Where to go for Christmas 2026: Orlando, San Antonio, Austin, Washington, D.C., Nashville, Phoenix, St. Louis, Houston, Fort Myers and Charlotte. Most of their big light shows run from mid-November into early January. A furnished apartment with a full kitchen lets you host the holiday meal yourself and spread out for a week or longer.
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, and so does New Year’s Day. If both are paid holidays for you, take December 28–31 off and you get 10 days in a row, Friday, December 25 through Sunday, January 3, for 4 days of PTO. Here are 10 U.S. cities worth spending them in, with this season’s event dates and furnished apartments in each.
Planning Thanksgiving first? See our Thanksgiving getaways guide.
Best Christmas Destinations in the U.S. for 2026
These 10 cities pair big holiday events with Landing furnished apartments nearby. Dates are for the 2026 season; confirm tickets and hours on each event’s site before you book.
Christmas Magic in Orlando, FL
Orlando goes all in. Holidays at Universal runs November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across three parks and Grinchmas in Seuss Landing. SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration runs on select dates from November 6 through January 4. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns to Magic Kingdom on select nights from November 8 to December 22. Skipping the parks? Oh, What Fun! at Lake Nona runs December 4–20. Comparing areas near the parks? See where to stay in Orlando.
Where to stay in Orlando:
- Parkview Village in Kissimmee is minutes from Walt Disney World, with a pool, a fitness center, a clubhouse and an on-site dog park.
- The Jamison, also in Kissimmee, has a resort-style pool with a cabana, a fitness center, a game room and a resident clubroom.
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Zoo Lights and the River Walk in San Antonio, TX
San Antonio Zoo Lights runs November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027 and is included with zoo admission. Downtown, the River Walk lights up for the season. For more ideas, see these things to do in San Antonio. Northwest of the city, ice! at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country runs November 23 through January 3 with a new theme: ice! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Where to stay in San Antonio:
- Royal Palms in North San Antonio has a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a clubhouse with a coffee bar and a dog park. Some apartments have a wood-burning fireplace.
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Trail of Lights in Austin, TX
The Austin Trail of Lights fills Zilker Park from December 10 to 23, 2026, 7–10 p.m. General admission is free on December 10, 11 and 13–17; the other nights are ticketed. Go for the lights, then stay downtown for live music at one of the best live music venues in Austin. Austin is also on our list of the best cities to spend the winter.
Where to stay in Austin:
- The Bouldin on South Lamar is close to Zilker Park, with two infinity pool areas, poolside fireplaces, a lounge with downtown views, a fitness studio and dog runs overlooking Bouldin Creek.
- In Southeast Austin, Hangar at Bergstrom is minutes from the airport and McKinney Falls State Park, with a resort-style pool, poolside grills, a fitness center, a playground, a dog park and direct access to nature trails.
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Christmas Charm in Washington, D.C.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting is December 3, 2026, at President’s Park, and the tree grounds open to the public a few days later through January 1. The DowntownDC Holiday Market fills F Street NW from November 13 to December 23. Between events, the Smithsonian museums are free to visit.
Where to stay in D.C.:
- Verna is a 10-residence boutique building on 10th Street NW in downtown D.C. It has a perfect 100 Transit Score, with Green and Yellow Line Metro stations nearby, so you can leave the car at home.
- Just outside the city in West Hyattsville, Maryland, Sovren has a fireplace lounge, co-working space, a 24-hour fitness center and covered parking (fee may apply).
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“Home Alone” ice! in Nashville, TN
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland runs November 6, 2026 through January 2, 2027. This season’s ice! features “Home Alone,” alongside ice tubing, ice skating and more than 10 themed experiences. Pair it with a night out on Broadway downtown.
Where to stay in Nashville:
- Society Nashville on Division Street has skyline views, a large resort-style pool deck with cabanas, a multi-level fitness center with a yoga studio and co-working space.
- Southeast of the city, Preston at Hillwood in Murfreesboro has an outdoor kitchen, a pool, a fitness center and a game room for family nights.
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Desert Lights in Phoenix, AZ
Who says Christmas needs snow? Desert Farm Lights in Surprise brings holiday lights, ice skating on real ice and, new in 2026, winter tubing hills to the desert. Check desertfarmlights.com for this season’s dates.
Where to stay in Phoenix:
- Brix Warehouse District is steps from downtown Phoenix restaurants and bars, with a rooftop deck, a resort-style pool, a cold brew bar and a speakeasy-style lounge.
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Christmas Train Tales in St. Louis, MO
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride at St. Louis Union Station runs November 13 through December 30. WonderLight’s Christmas runs nightly November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with more than 1 million LED lights set to music. Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden runs on select nights November 14 through January 2, with more than 2 million lights.
Where to stay in St. Louis:
- Ballpark Heights is downtown, with a rooftop lounge overlooking Busch Stadium and the Gateway Arch, a courtyard, a coffee bar, co-working space and a 24-hour fitness center.
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Zoo Lights and Galveston’s ICE LAND in Houston, TX
Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo runs November 19, 2026 through January 3, 2027, 5:30–10:30 p.m., with last entry at 9:30. It’s closed December 9 and Christmas Eve, and this year, for the first time, it’s open on Christmas night. Save a separate day for Galveston Island, where Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens runs November 21 through January 2, with a mile-long trail of more than two million lights, outdoor ice skating and ICE LAND: Caribbean Christmas, carved from more than two million pounds of ice. Earlier in the month, Galveston’s Dickens on The Strand, a festival based on Victorian London with parades and four stages of entertainment, runs December 4–6.
Where to stay in Houston:
- Market Square Tower in downtown Houston has a rooftop glass-bottom pool, a sky gym, a spa with a sauna, a sky lounge, a golf simulator and a 24/7 concierge.
- 1711 Caroline is a few blocks from Discovery Green and the Toyota Center, near the METRORail, with a pool, a rooftop terrace with grills and skyline views, a clubhouse with a juice and coffee bar, and a game room with billiards and shuffleboard.
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Christmas Nights in Fort Myers, FL
Palm trees and boat parades. The Holiday Boat-A-Long in neighboring Cape Coral is Saturday, December 19, 2026, 4–9 p.m., at Four Freedoms Park. Holiday Lights at the Calusa Nature Center lights up the Pine Loop Trail on select nights, December 4–20, 6–9 p.m. Staying past New Year’s? Fort Myers is also one of the best snowbird destinations for the rest of the winter.
Where to stay in Fort Myers:
- REVA in central Fort Myers has a resort-style pool, a fitness and training center, a co-working lab and a pet park, with Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island an easy drive away.
- Evergreen Pine Island in Cape Coral has a resort-style pool, a fire pit lounge, a clubhouse, a coffee bar and a dog park.
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Christmas Lights and Coasters in Charlotte, NC
Carowinds WinterFest runs November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with live shows, light displays, select rides, Santa and holiday food and drinks. Speedway Christmas, a drive-thru light show at Charlotte Motor Speedway, runs November 20 through January 3.
Where to stay in Charlotte:
- 8 Metro Station has direct access to the LYNX Blue Line, a resort-style pool, a clubroom, a yoga lawn and pet-friendly perks like a bark park and paw spa.
- Triton Uptown on North Tryon Street has an on-site speakeasy, a 9th-floor clubroom with skyline views, a golf simulator, a resort-style pool and a pet spa.
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Why Stay in a Furnished Apartment for Christmas?
You get a full kitchen without packing a car full of household gear. A Landing furnished apartment comes with a full kitchen, a living room, fast Wi-Fi and a workspace.
Our apartment stays range from studios to 3 bedrooms, depending on the city, and many of our furnished stays are pet-friendly. Stay lengths vary by apartment: some take a week, others start at a month. Prices are shown including fees; taxes confirmed at checkout. If you need anything, support is available 24/7.
Want to plan it faster? Ask ChatGPT or Claude to find a Landing apartment in any of these cities for your dates. Here’s how: How to search for an apartment with AI.
Christmas Travel FAQ
When do Christmas light shows start in 2026?
Most of the light shows in this guide open in November and run into early January. A few are shorter: Austin’s Trail of Lights runs December 10–23, Holiday Lights at the Calusa Nature Center and Oh, What Fun! at Lake Nona run December 4–20, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ends December 22. Check each event’s dates before you book.
Can I book a furnished apartment just for Christmas week?
Yes, in many cities. Stay lengths vary by apartment, and some have a monthly minimum, so search your exact dates to see what’s available.
Do I need to pay a security deposit?
Direct Landing bookings don’t require a traditional security deposit or application fee. An optional damage waiver fee covers accidental damage, and it’s shown before you book.
Can I bring my dog?
Many Landing apartments are pet-friendly. Pet rules, fees and breed restrictions vary by property and are shown on the apartment page before you book.
