Visit The Filming Locations Of Your Favorite Christmas Movies

It’s that time of year when the world feels a little brighter—twinkle lights are everywhere, the air is crisp, and a cozy Christmas movie can instantly lift your mood. Hallmark holiday films may be wonderfully predictable, but that’s part of the magic: they’re warm, hopeful, and full of the kind of small-town charm that makes the season feel simple again.

And here’s the best part, some of those breathtaking backdrops aren’t just movie magic. Many of the adorable cafés, historic streets, and postcard-perfect town centers you see on screen are real places in Connecticut you can actually visit. With the Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail, you can turn that feel-good holiday energy into a real-life day of exploring, photos, and festive fun.

Hallmark’s Influence

As we get closer to Christmas, spirits are high, and a cozy night on the couch can feel like exactly what we all need. Even when the stories are predictable, the music, the sets, and the comfort of it all still land.

Why We Keep Coming Back

As we get closer to Christmas, spirits are high.

It is also getting really chilly and a night on the couch watching Christmas movies on Netflix is exactly what we all need.

So what if those movies are not exactly cinematic masterpieces?

So what if I can put on a Hallmark Christmas movie and guess the plot of the entire movie within the first ten minutes?

I grew up watching Hallmark movies with my mother, grandmother, and a reluctant brother.

He would deny it vehemently but I know he enjoyed them.

Whether it is the beauty of the set or the jolly Christmas music, I feel Christmas coursing through my veins while watching.

For more on leaning into the softer side of the season, see Self-Kindness.

Classic Hallmark Elements

Google’s AI Overview succinctly lists some elements of a classic Hallmark Christmas movie:

• Predictable Plots
• Wholesome Content
• Nostalgic Setting
• Romance-Focused
• Recurring Stars (namely Lacey Chabert, who is a family favorite)

My Favorite Picks

I will also share some of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies:

• Our Little Secret (2024)
• The Merry Gentlemen (2024)
• Let it Snow (2019)
• The Noel Diary (2022)
• Hot Frosty (2024)

Hot Frosty, AI Distrust, And Somehow Loving It

I would also like to say that with my distrust of AI, upon seeing a trailer for “Hot Frosty” I thought to myself: this cannot possibly be a real movie.

If you are not familiar, it stars a young, attractive, muscular man alongside the iconic Lacey Chabert.

The actor, Dustin Milligan, plays a snowman who has come to life.

When his transformation occurs, he is left in human form with no clothes on and must then break into a local store.

While it is an arguably silly movie, my mother and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you can watch it without the lens of a film critic, it is a feelgood movie.

The wider trend of increasingly ridiculous Christmas romcoms (including “Hot Frosty”) has been explored by The Guardian.

About The Tours

Connecticut isn’t just a pretty backdrop on screen; it’s a real-world place you can step into during the holidays. The trail format makes it easy to pick a movie, then follow an itinerary straight to the filming locations.

How The Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail Works

Connecticut is the destination for numerous Christmas movies, not just from Hallmark, but also from Lifetime and Netflix.

If you visit this website, you are getting one step closer to jumping into your favorite Christmas romance movies.

They boast more than 22 locations for these films as of 2025.

The website is easy to navigate with detailed steps to making your Christmas dreams come true.

It starts off with the “Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail” from which you select a movie.

The third and final step is to find the itinerary for your chosen movie to begin exploring the filming locations.

There is also an FAQ page in case there is any confusion.

It will feel like you are walking onto set in the same places as the Christmas movie stars we know and love.

You can start exploring via CTVisit’s Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail page.

If your holiday plans include wandering somewhere beautiful, you might also like Could A Trip To The Art Gallery Be Good For Your Health?.

The Full List Of Christmas Movie Locations

I will include the full list of Christmas movie locations as incentive for you to plan your visit while we are still in the holiday season:

• One Royal Holiday (Hallmark)
• Soul Santa (Bet)
• A Holiday In Harlem (Hallmark)
• Wally Lamb’s Wishin’ & Hopin’ (Lifetime)
• Holiday For Heroes (Hallmark)
• Christmas On Honeysuckle Lane (Hallmark)
• Ghosts Of Christmas Always (Hallmark)
• A Very Merry Toy Store (Lifetime)
• My Adventures With Santa (Universal)
• Sugar Plum Twist (Hallmark)
• The 12 Days Of Christmas Eve (Lifetime)
• Mystic Christmas (Hallmark)
• Trivia At Saint Nick’s (Hallmark)
• The Holiday Fix Up (Lifetime)
• Where Are You, Christmas? (Hallmark)
• Christmas At Pemberley Manor (Hallmark)
• A Very Nutty Christmas (Lifetime)
• Next Stop, Christmas (Hallmark)
• Romance At Reindeer Lodge (Hallmark)
• The Santa Con (Lifetime)
• Broadcasting Christmas (Hallmark)
• The Noel Diary (Netflix)

Raving Reviews

It’s one thing to recognize a storefront from a movie, and another to stand in front of it in real life. The excitement people describe is simple, visual, and surprisingly emotional.

What People Are Saying

“It’s exciting — just to know that something was in a movie and we actually get to see it visually.” Abby Rumfelt from Morganton, North Carolina

“Hallmark Christmas movies have become huge and it’s great that they have a home in Connecticut. And I think this trail is perfect because for years people have asked me, ‘where was this shot,’ ‘where do we go,’ and now we can find all of these places that all of these movies were shot in.” Film producer Andrew Gernhard

Small-Town Feelings, Holiday Spirit, And Nostalgia

Others that have visited these locations are sharing their pleasant experiences on social media.

They discuss the feelings of a charming, small town, holiday spirit, and nostalgia.

More about the trail’s momentum (and its growing “set-jetting” appeal) is shared in CTVisit’s one-year trail update.

If you’re in the mood for something that hits the same warm emotional note, you might enjoy The Emotional Moment Two Sisters Reunited After 9 Years.

Closing Thoughts

Traditions like this can turn a busy season into something more grounded and memorable. Between the mayhem and the pressure, the idea of stepping into a cozy movie scene can feel like a real reset.

Hoping It Lasts Beyond A Trend

This wholesome tradition started last year and has been a smashing success.

I for one hope that the CTVisit Christmas Movie Trail will not just be a trend, but a way of feeling like you just walked into a scene out of your favorite Christmas romance movie for a long time to come.

A Gentle Escape From Holiday Stress

I know the holiday season can be busy and stressful, so it would be nice to get away from all the mayhem and enjoy aesthetic locations such as cozy cafes, historic homes, and more.

I am sure that there will be plenty of photo ops with such beautiful scenery to enjoy and reme

For ideas on taking care of yourself in the middle of it all, see Harvard Health’s self-care strategies for the holiday season.

And if you’re craving a quieter kind of comfort, Where the Gentle People Go is worth sitting with.