The 7 best big cities in America for celebrating Christmas
"With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday," one analyst said
The best place to spend Christmas is surrounded by your loved ones. But some cities sweeten the celebrations.
To determine the best destinations in the U.S. for Christmas, WalletHub examined a range of factors, balancing shopping, traditions, and costs. Its methodology encompassed everything from the number of candy and gift stores per capita to the share of income donated to charity.
“With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food, and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “In addition to being affordable, the best cities have a large number of people celebrating, plenty of places for Christians to worship, populations who give generously to charity, and plenty of fun activities to enjoy with family and friends.”
Continue reading to see the top seven cities that made the list and why.
2 / 8
#7: Miami, Florida
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Miami might be full of palm trees, but it also holds the top ranking for Christmas tree farms per capita, ensuring plenty of options for the centerpiece of the holiday. Its high concentration of restaurants, bakeries, and gift shops give holiday visitors plenty to do and helped it land seventh place.
3 / 8
#6: St. Louis, Missouri
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St. Louis stands out thanks to a high number of ice skating rinks, churches, and food banks per capita. Affordable dining, hotels, and theater tickets also make it a budget-friendly place to celebrate Christmas.
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#5: Las Vegas, Nevada
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Las Vegas is the most popular destination on the list, ranking first for advance hotel reservations during the holiday season. It’s unmatched for entertainment and shopping, with a high rate of nightlife options, gift shops, toy stores, and shopping centers per capita.
5 / 8
#4: Orlando, Florida
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Orlando offers great shopping and dining options and is an ideal destination for families, with great weather, Disney $DIS World, and affordable lodging.
6 / 8
#3: Seattle, Washington
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Seattle has a strong mix of charitable involvement and cultural offerings. While costs are higher than average, the city’s dining scene and holiday programming help give it a high ranking.
7 / 8
#2: San Francisco, California
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San Francisco excels in restaurant diversity, nightlife, and music venues, making it one of the most vibrant cities for holiday celebrations. Its plethora of attractions and shopping options offset higher prices for hotels, meals, and entertainment.
8 / 8
#1: Atlanta, Georgia
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Atlanta takes the top spot thanks to its balance of affordability, dining options, and Christmas spirit. With strong charitable engagement, numerous attractions, and relatively low hotel and meal costs, it's the most well-rounded place to celebrate Christmas in the country.