Photo by Craig Adderley
According to a November 2025 report on winter travel destinations, Buffalo is the best American city to spend a Christmas holiday. The study by digital entertainment platform JB compared US cities based on festive atmosphere and snowy weather.
- Buffalo, New York, is the most Christmassy city in the US, with up to 800 holiday events and 25 inches of snow in December.
- Boston, Massachusetts, offers the most winter holiday activities, setting up 12 Christmas villages and more than 60 ice skating rinks across the city.
- Fairbanks, Alaska, offers a guaranteed snowy Christmas Day, recording a 100% snowfall probability for December 25th.
The research examined 32 major and mid-sized cities to find where Americans can get the best white Christmas experience. Destinations were evaluated based on multiple festive factors, including how likely Christmas Day is to have a snowfall, how much snow typically falls in December, and the number of Christmas events, skating rinks, and markets. The study also looked at what hotels charge on Christmas night and how easy it is to walk around each town.
Here’s a look at the top 10 cities with the best Christmas atmosphere:
| City | Average Hotel Price on Christmas (per night ) | Typical December Snowfall (by Inches) | Chances of Snow for Christmas | Number of Major Christmas Markets |
| Buffalo, NY | $169 | 25.3 | 53% | 1 |
| Aspen, CO | $1,242 | 43.0 | 80% | 1 |
| Park City, UT | $686 | 31.1 | 60% | 1 |
| New York, NY | $279 | 4.9 | 53% | 4 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $175 | 11.4 | 74% | 1 |
| Rochester, NY | $167 | 22.3 | 52% | 2 |
| Boston, MA | $139 | 9.0 | 15% | 12 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $107 | 10.4 | 43% | 2 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $136 | 12.0 | 100% | 1 |
| Chicago, IL | $101 | 7.9 | 35% | 3 |
You can access the complete research findings here.
1. Buffalo, New York
- Hotel price on Christmas: $169 per night
- December snow: 25.3 inches
- Christmas snow probability: 53%
- Christmas market: Yes
Buffalo is America’s best place to spend the Christmas holidays. The city gets more than 25 inches of snow each December, and there is a high chance of snowfall on Christmas Day too, giving the town a festive atmosphere. The city organizes up to 800 Christmas events throughout December, so there’s always something happening here. Best of all, Buffalo is one of the cheaper getaway options, as local hotels charge under $170 during the holiday season.
2. Aspen, Colorado
Aspen comes second with the country’s heaviest December snowfall. The Colorado ski resort gets 43 inches of snow cover in December, giving visitors a chance to wake up to a snowy Christmas morning. Aspen is also one of the smallest towns in the ranking (4 sq mi), which makes it easily walkable (90/100 score) and cozy. Despite its size, the town still hosts a Christmas market and has 10 ice skating rinks.
3. Park City, Utah
Park City ranks third among the best Christmas destinations. December brings 31 inches of powder to this Utah mountain town, and most of the Christmas Days tend to be snowy too. Locals here also do their part to keep the holiday spirit alive, organizing 480 festive events throughout the month. Spending holidays in Park City will be relatively expensive though, with $680 nightly rates for Christmas, but the prices still seem fair given the town’s reputation for skiing.
4. NYC, New York
New York is next on the list. There are fewer snowy days in December here, but the city makes up for it with plenty of festive activities. New York hosts around 700 Christmas events during the holiday season, and the city council sets up four major Christmas villages across the boroughs. Despite its chaotic nature, NYC still scores high in walkability (88/100) too, allowing visitors to easily wander from one event to another.
5. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis rounds out the top five cities to spend the winter holidays. December 25th is white 75% of the time here, meaning you’re almost guaranteed to celebrate Christmas Day in a snowy atmosphere. The city also hosts more than 200 festive events throughout this month, from ice sculpture displays to holiday concerts. Despite all the seasonal activity, local hotels remain reasonably priced, with rooms averaging about $175 per night.
The CEO of JB commented on the study:
“About half of American families will travel to another city this Christmas, and many are still deciding where to go. Some are visiting relatives, but plenty are just taking a holiday vacation somewhere new. What our study showed is that some unexpected places can really give you a great snowy Christmas experience, and could be well worth a visit. At the same time, the rankings show that popular destinations like New York are crowded for a reason too, and they truly feel cool during holidays.”