19 of the best places to visit in December

Times

2 days ago

You've got one of two options when it comes to holidays in December: embrace the cold or escape it. And in the right setting, both are equally enjoyable. If you're going with the former then wrap up warm and head for European cities where mulled wine-fuelled Christmas markets are in full swing and higher altitude ski resorts have already started their season. If the latter is more your wavelength then be prepared to adjust your body clock as the balmiest spots will inevitably be long haul, with options ranging from Mexico to India. Need more inspiration? Here are a few spots that are just perfect for a December holiday.
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Why go in December? For Christmas morning snorkels on the house reef
Swap queuing in toy shops and online panic-buying for dolphin-spotting boat tours and swimming with manta rays. December — particularly the latter part — usually marks the beginning of the dry season in the Maldives (avoid the rains of May to November). Average temperatures drift from high 20Cs to low 30Cs and are very comfortable thanks to the fact you're never far from a cool ocean dip. Many resorts will have their own 'house reef' — a strip of coral teeming with sea life — so your dip can effortlessly extend into a wildlife-spotting excursion.
The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will often fly in top chefs, artists (to run workshops) and children's entertainers in December to make the festive season even more special.
Tui has a great range of Maldives getaways — prices include flights and transfers to and from your accommodation.
• Best hotels in the Maldives
Why go in December? For quaint German-style markets mixed with superb Italian hospitality
This curious mountain region sits on the border of Italy and Austria — and the traditions of both mix deliciously in the local culture (known as Ladin). No time is this blend more delightful than in December, when jolly Germanic markets meet hauntingly beautiful Italian carol concerts and, of course, a big food focus. The biggest Christmas market in Italy is found in the regional capital of Bolzano. But if you're after something a bit quieter, the pretty villages of Corvara and San Cassiano (in the Alta Badia ski area) host carol concerts and have endless cosy taverns.
Hotel La Perla in Corvara has a rustic Michelin-starred restaurant and is considered one of the best hotels in the world. If you're lucky, the snow will be thick enough to allow runs on Alta Badia's well-groomed slopes.
Crystal Ski has packages to a couple of typical chalet hotels in Corvara, beside Alta Badia's blue and red routes.
• The best ski resorts in Italy
Why go in December? For quirky celebrations and dazzling crafts
Oaxaca state (and the capital city that shares its name) are the spiritual home of arts and crafts in Mexico. December is usually the driest and coolest time to visit, so it's a good opportunity to wander around Oaxaca city's creative museums (Museo Textil de Oaxaca, dedicated to regional textiles, is one of the best) or get out into the surrounding mountains. The petrified 'waterfalls' at Hierve el Agua, one of only two examples in the world, are truly stunning. For an off-beat festive celebration, pencil in La Noche de Rabanos (Night of the Radishes) which takes place in Oaxaca each year on December 23. Locals compete to create the most elaborate sculptures carved from oversized radishes.
Modern and comfortable, ArcoSodi Boutique Hotel is a short hop from the zocalo (main square) where the event takes place.
Intrepid has a culture and cuisine-focused group tour travelling from Mexico City to Oaxaca (the city).
• Best hotels in Mexico
Why go in December? For many variations on a German-style Christmas
Christmas markets in Berlin may not have been around for as long as in some other German cities, but they make up for it in variety. More than 80 take place around town, in locations from the glass façades of Potsdamer Platz (also a popular venue for ice-skating) to the quaint streets of Spandau in the western suburbs. You're never far from a glass of glühwein or lebkuchen, but you'll also find less traditional arts and crafts. Base yourself near the Kurfürstendamm to see the boulevard splendidly lit up, and to raid the vast candy counter at KaDeWe — the queen of Berlin department stores.
Sir Savigny is a boutique hotel two blocks north of Kurfürstendamm, with a book-filled lounge and retro details in the rooms to create a sophisticated city bolt hole
Jet2 has city break deals to Berlin with Christmas market-themed, flight-inclusive packages
• Best affordable hotels in Berlin
Why go in December? For a Junkanoo party to see out the year
There's some nitpicking as to whether the Bahamas counts as a Caribbean country in purely geographical terms, but when it comes to culture there's no doubt. Proof comes at the end of December with street parades to match any carnival in the islands to the south. Bahamian Junkanoo celebrations take place mainly on December 26 and New Year's Day: a masquerade of dazzling costumes to the sound of goombay drums. It's a popular travel period with little rain.
If you're staying on New Providence island, largely taken up by Nassau, try the SLS at Baha Mar. It's part of a complex of luxury beach hotels and is styled throughout for maximum Instagram appeal.
On round trips from Port Canaveral in Florida, Princess Cruises' classy ships call at Nassau during circuits of the eastern Caribbean.
• Best all-inclusive resorts in the Bahamas
Why go in December? For architectural treasures in the home of Good King Wenceslas
Of all the European capitals, Prague might have the best claim to look like a vintage Christmas card backdrop. Snow isn't a sure thing (it's more likely in January), but even without frosted roofs, this gothic-baroque medley looks atmospheric on short December days. During Advent only, a lamplighter does the rounds on the famous Charles Bridge at about 4pm. While Christmas is a busy period, earlier in the month is a cheaper time to arrive for markets and ice rinks in historic squares. The Mala Strana quarter, in the shadow of Prague Castle, has just as much labyrinthine appeal as the old town.
On a cobbled square in Mala Strana, you'll find the Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa. It's spread across a cluster of buildings — the oldest going back 500 years — and staying in one of its 46 rooms and suites feels like waking up on the set of an opera.
Consider booking your flights and hotel in one fell swoop through easyJet Holidays if you want to stay in the old town.
• Discover our full winter sun holiday guide
Why go in December? For river trips through temple-dotted countryside
Laos is southeast Asia's only landlocked country, but with the mighty Mekong flowing through its length, river cruises are understandably popular. At this time of year there is very little rainfall but the rivers are still full, and temperatures are at their lowest — though still comfortably in the 20Cs. The one-time royal capital of Luang Prabang is a gateway to many river trips through the limestone cliff scenery of the north, and is also a top destination for culture with its gilded temples and lines of saffron-robed Buddhist monks.
In the sleepy centre of Unesco World Heritage listed Luang Prabang, 3 Nagas has plenty of historic appeal, with 15 rooms and suites decorated in dark wood, and bikes for guests to explore the city.
Ideal for beginners, Explore!'s small-group Highlights of Laos tour includes a guided morning walk around Luang Prabang.
• Where's hot in December?
Why go in December? For aurora-spotting and other winter activities in Swedish Lapland
Sweden's northernmost county largely overlaps with the historic region of Lapland — and with the Arctic Circle running through it, anywhere north of that line has at least one day in December when you won't see any sun. The long nights are an advantage when spotting the northern lights, but even if this natural show proves elusive, Norrbotten has other winter marvels. Near the town of Kiruna in the north is the original Icehotel at Jukkasjarvi, while on the outskirts of the southern city of Lulea is the Unesco World Heritage listed Gammelstad, its dinky red cottages now under pillowy snow.
One for the unusual stays bucket list: the Tree Hotel has eight boldly designed rooms perched high in a forest an hour's drive north of Lulea.
If it simply must be the Icehotel, however, arrange your trip there with the Aurora Zone — an expert in holidays to Swedish Lapland
theaurorazone.com
• Christmas in Lapland: everything you need to know about visiting Santa
Why go in December? For emerald beauty after the monsoons
With an abundance of swaying coconut palms along its coast and backwaters, Kerala is India's most lushly tropical state. The six-month rainy season that allows all this to happen lifts in December, so this month is an obvious (and in-demand) time to visit. Backwater cruises in a kettuvallam (houseboat) are a highlight in Kerala, and the city of Alappuzha is a starting point for many.
Purity at Lake Vembanad overlooks the famously long lake outside Alappuzha, and offers Ayurvedic treatments and morning yoga classes in its serene grounds.
Great for Kerala first-timers, G Adventures' affordable group tour combines a Backwaters cruise with beaches and the elegant city of Kochi.
• Best places to visit in India
Why go in December? For Auld Lang Syne, and other ways to light up the night
While the biggest party in the Scottish capital comes with the Hogmanay celebrations to see in the New Year, there's much to raise the spirits during the other 30 days of the month. With the sun gone before 4pm, it's up to the Christmas lights to brighten Edinburgh's old stone facades; the most spectacular decorations are on George Street. Out of the centre, the Royal Botanic Garden and Dalkeith Country Park are also transformed into night-time wonderlands. Back in the New Town, Christmas market stalls bring mulled wine and more to Princes Street Gardens.
Set in two Victorian villas just outside the city-centre bustle, the Roseate Edinburgh showcases seasonal Scottish produce and rare single malts.
Newmarket Holidays operates guided group tours focused on Edinburgh at Christmas, with plenty of time for exploration.
• Best things to do in Edinburgh at Christmas
Why go in December? For New England villages decked out in baubles and snow
Russet-coloured leaves might be New England's signature seasonal look, but the region is a winter beauty, too. In the mountains of Vermont, around one in three December days are snowy, and the lead-up to the 25th sees many of the state's small towns decorated to the nines. Ski resorts such as Stowe usually start their season towards the end of November, and other winter activities away from the groomed runs include cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and dog-sledding. It's enough to justify more maple syrup on your breakfast pancakes.
Running since 1833, the Green Mountain Inn is set in a complex of historic buildings in the original centre of Stowe, seven miles from the ski resort, and is filled with four-poster beds and other traditional touches.
Arrange a private, self-drive itinerary tailored to your preferences through American Sky.
americansky.co.uk
• Discover our full guide to the US
Why go in December? For tropical Christmas traditions at the start of the dry season
Christmas festivities may look a little different in an equatorial country, but Colombia's temperatures are graded less by month and more by altitude: from ones that nurture coconut palms on the coast, to cooler climes in the highland capital Bogota or among the aromatic plantations of the Zona Cafetera. On the night of December 7, the festival of Dia de las Velitas sees towns and cities adorned with little candles and coloured lanterns. Centuries-old Cartagena is queen of the Caribbean coast, where the nationwide tapering off of the September-November rainy season is especially marked.
Graceful, antique-filled Hotel Casa del Arzobispado is a colonial-era original in the walled city of Cartagena, with a pool in the central patio.
Crystal Cruises has a seven-night, pre-Christmas Caribbean voyage that heads south from Barbados to conclude amid the majesty of Cartagena.
• Is Colombia safe for travellers?
Why go in December? For big-ticket spectacles and mild winter days
National Day on December 2 marks the independence of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, celebrated today with fireworks, LED shows and displays of heritage in this Gulf state where the contrast between old and new is so marked. It's also usually around this time that the most populous of the emirates, Dubai, hosts its part of the Rugby Sevens series. With the oppressive summer heat gone, and average temperatures in the 20Cs, this month is generally a more pleasant time to venture beyond air-conditioned spaces.
Building traditional Arabian elements into a modern design, Hotel Boulevard, Autograph Collection is super-close to the action around the Dubai Mall and the world-record skyscraper Burj Khalifa.
If you'd like to see more of the Arabian Gulf, the affordable, independent line Celestyal Cruises operates eight-day tours in the region, visiting several of the Emirates as well as Qatar.
• Best things to do in Dubai
Why go in December? For timeless delights in the Eternal City
Christmas and New Year are usually chilly in Rome (around 8C), though still a tad warmer than many other European cities in December. The Christmas tree custom is slowly catching on in Italy: there are splendid examples in St Peter's Square (thanks originally to Polish Pope John Paul II) and outside the Colosseum. Rome certainly goes in for lavish nativity scenes, plus panettone and other seasonal sweets. Stay among the tight-knit streets around Campo de' Fiori and you'll be equidistant from the Vatican and Roman Forum, near the Christmas market at Piazza Navona, and also Hanukkah celebrations in Rome's old Jewish quarter.
Behind an ivy-covered façade, the Boutique Hotel Campo de' Fiori is cosy and unapologetically indulgent, with velvet drapes and gilded mirrors.
For a glamorous, eco-friendly holiday, how about travelling to Rome by rail with the flight-free specialist — perhaps also exploring Turin or Venice?
• Best hotels in Rome
Why go in December? For a wonder of nature at its fullest flow
The world's largest waterfall system is a year-round wonder, but December marks the start of its mightiest performance. The trade-off is having to dodge heavy rain showers and sweat out the height of tropical heat, as well as working around busy South American Christmas holidays. Though the Argentine side accounts for the greatest share of the falls, and the best trails to their thunderous heart, the Brazilian portion has more spray-free viewpoints, helicopter rides, and a bigger choice of facilities in its gateway town. The answer, of course, is to visit both national parks.
Of the two hotels right by the falls, the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas on the Brazilian side edges it for its country-estate style and chance to stroll to viewpoints ahead of the tour buses.
Along with Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, the Falls are one of the headliners on Riviera Travel's three-country Grand Tour of South America.
• Guide to Iguazu Falls: everything you need to know
Why go in December? For summer adventure in epic scenery
The start of the southern hemisphere summer brings changes all across New Zealand, but nowhere more so than in the mountains of the South Island. Although Aoraki/Mount Cook and the other highest peaks should keep their crowns of snow, at middle altitudes the way is open for hikes such as the legendary Routeburn Track. Visitor attractions get particularly busy as Christmas holidays approach, so if you can, go earlier in the month to enjoy outdoor activity hotspots such as Queenstown and Te Anau.
Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel offers sophisticated rooms, some with views of the peaks of the Remarkables, a short walk from the centre of Queenstown.
On Titan's country-crossing Best of New Zealand tour, you'll gasp at Mount Cook's Tasman Glacier — one of the biggest outside the Himalayas.
• Best things to do in New Zealand
Why go in December? For old-world atmosphere in an under-the-radar European capital
The square at the historic heart of the Slovak capital is less well known than its Prague old town equivalent, but visit in December and you'll also find it cheerily decked out with Christmas market stalls against a backdrop of stately baroque and art nouveau buildings. There's no guarantee of white rooftops (snow-seekers should add on a trip to the peaks of Tatra National Park on the border with Poland), but this is definitely the time of year when typical dishes such as goulash most hit the spot. And with Vienna just 75 minutes or so by boat along the Danube, what better chance for two-in-one, compare-and-contrast Christmas market shopping?
A short stroll from the old town and the Danube riverside, Marrol's Boutique Hotel has the vibe of a traditional club with a crackling fireplace and deep armchairs.
Alternatively, stay in the old town on a cost-effective break with Expedia which includes flights to the city.
• Discover our full guide to BratislavaWhy go in December? For street parties and beach time in the Caribbean
The islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines are a trusty ticket to winter sun, but also bring a uniquely Caribbean twist to Christmas. The shimmying starts on December 16 and the Nine Mornings Festival rewards early risers with dances and steel band concerts, and the all-important tradition of a sea bath. The country is divided between St Vincent, mountainous and jungle-clad, but also where most Vincentians live and play, and the Grenadines — smaller islands such as Canouan and celebrity magnet Mustique, where you're more likely to find white sands. Bequia (pronounced 'beck-way') is one of the largest islands, and a happy compromise of glorious beaches and local culture. It was affected by Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, but the Foreign Office says that 'services have returned to normal' there.
Bequia Beach Hotel gives right on to the crescent-shaped beach at Friendship Bay, and is decorated inside to evoke the era of steamer trunks, rattan armchairs and slowly twirling ceiling fans.
From Kingstown, the country's capital, ferry-based excursions to Bequia are available on P&O's Caribbean Islands Fly-Cruise.
• Best hotels in St Vincent and the Grenadines
Why go in December? For beaches and nature
With summer just beginning in South Africa, temperatures are at a manageable average high of 27C in Cape Town. It's warm enough if you want to head to the coast — and there are some gorgeous beaches just outside of the main centre — but also affords some cooler days if hiking up Table Mountain is on your agenda. Don't restrict yourself to city perimeters, though. Hire a car and you're in the Cape winelands in under an hour, or go further south to the tip of the Cape Peninsula where, at the Cape of Good Hope, you'll feel like you're at the end of the world.
Radisson RED Cape Town V&A Waterfront is moments from the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, and there's a great collection of bars and restaurants in the area.
Tui has a welter of package holiday options in Cape Town, from apartments to luxury hotels lining Table Bay.
• Best things to do in Cape Town