We’ve all got an image of Christmas in our heads, complete with a roast in the oven, gifts under the tree, and gallons of mulled wine. But in Britain, you’re more likely to experience drizzle for most of December and to dispute about who should clean the dishes after Christmas dinner. Therefore, it is preferable to escape and spend the holiday season elsewhere. Here are the top places to go on Christmas, whether you want to see Santa in Lapland, shop at a real German market, or get some winter sun.

Iceland

Visitors looking to get into the Christmas spirit will find it in abundance in Iceland. Here, the holiday season is alive with bustling Christmas markets full with glistening wooden stalls selling food, drink, and gifts under the watchful gaze of towering Christmas trees. Wild lava fields and rocky mountains, all blanketed with snow, will create a spectacular winter paradise. When the mercury drops below zero, there’s no better time to warm up in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon. Drive yourself up into the mountains at night to see the dancing northern lights, and don’t miss out on other seasonal excursions, like hiking close to the Snaefellsjokull glacier.

River Rhine

Holiday season on the Rhine is best spent sipping local wine as you watch steep vineyards and ancient castles float by. Most cruises down the Rhine include stops at festive holiday destinations like Cologne, Koblenz, and Bonn. Here, in the midst of the glistening lights, Christmas lovers gather in picturesque Christmas markets to the sounds of shoppers’ voices, ice skates, and Christmas carols.

Germany

Germany goes all out for the holiday season, and its well-known Christmas markets are bursting at the seams with mulled wine and twinkling lights. Berlin’s cool scene features a massive carnival, and a Christmas show at Alexanderplatz will get you in the mood in no time. There’s a good risk of snow, as December temperatures often drop into the single digits (with an average low of -1C).

Barbados

Christmastime in the Caribbean is perfect. Midway through September to Midway through December is the most tranquil time to visit Barbados, the Caribbean’s most popular destination, since hotel prices decrease by up to a third and the air-kissing, winter-sun-seeking regulars have not yet jetted in. It might rain, but it wouldn’t last long, and it’s still a comfortable 27 degrees Celsius out there. Go east and see the wild. In contrast to the bustling beach resorts on the west and south coastlines, the Atlantic side of the island is a whirlwind of stunning shores (especially around the little town of Bathsheba), rolling surf, fluttering coconut trees, and topsy-turvy hills. Get away of the city and enjoy the tranquility of Bay Tavern in Martin’s Bay, a popular “lime” (informal hangout) among Bajans on Thursday afternoons.