Christmas only comes once a year, but Christmas movies last forever. There is nothing quite like getting into the holiday spirit by settling into your favorite Christmas movie. The only thing better than cozying up with a holiday classic is actually visiting the towns where they take place.
From small villages in the countryside, to romantic castles in Romania, to the busy streets of New York, there are locations all over the world that have starring roles in your favorite Christmas movies. Step into the shoes of Susan Walker or Buddy the Elf in New York City, or make it snow like Edward Scissorhands in (wait for it…) Florida. Don’t forget the annual Hallmark Christmas movies, too, which are beloved yearly releases that Christmas fans look forward to all year long.
If you want to take your holiday spirit to the next level, check out this list of 30 real towns where your favorite Christmas movies take place, and follow our tips on how to get the full movie magic experience while you’re visiting.
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27. Four Christmases
Warner Bros. Entertainment / YouTube
Location: San Francisco, California
Where to stay: Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights
How to get the “Four Christmases” experience: In “Four Christmases,” a couple spends their holiday rushing to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day. The film was shot in San Francisco, which is a great destination at any time of year.
But if you want to get the “Four Christmases” experience, visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Chinatown and the Embarcadero.
26. Christmas in Conway
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Where to stay: ARRIVE Wilmington
How to get the “Christmas in Conway” experience: “Christmas in Conway” is the romantic story of a man who finds the perfect Christmas gift for his ailing wife. The film was shot in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Wilmington, so if you want to get the full movie experience, start there. The film also shot some scenes in Greenfield Park.
And, of course, a ride on a Ferris wheel will give you the “Christmas in Conway” experience no matter where you are. If you know, you know.
18. Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Location: Rothenburg ob Der Tauber, Germany
Where to stay: Hotel Herrnschlösschen
How to get the “Nutcracker and the Four Realms” experience: The Nutcracker gets a makeover in this Disney remake. The music from Peter Tchaikovsky is the same, but Clara embarks on a different kind of journey into a magical world with four realms. The majority of the movie was filmed on soundstages, but real-life locations inspired the worlds.
Minley Manor in Minley, England, for example, will be easily recognizable by lovers of the film. Syon House Great Conservatory in West London is another familiar location. But one of the best ways to get the full experience is to visit the real-world Land of the Snowflakes, which is almost a carbon copy of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in Bavaria, Germany.
16. Love Actually
Location: London, England
Where to stay: Hotel 41
How to get the “Love Actually” experience: “Love Actually” has quickly become one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. Fans love it for the love stories that all interconnect, with plenty of humor and Christmas charm along the way. The film is shot on location in London, which is nothing short of the perfect Christmas backdrop during the holidays.
To get the real “Love Actually” experience, simply walk Trafalgar Square, the Millennium Bridge and even Heathrow Airport to see your favorite scenes. Of course, it isn’t Christmas in London without a stop into Selfridges department store on Oxford Street for a bit of shopping and holiday decorations.
15. Winter in Vail
Location: Vail, Colorado
Where to stay: Sonnenalp Hotel
How to get the “Winter in Vail” experience: As the name suggests, “Winter in Vail” takes place in Vail. Leading lady, Chelsea, inherits a house in the ski town where she meets her love interest, Owen. They work together to put on a festival to bring visitors to experience the charm of Old Vail. Many of the scenes were shot on location in Vail, but a larger portion of the scenes were also filmed in Canada.
For the “Winter in Vail” experience, don’t miss the skating rink, the covered bridge and a stop at the Children’s Fountain. The exteriors of businesses in Vail were also used in the film, so a stroll down any of the streets will have you feeling the “Winter in Vail” vibes.
14. Little Women
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / YouTube
Location: Concord, Massachusetts
Where to stay: Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Concord
How to get the “Little Women” experience: Before the 2019 remake, there was the original “Little Women,” the film adaptation of the beloved book by Louisa May Alcott. The 1994 classic was filmed primarily in Canada, but the most recent version was shot on location in Massachusetts.
To get the full “Little Women” experience, a visit to New England during the holiday season is a must. Filming locations were chosen around Concord, which is where Alcott grew up. Other towns featured in the film were Lawrence, Stoughton, Ipswich and Lancaster. If you make a stop to the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, you’ll find that the ballroom is a place that you’ll remember from the party in the movie.
9. The Christmas Card
Location: Nevada City, California
Where to stay: The National Exchange Hotel
How to get “The Christmas Card” experience: “The Christmas Card” was the Hallmark holiday movie hit of 2006. It tells the story of a soldier who receives a Christmas card from a woman in Nevada City, so he makes the journey to the town to check it out.
Nevada City is an integral part of the story, and you can get the full movie experience by visiting the annual Victorian-style Christmas celebration. Each year, carolers line the streets, decked out in 19th-century costumes adding a whole new level of Christmas magic to the holiday experience.
7. Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle
Location: Fort Langley, British Columbia
Where to stay: Sandman Signature Langley Hotel
How to get the “Mrs. Miracle” experience: In “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle,” a single dad needs help caring for his 6-year-old, twin boys. Enter Mrs. Miracle, who not only helps get his house in order, but she ends up finding him love, too.
The film was shot in Fort Langley, a historic and charming town that has a few other Christmas movies on its resume, like “Christmas Homecoming” and “Trading Christmas.” We recommend a visit to the Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada to see the annual Christmas celebrations.
5. Christmas Land
Location: Farmington, Utah
Where to stay: Hyatt Place Salt Lake City / Farmington / Station Park
How to get the “Christmas Land” experience: When the heir to a Christmas tree farm (Christmas Land) decides to sell the farm, the town has something to say about it. The film was shot in Pioneer Village, which is a replica of a Wild West town within Farmington’s Lagoon Park.
While the village closes for the winter season, the cast and crew decked its Main Street with fake snow and holiday decorations just for the film. You can visit Pioneer Village in the summer, but for the full “Christmas Land” experience, you may have to use a little bit of imagination.
3. Christmas Cookies
Location: Squamish, British Columbia
Where to stay: Squamish Adventure Inn
How to get the “Christmas Cookies” experience: Just north of Vancouver, the town of Squamish served as the backdrop for this charming Hallmark Christmas movie. The movie is set in a fictional town (called Cookie Jar), whose main employer is the cookie factory, Aunt Sally’s Christmas Cookie Company.
The film was shot in April, so snow had to be trucked in to sell the winter effect, but visitors can still get the “Christmas Cookie” experience when they walk down the streets of this charming Canadian small town.
