Discover 10 Christmas and New Year films that inspire travel—from New York to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Plot your next trip with festive movie magic.
With winter settling in and the holidays on the horizon, many of us crave a touch of wonder, a dash of adventure, and those warm, unhurried moments with the people we love. New Year’s and Christmas are the season of small miracles, when you want to soak up beauty and warmth—and films become a perfect way to slip into other cities, countries, and even eras.
Some movies don’t just set a festive mood—they spark the itch to travel. They whisk you to London’s snowy streets, New York’s glittering avenues, the romantic corners of Saint Petersburg and Moscow, or the cozy cottages of the English countryside. Their characters stumble into love, make unexpected discoveries, and learn to cherish the moments life hands them.
Here is a selection of New Year and Christmas films that inspire not only real journeys but a quiet inner reset. Consider it a virtual trip that brings holiday magic into your home—and nudges you toward new horizons.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York follows young Kevin McCallister, who finds himself alone in the city and turns the metropolis into his personal winter fairy tale. In the city that never sleeps, he explores its best‑known landmarks with a mix of charm and pluck that’s hard to resist.
The film brims with holiday ambience: lavish window displays, the glow of the Rockefeller Center tree, and skating in Central Park. The Plaza Hotel, where Kevin stays, adds a touch of old‑school grandeur and the thrill of endless possibility.
The story suggests that even a strange city can become an adventure if you meet it with an open heart. New York emerges as a place where wonders lurk at every turn—whether it’s a friendship with a toy‑store owner or a quiet act of kindness in Central Park.
More than a string of gags, Home Alone 2 nudges you to explore, to look for beauty in the small things, and to remember that even accidental trips can turn into the memories you keep.
The Polar Express is an animated Christmas tale about a magical trip to the North Pole—one that makes belief feel tangible. It awakens the holiday spirit and, at the same time, the urge to venture out and discover.
When a boy begins to doubt Santa’s existence, he suddenly becomes a passenger on a mysterious train racing through snow‑covered vistas, towering mountains, and shadowed forests toward the heart of Christmas. The journey is more than a ride; it’s a symbolic path lined with friendship, faith, and small revelations.
Every stop is a story of its own. Frozen bridges, gleaming ice, and vast tunnels set the stage for a true adventure. You can almost feel the glow that makes you want to seek beauty—and a touch of magic—in the world around you.
The Polar Express gently reminds us that travel isn’t only about arriving; it’s about savoring the way there and seeing the world anew. It all but invites you to take your own holiday journey in search of hope, wonder, and the dreams you’re ready to follow.
Love Actually weaves nine romantic stories against a festive London backdrop. Beyond the glow and good cheer, it urges you to explore—chasing beauty, fresh impressions, and, sometimes, love.
Set in December, the film’s London becomes a holiday haven of lights, snug streets, snowy parks, and cheerful bustle. The city turns into a character in its own right, tempting you to visit and feel that atmosphere firsthand.
Its characters travel both physically and emotionally: one retreats to a village for peace, another flies to the U.S. in search of love, and someone else dreams of escaping routine to find inspiration. The film shows how a change of place can gently reroute a life.
Moments at the airport—hellos and goodbyes—underline how journeys bind people. Musical interludes, including the now‑classic gallery scene, make you want to be there as the holidays draw near.
Love Actually invites not only trips abroad but a widening of your own horizons. It argues for adding a little magic to your days and letting yourself step toward new adventures—in travel and in matters of the heart.
Borrowed Hearts is a tender romantic comedy set on Chicago’s snow‑dusted streets. It’s a story about seeking happiness and real values—and about traveling, geographically and inward, to find yourself and start anew.
On Christmas Eve, a lonely millionaire named Sam decides to “rent” an ideal family to dodge colleagues’ judgments and feel a bit of home warmth. That staged arrangement becomes a true journey for him—not only across town, but toward the things that matter.
Chicago here feels cozy and festive: glowing shopfronts, twinkling homes, and family skating in the park. These scenes make you want to visit a winter city, linger over a hot drink, and slide onto the ice before heading to a snug cafe.
The film suggests that trips—whether to a new place or deep into your own thoughts—can spark change and genuine joy. Borrowed Hearts quietly encourages stepping outside the usual and seeing the world from a kinder, lighter angle.
The Santa Clause tells how an ordinary man unexpectedly steps into a life of magic. It lifts the holiday spirit and hints at journeys—into fantastical realms and toward your own long‑kept wishes.
After an unexpected incident, Scott Calvin, a corporate employee, finds himself the new Santa. He heads to the North Pole, meets the elves, sees how the workshop runs, and understands what his new calling demands.
Snow‑bright plains, a warmly lit workshop, endless toys—the North Pole is portrayed with irresistible charm. The sleigh rides over cities around the world underline the season’s glow and nudge you to wander, to see holiday lights wherever they’re burning.
The Santa Clause makes the case that wonder is real if you allow it to be. It’s a reminder that travel can also mean returning to yourself, to your loved ones, and to the dreams you share. It leaves you wanting to chase a few adventures of your own and craft a bit of personal holiday magic.
Four Christmases is a light, heartfelt comedy about how even the most unexpected trips can change us—and our view of what matters. It captures the chaos and warmth of the season, when family visits are an adventure in their own right.
Brad and Kate, a couple who prefer to dodge traditional gatherings, plan an exotic tropical escape. Grounded by bad weather, they end up on a whirlwind tour of their parents’ homes—celebrating Christmas four times in a single day.
They bounce between places, run into clashing habits, awkward mishaps, and long‑buried traditions. The gauntlet turns into a lesson, nudging them toward the value of commitment, kin, and a shared future.
Four Christmases treats even short trips as chances to learn something new, feel intensely, and stumble on truths you didn’t expect. It’s a reminder that travel—messy and unpredictable as it is—can still bring laughter, warmth, and connection. And amid the holiday rush, time with your people is the part that lingers.
Yolki is a Russian New Year anthology that ties together a web of touching, funny, and slightly magical stories unfolding across the country. It nudges you to celebrate—and to travel through Russia’s many regions.
The action spans 11 cities, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, and plays with the idea of six degrees of separation. People who seem distant and unrelated end up connected by good turns, coincidences, and New Year miracles.
Each thread offers a distinct portrait of a place: wintery Saint Petersburg with its atmospheric architecture, the Urals’ snowy sweep, festive Krasnoyarsk, and Moscow’s brisk rhythm. Watching feels like a tour through Russia—its culture, traditions, and shared holiday spirit.
Yolki suggests exploring your own country, noticing how varied and beautiful it is, and how the New Year gathers everyone under one roof. Even on the coldest night, there’s warmth to be found—in smiles, in kindness, and in serendipity. Travel here is not only miles covered but small inner shifts that stay with you.
Father Frost. The Battle of the Magicians is a brisk, spectacle‑driven story that opens a secret magical world tucked behind Moscow’s everyday bustle. It conjures a festive mood and inspires journeys—through real streets and imagined realms where anything can happen.
Masha, a young girl, is drawn into a showdown between mages who guard the world from darkness. Alongside them she roams a holiday‑lit Moscow, discovering its hidden corners and a curious magical layer just out of sight. Grand squares, snow‑dusted parks, and bright city lights make the capital feel like part of the spell.
The film blends familiar New Year icons—Father Frost, snowy sets, fireworks—with sweeping duels and fantastical locales. That mix of real and imagined nudges you to see your own city with fresh eyes—or to seek wonder somewhere new.
It’s a reminder that travel isn’t only a change of coordinates; it’s the chance to find the unexpected, whether in wintertime Moscow or in a world of daydreams. The film leaves you with a thirst for discovery and a quiet belief that marvels are closer than they look.
The Last Warrior is a fantastical tale where the modern world intersects with ancient Slavic folklore. It isn’t tied directly to New Year, but its magic, sense of quest, and search for self match the season’s spirit and invite a journey full of discovery.
Ivan from Moscow unexpectedly lands in Belogorye, a mythical realm where folk‑tale figures come alive. He meets familiar legends—Baba Yaga, the Water Spirit, Koschei the Immortal—and wades into adventures against a backdrop of deep forests, misty lakes, and mountain grandeur.
His path is both a trek across a fabled land and a return to personal roots, underscoring growth and cultural heritage. Ivan learns to accept where he comes from and uncovers strengths he didn’t know he had.
The Last Warrior encourages exploring Russian traditions, visiting places linked to folklore, and seeking out nature reserves that echo Belogorye’s storybook scenery. It stirs a desire for a quest touched by magic—and hints that real wonders appear when you’re ready to see them.
Silver Skates is a romantic fable set in wintertime Saint Petersburg at the end of the 19th century. It pulls you into a festive, old‑world atmosphere and makes you want to visit historic cities to feel their spell and the echo of another era.
The story follows two young people from different worlds. Matvey, a lamplighter’s son, works as a courier on skates; Alisa, the daughter of a wealthy official, dreams of a career in science. Their paths cross on the city’s frozen canals, launching a tale of love, friendship, and the search for freedom.
Snowy streets, frozen rivers, opulent palaces, and Petersburg’s elegant bridges create an almost enchanted canvas. It’s the kind of imagery that makes you want to stroll the city, linger at its architectural landmarks, and savor winter’s intimacy.
Silver Skates also nods to active winter pleasures—from skating in picture‑perfect parks to gliding over icy waterways. Travel here is a chance to discover something new, lean into romance, and catch flickers of everyday magic where you least expect them.