Santa in Shorts: The Best Islands for Christmas 2026

Christmas is coming. Do you want to spend it scraping ice off your car, or sipping a coconut in a Santa hat? Island Christmases offer a unique reset. You trade the stress of turkey timing for a seafood BBQ on the beach.

Whether you want a traditional cozy vibe or a full tropical escape, here are the best islands for the 2026 festive season.

1. St. Barts: The Billionaire Christmas

  • The Vibe: Glitz, glamour, and superyachts.
  • The Experience: Gustavia harbor fills with the world’s biggest yachts. The boutiques are open late.
  • New Year’s Eve: Legendary. Prince, McCartney, and Beyoncé have played private gigs here. The fireworks over the harbor are spectacular.
  • Cost: Eye-watering. Book hotels in January for the following December.

2. Madeira, Portugal: The Light Show

  • The Vibe: Traditional European Christmas, but warm(er).
  • The Experience: Funchal puts on one of the best Christmas light displays in the world. The entire amphitheater of the city sparkles. The markets sell “Bolo de Mel” (honey cake) and Poncha.
  • The Fireworks: The NYE firework display held the Guinness World Record for size.

3. The Philippines (Palawan/Boracay): The Longest Christmas

  • The Vibe: Joyful and loud. The Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world (starts in September!).
  • The Experience: Carols, lanterns (“Parols”), and massive family feasts (“Noche Buena”).
  • Why Go: It’s peak dry season. The weather is perfect. The Filipino hospitality makes you feel like family.

4. Iceland: The White Christmas

  • The Vibe: Cozy, dark, and magical.
  • The Experience: It will be snowy. You have a chance to see the Northern Lights on Christmas Eve.
  • Tradition: The “Yule Lads” (13 mischievous Santas) visit kids. Relaxing in the Blue Lagoon while snow falls on your face is unforgettable.

5. Tenerife, Canary Islands: The Sunny Compromise

  • The Vibe: Relaxed sun.
  • The Experience: A full Christmas dinner with turkey… but sitting outside in 22°C.
  • Concert: The Tenerife Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas concert in Santa Cruz is a cultural highlight.

6. Maui, Hawaii: Mele Kalikimaka

  • The Vibe: Aloha holidays.
  • The Experience: Santa arrives by outrigger canoe. Palm trees are wrapped in lights.
  • Whales: The Humpback whales start arriving in December. A whale watch on Christmas morning is a gift from nature.

7. Barbados: Luxury and Lime

  • The Vibe: Old-school British elegance meets Caribbean party.
  • The Experience: “Carols by Candlelight” at the Prime Minister’s residence. Christmas morning swim at Sandy Lane.
  • Food: Jug Jug (peas and meat) and Great Cake (black cake) are the local staples.

8. Maldives: The Escape

  • The Vibe: What Christmas?
  • The Experience: If you want to escape the commercialism completely, go here. Resorts do nice gala dinners, but you can ignore it all and just snorkel. It is the ultimate de-stress.

Booking Tips for Christmas 2026

  1. The “Dead Week”: The week between Xmas and New Year is the most expensive travel week of the year. Fly on Christmas Day (Dec 25) for cheaper tickets and empty airports.
  2. Dinner Reservations: On many islands, restaurants close or have set menus. Book your Christmas dinner table months in advance.
  3. Minimum Stays: Many villas require a 7-10 night minimum stay during the “Festive Season.”

9. Cyprus: The Orthodox Christmas

  • The Vibe: Ancient tradition.
  • The Experience: Christmas is religious and family-focused. The Troodos mountains might have snow, while Limassol on the coast has sunshine.
  • Food: Melomakarona (honey cookies) and Kourabiedes (almond cookies) are everywhere.

10. Fiji: The Bula Christmas

  • The Vibe: Pure joy.
  • The Experience: Village choirs singing carols in perfect harmony. Huge feasts of pork cooked in an underground oven (Lovo).
  • Why Go: It is the height of summer. The water is warm, the frangipani is blooming.

Gift Ideas for Island Travelers

  • GoPro: To capture the underwater memories.
  • Kindle: For beach reading without the weight.
  • Donation: Donate to a local reef conservation project in their name.

11. New Zealand (South Island): The Adventure Christmas

  • The Vibe: Summer road trip.
  • The Experience: A beach BBQ (“Barbie”) with Pavlova for dessert. Hiking in the Southern Alps.
  • Why Go: It is the opposite of a traditional Christmas. Bungee jumping on Boxing Day? Why not.

12. Prague (Kampa Island): The Market Island

Okay, it’s a river island, but it counts.

  • The Vibe: Fairy tale.
  • The Experience: Kampa Island in the Vltava river offers the best views of the Charles Bridge. The Christmas markets in Prague are world-class.
  • Food: Trdelník (chimney cake) and mulled wine.

How to Pack Christmas Gifts

  • Don’t Wrap Them: Security might unwrap them to check the contents. Wrap them when you arrive.
  • Pack Flat: Gift bags take less space than boxes.
  • Digital Gifts: Give “vouchers” for experiences on the trip (e.g., “This voucher is good for one massage at the hotel spa”). It saves luggage space.

Spending Christmas on an island reminds you that the best gifts aren’t under a tree—they are experiences.