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Where to go in December?

The 92 destinations where December is one of the best times to travel, according to real weather records.

PierrickOur take on December

December plays out between Christmas markets in Vienna, Prague or Salzburg, the tropics in their dry season from Thailand to the Yucatán, and snow from the Alps to Santa's Lapland. Book early: the holidays send flight prices soaring everywhere.

Sun and sea in December

🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May🇹🇭 ThailandNovember to March🇰🇭 CambodiaNovember to February🇱🇰 Sri LankaDecember to March (east coast: May to September)🇵🇭 The PhilippinesDecember to May

With children in December

🇩🇪 GermanyMay to September and December (markets)🇦🇹 AustriaMay to September (skiing: December to March)🇨🇿 Czech RepublicMay to September and December (markets)🇨🇭 SwitzerlandJune to September (skiing: December to March)🇪🇬 EgyptOctober to March🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March

Nature and adventure in December

🇩🇪 GermanyMay to September and December (markets)🇦🇹 AustriaMay to September (skiing: December to March)🇨🇭 SwitzerlandJune to September (skiing: December to March)🇪🇬 EgyptOctober to March🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May

Best avoided in December

Nothing is ever off limits, but the season does not favour these destinations in December. If your dates are flexible, keep them for their best time:

🇫🇷 Francebetter: May to September🇪🇸 Spainbetter: April to June and September to October🇮🇹 Italybetter: April to June and September to October🇵🇹 Portugalbetter: April to June and September to October🇬🇷 Greecebetter: May to June and September to October🇭🇷 Croatiabetter: May to June and September to October🇬🇧 United Kingdombetter: May to September🇮🇪 Irelandbetter: May to September

All 92 destinations at their best in December, continent by continent

Europe

🇫🇷 AlsaceMay to September (Christmas markets: December)🇫🇷 LyonApril to June, September to October and December🇪🇸 The Canary IslandsAll year round (ideal in winter)🇩🇪 GermanyMay to September and December (markets)🇦🇹 AustriaMay to September (skiing: December to March)🇨🇿 Czech RepublicMay to September and December (markets)🇨🇭 SwitzerlandJune to September (skiing: December to March)🇦🇹 ViennaApril to June, September to October and December🇦🇹 SalzburgMay to September and December🏰 Prague, Vienna and BudapestMay to September and December (Christmas markets)🇫🇮 FinlandJune to August (summer) and December to March (northern lights)🇸🇪 SwedenJune to August (summer) and December to March (far north)🇫🇷 StrasbourgMay to June and September (Christmas market: December)🇫🇷 ColmarMay to June and September (Christmas markets: late November to December)🇧🇪 BrugesApril to June, September to October and December🇫🇮 HelsinkiMay to September (long days) and December (Christmas markets)🇫🇮 Finnish LaplandDecember to March (snow, northern lights) and August to September (ruska autumn colours)🇫🇮 RovaniemiDecember to March (snow, northern lights) and July to August (midnight sun)🇸🇪 StockholmMay to September, and December for Christmas🇫🇷 Savoie and Mont BlancJune to September and December to March

Africa

🇪🇬 EgyptOctober to March🇪🇬 CairoOctober to March🇪🇬 Luxor and the Nile ValleyOctober to March🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇿🇦 Cape TownNovember to March🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May🇸🇳 DakarNovember to April🇰🇪 MombasaDecember to March and July to September🇸🇳 SalyNovember to April

Asia

🇦🇪 DubaiNovember to March🇹🇭 ThailandNovember to March🇹🇭 BangkokNovember to February🇹🇭 Phuket and the southern islandsNovember to April🇹🇭 Chiang MaiNovember to February🇻🇳 VietnamDecember to April🇻🇳 HanoiOctober to April🇰🇭 CambodiaNovember to February🇰🇭 Angkor and Siem ReapNovember to February🇮🇳 IndiaOctober to March🇱🇰 Sri LankaDecember to March (east coast: May to September)🇵🇭 The PhilippinesDecember to May🇮🇳 KeralaNovember to March🇮🇳 Tamil NaduNovember to February🇮🇳 Karnataka (Mysore and Hampi)October to February🇮🇳 Fort KochiNovember to March🇮🇳 KeralaOctober to March🇦🇪 Dubai and Abu DhabiNovember to March🇱🇦 LaosNovember to March🇴🇲 OmanOctober to April🇹🇼 TaiwanOctober to April🇮🇳 GoaNovember to March🇵🇭 PalawanDecember to April🇮🇳 RajasthanOctober to March🇵🇭 El NidoNovember to April (dry season)🇱🇰 GalleDecember to April🇱🇰 KandyDecember to April and July to August (Perahera)🇲🇾 LangkawiDecember to March🇱🇦 Luang PrabangNovember to February🇲🇾 PenangDecember to March🇹🇼 TaipeiOctober to December and March to April

Americas

🇨🇦 CanadaJune to October and December to March (winter)🇲🇽 MexicoNovember to April🇲🇽 The YucatánNovember to April🇧🇷 Rio de JaneiroApril to May and September to December🇧🇷 Salvador da BahiaSeptember to March🇦🇷 ArgentinaMarch to April and October to December🇺🇾 UruguayNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇷 El Calafate and the Perito Moreno GlacierNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇷 UshuaiaNovember to March🇩🇴 The Dominican RepublicDecember to April (dry season)🇨🇷 Costa RicaDecember to April (dry season)🇨🇴 ColombiaDecember to March🇨🇱 ChileOctober to March (southern summer)🇬🇹 GuatemalaNovember to April🇨🇱 Easter IslandMarch and October to December🇨🇱 ChiloéDecember to March (southern summer)🇬🇹 Lake AtitlánNovember to March🇲🇽 Baja CaliforniaNovember to April🇲🇽 ChiapasNovember to April🇲🇽 Mexico CityNovember to April🇦🇷 PatagoniaNovember to March🇲🇽 TulumNovember to April🇨🇷 Arenal VolcanoDecember to April (dry season)🇨🇷 MonteverdeDecember to April (dry season)🇺🇾 MontevideoNovember to March (southern summer)🇫🇷 GuadeloupeDecember to April (dry season, known locally as carême)🇫🇷 MartiniqueDecember to April (dry season, known locally as carême)

Oceania

🇳🇿 New ZealandNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇺 TasmaniaDecember to April🇳🇿 AucklandNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇺 MelbourneMarch to April and November to December🇳🇿 QueenstownDecember to March (summer) and July to August (skiing)

Frequently asked questions about travelling in December

Where to go for sun in December?

South Africa, Senegal, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka are among the best sun destinations in December: according to our climate calendar it is one of their best times, with weather suited to the beach and the outdoors.

Where to go with children in December?

Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Egypt work well for a family trip in December: a good season, varied activities and facilities suited to children.

Which destinations are best avoided in December?

France, Spain, Italy and Portugal are not at their best in December: the season is not the most favourable. Nothing is impossible, but if your dates are flexible, aim for their best time or pick a destination at its best this month.

Another month

Flexible dates? Look at where to go in November and where to go in January: a few weeks can change a destination completely.

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