BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Better known as Christmas City USA, Bethlehem is being celebrated not just for its festive traditions, but also for its affordability.
That’s from a new analysis from HomeToGo, a global vacation-rental marketplace that tracks travel trends.
According to its newly released 2025 Christmas Cities Round-Up, the Berlin-based vacation rental marketplace ranked Bethlehem No. 1 in price, with a low median nightly rate of $55.39 per person, and No. 17 in overall travel demand.
HomeToGo’s report draws on search volume, accommodation rates, and population data to highlight U.S. destinations where travelers can capture the magic of a European-style Christmas market just a little bit closer to home.
“Our travel data shows that, whether they’re making the transatlantic trek or staying closer to home, Americans are prioritizing trips to festive destinations this winter,” said Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo spokesperson, in a news release.
“As HomeToGo is based in Germany — the birthplace of the Christmas market tradition — we’re especially excited to unveil our Christmas Cities Round-Up. From cozy gems in the United States to bustling European capitals, this guide aims to help travelers find an ideal destination that delivers holiday magic while matching their budget and preferred travel time.”
What to see and do in Bethlehem
Bethlehem earned marks in the report for its two festive markets, carriage rides, live advent calendar and more.
This year, holiday experiences around the city include:
- Christkindlmarkt, ArtsQuest’s beloved German-inspired holiday market at the SteelStacks campus, going bigger than ever before with a Winter Wonderland expansion. There are stages for entertainment, a Glas Haus (hot glass experience), fire pits, new decorations and the Warmen Haus, where visitors can buy food and drinks imported from Germany.
- Christmas City Village, with wares as diverse as Turkish towels, fresh-baked focaccia and Christmas berry hot sauce. Find it at Main Street and the nearby Sun Inn courtyard, featuring dozens of green, wooden huts for a variety of vendors to set up shop.
- The annual Christmas tree at Payrow Plaza, which for the past 25 years has been the venue to draw folks from near and far to officially celebrate the holiday. This year, the tree is a 43-foot-high and nearly 6,000-pound spruce that will be covered in 25,000 to 30,000 LED colored lights.
- “Christmas in Bethlehem,” a posthumous collection of paintings and drawings by Frank “Wyso” Wysochansky, will be on display through Dec. 19 at the gallery, at 10 East Church Street.
- Horse-drawn carriage rides through Bethlehem’s twinkling historic district, with a choice of the elegant White Vis-à-Vis or Victorian couples carriages, or a chance to hop aboard Santa’s sleigh.
- Trees of Historic Bethlehem, a self-guided tour that lets visitors stroll through 28 themed trees inspired by art, history and culture.
- Christmas City Stroll and motorcoach ride, led by a costumed guide dressed in 18th-century Colonial attire, which invites you to step back in time as you explore Bethlehem’s landmarks.
- Central Moravian Christmas Putz, a beloved Christmas City tradition that tells the Nativity story through handcrafted figurines and miniature landscapes.
- The Live Advent Calendar, which takes place in the Sun Inn Courtyard beginning December 1 and running every night at 5:30 p.m. until December 23.
Plus, drop into the Historic Hotel Bethlehem to check out this year's holiday decor.
Micaela Hood/LehighValleyNews.comA new ribbon is part of a half-dozen "picture spots" at Christkindlmarkt.
Demand more than doubling
Rounding out the Top 5 of HomeToGo’s report for most affordable cities for Christmas fun were Williamsburg, Virginia; Carmel, Indiana; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Holland, Michigan.
Within the United States, HomeToGo says it has recorded a rise in searches for destinations with festive activities, with demand more than doubling.
Across all featured U.S. destinations, the average median nightly price per person for a vacation rental during the 2025 holiday season is $104, the report said.
