of shopping, offering visitors no shortage of toy stores, gift and hobby shops to choose from.

Orlando also experienced an impressive recovery in 2021, ranking as the second-best city in the U.S. for a Christmas celebration this year. The destination's world-class theme parks and seemingly endless selection of family-friendly attractions help separate it from the pack. Orlando finished third for traditions and fun and tied for the most gift shops, toy stores and hobby shops per capita.

Atlanta ranks as the best destination in the U.S. for a Christmas celebration for the second time in three years. The city is up 12 spots from last year, ranking fifth for generosity and eighth for traditions and fun. Concerts, light shows, parades, Christmas markets and a healthy helping of Southern hospitality await visitors to the ATL this holiday season.