A bright star crowns the Norway spruce at Rockefeller Center, but the view from below is what makes it special. Look up from the plaza and the tree seems to fill the space between the tall buildings. Down at the rink, skaters glide past under its lights.
Mount Ingino Christmas Tree, Gubbio, Italy
In Gubbio, hundreds of lights form the outline of a Christmas tree on the slopes of Mount Ingino. A glowing star marks the top, high above the medieval town. The best way to see the full shape is to step back until both the rooftops and the hillside fit into view.
Floating Christmas Tree, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio’s floating Christmas tree lights up Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
From the shore, its colors stretch across the water, breaking into little pieces whenever the surface moves. With the hills behind it, the tree feels right at home in a city where Christmas comes at the start of summer.
Old Town Square Christmas Tree, Prague, Czechia
The Christmas tree in Prague’s Old Town Square shares the skyline with the pointed towers of the Church of Our Lady before Týn. Walk through the market stalls and watch how the view changes. From one corner, you can see the lights, the towers, and the busy square in a single frame.
Cathedral Square Christmas Tree, Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius gives its Cathedral Square tree a different look from year to year, so photos from past winters can show very different displays. The pale cathedral and its bell tower make a simple backdrop. Walk around the square at dusk to see the tree against both landmarks.
Hansaplatz Christmas Tree, Dortmund, Germany
Dortmund builds its giant Christmas tree from many smaller spruces.
Together they form a display about 45 meters tall, with lights covering it from top to bottom. Stand among the market stalls and look up. The glowing tree makes the roofs of the little wooden booths look even smaller.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, London, England
Norway has given London a Christmas tree every year since 1947. The tall spruce usually wears simple strings of white lights that fall in straight lines. That quiet style suits Trafalgar Square, where the fountains and stone buildings give the tree a grand setting.
Praça do Comércio Christmas Tree, Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon’s Christmas tree stands in a wide square beside the Tagus River. Approach through the Rua Augusta Arch, and the display comes into view between the stone columns. Once you reach the square, there’s plenty of room to see the whole tree against the open sky.
White KITTE Christmas Tree, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo’s White KITTE display brings a snowy look indoors. The tree rises through the shopping center’s open atrium near Tokyo Station, where you can see it from several floors. Look up from the ground to feel its height, then head upstairs for a closer view of the white branches.
Great Christmas Tree, Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg’s Great Christmas Tree stands in Place Kléber, surrounded by buildings with rows of shuttered windows. The open square gives you room to step back and take in the whole display. Then walk closer and look for the smaller decorations tucked between the branches.
