Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel.

Millions of Americans are gearing up to hit the highway and take to the skies ahead of the holidays.

Here's what you need to know before packing your bags:

Holiday travel by air

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel, with 7.5 million people projected to fly from Saturday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 1. This would break the record high of 7.3 million flyers set during the 2019 holiday season.

Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 are forecast to be the busiest days for departures, according to Hopper.

Domestic airfares are averaging $349 round trip -- a 3% increase from last year, according to Hopper.

Holiday travel by air

MORE: Delta flight carrying 270 diverted to remote Canadian town

The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26.

United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8. This is a 12% jump from last year.

United said it anticipates Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 will be its busiest days for Christmas travel, while Jan. 2 will be the busiest day for New Year's travel.

Delta Air Lines is preparing for nearly 9 million customers during its holiday travel period, which runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 7.

Delta said its peak days are expected to be Dec. 21 to Dec. 22 and Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.

Holiday travel by road

Holiday travel by road

MORE: What every motorist needs to know about driving in snow

AAA expects 104 million people to hit the road over the holidays -- a 1.8% increase from last year.

The busiest days are forecast to be Saturday, Dec. 23; Thursday, Dec. 28; and Saturday, Dec. 30, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

If you're leaving for the holidays on Dec. 23, the best time to head out the door is before 10 a.m., according to INRIX. And if you're heading home the day after Christmas, the roads will be emptiest before noon, INRIX said.

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The Vacationer • Air Travel • Air Travel Guides

Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays – Christmas & New Year’s 2024

Best Worst Days to Fly for Holiday Travel

As seen in our 2023 Christmas Travel Survey , 50.44% of American adults plan to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering for Christmas this year.

There are a limited number of flights available for Christmas and New Year’s, so it is important to book as early as possible for the best prices (ideally you have already booked your holiday travel). Additionally, some days are much better than others to fly when it comes to crowds and cost. This guide will detail how far in advance to book holiday travel as well as the best and worst days to fly.

Table of Contents

How Far in Advance to Book Holiday Travel

Ideally, you should book your Thanksgiving and Christmas flights many months in advance. As a rule, we suggest booking domestic flights at least one to three months in advance. For international flights, you should book at least two to eight months in advance, but the earlier the better. For the holidays, you should book even earlier if possible to guarantee a desirable route, time, seat, and price.

With Thanksgiving over, here are our recommended cutoff dates for booking Christmas flights for the 2023 holiday season.

Christmas (book before Thanksgiving)

The best deals on Christmas flights are usually available through late August and early September . If possible, book even earlier in June or July. At the latest, you should book by Thanksgiving, but the earlier the better. If it is December and you still do not have a flight, you should expect to pay a premium. Additionally, you will likely only have undesirable flight times to choose from with the potential for one or more connections. Here is a ranking of our recommended booking times.

  • June, July, and August  – Best combination of inventory and cheap prices
  • Early through Middle September  – Still a great time
  • Early October  – Google’s recommendation. Cheap prices but lower inventory
  • Thanksgiving  – Book Christmas flights by Thanksgiving at the latest
  • December  – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.)

Further Reading: When to Book Christmas Flights – Best & Worst Times

Thanksgiving (book before Halloween)

I recommend booking your Thanksgiving flight by late August or early September for the best price. If possible, book in June or July. Book international flights even earlier. If you wait too long, you should aim to book by Halloween at the latest. While it is possible to get a decent deal after Halloween, your chances dramatically decrease. Your odds of finding a desirable flight time also go down when booking after Halloween. Here is a ranking of our recommended times.

  • Early October  – Deals are still available but desirable flights may be limited
  • Halloween  – Book Thanksgiving flights by Halloween at the latest
  • November  – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.)

Further Reading: When to Book Thanksgiving Flights – Best & Worst Times

Best & Worst Days to Fly for the Holidays

Being on a Thursday every year, the best and worst days to fly for Thanksgiving are predictable. Christmas is a little more difficult since it does not fall on the same day of the week every year. Here are the days you should target and the days you should avoid this holiday season. To come up with our best and worst dates forecast, we sampled hundreds of flight prices around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our sample included numerous departure and arrival cities around the United States.

Christmas (best departure and return dates)

Our 2023 Christmas Travel Survey shows 50.44% of American adults plan to travel to a vacation destination or gathering. Since Christmas falls on a different day every year, the best days to fly change. Other things such as school and business closures affect the dates too. Christmas can fall on a weekend (as it did in 2022), which further complicates things. Generally, the worst day to fly for Christmas is December 23, but that is not a hard rule.

Best Christmas Travel Dates for 2023

The earlier you depart the week before Christmas the better. Americans will look to get a few days of work in before flying out. If possible, fly on Monday, December 18, or Tuesday, December 19. Sunday, December 17 is even better if you can swing it. Flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is ideal for cheaper prices and fewer crowds too, but you may not want to travel on a holiday.

Christmas falls on a Monday this year, so many people will fly home the day after. Tuesday, December 26 and Wednesday, December 27 will be popular travel days, so try and wait until Thursday or Friday.

Worst Christmas Travel Dates for 2023

The three days before Christmas Eve, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, are going to be busy travel days. I recommend avoiding them and departing earlier in the week if you can.

Avoid the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas for your return flight. Despite being the day after Christmas, many people will fly home on Tuesday or Wednesday so they can return to work for a few days before the weekend.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Travel Tips

We recommend flying out for New Year’s on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29. Fly home on Wednesday January 3 or Thursday January 4. While it is not ideal, flying out on the night of New Year’s Eve or the morning of New Year’s Day is generally cheap. Unfortunately, you will probably miss New Year’s Eve activities if you opt for an evening flight. An early New Year’s Day flight is not optimal either unless you can go bed very early on New Year’s Eve.

Avoid flying out on Saturday, December 30 and the morning of December 31.

Thanksgiving (best departure and return dates)

Our 2023 Thanksgiving Travel Survey shows more than 45.21% of American adults intend to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering last year. That means tens of millions of people will fight over seats for a very limited number of flights.

Best Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2023

As the table shows, you want to depart early during the week. If possible, Sunday is even better than Monday. While not ideal, Thanksgiving Day is a great day to fly . Black Friday is also a good day to fly if you can swing a shorter trip.

Most people return home the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so aim to fly back on the Friday or Monday after Turkey Day. If you can wait another day, Tuesday is even better than Monday.

Worst Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2023

Avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at all costs. It is one of the most popular days of the year to fly, and it is expensive. Additionally, airports are always packed, so it is an extra stressful experience.

Avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving for your return flight. Most people fly that day to get home before the workweek. I recommend flying home on Friday or Monday or Tuesday.

Average Holiday Flight Prices for 2023 – Thanksgiving ($300) and Christmas ($400)

With November here, flight prices are increasing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Expect to pay on average $300 for a roundtrip Flight for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, expect to pay on average $400 for a roundtrip flight.

Those prices will vary by your destination and dates of travel, so we recommend doing your homework before booking. If possible, travel on our recommended days and avoid the worst days.

We’ve found many domestic Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $200. We’ve also found various international Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $500.

Flexibility is the key to finding the absolute cheapest holiday flights. Use the Google Flights Explore map to find the best flight deals from your home airport or city around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Travel is Recovering for the 2023 Holiday Season

On most days, hundreds of thousands more travelers are going through TSA checkpoints compared to the same day as last year. For 2023, we expect holiday travel numbers to resemble or surpass 2019, which is the most recent pre-pandemic year.

Further Reading: What to Do if Your Airline Cancels or Delays Your Flight and How to Avoid Airline Flight Delays & Cancellations

Other Tips For Scoring a Cheap Holiday Flight Deal

Check out our guide to finding and booking cheap flights for additional tips. A few of the major tips may not be applicable with holiday travel (being very flexible on dates and destinations), but other guidelines can help. Here are a few of them.

  • Do: Start With Google Flights
  • Do: Be Open to Different Nearby Departure and Arrival Airports
  • Do: Be Open to All Airlines
  • Do: Be Open to Flights With Connections
  • Don’t: Waste Your Time Clearing Cookies
  • Don’t: Waste Your Time Browsing in Incognito

Additionally, our best websites to book cheap flights guide and top airline credit cards tutorial can help you save even more money.

Further Reading: Clearing Cookies or Searching Incognito Does Not Show Cheaper Flight Prices

The best days to fly for Thanksgiving are the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before Turkey Day.

The worst day to fly for Thanksgiving is the Wednesday before.

The best days are the Friday, Monday, and Tuesday after Turkey Day. The worst day is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

It is, but it is not ideal for most people.

It is, but most people do not want to fly home on the day after Thanksgiving.

Book by the middle of September at the latest for the best price, but you should ideally book earlier. Book even earlier for international flights. Do not wait until after Halloween to book.

It depends since Christmas is on a different day each year. Shoot for at least a few days before Christmas Eve.

Avoid the two days before Christmas Eve.

It depends since Christmas is on a different day each year. Shoot for at least a few days after Christmas.

Book by the middle of September for the best price. Book even earlier for international flights. Do not wait until after Thanksgiving to book.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Ideally, you have already booked your 2023 holiday travel. If you have not done so already, there is still time to get a deal, but you need to move quickly. Shoot for the dates discussed in the article and avoid the bad ones. After the holidays are over, follow our best days of the week to fly and our best day of the week to book flights guides.

Phil Dengler The Vacationer Bio

By Phil Dengler

In addition to being a co-founder of The Vacationer, Phil Dengler is also the head of editorial and marketing. Previously, he ran a popular holiday deals website where he was a trusted source for all things Black Friday. With The Vacationer, Phil combines his knowledge of deals with his love of travel to help you plan the perfect vacation.

Thanksgiving Travel Survey 2022

Thanksgiving Travel Survey 2022 — 43%+ to Travel; 66%+ Say Inflation is Affecting Plans; 29% to Spend $501+ on Travel; Cranberry Sauce Most Hated Food

Thanksgiving Flights & Travel Tips

When to Book Thanksgiving Flights – Travel Guide & Tips for 2024

Christmas Flights Travel Tips

When to Book Christmas Flights – Travel Guide & Tips for 2024

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Passengers at an airpport, delays

The best and worst days to travel for Christmas this year

Planning last-minute travel? Here's what to know.

Erika Mailman

It’s going to get crazy out there in a few weeks; airports and highways will be bustling with all the holiday travelers making their way home. If you’re going to be in that horde, you’ll want to read further about increasing your chances of making the journey the most stress-free possible—you know, along with the millions of Americans alongside you.

The Vacationer has created a 2023 Holiday Travel Survey  to understand the battlefield better. For instance, 50.44 percent of Americans plan to travel for Christmas (last year, that was only 42.98 percent, and we all know how crowded last year was!) That means 131 million people will be packing a bag and trying to get from A to Z. But luckily, everyone’s pretty aware of the risks involved; the survey reports that more than 59 percent of American adults have “little or no” confidence in the airlines’ ability to avoid delays and cancellations this holiday season.

Hopefully, by this point, you already have your airline tickets—it’s recommended to buy them months in advance to avoid paying more and enduring the middle seat, unattractive flight times, and poor connections—but if you’re a last-minute decider, you’ll want to know the best days to book a flight (or head onto the road). In a separate article , the Vacationer laid out the best days to travel for those determined to make it happen. Please note that these rules are for 2023 only since Christmas is a moveable holiday, unlike Thanksgiving which is always held on a Thursday.

For 2023, the best days to depart on your trip include December 18, 19, or 20...and if you are okay with missing Christmas Eve festivities—or arriving right in the middle of them—December 24 is another good departure date. The best return dates are December 28 and 29.

On the other side of the chocolate coin, the worst days to depart are December 21, 22 or 23, and the worst return dates are December 26 and 27.

The general trend here seems to be that the earlier you can set off on your journey, the better, so if your schedule is lax enough to give you ample time at your destination, take advantage of that. The same is true of the return: if you can wait out the people who are back in the air or in their vehicle the day after Christmas, you’ll have much better luck and avoid some of the crowds. And after all, if it’s worth it to make your way there, why not stay longer?

  • Erika Mailman Writer

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These are the busiest days to travel this holiday season

Sean Cudahy

2023 has been a record-setting year for air travel, and there's no reason to think the end-of-year holidays will be any different.

After logging its busiest summer ever at U.S. airport security checkpoints, the Transportation Security Administration saw more passengers on Nov. 26 — the Sunday after Thanksgiving — than on any day in its 22-year history.

And the crowds are just getting started.

AAA expects 7.5 million Americans will fly over the 10-day Christmas and New Year's holiday period. That's a number larger than both last year's holiday airport crowds and those seen in 2019.

At security checkpoints, agents will be working to keep lines moving. Their goal: wait times of 10 minutes or less in the TSA PreCheck lanes and a half-hour or less in the standard lanes.

"We expect this holiday season to be our busiest ever," TSA administrator David Pekoske said in a statement last month.

It was a prediction that the Thanksgiving rush confirmed, and one that tracked with the crowds seen all year. Seven of the 10 busiest days ever at TSA checkpoints have come in 2023. The 2.9 million air travelers seen on Nov. 26 beat out the previous record from June 30, set by Fourth of July weekend travelers.

Suffice it to say, if you're traveling for a December holiday, it's a good time to make sure that your TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Clear membership is active. Also, make sure your Known Traveler Number is attached to your flight reservation.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on how airlines perform following 2022's headaches, most notably the Southwest Airlines December meltdown . That meltdown was an operational disaster the airline says it will avoid this year thanks to a host of changes.

Fortunately, airlines are off to a good start with this year's holiday season. Between Nov. 19 and 26, during peak the peak Thanksgiving period, U.S. based carriers canceled a collective 0.2% of flights, according to FlightAware data analyzed by TPG. That was down slightly from a similarly impressive 0.3% cancellation rate during the equivalent period last year. The rate of delays among those carriers hovered at a consistent 17% from last Thanksgiving.

However, travelers have learned all too well the last couple of years that the end-of-year holiday season can bring a plethora of potential roadblocks, including the possibility of bad weather and the lingering threat of air traffic control-related disruptions.

"Mother Nature is always the x-factor," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged at a news conference last month.

Busiest days to travel at Christmas and New Year's

christmas travel days

The TSA anticipates heavy volume throughout the Christmas and New Year's holiday period. However, it may likely come in the form of sustained crowds, as opposed to any single, record-setting days. (In recent years, the busiest day of the year has typically been the Sunday after Thanksgiving, as it was this year.)

Exactly which days will be the busiest days to fly this month? It's a little harder to predict the end-of-year holidays, which fall on a different day of the week each year. Also, recent years have held no shortage of abnormalities, from last December's bad weather and Southwest meltdown to COVID-19 and the omicron variant surge disrupting travel in 2020 and 2021.

Last year, the three busiest days for air travel over the December holidays were as follows, per TSA data:

  • Dec. 21, 2022 (a Thursday)
  • Dec. 30, 2022 (a Friday)
  • Jan. 2, 2023 (a Monday — and a federal holiday following New Year's Day)

This year, Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Monday. It seems a safe bet that airports will be busy leading into the weekends prior to the two holidays, particularly Christmas.

Airlines for America, a trade group for the largest U.S. carriers, says the busiest days will be:

  • Thursday, Dec. 21
  • Friday, Dec. 22
  • Tuesday, Dec. 26
  • Wednesday, Dec. 27
  • Thursday, Dec. 28
  • Friday, Dec. 29

On the other hand, if you can find a way to travel on Christmas Day, you may find ultra-light crowds — if Thanksgiving was any indication, at least. Thanksgiving Day was the second least crowded day of 2023 at U.S. airports, according to TSA data. Likewise, Airlines for America projects Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day will be similarly uncrowded.

What about driving?

As usual, even more Americans will drive than fly for the holidays, although the share of air travelers is up from recent years.

More than 103 million U.S. travelers will take year-end holiday road trips during the 10 days around the end-of-year holidays, according to AAA. That's up nearly 2% from last year.

There's some good news for drivers, too. The national average for a gallon of regular gas currently sits at $3.15, down slightly from this time last year.

That's despite airlines battling cost pressures from jet fuel prices in recent months.

Still, if you are driving for Christmas or New Year's, be sure to pay at the pump with a credit card that offers bonus points or cash back at gas stations . Consider stacking those bonus points with gas rewards programs and other ways to save on gas.

Bottom line

christmas travel days

The holiday season is already off to a busy start, and that trend will likely continue this month with Christmas and New Year's travel. With those airport crowds in mind, it's a good time to double-check that you booked your flight and all other trip elements with a credit card that includes travel insurance protections.

As you travel, don't forget to take advantage of those airline fee credits on cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express . Also, don't forget to use an airline credit card for credits on checked bags or travel. This is where you can really offset that annual fee.

Download the MyTSA app so you can check security checkpoint wait times and read up on your rights as an air traveler in the event something goes wrong — including when you're owed a refund.

Related reading:

  • Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
  • The best travel credit cards
  • Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
  • 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
  • 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
  • 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

VIDEO: Busiest holiday travel season ever gets underway

Millions of Americans are gearing up to hit the highway and take to the skies ahead of the holidays.

Here's what you need to know before packing your bags:

Holiday travel by air

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel, with 7.5 million people projected to fly from Saturday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 1. This would break the record high of 7.3 million flyers set during the 2019 holiday season.

Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 are forecast to be the busiest days for departures, according to Hopper.

Domestic airfares are averaging $349 round trip -- a 3% increase from last year, according to Hopper.

christmas travel days

MORE: Delta flight carrying 270 diverted to remote Canadian town

The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26.

United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8. This is a 12% jump from last year.

United said it anticipates Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 will be its busiest days for Christmas travel, while Jan. 2 will be the busiest day for New Year's travel.

Delta Air Lines is preparing for nearly 9 million customers during its holiday travel period, which runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 7.

Delta said its peak days are expected to be Dec. 21 to Dec. 22 and Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.

Holiday travel by road

christmas travel days

MORE: What every motorist needs to know about driving in snow

AAA expects 104 million people to hit the road over the holidays -- a 1.8% increase from last year.

The busiest days are forecast to be Saturday, Dec. 23; Thursday, Dec. 28; and Saturday, Dec. 30, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

If you're leaving for the holidays on Dec. 23, the best time to head out the door is before 10 a.m., according to INRIX. And if you're heading home the day after Christmas, the roads will be emptiest before noon, INRIX said.

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These Are the Busiest Days for Holiday Travel This Year

By Jessica Puckett

Holiday Travel

It's the most wonderful time of the year—well, everywhere but at the airport.

Chaotic holiday travel is rapidly descending upon us, and if the record-breaking 26 million travelers that took to the sky during Thanksgiving week this year are any indication, it's time to calculate a game plan for navigating airport terminals, securing your overhead bin space , and getting through the crush of humanity in the security line. The best way to do that? Know the busiest travel days in advance.

While some holiday travel patterns can be quite consistent, some of this year's peak travel days have shifted, given that December 25 falls on a Wednesday.

No matter what days you plan to fly during the holiday rush, follow the standard advice of arriving at the airport earlier than usual (at least two hours before departure for a domestic flight, especially if you are checking bags). Another way to streamline your holiday airport experience: remove any food from carry-ons along with standard items like toiletries and laptops to help the Travel Security Administration officers get a clearer look at your bag, which will keep you moving to the gate faster.

And of course, enrolling in known traveler programs like TSA PreCheck or Clear is especially valuable during the peak holiday season, as you'll be able to take fewer items out of your bag and zoom by some of the worst security wait times. (P.S., Clear doesn't require an appointment like TSA PreCheck, so you can breeze through enrollment in about five minutes at the airport.)

Here are all the days to avoid travel, some key statistics, and the best days to avoid airport pandemonium and keep your holiday cheer in tact.

The busiest days for Christmas air travel

Unsurprisingly, passenger records continue to be broken during Christmas travel, the TSA says. The agency estimated last year that during the peak Christmas and New Year's travel days (between December 19 and January 5 for 2018), about 41 million passengers traveled through security screening checkpoints nationwide, a year-over-year increase of 6 percent.

In 2019, that number is set to jump another 3 percent year-over-year, according to industry group Airlines for America . The organization predicts that 47.5 million passengers will fly on U.S. airlines over the 18-day winter holiday travel period from December 19 through January 5. Divided into daily averages, about 2.2 million to 3 million passengers will fly each day over the holiday window, or an extra 72,000 travelers per day. Fortunately, U.S. airlines are meeting the increased demand with 884 added flights each day.

It seems that this year, most air passengers want to take a long Christmas and New Year's break, with the large majority of people expected to fly the Saturday before Christmas. Kayak, AAA, and Expedia all expect Saturday, December 21, to be the busiest travel day leading up to Christmas. Likewise, Airlines for America says December 20 and 21 will be the most popular days for travelers to start their Christmas trips. The estimates vary a bit on what the second most popular day before Christmas will be. Kayak says that Friday, December 20, will be the second largest wave of travelers leading up to the 25th—about 24,797 flights are scheduled to take off across the U.S. that day, according to aviation data firm OAG—while AAA predicts December 22 and 23 will see more fliers en masse.

As for return flights after New Year's? TripAdvisor says 44 percent of travelers are heading home Wednesday, December 30 or later. Expect the bulk of people to swarm the security lines and airport gates on Saturday, January 4, according to Kayak.

The busiest days for Christmas ground travel

TripAdvisor calculates that at least 46 percent of holiday travelers will drive to their Christmas destinations this year. "104.8 million Americans, the most on record, will drive to their holiday destinations," AAA says . "This marks the eighth straight year of new record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays,” says Paula Twidale, vice president of AAA Travel.

The good news for drivers is that because Christmas falls in the middle of the week this year, AAA, along with traffic analytics company Inrix, predicts only "marginal" and even "lighter than normal" congestion on roads nationwide as travelers cruise to destinations before the holiday.

It's right after Christmas—on December 26 and 27—when drivers will be slammed with traffic and delays. "Nationally, drivers could experience double the travel times on Thursday and Friday afternoon, although New York City and Washington, D.C. could see triple the delays," the AAA report says. So if you are driving, it's probably best to wait until at least December 28 or later to start your journey back.

This story was originally published on November 2019, and has been updated with new information.

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The Busiest Days to Fly During the Winter Holidays

Sally French

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Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn’t necessarily hold true.

In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracks the number of passengers screened daily. The two days after Christmas also see heavy travel. And since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, that might mean an abnormally busy Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.

To avoid crowds and save money, consider skipping the busy days and book your flights on one of the slower ones. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize to avoid crowds and save money.

» Learn more: Popular airline cards used to book holiday travel

The busiest days to fly around Thanksgiving

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is brutal for airport crowds. Last year, about 83% more people flew on the Sunday after Thanksgiving than on Thanksgiving Day, according to TSA data, making it the busiest travel day of 2022.

That same Sunday was also the year’s single busiest airport travel day in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, the busiest days of the year for air travel were largely concentrated in January and February, before the widespread impact of COVID-19, which would reduce holiday travel later in the year.

Here’s a look at the days surrounding Thanksgiving week over the past four years, ranked in order of most to fewest air travelers at the TSA’s U.S. checkpoints:

Assuming past trends continue in 2023, expect Sunday, Nov. 26, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving , followed by Wednesday, Nov. 22. Even if you fly out one day ahead of the biggest crowds, Saturday, Nov. 25, will also likely be busy.

And this year, crowds will likely be bigger based on the fact that past 2023 holidays have already set air travel records. For example, 2023’s Fourth of July weekend set records for U.S. air travel. More than 2.884 million people passed through TSA checkpoints on the Friday before July 4, according to TSA checkpoint data. That topped the previous record, which was on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2019, when a recorded 2.882 million people passed through TSA checkpoints.

The busiest days to fly around Christmas

Christmas airport crowds can be trickier to predict than Thanksgiving crowds given that the holiday falls on a different day of the week each year and air travel patterns are often dictated by the workweek. This year, Christmas falls on a Monday.

But just as the Sunday after Thanksgiving tends to draw huge crowds, the days just after Christmas are wildly popular . And much like how few people travel on Thanksgiving Day itself, relatively few people travel on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Here’s a look at Christmas and the seven calendar dates before and after over the past four years, ranked by most to fewest average air travelers, based on TSA checkpoint data:

This year, you might expect Friday, Dec. 22, to be particularly busy. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week, and — especially during Christmas week — many holiday travelers may leave on that day.

According to Chase Travel, Friday, Dec. 22, is one of the top three busiest days across all flights booked in either December 2023 or January 2024 (the other two busiest days are Saturday, Dec. 23, and Saturday, Dec. 30). Similarly, booking site Hopper anticipates that day having the highest fare for the Christmas season.

This holiday travel season may see some relief, though. Hanukkah, which begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, can sometimes align closely with Christmas. The eight-day celebration ran from Dec. 18-26 in 2022, but this year will commence on Dec. 15 — likely before the Christmas crowds start.

Another consideration for travel is that the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

How to choose less crowded (and cheaper) travel days

The holiday travel season is always expensive, but there is some decrease from last year's prices. Airfares for Christmas trips are averaging $400 according to Hopper data. That’s down 12%, or about $52 per ticket, from last year. The bad news is that it's still 29% higher than holiday airfares were in 2019.

Travel on the holiday: Traveling on the holiday is often the best way to avoid crowds and save money. Last year, 23.4% more people flew on the day after Christmas versus Christmas Day, which fell on a Sunday.

And that demand has a strong effect on prices. According to Hopper, domestic flights on Christmas Day average about 26% less than peak prices.

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Book morning flights: If you are traveling on the holiday, catch the first flight out for the day and you might arrive in time for evening festivities. Taking early flights is also considered good practice to reduce your odds of a flight delay . In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.

Stay longer: If you can take the days off or work remotely, then it can make sense to fly as long before or after a holiday as possible.

For Thanksgiving, Hopper recommends flying the Monday of Thanksgiving week and returning any weekday the following week. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is historically the busiest day to fly, so extending your trip by just one day can save you money. According to Hopper, airfares average 40% less on the Monday after Thanksgiving versus the Sunday after.

For Christmas, Hopper recommends departing the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas weekend and returning midweek following the holiday.

Skip holiday travel completely: If you don’t mind celebrating in an unconventional way, consider participating in something like an un-holiday, where you shift the celebration by a couple of days or weeks.

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The 12 Best and Worst Days to Travel This Holiday Season

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Shannon McMahon

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon .

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

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There’s no place like home for the holidays—if you can get there. Booking your holiday travel plans ( if you haven’t already , of course) can get expensive, and the trip itself can be stressful thanks to crowds of fellow holiday travelers. Airfare tends to be more expensive at this time of year, which means you can forget whatever fares you typically pay to fly home (or away) during other parts of the year.  But there’s hope on both fronts if you’re willing to book strategically.

When we talk about the “best” fares for holiday travel, that designation is relative to already-inflated high-season prices. But there are some significantly cheaper times to fly during a holiday week or weekend. These cheaper times to fly are typically on the less-popular travel days, which means you’ll also be more likely have a lower-stress airport experience.

How do you figure out which are the cheapest and least crowded dates around the holidays to fly? There are, thankfully, some predictive travel insights that suggest the busiest travel days of the year—and by comparison which holiday travel dates are going to be more affordable. Based on the days of the week that the holidays fall on this year and holiday-season airfare data from Hipmunk , here are the dates you’ll want to avoid to steer clear of packed planes and sky-high airfare.

Best and Worst Days for Thanksgiving Travel 2019

Thanksgiving has consistent travel trends due to the fact that it’s always on a Thursday, and most non-retail and non-food service businesses close both for the holiday and on the Friday after, as do schools. This means that most people are locked into certain travel dates: Schools may be closed the day after Thanksgiving, but many are still in session the day before, forcing parents to travel on Wednesday afternoon.

The day before Thanksgiving is typically the busiest travel day of the year. Historical data from Skyscanner confirms this to be typical of most Thanksgiving seasons.

Long story short, the “best” Thanksgiving travel days are limited and depend heavily on your ability to be flexible, which isn’t always an option, especially if you’ve got kids in school.

Best Thanksgiving Travel Day

  • Monday, November 25

Data from Hipmunk shows that the Monday before Thanksgiving once again offers the best fares. You’re also likely to find smaller crowds—about half as many people travel on Monday compared to later in the week (see the table below for more). You’ll also have a few spare days in case winter weather interferes with your flight.

Other Good Thanksgiving Travel Days

  • Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving)
  • Friday, November 29

Traveling on Thanksgiving is typically a great deal, and the reason is obvious: No one wants to fly on the holiday. Most people prefer to be at their destination on Thanksgiving morning, not in transit. But if you can fly out early in the morning, you’ll usually find lower fares and emptier airports, and hopefully arrive in time for an afternoon dinner.

When it comes to traveling home, Friday is typically a solid value as long as you don’t mind a shorter visit. Saturday tends to be busier and more expensive, but still reasonable. Thinking about flying home on Sunday? Beware: Sunday is the busiest travel day of the period.

Busiest Thanksgiving Travel Days to Avoid

  • Wednesday, November 27
  • Saturday, November 30
  • Sunday, December 1

Here’s Hipmunk’s overview of bookings share (the percentage of travelers for the period flying on that day) by Thanksgiving travel day:

christmas travel days

Tuesday is when Thanksgiving travel ramps up, leading into what’s usually the busiest travel day of the year on Wednesday. Not only are fares high due to heavy demand, but the sheer number of people traveling means airports and aircraft will be packed. Avoid flying on these days if you can.  

Best and Worst Days for Christmas Travel 2019

Unlike Thanksgiving, which is always on a Thursday, the Christmas travel schedule changes from year to year. This means historical data is less useful in predicting fares and traffic. The timing of the holiday, and how it affects school breaks and other closures, has a major impact on people’s plans.

Christmas is on a Wednesday this year, which is tricky: School schedules will likely vary, but many seem to be closed for the entire week and through New Year’s Day, which is on the following Wednesday. Businesses will obviously vary more greatly, with many probably remaining open on Monday the 23 rd (the start date of Hanukkah this year), Thursday the 26th (which marks the start of Kwanzaa), and Friday the 27th. These, then, would be the perfect dates to use your leftover vacation days in order to travel with smaller crowds.

Busiest Christmas Travel Days for 2019

With a midweek Christmas this year, there are no obvious “worst” dates between the weekend peaks. According to Hipmunk, the cheapest median domestic round-trip airfare, at $247, was leaving Christmas Day, December 25, and returning the next day. Next best was a big jump up, to $322 for Tuesday through Friday, followed by Christmas Day to Sunday, at $335. On the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive round-trips were Sunday to Sunday, at $507; and Saturday to Friday, at $491. Hipmunk did not extend its coverage to the following New Year’s week, but presumably fares are high on the Sunday following Christmas. Here are the slowest and busiest travel days of the period according to the data:

Worst christmas travel dates according to hipmunk

The conventional take-aways here are again confirmed for major holidays:

  • The lowest fares usually involve traveling on the holiday itself—an obvious case, because those are the days travelers want to already be where they’re going.
  • The highest fares usually involve returning on the Sunday following the holiday—given that most people want to maximize their vacation time.

Fare differentials for other dates generally cluster in a narrow range between the maximum dates. Beyond avoiding the worst dates if you can, you’re probably better off timing your trip to maximize convenience rather than shaving a few bucks off airfares. But overall, the top three are:

Best Christmas Travel Days 2019

  • Tuesday, December 24
  • Wednesday, December 25
  • Saturday, December 28

Worst Christmas Travel Days 2019

  • Saturday, December 21
  • Sunday, December 22
  • Sunday, December 29

Surprisingly, a Saturday sneaks into the best options for Christmas travel this year, thanks to the stacked weekday options. When it comes to the busiest travel days around Christmas, however, the days between Christmas and New Year’s see the highest volume, which any sane travelers would will want to avoid.

Readers, when are you traveling this year? Comment below.  

Editors’ Note: This story has been updated to reflect the most current information. SmarterTravel’s Carl Unger and Ed Perkins also contributed to this story.  

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Christmas travel: The best and worst times to drive to avoid traffic this holiday season

christmas travel days

With the holiday season in full swing, people may be worried whether they'll get stuck in bad traffic this year during Christmas and New Year's Day.

Unfortunately, the answer is yes, as holiday travel is rebounding since the pandemic. Across the country, people can expect drives up to 25% longer than usual .

All modes of transportation will see an increase in travelers this holiday season, with about 112.7 million people estimated to travel farther than 50 miles this year between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 – 3.6 million more than last year, according to AAA. Of those, about 102 million will be driving. 

Drivers should expect delays when driving through major metropolitan areas, according to Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX.

"In summary, the best times to travel are before the afternoon commute sets in at about 2 p.m.," he told USA TODAY in an email. "We expect the busiest days to be Dec. 23, 27, and 28, along with Jan. 2."

Learn more: Best travel insurance

For those who are driving for their holiday plans, here's what to know:

USA TODAY analysis:  Here are the 10 airports with the most flight cancellations around the holidays

Holiday packing: How to maximize space in your suitcase for travel

When is the worst time to leave for holiday travel?

The afternoon to early evening, aka peak commuting hours, are going to have the worst traffic as travelers mesh with work commuters on the road, according to INRIX.

Generally, try to avoid driving between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

  • On Dec. 23, the worst traffic tie will be between 4 and 7 p.m.
  • On the day after Christmas, the worst traffic will be between 2 and 6 p.m.
  • For the day after New Year's Day, bad traffic is predicted to be between 4 and 7 p.m.

When is the best time to leave for holiday travel?

The days around Christmas and New Year's predicted to have the least traffic are Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

If traveling on those days isn't feasible, try to head out early or in the evening following the after-work commute, Pishue advised.

Generally, the best times to travel are before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m.

On Christmas Eve, though, INRIX recommended that people travel before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m. The day after Christmas, people should be on the road before noon and then after 7 p.m. For the day after New Year's Day, travel before 3 p.m. and after 8 p.m. 

How will weather impact holiday traffic?

Poor weather may cause further delays, so keep an eye on the forecast and plan accordingly, Pishue said.

"Many remember the I-95 backup in Virginia , which left some drivers delayed on the freeway overnight, caused by a massive snow and ice storm," he said. "While we can’t predict these, or when mountain passes and other roads close due to weather, it is important that travelers get the latest information on road closures and delays before taking their trip."

Worst travel times in major US cities

Drivers going through big cities such as Los Angeles and New York City should prepare for twice the usual traffic delays.

  • Worst corridor: I-75 North, GA-17 to I-675.
  • Worst day: Monday, Jan. 2.
  • Worst time: 5:15-6:15 p.m.
  • Peak travel time increase: 65%.
  • Worst corridor: I-290 West, Mannheim Road to Paulina Street.
  • Worst day: Tuesday, Dec. 27.
  • Worst time: 4:45.-6:45 p.m.
  • Peak travel time increase: 75%.

Los Angeles

  • Worst corridor: I-5 South, Colorado Street to Florence Avenue.
  • Worst time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Peak travel time increase: 95%.
  • Worst corridor: I-278 West, I-495 to 6th Avenue.
  • Worst time: 3:45-5:45 p.m.
  • Peak travel time increase: 112%.
  • Worst corridor: I-95 South, MD-212 to Central Avenue.
  • Worst time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Peak travel time increase: 68%.
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These Are the Busiest Days to Travel for Christmas and New Year's, According to the TSA

Be prepared for airport congestion if you're flying on these days.

christmas travel days

The Transportation Security Administration expects busy airport checkpoints this winter holiday season and is warning travelers to come prepared.

During its busiest days this season, the agency expects to screen more than 2.5 million passengers each day, a 6 percent increase compared to last year. The TSA said the most crowded days at airports across the country are forecast to be Thursday, Dec. 21, Friday, Dec. 29, and Monday, Jan. 1.

Last year, the busiest day was Dec. 29.

Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure

“We are prepared to handle the busy passenger volumes this winter holiday season,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement . “TSA’s continued success during this record year for travel is a direct result of teamwork, planning and professional execution across the agency, from our frontline employees to those behind the scenes; partnerships with airports and air carriers; and innovative checkpoint technologies that improve security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience.”

The start of Christmas and New Year’s travel — which airlines expect to be record-breaking — follows an equally busy Thanksgiving during which the TSA recorded the busiest day in its history . In total, a record 7.5 million travelers are forecast to fly over the end-of-year holidays, according to AAA .

To cope with the crowds, the TSA recommends travelers come prepared by knowing what they can and cannot bring through security. Certain holiday staples like pies are fine to bring in a carry-on bag, while others, like large bottles of eggnog, must be placed in a checked bag. Travelers should also think twice before wrapping gifts since TSA officers may have to unwrap them to inspect them.

Travelers who are unsure can check the “ What Can I Bring? ” page on the TSA’s website or ask the agency by texting a question to 275-872 or messaging the agency with the @AskTSA handle on X, formerly known as Twitter, or through Facebook Messenger.

The agency also wants travelers to be aware of new technology it is rolling out, like the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), which allows travelers to get through security without having to show a boarding pass or, in some cases, even a physical ID ; and the full-size Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray system , which can create 3D images of carry-on items, allowing officers to detect things like weapons, explosives, and other banned items.

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These Are the Busiest Travel Days of the Year, According to TSA

The holidays and holiday weekends often bring with them some of the most congested days at the country’s airports and on the roads..

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Long lines at TSA security screening checkpoint

The Tuesday and Wednesday just before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving are often among the busiest travel days of the year.

Photo by Jim Lambert / Shutterstock

Every year, millions of people embark on journeys, whether for business or leisure. After a few years of much less crowded airports due to the pandemic, the International Air Transport Association is reporting that passenger numbers are just about what they were prepandemic levels.

However, there have already been a number of days that have surpassed prepandemic levels and they’ve largely fallen right before or after holidays.

Take Independence Day, for example. In 2023, AAA projected that 4.17 million people flew over the July Fourth holiday period, surpassing the previous air travel record of 3.91 million travelers, set in 2019. Similarly, TSA screened a record number of passengers on the Sunday following Thanksgiving in 2022, with more than 2.56 million passengers.

According to the TSA, the busiest travel days of the year are usually the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving . TSA recorded its highest passenger screening volume in its history on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2019, when nearly 2.9 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints. But Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t the only times we can expect busy airports. Here are the busiest travel day of the year.

Busiest travel days of the year

Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be the busiest travel days of the year, but other holidays like Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day also see some of the highest volumes of air passengers.

So far this year, daily passenger numbers have been growing each month. In all of 2022, only one day had more than 2.5 million air passengers in the United States: November 27 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving), with 2.560 million. As of August 20, 2023, there had already been more than 75 days in the calendar year that had surpassed 2.5 million air passengers, according to TSA checkpoint data .

These have been the five busiest travel days in the last full year:

  • July 30: 2.793 million passengers
  • July 28: 2.785 million passengers
  • July 23: 2.789 million passengers
  • June 30: 2.884 million passengers (the new record for the busiest air travel day ever in the United States)
  • June 16: 2.785 million passengers

For reference, the busiest travel day in all of 2019 was November 27, with 2.882 million passengers.

The busiest travel days around Christmas and New Year’s, historically

As for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the number of travelers is likely to ramp up during the end of December and into early January as well. In 2019, the highest number of travelers during the Christmas and New Year period was on Friday, December 17 (one week before Christmas), when 2.6 million travelers passed through TSA checkpoints. The second busiest day was Christmas Eve, with 2.58 million travelers, followed by the day after Christmas with 2.57 million travelers.

Decorated Christmas trees frame skyscraper in New York City

New York City consistently ranks as one of the top domestic travel destinations for the holidays.

Photo by Elias Andres Jose/Unsplash

Tips for flying during the busiest times of the year

There are a few ways to make travel easier and clear busy TSA checkpoints more quickly, this holiday season.

Get TSA PreCheck, Clear, and/or Global Entry

Never have these security expediting services been more valuable than during the current congestion happening at U.S. airports. TSA PreCheck recently reduced its prices from $85 to $78 for a five-year membership, and it’s only $70 to renew . Clear costs $189 per year. International travelers should consider the $100 Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck, for expedited customs screening upon arrival in the United States—and there’s a secret way to speed up the application process .

Check to see if your airport has a fast-pass security lane you can book in advance—for free

No TSA PreCheck or Clear? Select U.S. airports are giving travelers the option to make an advance “fast pass” reservation to head to the front of the security line—free of charge. We’ve compiled the full list of airports that offer this service .

Consider traveling with carry-on only

For those who don’t want to risk their luggage getting lost during a busy travel time when airports remain understaffed, traveling with carry-on may be your best bet. Another alternative? Luggage-shipping services .

Know what you can bring through security

If you’re traveling with carry-on, know what you can and cannot pack in said carry-on. By now, you know you can only carry on liquids in containers 3.4 ounces or smaller, so be sure that holiday items such as gravy, cranberry sauce, or wine are either left behind or packed in a checked bag as they are considered liquids and could otherwise be confiscated (and create delays). Check AFAR’s in-depth guide to what foods you can bring through TSA to make sure that what you’ve packed in your carry-on can pass through security.

Thoroughly check your bags before leaving the house

TSA recommends that travelers fully empty their bags prior to packing to make sure that they don’t accidentally bring something to the airport that they didn’t intend to bring, which could cause further delays.

Monitor the weather

Check the weather and forecasts that are available on sites such as the National Weather Service , the Weather Channel , and AccuWeather so that you can be prepared for possible disruptions and establish back-up plans for delayed travel.

Get to the airport earlier than you’d think

The lines and wait times at the country’s airports (and abroad, too) are longer than they’ve been in years. Best to arrive early and have some extra time postsecurity than risk missing your flight waiting in an hours-long check-in or security line. Aim for at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three for international flights.

Know if and when you are due a refund because of a delayed or canceled flight

On September 1, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a new Aviation Consumer Protection website to help travelers track down what kind of refunds or compensation their airline should provide when there is a cancellation or delay.

Airlines aren’t required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or canceled due to problems deemed beyond the company’s control, like bad weather. They also aren’t required to provide a refund when the passenger initiates the cancellation or flight change. But a refund is required by U.S. law when the airline cancels, delays, or alters a flight, or passengers are involuntarily bumped from a flight that is oversold or due to issues originating from the airline, such as operational or staffing problems.

Additionally, after the federal government began cracking down on airlines this year, all of the major U.S. airlines vowed to provide meal vouchers for delays of more than three hours and to provide transfers and hotel stays to passengers affected by an overnight cancellation. They have all also agreed to rebook travelers on an alternate flight at no added cost due to a delay or cancellation and most will also rebook on a partner airline.

This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was most recently updated in August 2023 to include current information.

Visit Monaco

Christmas and New Year in Moscow: best markets and decorations to see

  • September 18, 2023

Christmas and New Year in Moscow

Christmas and New Year in Moscow: what to do, where to go? We are getting more and more questions about Christmas and New Year in Moscow and St. Petersburg. So I decided to write two articles for each city to give you as much information as possible about the magical holiday season in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. I will then talk about things not to miss, places to see and of course the Moscow Christmas markets and decorations. Moscow at Christmas time and New Year is magical!

So, how can you enjoy the holiday season in Moscow at Christmas and at New Year Eve? Let’s go!

christmas and new year in moscow russia

Winter holiday in Russia

First, a small point on the calendar. Orthodox Christmas takes place on January 7. There is therefore no special event on December 25. On the other hand, New Year is celebrated well on December 31 and it is the most awaited and appreciated holiday of the Russians. In fact, in Russia, Christmas is truly a religious event. Therefore, it’s more like New Year that we give gifts and party. So, Moscow at Christmas time is not as festive as we can imagine.

The heart of the holiday season extends between December 31 and January 7. But the first decorations begin to appear in mid-December. We must therefore aim for this period, if you wish to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Moscow. You can already see Moscow Christmas decorations in early December.

New year in Moscow or in Saint Petersburg?

Even though I love my hometown of St. Petersburg, if you have to choose between New Year in Moscow and St. Petersburg, I would recommend Moscow . This is clearly the destination for those who love this holiday and expect something magical . In Saint Petersburg, it’s also very festive, but much more modestly. However, Moscow Christmas decorations are the best in Russia.

Christmas and New Year in Moscow

This time of year is wonderful! If you enjoy Moscow Christmas markets and decorations, mulled wine, skating rinks and everything associated with this period: do not hesitate to spend Christmas and New Year in Moscow!

Moscow Red Square: the place to be!

It’s the most magical place in Moscow during the holiday season! To celebrate Christmas and New Years in Moscow, it is essential to go to the essential Red Square.

In the evening, all the lights come on and make the place even more beautiful.

GUM’s Moscow Christmas market is very very cool: skating rink, mulled wine and candy stands, games for children, entertainment, a real party atmosphere! On the other hand, during the week, there are far fewer people and less entertainment than at weekends.

christmas travel days

Once in Red Square, don’t forget to enter the GUM. Inside this store, it feels like walking the streets of a European city. There are 3 aisles, 2 floors (3 if you count in the Russian way, because floor 0 does not exist). So it’s a nicely decorated and friendly place to warm up a bit.

Don’t be surprised to see several ice cream vendors. The favorite ice cream for Russians is Plombières ice cream. At GUM, it is served “as before”, that is to say as in Soviet times: in a fine waffle in the shape of glass. It’s called “stakantchik”, a little glass in Russian.

christmas travel days

Around Red Square

If you are coming for Christmas and New Years in Moscow, there are neighborhoods not to be missed! Even if the city is decorated everywhere, the concentrate is near the Red Square. Ploshchad means “place” in Russian, ulitsa means “street”.

  • Ulitsa Nikolskaya, emblematic street of the 2018 World Cup where all the fans met.
  • Ploshchad Revolutsii, opposite the Bolchoi Thetre
  • Manezhnaya Ploshchad
  • Ulitsa Tverskaya
  • Ulitsa Bol’shaya Dmitrovka
  • Sloteshnikov Pereoulok
  • Ulitsa Kuznetsky Most
  • Ulitsa Petrovka
  • Nikitsky + Tverskoy Boulevard
  • Zaryadye Park, which runs along the Moskva River, where a magnificent view of the Kremlin and the city opens up and small hills covered with snow (except this year … where the temperatures are abnormally high for this period.)

Here are some photos of Zaryadye Park that I took with my phone (it’s even better in reality!).

christmas travel days

Moscow Christmas markets

Christmas and New Years in Moscow, first of all the Christmas markets! Moreover, in September 2018 the British daily newspaper The Telegraphe had included Moscow in its TOP 10 of the most beautiful destinations for Christmas markets .

It’s impossible to name all the Christmas markets in Moscow: there are so many! Some last several weeks, others – only a few days. All the parks have their Christmas market, not counting all the other places… Here are the 3 most beautiful in terms of location, duration and decorations:

  • On Red Square, opposite GUM, of course! (in general, open from the beginning of December)
  • On Ploshchad Revolutsii square
  • In Stoleshnikov Pereoulok street (small market)

Here are some pictures of Stoleshnikov Pereoulok and its Moscow Christmas market: Moscow Christmas decorations are fantastic!

christmas travel days

Interesting places at Christmas and New Year in Moscow

In the blog post What to do in Moscow in winter? I already indicate the main places to see in general in winter. They are valid for the holiday season, if not more. If you’re celebrating Christmas and New Years in Moscow, rest assured, it’s not just Red Square to visit.

VDNKh. This huge Soviet-era exhibition center is getting a makeover. Besides, the place is interesting to visit already without the festivities. Here everything is huge: don’t expect a cute Christmas market. By cons, very few people on weekdays, except the week of January 31 to 7.

christmas travel days

Izmailovo. Far from the city center, it is a kremlin (fortress) recently built in the old style where there is a flea market. In winter, with snow, the place takes on the appearance of a Disney tale. There are places to stop for a hot drink or … vodka! A vodka museum is located on the territory of the Kremlin.

Things to do in Moscow in one day

Gorky Park. Gorky Park is the most visited park in Moscow. Another nice Muzeon park is nearby. It is therefore possible to do both. In both parks will be installed Christmas markets from December 26. Many more people on weekends than weekdays.

Hermitage Park. It’s a nice little park in downtown Moscow where you meet more Muscovites than tourists. During the holiday season, the park organizes entertainment.

New Year in Moscow

If you come to spend Christmas and New Year in Moscow, know that the most important event for Russians is New Years Day. December 31 is also the most festive time of the year. Some of the Muscovites will stay at home with family and friends, but many will go out to celebrate the arrival of the New Year on the streets of Moscow.

Where to celebrate New Year in Moscow?

We find more or less the same places. For example, you can build an itinerary of several places to make the most of New Years Eve in Moscow.

Red Square. The evening of December 31, Red Square will not finally be open to everyone. There are very few tickets: they are distributed on social criteria and to the active inhabitants of the city (there is a portal where the inhabitants can participate actively in the life of the city by voting, giving proposals … etc). Another possibility to access Red Square the evening of the 31st is to buy tickets for the ice rink. But there are only 500 places and they leave very quickly. In addition, staying all evening on the ice rink (9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) is not necessarily great. The vast majority of people will not be there, but all around. For example, the Zaryadye park from which we can see the Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin !

Around Red Square. Very close to Red Square, the party will be on Manezhnaya ploschad and Tverskaya street which will be completely pedestrian. Outdoor concert, street entertainment, music, Moscow Christmas decorations: party atmosphere guaranteed! For example, to give you an idea, here is a Youtube video showing the street on December 31, 2018:

Zaryadye Park. Also close to Red Square is a new park that runs along the Moskva River. For New Year 2019, Zaryadye park offers a program from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.: songs, dances, acrobatic show, midnight countdown! In addition, all cafes, restaurants and other park services will also be open. Further information on the official Zaryadye website in English . If you decide to stand Christmas and New Year in Moscow, it is a place to discover without a doubt.

In the parks of Moscow. There are party programs in almost every major city park. Gorky Park, Gorky Park and Pobedy Park (with its ice castle) are therefore nice places where you can go. Programs vary from year to year.

Good to know! From December 28, 2019 to January 6, 2020, one end of Tverskaya Street and other streets close to the heart of the city center will be pedestrianized. However, this change will modify the circulation of buses in this area of ​​Moscow.

New Year’s fireworks in Moscow

There is not one article fire, but several! On December 31 in Moscow, fireworks were launched from more than 30 locations.

  • When? The big fireworks take place at 1 a.m. This is the time all of Russia will pass in the New Year.
  • Where? Pretty much everywhere. The midnight fireworks are the most central, between the Kremlin and Zaryadie Park. You must therefore position yourself near this area, if you want to stay in the heart of the city center. But the fireworks (more than 30 launch sites!) Will cover other places in the city. It is often said that Sparrow Hill is the perfect place to see the fireworks. However, it is located quite far from the city center.

New Year in Moscow: public transport

Public transport in Moscow operates throughout the night of December 31, according to the official website of the Moscow city hall. It’s very convenient to move around and enjoy the party in several places in the city! To find out more about Moscow transportation cards, read the blog post: Moscow public transportation and taxi . In 2019, public transport will be free the night of December 31 (from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.).

For the record, the night of December 31, 2017, 35,000 people celebrated the arrival of New Year at midnight on Moscow’s public transport! In addition, almost 500,000 people took advantage of overnight transportation.

Moscow at Christmas time

Orthodox Christmas in Moscow (and in Russia globally) is January 7, more preciously the night of January 6 to 7 . It’s an important holiday. However, it is not as festive as New Years Day.

Liturgies take place at night in cathedrals and Orthodox churches. The main cathedral in Moscow at Christmas time is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It is therefore the liturgy in this cathedral which is transmitted on the main channels of the country live.

In 2020, public transport will operate until 2 a.m. in Moscow at Christmas time.

Moscow is the best destination for Christmas and New Year in Russia!

Moscow city hall really does the utmost to decorate the city: streets, squares and parks. So if you are looking for when to go to Moscow and enjoy the holiday mood, Christmas and New Year in Moscow is perfect for you, because Moscow Christmas decorations are really exceptional.

Before departure, here is what you may find useful:

  • How to get a tourist voucher for Russian visa?
  • Where to stay in Moscow?
  • Airport transfer: how to get to Moscow?
  • What to visit in Moscow?

If you hesitate between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the moods in the two cities are different. For the holiday season, Moscow is much more decorated than Saint Petersburg. The budget in terms of decorations and entertainment is clearly not the same. Christmas and New Year in Moscow, it’s excitement! However, if you are looking to celebrate New Years Day much more calmly , St. Petersburg is more suitable.

Will you plan to got to Moscow at Christmas time? Or later during the winter? Our travel tips could help you to prepare your trip, here are some of them.

Moscow travel tips:

  • How to visit Kremlin?
  • Red Square: all you need to know
  • Tourist voucher for Russian visa
  • St. Basile Cathedral: practical information for the visit

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Your 48-hour tour guide of Moscow this winter!

christmas travel days

9 am – Visit the Red Square 

Christmas market on Red Square

Christmas market on Red Square

The first thing that every tourist should do by default is visit the very heart of Moscow – it’s main and most beautiful (which ‘krasnaya’ actually meant in Old Russian) square! 

There are several ways to explore it:

  • Take a selfie with Spasskaya Tower
  • Have a warm drink at the Christmas market (which lasts until mid-January)
  • Visit Lenin’s Mausoleum
  • Shop in the gorgeous adjacent GUM department store
  • Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral (and learn that it’s actually several churches under one roof).           

11 am – It’s Kremlin time! 

Inside the Moscow Kremlin

Inside the Moscow Kremlin

Entering the Kremlin is, actually, a bit of a quest, as it’s a presidential facility with no general access. You need to buy a ticket or, better still, book a guided tour. Inside the Kremlin’s walls, you will find ancient cathedrals, in which Russian tsars used to be crowned and buried, as well as explore the magnificent architecture of the Kremlin that reflects the rich history of the country. And, finally, you could also make a quick visit to the Moscow Kremlin Museums and admire artifacts from various Russian tsarist eras: carriages, thrones, crowns and the most incredible armory and jewelry. 

For more information, visit the official website of the Kremlin . It’s open from 10 am to 5 pm (and it’s closed on Thursdays) in winter.

2 pm – Watch the changing of the Guard

The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A very spectacular (and free) thing to do is watch how the honor guard does their ceremonial change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, situated in Alexander Garden, right next to the Kremlin wall. Every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, the 1st Company of the Kremlin (Presidential) Regiment performs this rather old and beautiful tradition. But, be warned, it's often overcrowded. 

3 pm – Enjoy a green oasis just in the center

Florarium in Zaryadye

Florarium in Zaryadye

Just a few steps from the Red Square, you will find the fabulous Zaryadye park. Opened in 2017, it is designed by renowned American architect bureau ‘Diller Scofidio + Renfro’. You can walk among the very cozy botanical decorations and explore Russia’s climate zones, as each of them is represented in dedicated areas, complete with flora from those zones.

The floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

The floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

The park also has an underground museum, an “ice cave” and a 3D cinema, where you can take part in a virtual adventure – a flight over Moscow! However, the piece de resistance is a floating boomerang bridge over the Moskva River, one of the best places to take a selfie.

You can also grab a quick lunch or relax with a cup of coffee or tea in the park.

7 pm – Arrange a ballet night

The Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater

Of course, the most fancy way to finish your day in Moscow would be to go to the ballet at the Bolshoi Theater (in a perfect world, to see ‘The Nutcracker’!). However, getting tickets to the Bolshoi is not an easy task and should be done well in advance of your visit. 

But, don’t be upset if you don’t manage to get tickets to the Bolshoi. Moscow has dozens of other options to see a ballet (or opera). No less brilliant performances can be seen in the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater or in The State Kremlin Palace (by the way, this is another way to get a quick glimpse inside the Kremlin!).

10:30 pm – Have a late dinner in a fancy restaurant

Dr Zhivago restaurant

Dr Zhivago restaurant

There are not so many other cities with such a big choice of restaurants in a range of tastes and styles. In 2021, the authoritative Michelin guide announced their pick of the best of Moscow’s restaurants. And here’s our guide to all the places with Russian cuisine for any budget. But, if you happen to be in the area of the Bolshoi or Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, then ‘Dr. Zhivago’ would definitely be a nice option (and it’s open around the clock).

DAY 2 

9 am – grab a moscow coffee.

Winter festivities mood in Moscow

Winter festivities mood in Moscow

Moscow is definitely a coffee city! You can find coffee shops on every corner and they all offer a huge range of drinks. Try a ‘raf’ coffee, a sweet, creamy drink that was created in Russia, or dare to pick one of the very unusual offers, like cheese coffee or a Soviet candy style one (check out our coffee guide here ).

10 am – Take a river cruise

Winter boating along the Moskva River

Winter boating along the Moskva River

Another exciting way to explore Moscow is to observe it from the water. Boats cruise along the Moskva River all year round. Most begin their route from the Hotel Ukraine, one of Stalin's ‘Seven Sister’ skyscrapers, and will bring you back to the same spot after passing the medieval Novodevichy Convent, Moscow State University and Luzhniki Stadium, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and giant monument to Peter the Great and many other sightseeings. 

It’s always at optimum temperature inside the boat, which also has huge panoramic windows. Select boats also offer a full dining experience, so it is also a nice place to have breakfast or lunch.

If you are not a water person, then discover other, unusual sides of Moscow – pick one of the activities we’ve prepared for you here ! 

1 pm – Visit ‘Russia’ Expo and taste a bunch of Russian regional cuisines

Russia Expo at VDNKh

Russia Expo at VDNKh

Until April 2024, the Soviet-era VDNKh exhibition park is hosting the huge ‘Russia’ expo, with tons of activities and expositions devoted to Russia, its culture, science and nature. Check out our special guide on what to do there!  

An entire ‘House of Russian Cuisine’ has been opened at the expo. You will find 15 food stands with flagship dishes from Kamchatka, Siberia, Karelia and other regions of Russia. Imagine trying a range of cuisines and dishes in one place without even having to travel anywhere, be it Altai pelmeni, Tula kalach or Caucasian pies! A perfect place to grab some lunch.

House of Russian cuisines at VDNKh

House of Russian cuisines at VDNKh

The VDNKh exhibition park is a great place to visit, in general! Its pavilions are the perfect example of Stalinit Empire style architecture and you can almost feel as if you’ve traveled back in time! You will also find several interesting museums in the park – devoted to space exploration, Russian history and even a ‘Special Purpose Garage’, which showcases the various vehicles used by the country’s leaders. 

'Sun of Moscow' wheel

'Sun of Moscow' wheel

And, finally, you can ride Europe's tallest panoramic wheel – ‘Sun of Moscow’ – that will give you panoramic views of the city – from a height of 140 meters!

5 pm – Ice skate with view & mulled wine

Ice skating rink on Red Square (GUM department store on the background)

Ice skating rink on Red Square (GUM department store on the background)

Ice skating is one of the most popular and affordable activities in Moscow. There are several great ice skating rinks in picturesque locations that are open all winter long. One of the biggest rinks in Europe is also at the aforementioned VDNKh or you can visit the one in Gorky Park, another very popular Moscow spot, or the small, but fancy rink – right on Red Square! 

All the parks offer ice skate rental, so the only things you need are warm clothes, a charged phone to record your memories and a good mood!  Moscow also gets dark at 4:30 pm in winter and hundreds of lights are switched on, turning the city into a giant fairy tale! 

A mulled wine with a view

A mulled wine with a view

And, if you are not a sports person, we’ve picked several other unusual activities that you could do in Moscow instead. For example, did you know that there is an entire district of dacha (countryside) houses, just 10 minutes from the center, surrounded by giant new highrises? How about taking a stroll there and feeling the early Soviet atmosphere?

8 pm – Warm up & laugh out loud

After all these outdoor activities, what could be better than a warm cozy bar with a hot drink and nice company? Moscow is a city full of entertainment for all tastes. So, if you know the Russian language or want to practice it, go to a theater or catch a stand-up comedy show. Moscow even has comedy shows in English, where you can hear both Russians speaking fluent English or foreigners (including Brits and Americans) who live in Russia speaking in broken or heavily-accented Russian (Check their show dates on the ‘ Moscow English Comedy ’ Telegram channel)!

11 pm – Finish by partying the night away!

Propaganda club in Moscow

Propaganda club in Moscow

Moscow never sleeps, as you might have heard. Which means there are plenty of bars and nightclubs where you can have a drink (or two or three; be sure to check out how Russians make Black Russian and White Russian cocktails) and chat with incredibly different people. Have fun and don’t miss your flight (or miss it and stay longer in the best city in the world!)!

That's it! See you soon in Moscow

That's it! See you soon in Moscow

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  • southwest airlines

Southwest Airlines plans to offer red-eye flights, starting from Las Vegas and Hawaii

DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines is preparing to join the ranks of other carriers that offer overnight flights.

The all-economy airline announced Wednesday it's planning to start offering red-eye flights for the first time.

The flights are expected to start out of Las Vegas and Hawaii within two years.

Southwest said it hopes to offer about 50 red-eye flights a day.

SEE ALSO: Southwest reaches labor agreement with flight attendants, who voted down previous deal last year

Such flights are common in the industry, but Southwest didn't have a booking system that could handle them until 2017.

Southwest management said the two-year window will allow the airline to work-out all the technical and labor details.

The new flights could help Southwest pick up its growth after it had to cut future forecasts due to problems with the Boeing 737 Max airplane.

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Which public holidays are coming up next?

Public holidays are important, but they’re also easy to forget.

Have you ever gotten ready for work, and then realized you don’t have to?

South Africa celebrates several public holidays, including Workers Day and Reconcillation Day. Calendars won’t always remind you when holidays happen.

That’s why we’ve written this guide to keep you updated.

More holidays are coming up soon.

Here’s how to keep track of what’s next.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: WHAT ARE THEY?

Public holidays are  government approved holidays.

For example, New Year starts as a public holiday. Traditionally, Christmas and the day after are also considered holidays.

Some holidays are world holidays.

Others commemorate specific, South African events .

Banks and some companies are closed on these days.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FOR APRIL

April has the year’s next holidays.

The first is 7 April, which is Good Friday. It’s a religious holiday, but also a public one.

Freedom Day  happens next : 27 April. It celebrates the first democratic elections.

The next elections happen on 29 May.

MORE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

South Africa has more public holidays coming up in May.

Workers Day is on 1 May, 2024.

It’s an international holiday, meant to remember employee rights. Sometimes it’s also called labor day.

South Africans elections are in the same month.

Elections happen on 29 May this year.

THE APRIL SOLAR ECLIPSE

A special solar event happens in April.

The world gets to see a Penumbral solar eclipse.

The eclipse happens on 8 April, 2024.

North America and Europe will see it, though others might have to watch  an online stream .

Don’t miss it! This special event happens only once every few years.

FULL MOON FOR APRIL, 2024

There’s more to keep track of in April.

We’ve just seen March’s full moon pass on the 25th. The next lunar cycle will be next month.

April’s moon happens on the 23rd, says  Time and Date .

This is the Pink Moon. Every month’s moon gets another name. The Pink Moon commemorates Spring.

What is a blue moon?

That means two full moons during one month!

We’ll only have one of those later this year.

The post Which public holidays are coming up next? appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News .

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COMMENTS

  1. Flying For Christmas? Here Are the Best Days

    In 2022, the busiest air travel day leading up to Christmas was Wednesday, Dec. 21. On that day, 2.4 million people passed through TSA security checkpoints, marking the single busiest day in the 7 ...

  2. Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

    The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26. United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever ...

  3. Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays

    Friday, December 22. Wednesday, December 27. Saturday, December 23. The three days before Christmas Eve, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, are going to be busy travel days. I recommend avoiding them and departing earlier in the week if you can. Avoid the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas for your return flight.

  4. The Best and Worst Days to Travel for Christmas 2023

    The best return dates are December 28 and 29. On the other side of the chocolate coin, the worst days to depart are December 21, 22 or 23, and the worst return dates are December 26 and 27. The ...

  5. These are the busiest days to travel this holiday season

    Last year, the three busiest days for air travel over the December holidays were as follows, per TSA data: Dec. 21, 2022 (a Thursday) Dec. 30, 2022 (a Friday) Jan. 2, 2023 (a Monday — and a federal holiday following New Year's Day) This year, Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Monday. It seems a safe bet that airports will be busy ...

  6. The Best (and Worst) Days to Fly for Christmas 2021

    And if you're flexible with work or school, you can save big by flying in before December 16 th and extending your family visit an extra week. The cheapest days to fly for Christmas 2021 include ...

  7. Best and Worst Days For Air Travel This Winter Holiday Season

    Worst Christmas Travel Dates. If historical TSA data patterns hold, NerdWallet predicts that Friday, December 22, will be one of the top three busiest days, as will Saturday, December 23. In terms of return trips, the days immediately following Christmas, especially Wednesday, December 27, and Saturday, December 30, consistently draw ...

  8. Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

    The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26. United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8. This is a 12% jump from last year.

  9. When should I fly for Christmas? Holiday air travel tips from experts

    The least busy travel days are going to be on the holidays themselves, including Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Eve. ... During the Christmas week of Dec. 21 and Dec. 27, the busiest ...

  10. The Best Places to Go for Christmas

    Bruges, Belgium. The Bruges Christmas Market is one of the best in Europe. This enchanting event takes over the Markt, the square at the heart of the city, with stands and wooden chalets selling ...

  11. These Are the Busiest Days for Holiday Travel This Year

    Kayak, AAA, and Expedia all expect Saturday, December 21, to be the busiest travel day leading up to Christmas. Likewise, Airlines for America says December 20 and 21 will be the most popular days ...

  12. Busiest Days to Fly During the Winter Holidays

    This year, you might expect Friday, Dec. 22, to be particularly busy. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week, and — especially during Christmas week — many holiday ...

  13. The 12 Best and Worst Days to Travel This Holiday Season

    Busiest Christmas Travel Days for 2019. With a midweek Christmas this year, there are no obvious "worst" dates between the weekend peaks. According to Hipmunk, the cheapest median domestic ...

  14. Christmas travel: The best and worst times to drive to avoid traffic

    Generally, the best times to travel are before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m. On Christmas Eve, though, INRIX recommended that people travel before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

  15. These Are the Busiest Holiday Travel Days This Year, TSA Says

    During its busiest days this season, the agency expects to screen more than 2.5 million passengers each day, a 6 percent increase compared to last year. The TSA said the most crowded days at ...

  16. The Busiest Travel Days of the Year, According to TSA

    The busiest travel days around Christmas and New Year's, historically. As for Christmas and New Year's Eve, the number of travelers is likely to ramp up during the end of December and into early January as well. In 2019, the highest number of travelers during the Christmas and New Year period was on Friday, December 17 (one week before ...

  17. What to do in Moscow in the Christmas and New Year season

    Some companies also organize guided tours to visit these Christmas markets and to enjoy Christmas legends about Moscow. 2.2. Ice skating rinks. From the end of November outdoor skating rinks are created in different parks and squares in Moscow and they are usually open until March.

  18. The Best and Worst Days for Christmas Holiday Travel 2023

    Worst Time to Travel. Best Time to Travel. Saturday, December 23. 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Before 10:00 AM. Sunday, December 24. Minimal Traffic Impact Expected. Minimal Traffic Impact Expected. Monday, December 25.

  19. Christmas and New Year in Moscow: best markets and decorations to see

    To celebrate Christmas and New Years in Moscow, it is essential to go to the essential Red Square. In the evening, all the lights come on and make the place even more beautiful. GUM's Moscow Christmas market is very very cool: skating rink, mulled wine and candy stands, games for children, entertainment, a real party atmosphere! On the other ...

  20. Moscow in Winter

    Evening dining suggestions #1 - Grand Cafe Dr. Zhivago. Grand Cafe Dr. Zhivago's is located very close to the Bolshoi and is a fine dining restaurant in Moscow with reasonable prices. It also has a fantastic view of the Kremlin. (I do suggest calling ahead to make a reservation - at least 1 week in advance.

  21. Your 48-hour tour guide of Moscow this winter!

    And, finally, you could also make a quick visit to the Moscow Kremlin Museums and admire artifacts from various Russian tsarist eras: carriages, thrones, crowns and the most incredible armory and ...

  22. Southwest Airlines plans to offer red-eye flights, starting from Las

    Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive. Southwest hit by record $140M fine for 2022 holiday service meltdown. Southwest policy lets plus-size passengers get extra seat for free.

  23. Which public holidays are coming up next?

    Traditionally, Christmas and the day after are also considered holidays. Some holidays are world holidays. Others commemorate specific, South African events.