CNN Travel has announced its list of the 15 best Christmas Destinations to visit this year – and Malta’s made the list!

The island was praised for its ‘festive and spiritual vibe at Christmas’ and the widespread ‘presepji’ (Nativity scenes) that bring the Christmas story to life across the islands. A sweet mention also went out to the Malta Toy Museum – ‘a heartwarming homage to childhood’.

Malta was listed among other locations such as Salzburg and Oberndorf in Austria, New York City for its cinematic holiday charm, and chilly Rovaniemi in Finland, the capital of Lapland, for the ultimate snow-filled, Santa experience. Another location included in this list is San Fernando in the Philippines, famous as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines for its dazzling Giant Lantern Festival! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marouska Tanti (@marouska_and_elisa)

Here’s CNN Travel’s top 15 list in its entirety:  

1. Rovaniemi, Finland 
2. Bogotá, Colombia 
3. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA 
4. Bath, England 
5. San Fernando, Philippines 
6. Barcelona, Spain 
7. Nairobi, Kenya 
8. Nuremberg, Germany 
9. Malta 
10. Quebec City, Canada 
11. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 
12. Salzburg and Oberndorf, Austria 
13. Strasbourg, France 
14. Queenstown, New Zealand 
15. New York City, USA

It would seem that, with its rich traditions and warm holiday spirit, Malta continues to shine as a must-visit destination in Christmas too!

Which of these countries have you visited at Christmas?