London

London welcomes many visitors for Christmas and it knows how to turn on the style.

London's luxury quarter lights up for Christmas, making the city an ideal place to stop and shop. Bond Street is the place to be this festive season as the annual Christmas lights light up the street once again! Christmas carols, musical performances, street entertainers, even real live reindeer and some festive snow, Bond Street becomes a true Christmas wonderland over the festive period. And if all that's not enough for you, how about doing your Christmas shopping by sleigh, with the wheel-less wonders on hand to whisk you away to your desired shopping destination?

(Oxford Street)

Oxford Street's Christmas Lights have been revamped this year to the tune of £1.5m - and will be illuminated to the music of Jessie J, Conor Maynard, 'The X-Factor' 2012 winner James Arthur, and Capital FM DJs Lisa Snowdon and Dave Berry. Local girl Jessie gets to flick the switch - from a temporary stage outside Selfridges. The event starts at 5pm and at 6.15pm 750,000 LEDs will transform the prime shopping street into a gentle storm of falling snowflakes. If you register online with Capital FM you'll be in with a chance of getting upfront and close to the stars (they're giving away 250 tickets each day).

Canada

The chilly central areas of Canada are the ideal place to spend winter andthe locals have made it even more interesting with an Ice Magic Festival.

Along the shores of frozen Lake Louise, beneath a pristine glacier, is the perfect location for the annual International Ice Carving Competition, the highlight of the Ice Magic Festival and part of SnowDays, a month-long celebration of winter in Banff National Park. With 34 hours of carving time, ten teams of two are invited to transform 15 blocks of ice into themed masterpieces. In celebration of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, carvers will be inspired by the 'Olympics of ice carving', by capturing the Olympic spirit in ice. The weekend also hosts the One Carver, One Hour, One Block speed carving event at the Lake Louise Inn, horse drawn wagon rides, and ice skating on Lake Louise beneath the towering gaze of the Victoria Glacier.

Did you know? For the longest time, Christmas in Québec was strictly a religious holiday; on December 24, people would fast until a solemn midnight Mass, and then celebrate quietly. The revelry took place at New Year's, when children would receive the gift of an orange - a rare treat in the heart of winter in Québec. It wasn't until the 20th Century that Christmas took on a more commercial and secular tone.

Austria

Shopping is is a major component of everyone's Christmas preparations and Austria's Christmas Markets in Graz, Salzberg, Innsbruck, Vienna, and Linz are the ideal place to be.

Enjoy the highlights of Advent in Graz, the capital city of Styria. Let yourself be enchanted by the romantic lights, the gleaming ice crib, the giant Rathaus Advent calendar and the spectacular Christmas Markets. The Graz advent markets lie within walking distance of one another and all opening times plus a calender of events can be found on the Advent in Graz website. Here are just a few of the highlights.

The Christmas Markets in Vienna truly are an age-old tradition. The forerunners of the present-day events date back to the Middle Ages when in 1298 Albrecht I granted Vienna's citizens the privilege of holding a December Market or "Krippenmarkt". Since then, the character and prevalence of these markets has changed considerably. Last year there were approximately 21 official Advent Markets in Vienna, selling a vast array of Christmas gifts and mouth-watering treats.

Find a traditional Christmas market and festively illuminated trees in the Rathauspark. Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys, gingerbread hearts, roast chestnuts, baked potatoes, candied fruits and aromatic berry laden punch are on sale at some 150 stalls. Inside City Hall, children can craft their own Christmas gifts out of clay, paper and glass at the workshop in the Great Hall, or bake cookies and vanilla crescents.

Worth seeing: The Ice Crib in the Landhaushof from 29th November-24th December 2013. Since 1996 a unique nativity scene carved out of crystal clear ice has been displayed each year in the so-called Landhaushof, the most beautiful Renaissance yard in Graz. In just a few years, the nativity scene ("Ice crib") with life-size figures and a massive ice formation has established itself as the popular favourite of the Graz Advent festivities.

Rome

Now here is some good news. Rome does not shut down for Christmas nor during the holidays!

During the Christmas holidays museums, archeological areas, monuments and exhibitions may have slightly different opening days and hours, but there is always something open in Rome! For instance, the 100 cribs exhibition is always open through January 6 from 9:30am to 8pm.

DECEMBER 24: General rule: all open. Closing starts a few hours ahead of the usual schedule. The Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine hill are open as usual until dusk. The same holds for Caracalla's baths. The Vatican Museums (which include the Sistine Chapel) are open until 2pm.

DECEMBER 25: General rule: all closed. Some exhibition centres are open. Exceptions: Modigliani is the first one to open: at 10am (closes at 8pm). Treasures from Naples 3-8pm, Cezanne 3:30-8:30pm,  National Geographic 4-8pm, Augustus 4-8pm. The last one to close is Cleopatra at 9pm (opens at 4pm)

DECEMBER 26: General rule: all open, standard hours. Exception: The Vatican Museums are closed. For more details of activities in Rome....

Sydney

A Sydney Christmas is like no other in the world and this year the City of Sydney is putting on the festive season with a twist, as Sydney is set to be transformed into the ultimate summer Christmas playground.

A five-week season of celebrations, promotions and interactive installations, will offer a complete sensory experience for everyone. 

The streets will be illuminated with lights and decorations and for the first time the City of Sydney will be installing a host of high-tech wonders in key city spots this Christmas to help spread the festive spirit interactively. These include a new interactive Christmas tree in Martin Place, an 'Infinite Choir' in the form of a new light and sound installation triggered by the movement of shoppers in Pitt Street Mall and digital projections on Sydney Town Hall and in Sydney Square.

'Selfie stands' the size of bus stop advertising signs will be set up in key retail hubs, allowing passers-by to snap themselves with a festive screen backdrop and a silly hat. Visitors to Sydney are encouraged to take the family on the Bright Walk, a self-guided tour through the city taking in the Christmas lights and attractions along the way.

For the first time, the City of Sydney has created a Sydney Christmas pocket guide to the festive season with the over 80 events listed across the key categories of attractions, concerts, carols, food and drink, decorations, shopping, families and more.

New York

Why not stay in a hotel in New York for Christmas? Hotel 373 Fifth Avenue has New York shopping all around, and the Rockefeller Center and ice skating is just minutes away - and an abundance of tasty holiday treats nearby.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, New York transforms into a magical wonderland. Christmas trees are lit, department stores deck their windows with lights, and visitors and locals alike strap on their skates and hit the ice.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony took place recently when 45,000 LEDs were switched on to illuminate the iconic attraction. Of course, the 76-foot-tall evergreen wasn't the only drawcard. Music and dancers performed, then Mayor Bloomberg flipped the switch, and the yuletide bash aired on NBC. The twinkling spruce, which is topped with a 9.5-foot-wide Swarovski star, will be on display until January 7.  

Copenhagen

Christmas in Tivoli Gardens is a dear Christmas tradition amongst Copenhageners as well as visitors to the city. If you are in Copenhagen during the months of November and December, do not miss Tivoli's Christmas market, sweets, decorations, lights and entertainment for the world. ??

The spectacular Russian basilica from 2011 remains the focal point of the central Tivoli square with its nine onion-shaped domes and impressive Christmas tree. Surrounding the basilica are shops and food outlets as well as the Siberian Lantern ride, one of Tivoli's 28 Christmas rides.

WeirdWalks' Christmas tour gives you the opportunity to learn something about new as well as old Christmas traditions in Denmark.

Christmas hasn't always been the way it is today. Listen to the stories about the first Christmas trees, decorations, cinema traditions, lost window displays, Christmas goodies and more. Who came first - Santa or the Christmas pixie? And how did the rich and the poor once celebrate Christmas. And what does the Christmas goat have to do with all of this?

The tour is for all ages and starts by Hotel Palace, Vestervoldgade, by City Hall Square. The tour ends by Church of Our Lady. Details.....

France

What does Christmas mean in France? Family, gifts, good times AND scrumptious food! It is a real tradition in France to have a table filled with amazing food at this time of the year. Here's a typical selection to whet your appetite. Enjoy!

So, if you're dreaming of a French Christmas, take a look at this ...