Looking for Best Places to Visit in December? Special dates are approaching and you certainly won’t want to stay at home. Do you fancy escaping the cold European winter? There are plenty of perfect places to travel to in December! But spending Christmas in a swimsuit is also a very curious experience. In this post we tell you about the 15 best destinations to travel to in December 2024.
15 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN DECEMBER 2024
1. New York (United States) and its Christmas atmosphere
There are few places more special than New York to enjoy Christmas. Although it is an ideal destination all year round, the Big Apple looks splendid decorated with magical Christmas lights. There are also plenty of things to do in New York that you can only enjoy during those dates. For example, marvel at the Christmas tree at Rockefeller or skate on the ice rink in Bryant Park. There are also plenty of beautiful Christmas markets throughout the city, all beautifully decorated.
Of course, you should keep in mind that despite being one of the best destinations to travel to in December, it also has its downsides. The main one being the cold. December is one of the coldest months of the year with average temperatures of 6ºC.
The days are also short, the sun sets around 4:30pm and there are quite a few crowds. As for prices, it is not the cheapest time to travel to New York, but it is the most special. Without a doubt, it is one of the best places to visit in December in USA . New York is most spectacular city to see in the United States.
2. Rovaniemi (Finland), the land of Santa Claus
December is synonymous with Christmas. And is there a better place than the land of Santa Claus? This city is located in the heart of Lapland, in the Arctic Circle. So you don’t have to wait for Santa Claus to bring you your presents, this time you can go and get them for him and also visit one of the most beautiful areas to see in Finland.
But Rovaniemi is much more than Santa Claus and his town (where he is said to be from). Let yourself be carried away by its beautiful snowy forests, go through them at full speed on a snowmobile and enjoy the opportunity to see the Northern Lights. During these dates you will have plenty of chances to see this curious phenomenon.
But like most places in Europe, Christmas is also synonymous with cold. Prepare a good coat and thermal clothing because you will have to endure average temperatures of -11 °C. However, it is one of the most interesting destinations to travel to in December.
3. Krabi (Thailand) one of the best destinations to travel to in December to enjoy the sun
December is a fairly cold month in Europe. If you are looking for a sun and beach holiday, there are few better destinations than the province of Krabi, in Thailand. Although it is a great month to travel around the country, we recommend that you enjoy this little piece of paradise. You will be at an average temperature of 30ºC while relaxing on your sun lounger!
For us, Krabi is home to the best beaches in Thailand. The famous Railay Beach is the best known, but from Ao Nang, the main tourist centre of the province, you can visit a lot of islands with deserted beaches. Among them, the Phi Phi Islands, which appeared in Leonardo Di Caprio’s film The Beach. For some reason it is an ideal destination for honeymooners! If you are interested, we will tell you the 10 best beaches in Krabi.
It is also a fairly cheap destination to travel to in December. You can stay in good hotels for very little and, above all, enjoy dream beaches. You can also take advantage of the trip to visit some of the most spectacular places in Thailand.
4. Canary Islands (Spain)
If you are looking for a nearby place with good weather to travel to in December, the Canary Islands are an excellent destination. The flight from the peninsula only takes a couple of hours, enough to forget about the winter cold. The Canary Islands have an enviable climate with warm temperatures all year round. To give you an idea, the thermometer is around 20º during the month of December.
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It is a very complete destination with a lot of attractions for nature lovers: amazing beaches, volcanic landscapes that will make you travel to another planet and the famous Teide in Tenerife. In addition, you will have the luxury of enjoying all this without the typical summer crowds.
We have visited Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. All of them are perfect destinations for family travel. Don’t know which one to choose? We will help you choose with this comparative guide on the Canary Islands.
5. Strasbourg (France) and the oldest Christmas market in Europe
When the cold weather arrives and the Christmas lights come on, almost everyone thinks of Strasbourg. This city, located near the border between France and Germany, hosts the oldest Christmas market in Europe.
You will not be short of things to do in Strasbourg, a paradise for lovers of traditional wooden houses decorated for Christmas or local products such as mulled wine. It also has a beautiful Gothic cathedral in its picturesque old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It looks like a place straight out of a storybook!
It is an ideal destination to travel to in December, especially for the long weekend. If you have more days, you can always take excursions to other towns such as Colmar, Heidelberg or Baden-Baden to make your trip very complete.
There are very cheap flights to Strasbourg from the main airports in Spain. So you will have no excuse!
If you are planning to visit the city, we will tell you the best areas to stay in Strasbourg.
6. Disneyland Paris
With Christmas coming, all destinations have an extra touch of magic in December. But none beats Disneyland Paris Parks! The Disney universe is filled with Christmas spirit to celebrate The Enchanted Christmas with parades, shows and decorations that will make you feel like a kid again. They take into account all the little details to create a magical atmosphere, there are even special meals and they make it snow several times a day on Main Street!
Disneyland Paris is an ideal place to travel in December with family or friends to experience the magic of Christmas. Plus, you’re sure to come back loaded with gifts for your loved ones. The shops at Disney Parks are absolutely irresistible!
7. Cologne (Germany)
Germany is one of the best destinations to travel to in December. Basically because the Christmas markets are original to the Germanic country. And due to its long tradition, in Germany you can enjoy the best Christmas markets in Europe. So in December, the markets can overshadow the beauty of Cologne’s spectacular Gothic cathedral.
From the end of November, the city starts to take on a very cool atmosphere. So if you have a few days off in December, we recommend you get lost in this city. There are plenty of things to do in Cologne: from enjoying its cathedral to taking a cruise on the Rhine.
8. Vienna and the Tyrol (Austria), one of the most romantic destinations to travel to in December
Elegant. That is the adjective that best defines the Austrian capital. Vienna is one of the main tourist destinations in Europe and although December is a fairly cold month, the city has its charm. It doesn’t matter when you visit its imperial palaces and other attractions in Vienna, you will fall in love. But in December you can enjoy its Christmas markets and its historic illuminated streets.
Mainly, the Christkindlmarkt Market. It is set up every year in mid-November and is one of the most spectacular in Europe. There you can try a lot of local products such as glühwein (mulled wine) or its cakes.
But don’t settle for Vienna alone. Rent a car and wander around the villages of Tyrol to experience Christmas in a different and peaceful way. And enjoy the snow! If you’re interested, we’ll tell you about the most spectacular places to see in Austria.
9. Tallinn (Estonia) and its magical medieval historic centre
Did you know that Tallinn was the first city to put up a public Christmas tree in the town hall square in 1441? Several centuries have passed, but the Christmas tradition is still very much alive in the Estonian capital. Its Christmas market is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
There are stalls selling all kinds of things: from food and drink to crafts, including typical Christmas decorations. They also set up an ice skating rink and there is a marzipan museum where you can create your own figurines.
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Its atmosphere seems straight out of a story: the houses with coloured facades and snowy roofs create a perfect winter setting. We’ll tell you all the things you can’t miss in Tallinn. Tallinn’s medieval old town is a real gem, it’s a pleasure to walk through its streets. In fact, it’s considered a World Heritage Site. It’s also the perfect size to discover in a weekend, or even in one day. So if you don’t know where to go in December because you only have a few days off… put Tallinn on your list! We recommend the best accommodation in Tallinn for all budgets.
10. Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and its modernity
European Christmas markets are a great option for travelling in December. But… what if you hate the cold? We have another solution for you! 😉 Dubai is a very popular destination for sunbathing in December.
It is the most famous city in the country, although there are other very interesting places to see in the United Arab Emirates. In reality, Dubai practically did not exist until a couple of decades ago, when they began to build imposing skyscrapers. You will have the opportunity to go up to the Burj Khalifa viewing platform, the tallest building on the planet.
Beyond its luxurious buildings, you cannot leave Dubai without taking a trip to the desert. Walking barefoot on the dunes is a great feeling. You can also lie down on the sand of its beaches and take a dip to cool off. One of the best areas to stay in Dubai at this time is on Jumeirah beach itself. There are several hotels where you only have to take two steps to get to the beach.
Temperatures are around 25ºC, a luxury while in Europe everyone is wearing gloves and a scarf! If you visit Dubai at the end of December you can witness the spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa. Without a doubt, one of the most impressive destinations to travel to in December.
11. Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) for nature lovers
Argentine and Chilean Patagonia is a perfect destination to travel to in December for nature lovers. There are hundreds of kilometres of hiking surrounded by stunning landscapes: glaciers, emerald lakes, snow-capped peaks…
You can’t miss the Torres del Paine National Park, the famous Perito Moreno or the mountains surrounding El Chaltén. Nature in its purest state! You can also set foot in Ushuaia, known for being the southernmost city in the world.
If you can, it’s best to choose the first half of December. This way you’ll avoid school holidays. Therefore, prices are lower and there are fewer people everywhere.
12. Prague (Czech Republic), always charming
We’re back in Europe, we couldn’t leave Prague out of our recommendations of places to travel in December! The Czech capital is one of the most magical cities we’ve ever set foot in. Walking through its cobbled streets makes you feel like you’re in the pages of a fairy tale.
The Old Town Square is home to a ton of attractions and hosts the classic Christmas market. Deciphering the astronomical clock, visiting Prague Castle or crossing Charles Bridge are classic things to do in Prague all year round. But in December everything becomes more magical under the Christmas lights and decorations 😉
The only drawback we see to visiting Prague in December is the crowds. Nobody wants to miss out on this Christmas fantasy! We recommend booking your hotel in advance to get a good price. We’ll tell you about the best areas and hotels to stay in Prague to inspire you.
If you have plenty of time, you can take the opportunity to visit other incredible places in the Czech Republic.
13. New Zealand, our favourite country
We’ve been lucky enough to visit a lot of countries but we’ve liked none as much as New Zealand. It’s so complete and beautiful! December is an ideal month to visit its two islands (although it actually has three). It’s the beginning of summer and you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in shorts and flip-flops.
But maybe you don’t even feel like celebrating it because there are a lot of spectacular places to see in New Zealand: from the beautiful New Zealand Alps with their glaciers and lakes to one of the most beautiful fjords in the world. The South Island is beautiful!
There are several ways to transport in New Zealand. We opted for the car, although going in a campervan must also be very cool. In any case, we’ll tell you what it’s like to drive in New Zealand.
14. Bruges (Belgium) and the Ice Sculpture Festival
If you don’t want to go too far and don’t want to take any risks, Bruges is a perfect place to travel in December. It’s one of the most charming cities to see in Belgium and Europe. Plus, under the Christmas lights it looks even more special. Stroll along its canals and enjoy its beautiful architecture, especially in Grote Markt, the main square of the city. It’s so pretty! You can also easily discover Bruges in one day. Although if you want to take it easy, we recommend staying in Bruges for at least one night.
Also, in December, the spectacular Bruges Ice Sculpture Festival takes place. It’s not as spectacular as the one in Harbin, but it’s one of the best winter events in Europe. Everything there is made of ice. Not just the sculptures, but also the buildings. It’s impressive.
Oh, and don’t forget to have a nice Belgian hot chocolate!
You’ll most likely arrive at one of the two Brussels airports. So we tell you how to get from Brussels to Bruges on your own.
15. Goa (India)
Another good destination to travel to in December if you are looking for beach and nightlife
To finish this post about the best destinations to travel to in December, we didn’t want to forget about Goa, one of the pearls of India. We think it’s a perfect place to have a first contact with India. Visiting the country is quite a strong cultural shock for most people, but Goa is its most international part.
December is one of the best months to visit Goa. Despite being winter, it is just when the monsoons end and the rain has “cleaned” the atmosphere. So it’s the ideal time to relax on its beaches and enjoy its lively nightlife.
There are lots of very interesting festivals and parties like Sunburn. As it is high season, it is advisable to book hotels in advance.
