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The most overcrowded Christmas attractions around the world
Over 1 in 3 reviews of London's Winter Wonderland mention the crowds, but it doesn't top our list. See the 10 most overcrowded Christmas attractions.
Whether you’re strolling through a European Christmas market or ice skating under the New York skyline, there’s nothing quite like visiting a Christmas attraction in the lead up to the holidays. But with this comes the inevitable crowds and long queues as people soak up the festive atmosphere.
But which attractions are the most chaotic for travelers during the holiday season?
To find out, the Holafly research team analyzed thousands of Tripadvisor reviews during the peak festive months to identify the most overcrowded Christmas attractions in the world. To measure how crowded each attraction felt to visitors, the team tracked mentions of keywords such as “overcrowded,” “busy,” “packed,” “long wait,” and “chaotic” to reveal the percentage of reviews mentioning crowd related issues.
The most overcrowded Christmas attractions
1. The Rink at Rockefeller Center, New York City, USA (41.2%)
Known for its giant Christmas tree and magical atmosphere, skating at the world famous ice skating rink at the Rockefeller center in New York City is at the top of many people’s bucket list. However, for this very reason, it’s known to be crowded, especially during the peak holiday season, and that’s why it tops the list with over 40% of visitors mentioning crowd-related issues. Reviews mention long queues, limited skating space, and a constant stream of spectators lining the rink’s edges making it difficult to access the rink. However the rink creates a setting that few attractions can match and even with the hustle and bustle, it is worth it for an unforgettable experience.
2. Winter Wonderland, London, UK (36.7%)
The annual Christmas attraction held in London’s Hyde park offers a variety of attractions for all ages, from fairground rides and market stalls to ice skating and live entertainment. Its popularity makes it one of London’s top attractions, however it is also known to become very crowded, especially on evenings and weekends. Over 36% of reviews reported it as busy, with visitors reporting long queues and difficulty moving between stalls. Despite the crowds, Winter Wonderland is praised for its festive atmosphere so it is worth navigating the bustling crowds.
3. Nuremberg Christmas Market, Nuremberg, Germany (34.6%)
One of Europe’s oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is visited by 2.5 million people each year and is known for its traditional handmade Christmas decorations and sweet treats such as the world-famous Nuremberg Lebkuchen (gingerbread). As one of the most famous German markets, it attracts a huge number of tourists from around the world, which explains why 34.6% of reviews reported busy or hectic conditions. However the crowds don’t stop travelers from visiting the magic Nuremberg Christmas market has to offer.
Find out which other Christmas attractions draw the biggest crowds below.
Tips for a better experience
Visiting these world famous attractions can be the highlight of the holiday season but the crowds can be challenging. In order to make the most of your visit, here are some practical tips to help you beat the hustle and bustle:
- Book in advance: Pre-book or reserve tickets online to save time and avoid long queues at the ticket booths. Prices can go up as the holiday approaches, and availability can be limited.
- Visit outside of peak hours: Arrive when attractions open or later in the evening to avoid the crowds.
- Check popular times online: Look online to see how busy a location typically is at different times of the day.
- Explore lesser known areas: Venture past the main tourist spots to find less crowded areas.
- Stay connected: With a travel eSIM you can easily stay connected and check live updates or crowd levels online before heading out, helping you plan your visit accordingly.
- Embrace the crowds: Accept that attractions will be busy and use the opportunity to enjoy the lively festive atmosphere!
Looking beyond the crowds
From London’s Winter Wonderland and Germany’s historic Christmas markets, it’s clear that the world’s most loved festive attractions are also some of the busiest. But for many travelers, the magic of these experiences far outweighs the crowds. While patience may come in handy, these festive hotspots remain must-visit destinations for anyone looking to embrace the true spirit of the holiday season.
Methodology
Using data scraped from exportcomments.com, we filtered reviews based on the following criteria:
- Keywords: Reviews containing terms such as “overcrowded,” “crowded,” “busy,” “chaotic,” “waiting,” “packed,” “overrun,” “long wait,” “rammed,” and “hectic” were identified as crowd-related.
- Date Range: Only reviews from November, December, and January were included to reflect the peak festive season.
- Language: Only English-language reviews were analyzed for consistency.
- Review Volume: Attractions with fewer than 250 total reviews were excluded to ensure reliable results.
Each attraction’s “crowded score” was calculated as the percentage of total reviews that mentioned crowd-related keywords. The final ranking revealed the top destinations where visitors most frequently described their experience as overcrowded.
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in the UK, I discovered content creation as a journalist while studying at the University of Manchester. I've since covered a range of roles, both editorial and SEO, across the travel, hospitality, and professional services industries. I spend my weeks ensuring Holafly's content is relevant, insightful, and helpful, and my weekends exploring new destinations to satisfy my ever-growing travel bug.
