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Best Places to Travel in December

56 destinations are at their seasonal peak in December. Here's where the weather — and the timing — lines up.

Pulled live from Noura's Destination Finder, which ranks 121 destinations across all 12 months. Tap any destination for its full month-by-month breakdown.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Peak season in December

Prime conditions — grouped by region so you can plan a route.

Asia

Hong Kong
🌡️ 61–69°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Cool, dry and dazzling; harbour Christmas lights, markets and perfect walking weather.
India (Golden Triangle & Rajasthan)
🌡️ 47–73°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Chilly, misty mornings and clear afternoons—festive winter travel.
India (Kerala Backwaters)
🌡️ 74–89°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Warm, sunny and festive—peak backwater, beach and biennale season.
Maldives (Asia)
🌡️ 79–86°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Festive high season arrives—sunny days, warm seas and glassy calm.
Sri Lanka
🌡️ 74–89°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Southwest coast dries and sparkles—peak beach and safari season returns.

Caribbean

Aruba
🌡️ 78–88°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Holiday buzz returns with warm dry days and festive Dande serenades.
Barbados
🌡️ 77–84°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry-season sun returns for warm, festive holiday weeks.
Cuba (Havana)
🌡️ 70–81°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Cool, dry and festive as the city celebrates the holidays.
Dominican Republic (Punta Cana)
🌡️ 75–82°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry, sunny and celebratory for the holiday high season.
Jamaica
🌡️ 72–85°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry season returns for warm, sunny, festive holiday weeks.
Puerto Rico (San Juan)
🌡️ 73–84°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive warmth and holiday parrandas fill Old San Juan's blue streets.
St. Lucia
🌡️ 76–81°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry season and festive luxury return below the twin Pitons.
The Bahamas (Nassau & Exumas)
🌡️ 67–79°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive and breezy with Junkanoo parades lighting up Boxing Day and New Year.
Turks & Caicos (Providenciales)
🌡️ 74–81°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Warm, breezy and festive as Grace Bay fills for the holidays.

Central America

Belize
🌡️ 73–82°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
High season returns with breezy, festive days and busy, sun-splashed cayes.
Costa Rica (Pacific Coast)
🌡️ 73–89°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry season and holiday buzz collide - sunny beaches and festive fireworks.
Guatemala (Antigua & Tikal)
🌡️ 51–74°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Cool, sunny and festive - Christmas processions and burning-of-the-devil bonfires.
Panama
🌡️ 74–87°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Skies clear and breezes return as festive dry season and holiday buzz arrive.

Chile & Argentina

Patagonia (Torres del Paine)
🌡️ 43–60°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Summer arrives: near-endless daylight, buzzing trails and gale-force Patagonian wind.

East Africa

Kenya (Masai Mara & Amboseli)
🌡️ 58–83°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive green season with lush plains and Kilimanjaro rising over Amboseli.
Rwanda (Volcanoes NP Gorillas)
🌡️ 61–81°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Rains ease toward the short dry season; festive, green and great for trekking.
Serengeti (Ndutu & Mara)
🌡️ 59–81°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Herds return to Ndutu under festive skies with green plains and gathering big cats.
Zanzibar
🌡️ 76–90°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Hot, festive and drying out, holiday beach buzz under bright tropical skies.

Europe

Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi)
🌡️ 8–23°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Christmas magic at its source: Santa, snow, reindeer and dancing auroras.
Prague (Czechia)
🌡️ 28–37°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Christmas-market magic; mulled wine, trdelnik and snow on the Astronomical Clock.
Swiss Alps (Zermatt)
🌡️ 21–35°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Winter returns in full; fresh snow, festive lights and the ski season in full swing.

Indian Ocean

Mauritius
🌡️ 74–87°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Hot festive summer, with warm seas, lively resorts and afternoon showers.
Seychelles
🌡️ 75–86°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Hot, lush and festive, with tropical showers and calm holiday-season seas.

Middle East

Dubai (Middle East)
🌡️ 63–80°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Warm, sunny and festive—peak season with holiday sparkle.

North Africa

Egypt (Cairo & Nile)
🌡️ 53–69°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Mild sunny days and cool nights bring festive high-season energy to the Nile.

North America

Banff & Canadian Rockies
🌡️ 8–24°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive alpine snow globe—holiday lights, fresh powder and skating on Lake Louise.
Kauai (Hawaii)
🌡️ 67–79°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Green, rainbow-filled and festive, with whales returning and huge winter surf.
Los Cabos
🌡️ 60–80°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Sunny, mild and festive as the whales return and the winter high season kicks off.
Maui (Hawaii)
🌡️ 65–82°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive and warm with returning humpbacks, big north-shore surf and holiday buzz.
Mexico (Riviera Maya & Tulum)
🌡️ 69–83°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry, sunny and festive as the Caribbean winter high season returns in full swing.
Mexico City & Oaxaca
🌡️ 43–71°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Cool, dry and festive, with markets, poinsettias and holiday lights across the plazas.
Miami & Florida Keys (South Florida)
🌡️ 64–78°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Warm, dry and festive, a sunny holiday escape from the northern cold.
New York City (Northeast USA)
🌡️ 33–44°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Cold and dazzling, the city at its most magical with lights, markets and holiday buzz.
Quebec City & Montreal (Eastern Canada)
🌡️ 12–28°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Snowy, glittering and festive, a storybook holiday city dusted white.
Vail / Aspen
🌡️ 7–28°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive holiday sparkle, fresh snow and the full buzz of opening ski weeks.
Vancouver & Whistler
🌡️ 34–44°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive lights and rain in the city, holiday powder and ski-village magic at Whistler.

Oceania

Melbourne & Great Ocean Road
🌡️ 53–76°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Summer festivity; Boxing Day cricket, beach afternoons and warm balmy nights.
New Zealand (North Island)
🌡️ 60–71°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Summer and crimson pōhutukawa blossom kick off beach season.
New Zealand (South Island)
🌡️ 46–63°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Summer arrives—endless daylight, alpine lakes and festive buzz in Queenstown.
Sydney
🌡️ 65–80°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Hot festive summer; Christmas on the sand and fireworks over the Harbour Bridge.
Tasmania
🌡️ 52–71°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Summer festivals and the Sydney–Hobart fleet crown the warm season.

South Africa

Cape Town
🌡️ 58–77°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Festive peak heat: packed beaches, fireworks and sunset concerts.

South America

Atacama Desert (San Pedro)
🌡️ 53–78°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Hot, bright early summer before the altiplanic rains: flamingos and endless stars.
Colombia (Cartagena & Bogotá)
🌡️ 77–89°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Dry season and festive lights return with warm, breezy, sun-filled days.
Galápagos Islands
🌡️ 71–81°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Warm season returns with calming seas, green hills and festive holiday demand.
Iguazú Falls (South America)
🌡️ 70–88°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Hot, steamy start of summer with high water and holiday crowds pouring in.
Rio de Janeiro (South America)
🌡️ 72–86°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Sizzling festive summer capped by two million people in white for Réveillon fireworks.

Southeast Asia

Cambodia (Angkor Wat)
🌡️ 71–89°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Dry, sunny and comfortable—prime temple-touring and event season.
Laos (Luang Prabang)
🌡️ 57–81°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Cool, dry and serene—frosty river dawns and golden temple light.
Philippines (Palawan & Cebu)
🌡️ 74–87°F  ·  🟢 Non-stop
Cool, breezy and increasingly dry—festive island-hopping high season.
Thailand (Bangkok & Islands)
🌡️ 71–87°F  ·  🟡 1 connection
Cool, dry and festive—the year's best beach-and-city window.

Also good in December — shoulder season

Fewer crowds and often better value, with mostly reliable weather.

Amazon Rainforest (Iquitos & Manaus) Andalusia (Seville & Granada) Bali (Ubud & Beaches) Barcelona Bavaria (Munich & Neuschwanstein) Berlin (Germany) Bhutan Bolivia (Uyuni Salt Flats) Budapest (Hungary) Buenos Aires Cook Islands (Rarotonga & Aitutaki) (Oceania) Copenhagen Fiji (Oceania) Florence & Tuscany (Italy) Great Barrier Reef (Cairns) Ireland (Dublin & Kerry) Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka) Lisbon & Sintra (Europe) London (United Kingdom) Madrid Marrakesh Nepal (Kathmandu & Everest) New Orleans (Gulf South USA) Paris (France) Rome (Italy) San Francisco & Wine Country (North America) Scottish Highlands & Edinburgh (United Kingdom) Singapore Slovenia (Lake Bled & Ljubljana) Stockholm Tahiti & Bora Bora (Oceania) Taiwan (Taipei) The Netherlands Venice (Italy) Vienna (Austria) Vietnam (Hanoi & Ha Long Bay)

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