Cape Town lands spot on world’s best Christmas destinations list

Christmas has come early for Cape Town after the Mother City snagged a spot on a most festive list.

The English publication Time Out just released a list ranking the 22 best places to go for Christmas in the world in 2026. Here’s how Cape Town fared…

‘TIS THE SEASON TO VISIT CAPE TOWN

Out of the 22 global locations to visit for Christmas this year, Cape Town comes in at 19th place on this list.

Time Out chalked up its position to its summer weather – a huge contrast from the snowy winters that descend upon other countries during the most wonderful time of the year.

The Mother City is a summer-cum-Christmas-holiday hotspot. Image: Pexels

“The beauty of the Southern Hemisphere in December is that it’s the exact opposite of the chilly north,” per the publication. “With long, sunny days and highs in the mid-20s, Cape Town offers a totally different kind of Christmas.”

Indeed, the festive season in Cape Town – and South Africa overall – is a summer-coded celebration. From carols at Kirstenbosch Garden and Boxing Day braais to the illustrious Festive Lights Switch-On, Christmas in the Mother City certainly fits the bill of a warm occasion, guaranteed to put one in the holiday spirit.

WORLD’S CHRISTMAS HOTSPOTS FOR 2026

Take a gander at the complete list (starting from first place to 22nd place):

• New York City, New York, USA
• London, England
• Lapland, Finland
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Edinburgh, Scotland
• Zagreb, Croatia
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Bruges, Belgium
• Sydney, Australia
• Nuuk, Greenland
• Vienna, Austria
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Nuremburg, Germany
• Funchal, Portugal
• Colmar, France
• New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Tokyo, Japan
• Singapore
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Phuket, Thailand
• Guatemala City, Guatemala

Aside from our Southern Hemisphere sibling Sydney, the top ten cities turn into winter wonderlands this time of year. Because of this, New York City is the cream of the Christmas trip crop:

The dazzling holiday windows on Fifth Avenue, the Rockefeller Center Tree… and the city’s open-air holiday markets make for a romantic, memorable season you can only really get in the Big Apple.

What do you think of Cape Town’s ranking on this list, folks? Should it have rated higher, or should we regard this spot as a lump of coal? Let us know in the comments below!