All over the world, glistening lights and decorations adorn real or fake pine trees of all shapes and sizes, in both homes and public spaces.

We’ve set out on a mission to discover the most spectacular Christmas trees across the planet, so that you can enjoy their splendour from the comfort of your own home.

Gubbio

We begin our Christmas tree hunt in Italy, with the largest tree in the world...which actually isn’t a tree at all! In fact, the Gubbio Christmas Tree is a light instalment recreated with thousands of lights every year on the slopes of Mount Ingino. Illuminating the mountainside for the first time in 1981, the light arrangement is powered by a PV system which stores a year’s worth of energy in the lead up to Christmas. It’s possible to “adopt” a light on the tree, and this year, the profits will be donated to neighbouring towns affected by the recent earthquakes.

New York

For those who dream of spending Christmas in the “Big Apple”, the Rockefeller Center is surely at the top of your bucket list. Featuring in myriad films set during the festive season in Manhattan, the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been mounted at the base of the skyscraper since 1933. Today, the lighting of the towering tree is a huge event in which Hollywood stars and celebrities take part, and which marks the beginning of the less traditional part of Christmas: shopping. Every year, an ice-skating rink is installed under the tree.

Rio de Janeiro

The heart of the bustling and spectacular Carnevale is illuminated with lights and vibrant colours also during the Christmas holidays. In fact, Christmas is the third most important event in Rio, after Carnevale and New Year’s, thanks to the unveiling of the largest floating Christmas tree in the world. Every year, for over two decades, an enormous 85-metre tree is erected on the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, which comprises over 3 million multi-coloured lights and weighs in at 542 tonnes. The tree changes locations every year and has become a must-see tourist attraction over time.

Paris

Once again, it’s a shopping centre to host one of the most luxurious and original Christmas trees in the world. Every year, the upmarket French department store Galeries Lafayette unveils jaw-dropping creations under its magnificent dome. A few years ago, the department store collaborated with famous brands such as Swarovski and Swatch, to devise a stunning upside down tree which hung from the dome.