Top 10 Christmas Lights Displays Around the World

The world transforms into a dazzling spectacle of light and color during the Christmas season.

From iconic city centers to quaint neighborhoods, the spirit of Christmas shines brightly through elaborate displays that capture the hearts of millions. Here are ten of the most breathtaking Christmas lights displays around the world that promise to ignite your festive spirit.

Manhattan Merriment: Rockefeller Center's Radiant Tree

New York City during Christmas is a magical experience, and the centerpiece of it all is the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Each year, a massive Norway spruce is selected and brought to Rockefeller Plaza, where it's adorned with over 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and crowned with a dazzling Swarovski crystal star. The annual tree lighting ceremony, a highly anticipated event held on December 3rd after Thanksgiving, marks the unofficial start of the festive season in the Big Apple.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to 1931, during the Great Depression, when workers building Rockefeller Center put up a smaller, unadorned tree. Two years later, the first official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit, and the tradition has continued ever since. Today, the tree stands as a symbol of hope, joy, and togetherness, drawing millions of visitors from around the world.

Beyond the tree, the festive window displays on Fifth Avenue add to the city's holiday charm. Stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman create elaborate and enchanting window displays that captivate passersby of all ages. The ice-skating rink at Rockefeller Center provides another opportunity to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, as skaters glide beneath the towering tree.

The tree will be lit daily from 5 AM to Midnight all through December. On Christmas Day, it's lit for a full 24 hours. The tree stays up until mid-January 2026.

Copenhagen's Christmas Card: Tivoli Gardens Aglow

Step into a fairytale at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, where millions of Christmas lights transform the historic amusement park into a winter wonderland. From November 14, 2025, to January 4, 2026 (closed December 24), Tivoli Gardens will be aglow with thousands of sparkling lights, decorated trees, and charming stalls selling Danish treats and handcrafted gifts.

The air is filled with the scent of pine needles and the sounds of cheerful music, creating an authentic Christmas atmosphere for visitors of all ages. Children can meet Father Christmas, ride the Santa Train, and enjoy the park's many child-friendly rides, while adults can savor the romantic ambiance and indulge in traditional Christmas treats like mulled wine and roasted almonds.

The Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market features over 60 stalls offering Christmas decorations, snacks, sweets, hot drinks, unique gifts, knitted products, leather goods, crafts, and gourmet delicacies. An ice-skating rink provides a fun activity for the whole family, and evening fireworks light up the sky in a dazzling display. Special Christmas shows and light installations add to the magic, making Tivoli Gardens a must-visit destination during the holiday season.

Ninety-nine percent of the light points use LED technology. Tivoli is also supplied exclusively with electricity from renewable energy sources.

Alsatian Allure: Strasbourg's Fairytale Christmas Market

Immerse yourself in the historical significance and magical atmosphere of the Strasbourg Christmas Market, one of the oldest and most famous in Europe. From November 26th to December 24th, 2025, the city transforms into a Christmas wonderland, with various smaller markets offering local delicacies and handcrafted gifts.

Place Kléber is the heart of the market, where you'll find the Grand Sapin, a towering Christmas tree that stands as the tallest decorated tree in Europe. The tree is about 30 metres high. Each hour between 4pm and 9pm, Strasbourg's big Christmas tree lights up to music, then without music at 10pm and 11pm. The Strasbourg Christmas Markets will be open from 11:30 am to 9 pm each day, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when the stalls will close at 6 pm.

Explore the various markets, each with its own unique atmosphere, from the traditional Christkindelsmärik at Place Broglie to the OFF Market at Place Grimmeissen, focused on sustainability. Indulge in local specialties like gingerbread, Bredele biscuits, and Alsatian wine, and soak in the festive spirit that permeates the city.

Don't miss the Marche des Delices d'Alsace on Terrasse Rohan & Place du Marché-aux-Poissons, offering local specialties like gingerbread and Bredele.

Medellin's Dazzling Dream: A River of Lights

Experience the vibrant energy and dazzling beauty of the Christmas lights display in Medellin, Colombia. Known as Alumbrados Navideños, this massive display features millions of lights and handcrafted figures that illuminate the city from December 1st to mid-January.

The main locations for the lights are along the Medellin River and La Playa Avenue, but the event has expanded to include over 100 locations throughout the city. Each year, the displays have a different theme, with past installations featuring monumental hummingbirds, owls, and lights strung across the river.

Enjoy musical events, firework displays, and a carnival-like atmosphere that makes Medellin a must-visit destination during the holiday season. The Christmas lighting of Medellin was named among the top ten cities to view holiday lights in the world by National Geographic.

The lights are on from 6 pm till midnight.

Kobe's Heartfelt Radiance: A Memorial of Light

Reflect on the poignant origins and elaborate beauty of the Kobe Luminarie in Japan, a memorial to the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. This unique light show features elaborate arches and towers decorated with thousands of colorful lights, creating a breathtaking spectacle that symbolizes hope and recovery.

The Kobe Luminarie is held every winter. Since 2024, the event has been held in January instead of December and distributed over multiple sites, including Kobe East Park (Higashi Yuenchi), the Kitano-cho district and Meriken Park. The event stretches from Motomachi Station, passes through the Former Foreign Settlement, and extends all the way to Higashi Yuenchi Park.

The lights are donated to the city by the Italian government who sent artists to Japan to help with their design creation and installation.

Viennese Waltz of Lights: City Center Sparkle

Experience the elegance and charm of Vienna, Austria, during the Christmas season, when the city transforms into a sparkling wonderland. The pedestrianized zones in the city center sparkle with LED lamps, giant chandeliers, and shimmering cascades of light.

Stroll through Michaelerplatz and the Hofburg palace area, and explore the city's many Christmas markets, where you can find handcrafted gifts, traditional treats, and Glühwein. The streets that are illuminated with Christmas lights include Graben, Kohlmarkt, and Kärntner Straße.

The Christmas lights in Vienna tend not to feature too many dancing Santas or reindeer with biologically-inaccurate red noses. Expect crystalline chains and central European understatement.

Prague's Luminous Legacy: Old Town Square's Glow

Discover the magic of Prague, Czech Republic, during Christmas, when the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square come alive with festive lights and Christmas markets. The Christmas Lights in Prague casts its festive glow from November 29, 2025 through to the grand finale on January 6, 2026.

The Old Town Square Christmas Market is the largest and most enchanting. The heart of Prague's Christmas festivities, the Old Town Square is home to the most famous Prague Christmas market and the largest in the city. The Christmas tree is a sight to behold, and the markets offer a wide array of traditional Czech treats and handcrafted gifts. Don't miss the lighting of the Charles Bridge, a historic tradition that adds to the city's charm.

The Christmas markets generally open daily from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM, with food stalls and hot drink vendors often staying open later.

Melbourne's Festive Facade: City Celebrations

Melbourne, Australia, transforms into a festive playground from November 28 to Christmas Day, with Christmas lights and decorations adorning the city's streets, squares, and laneways. Federation Square becomes Christmas Square, featuring a 17.5-metre Christmas tree, live performances, and festive films.

Iconic landmarks such as Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Town Hall, and Evan Walker Bridge shine bright with nightly Christmas light shows. Don't miss the Crown Christmas River Show, a spectacular display of water fountains, lasers, and projections set to a festive soundtrack. The Myer Christmas Windows, a beloved tradition, return to Bourke Street Mall.

More than 650 decorations will deck the city, including a new 60-metre overhead light display in Bourke Street Mall featuring 25,000 lights.

Moscow's Winter Tale: Lights Across the Capital

Immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Moscow, Russia, during the Christmas season, when the capital city is adorned with lights and festive decorations. Red Square and the GUM department store are transformed into winter wonderlands, and the Journey into Christmas festival offers a variety of festive activities and events.

Marvel at the giant Polar Bears in Rostokino and the reindeers of Santa Claus near the Victory Park, and soak in the magical ambiance that permeates the city.

Moscow's Christmas lights create a truly unforgettable experience, capturing the spirit of the season in a unique and captivating way.

Dyker Heights, Brooklyn: Homeowner Holiday Extravaganza

Witness the over-the-top decorations and neighborhood participation that make the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights in Brooklyn, New York City, a truly unique and unforgettable spectacle. From 11th to 13th Avenues (also known as Dyker Heights Blvd) from 83rd to 86th St in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn you'll see breathtaking light displays.

Most of the homeowners hang their Christmas lights and decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. The best time to see the lights is mid-December through New Year's Eve.

The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights display has become one of the most beloved New York attractions during the holiday season. The Brooklyn neighborhood is home to over-the-top Christmas light decorations with life-sized Santas, sleighs and snowmen taking over the neighborhood's homes.

The most extravagant Christmas light displays in the country are located in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, aka “Dyker Lights.” Over 100,000 people flock to this area every year to see the most over-the-top decorations.