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This is the most joyful Christmas destination in the world — and it’s in America

A global review analysis crowns New York City’s Central Park as one of the world’s most joy-filled holiday spots

By Amanda Teague Published December 6, 2025

Central Park — PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay

With Christmas just a few weeks away, a new global analysis from AttractionTickets.com has revealed the vacation spots that spark the most holiday joy. After examining the sentiment of hundreds of thousands of online reviews across more than 180 destinations, researchers ranked each location by a “Total Joy Score” out of 10, blending average review ratings with a dedicated “Christmas Joy Score.” That score focused specifically on how often the word “Christmas” appeared in recent 4 and 5 star reviews.

The results show a surprising winner at the very top. Central Park in New York City has officially tied with Warner Bros. Studio Tour London as the most joyful Christmas destination in the world. While London’s studio tour immerses visitors in snowy Hogwarts magic, Central Park delivers those picture-perfect winter scenes found in countless holiday movies, from frozen lakes to twinkling carriage rides.

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New York doesn’t just take the crown. It dominates the list with five destinations in the global top 15, including Bryant Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock, Times Square, and the world’s No. 1 entry, Central Park. Bryant Park claims third place thanks to its popular open-air ice rink and festive food stalls.

The U.S. performs strongly overall. American destinations make up 34% of the global top 15, with Florida and California also celebrating top placements. Theme parks such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Universal Studios Hollywood earned high praise for Christmas parades, light shows and family-friendly festivities.

Top 15 destinations for Christmas joy in 2025

Central Park, New York, USA
Warner Bros Studio Tour London, UK
Grand Place – Grote Markt, Brussels, Belgium
Bryant Park, New York, USA
Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, USA
Center Parcs – Longleat Forest, Wiltshire, UK
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark
Center Parcs – Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, UK
Disneyland Paris, France
Center Parcs – Elveden Forest, Suffolk, UK
The Met – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York USA
Old Québec, Québec City, Canada
Top of the Rock, New York, USA
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Vienna, Austria

Contributor

Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word…

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