November 12, 2025, 9:04 am | Read time: 4 minutes
For many, a Christmas tree is an essential part of festive decorations during the holiday season. Around the world, there are spectacular trees that attract countless visitors year after year. These Christmas trees are often beautifully decorated or set against extraordinary backdrops. TRAVELBOOK presents the most impressive Christmas trees in the world.
1. Rockefeller Center, New York
The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York is arguably one of the most famous. Fifty thousand colorful lights and a Swarovski star at the top of the tree create a special holiday atmosphere in the city. The lighting is celebrated with a ceremony that can be watched live on TV. Beneath the Christmas tree is an ice rink where you can skate amidst the sparkle of Christmas lights.
2. St. Peter’s Square, Rome
A special highlight is also the Christmas tree at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. Each year, it comes from a different European region and is set up right in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, festively decorated with countless lights. Next to it, there is also a life-sized nativity scene every year.
3. Dortmund, Germany
When it comes to impressive Christmas trees around the world, Dortmund is worth a look. The city in North Rhine-Westphalia boasts Germany’s largest Christmas tree each year. However, it is not made from a single fir but from about 1,700 Christmas trees assembled into the largest Christmas tree, standing 45 meters tall. The setup takes about as long as it stands—around four weeks. Particularly impressive are the approximately 135,000 lights that illuminate the tree.
4. Gubbio, Italy
The largest Christmas tree in the world is located in Italy, according to the Guinness Book of Records. With a height of 750 meters and an area of 130 square meters, the tree in Gubbio, Umbria, is visible from up to 50 kilometers away. However, it is not a traditional Christmas tree but a massive light installation in the shape of a fir tree, stretching across the slope of Gubbio’s home mountain, Monte Ingino.
5. Galeries Lafayette, Paris
The Galeries Lafayette, the iconic department store in Paris, is especially worth a visit during the Christmas season. In the center, under the dome, is an oversized Christmas tree installation that nearly reaches the ceiling. A light chain about eight kilometers long provides a festive sparkle. The rest of the department store is also absolutely worth seeing—in addition to the shop windows, everything inside is festively decorated.
6. Trafalgar Square, London
Since 1947, a giant Christmas tree has been set up annually at Trafalgar Square in London. The special thing about it: It is a gift from the city of Oslo—as a thank you for support during World War II. Each year, they send a spruce to the United Kingdom. The lights are then turned on during a festive ceremony.
7. Alstertanne, Hamburg
A special eye-catcher every year is the floating “Alstertanne” in Hamburg. Decorated with 1,000 glowing lights, this Christmas tree is located directly on the Binnenalster—exactly where the Alster fountain is in the summer.
8. Vilnius, Lithuania
By now, the Christmas tree at Cathedral Square in Vilnius is a symbol of Christmas throughout Lithuania, according to the Vilnius Tourist Information Center. No wonder, as this Christmas tree is a particularly spectacular specimen. Each year, the fir shines in a slightly different but very impressive look and design.
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9. Krakow, Poland
When thinking of famous Christmas trees, many first think of the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York, but the “Time Out” magazine last year named the Christmas tree next to St. Mary’s Church in Krakow as the winner. The unique character of the tree decoration, which blends particularly harmoniously into the cityscape, was especially highlighted.
10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro is also particularly spectacular. It is not a real fir tree but a gigantic steel structure about 85 meters high, located right on the water. Thanks to more than three million lights, the Christmas tree creates a festive atmosphere.