For many, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year” — all cinnamon-scented joy, soft scarves, glowing trees, and emotional adverts about being kind to strangers.
But if you’re reading this, chances are you’re… not that person.
This is for the Grinches, the Scrooges, the silent eye-rollers, and the “I’m not listening to Mariah Carey for the 27th year in a row” crowd. Those who can’t stand the queues, the forced cheerfulness, the office Secret Santas, or the argument about who’s bringing dessert.
Good news: Christmas 2025 doesn’t have to involve any of that.
There are still parts of the world where December 25th is either a mild footnote — or blissfully ignored altogether.
Here are the best destinations for people who’d prefer their holiday season without the holiday.
New Zealand
If you want to remove yourself from Christmas entirely, New Zealand remains a perfect 2025 escape — both geographically and culturally.
Cities like Auckland and Queenstown do have lively “Kiwi Christmas” events, but the magic of New Zealand is that it’s incredibly easy to vanish into nature. Spend Christmas hiking in Nelson Lakes National Park, spotting birds on Stewart Island, skiing Mount Hutt, or relaxing in the wild, empty beaches along the South Island’s west coast.
Bonus: depending on your flight time from Europe or the US, you might literally skip Christmas Day entirely thanks to time zone magic. If that’s not the ultimate Christmas-avoider flex, nothing is.
Japan
Japan in 2025 still treats Christmas as a purely secular, mostly decorative event — and with less than 2% of the population identifying as Christian, it remains delightfully low-pressure.
Tokyo and Osaka will still have winter illuminations and some decorations (Japan loves an excuse for lights), but the day itself is… pretty normal. Christmas Eve is considered more like Valentine’s Day, so unless you want to witness couple-heavy cafes, you can skip straight to quieter destinations such as Kanazawa, Toyama, or Matsuyama.
Or head north to Hokkaido: snow, hot springs, skiing, and not a Christmas carol in sight.
North Korea
If your goal is “absolutely no Christmas whatsoever,” North Korea remains the final boss of holiday avoidance.
The country doesn’t recognise Christmas at all; its major December event is the commemoration of its constitution on December 27th — and even that is muted. Alcohol restrictions, surveillance, and tightly controlled itineraries mean celebrations of any kind are sparse.
Of course, visiting North Korea in 2025 is still highly restricted and only possible via specialised tours under strict supervision. You won’t see Christmas — but you also won’t see much else without a guide five steps behind you.
Kazakhstan
With roughly 70% of the population identifying as Muslim and only a small Christian minority, Kazakhstan isn’t overwhelmed by Christmas the way Europe or North America is.
December 25th is a working day, and while Orthodox Christmas is observed in January, the December frenzy doesn’t really exist.
Explore the wide landscapes of Aksu-Zhabagly, wander through Karkaraly National Park, or explore the architecture and post-Soviet charm of Astana, Pavlodar, or Turkestan — all without Santa peeking at you from a shop window.
Laos
If your perfect Christmas 2025 involves not hearing Christmas music ever again, Laos is calling.
Even in major cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Christmas decorations are rare. Over 60% of the population is Buddhist, and Western influence remains lighter than in nearby Thailand or Vietnam.
December weather is perfect: cool, dry, and ideal for temple tours, river cruises, jungle hikes, and sipping coffee in colonial courtyards. You’ll find serenity — and zero elves.
Morocco
Want sunshine instead of sleigh bells? Morocco is one of the best 2025 Christmas getaways for people who’d like their festive season warm, crowd-free, and Santa-free.
Average December temperatures sit comfortably around 15°C, cities like Marrakech, Fez, and Tangier bustle with life, and the Atlas Mountains offer dramatic winter-hiking routes without Christmas imagery lurking around every corner.
Most Moroccans don’t celebrate Christmas, so aside from a few decorations in tourist-heavy hotels, you can enjoy the season without hearing a single jingle.
Russia
Yes — the home of the Nutcracker ballet is technically a Christmas escape.
That’s because Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7th, thanks to the Orthodox Church following the Julian calendar. So December 25th? It’s just another cold winter Thursday.
Visit Moscow or St. Petersburg for snowy streets, frozen rivers, and stunning architecture — all without December’s global Christmas pressure. Just bring layers. And then more layers. And then maybe one more.
Thailand
Thailand is one of the world’s favourite winter destinations, and while the major cities now feature some Western-style decorations thanks to tourism, the country is still overwhelmingly Buddhist.
Outside Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, Christmas essentially doesn’t exist.
The weather in December is perfect: sunny, dry, and not as humid as other months. Ideal for island hopping, night markets, jungle adventures, and pretending Christmas isn’t happening anywhere on earth.
Merry Stashmas — Wherever You Go
Whether you love Christmas, hate Christmas, tolerate Christmas, or just want to avoid that one relative who keeps asking about your life choices, there’s a destination out there for you in 2025.
And wherever you end up — from Hokkaido to Marrakech — remember you don’t need to drag your luggage around while escaping the festive frenzy.
Store your bags with Stasher, travel light, and enjoy your holiday your way — Christmassy, un-Christmassy, or blissfully unaware of the date altogether.
If Christmas must be everywhere… at least your bags don’t have to be.
Merry Stashmas!
Whether you love or hate Christmas, you’ve got a friend in us! Store your luggage with us and enjoy (or not) your holiday hands-free!
