National Geographic
Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
Photograph by Sisse Brimberg & Cotton Coulson, Keenpress
The Japanese Pagoda, a popular restaurant on Tivoli Lake, is among the
many structures dressed up with holiday lights at Denmark’s 1843
amusement park and “pleasure garden,” the dreamy vision of a Tiffany
design director. In addition to touring the Asian area, located near
the concert hall, visitors can zoom through the sparkling skies on the
1914 roller coaster, and warm up with glogg (mulled wine) and apple
dumplings. November 11-December 30.
Vienna, Austria
Photograph by Sandra Raccanello, SIME
Advent
brings out Vienna’s romantic side: Garlands of bulbs glisten over
thoroughfares and shops are decorated with pine branches and silk
ribbons (November 26-December 31). Giant chandeliers lead to St.
Stephen's Cathedral, and daily Advent concerts take place at Schönbrunn
Palace.
—From the November/December issue of National Geographic Traveler magazineBrussels, Belgium
Photograph by Thierry Roge, Reuters/Corbis
During
Plaisirs d’Hiver, dramatically lit buildings and piped-in music lift
spirits in the historic Grand Place. At the Christmas market, 240
chalets serve Belgian waffles and conical cuberdon candies. November
25-January 11.Callaway Gardens, Georgia
Courtesy Callaway Gardens
Eight
million lights sparkle in the wooded landscape of this resort complex,
which this year stages its 20th annual Fantasy in Lights (November
18-December 30). Woodland displays depict such holiday scenes as the
March of the Toy Soldiers or nature themes such as Snowflake Valley. Two
beach scenes with moving lights tell the stories of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Nativity. The resort’s onsite Christmas Village features shopping, dining, and Santa.Medellín, Colombia
Photograph by Raul Arboleda, AFP/Getty Images
This
former drug town pulses with new vitality and, during the balmy
holidays, fantastic lights. Tree canopies drip with oversize ornament
shapes; giant 3-D figures twirl along Medellín River and above a
carnival-like sidewalk packed with food stalls. December 3-mid-January.Gothenburg, Sweden
Photograph by Roberto Rinaldi, SIME
The
aroma of toasted almonds and glogg heralds the arrival of Saint Lucia
to this charming river town illuminated all season long. Five million
lights glitter on the buildings and on the 700 Christmas trees at
Liseberg Amusement Park’s Christmas Market (Scandinavia’s largest, open
November 18). Choirs sing and sweethearts smooch along a three-kilometer
Lane of Light leading to the harbor beginning December 9.Hong Kong, China
Photograph by Francisco Martinez, Alamy
It’s
an over-the-top Christmas in Hong Kong, where lights twinkle along Main
Street in Disneyland, the city’s malls try to outdo each other in
awesomeness (Roppongi Hills Galleria created a ground-level Milky Way
galaxy of lights one year), and the downtown skyline dances with
colorful lights and piped-in music. The city center, crowned by a giant
Swarovski crystal tree, bustles with carolers, and Victoria Harbour is
fantastically illuminated. Stick around for Chinese New Year
festivities—China’s traditional family holiday—for more fireworks and
action. November 25–January 1.Madrid, Spain
Photograph by Liesa Johannssen, Getty Images
The
city’s Plaza Mayor features lovely lights without glaring glitz. Its
holiday market dates to the mid-1800s and is a main source for figures
for the Nativity scenes, or Belenes, that are displayed throughout the city. Events culminate with a gorgeous parade on January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany.Kobe, Japan
Photograph by Jiji Press, AFP/Getty Images
Following the Kobe earthquake of 1995, Italy loaned thousands of hand-painted bulbs to be built into intricate luminarie—light-strung,
Gothic-style structures. The tradition continues: Four million revelers
celebrate Japan’s enduring resilience near Higashi-Yuenchi Park.
December 1-12.Saint Augustine, Florida
Photograph by John Coletti, Getty Images
Once
under Spanish rule, this 16th-century city fetes its heritage. Single
white candles once flickered from colonists’ windows; during Nights of
Lights, the 144-square-block historic district twinkles with two million
bulbs (each white, per city ordinance). November 19-January 31.
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