Where to go in December: 10 places at their best
December splits the travel world in two. In the north it is dark, cold and festive: Christmas markets fill the squares, ski season opens, and cities are lit up and full of mulled wine. In the south it is early summer, with long days, school holidays and the beaches at their best. Both are good, and both come with the dearest weeks of the year, around Christmas and New Year.
The skill in December is picking one of the two and booking early. The first half of the month is cheaper than the second in almost every place, and the days between Christmas and the New Year are the hardest to book. Here are ten places that are at their best now.
The two halves of the list suit different trips. The north is for short breaks of four or five days and the south is for longer ones of two weeks or more, since flights are long and the weather rewards slow travel.
A word on cities: in the north, many places close on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so plan food and transport for those days in advance. In the south, Christmas is a summer holiday and beaches, campsites and national parks fill early, so the same rule applies on the other side of the world. Whatever you pick, expect days to be short in the north and very long in the south, so plan around the light.
Austria
Christmas markets run from mid-November until Christmas Eve, and ski season opens in the Arlberg, the Tyrol and the Salzburg valleys. Vienna in December is made for walking between markets and warming up in cafés. Ski resorts fill at Christmas and New Year, so book early. See the Vienna itinerary, the Austria travel guide and our advice on planning a ski trip. The ball season peaks in January and February, but December has a calmer charm: markets, cafés and snow on the way.
Germany
December is the reason to come. Christmas markets run from late November until just before Christmas Day in almost every town, with mulled wine, roasted almonds and gingerbread. Between Christmas and the new year, many museums and restaurants keep shorter hours. Use the Berlin itinerary and the Germany travel guide. A train route through three or four towns, such as Nuremberg, Cologne and Munich, lets you visit several markets in a week.
Czech Republic
Prague and Brno hold Christmas markets from late November, with mulled wine and fried treats, and the cities are beautiful under snow. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day close most things, and the New Year weeks are busy. Plan with the Prague itinerary and the Czech Republic travel guide. Prague is busiest from late May to September and quieter in December, with fewer visitors and the markets in the squares.
Hungary
Budapest has Christmas markets in December, empty museums and the thermal baths, which are at their best in cold air. It is cold, grey and sometimes snowy, and cheaper than the summer. Many hotels at Lake Balaton close for the season. See the Budapest itinerary and the Hungary travel guide. Pair the markets with the thermal baths on a cold evening, a combination few other cities can match.
Australia
Summer is the time for the southern beaches and cities, with long days, and the busiest holiday season of the year. Schools are on holiday and prices are high, especially around Christmas and January. It is very hot inland and in the centre, and in the tropical north it is the wet season. The Australia travel guide helps you decide where to be. Book flights and accommodation well ahead for Christmas and January, which are the busiest periods for Australians as well.
New Zealand
Summer is the most popular season: long warm days, the best weather for walking and beaches, and every tour running. It is also the busiest, so book accommodation, campervans and the Great Walks huts many months ahead. Ultraviolet light is strong, so use sun protection from the first day. Read the New Zealand travel guide. Allow time for both islands if you can, and a spare day for weather-dependent places such as Milford Sound.
Sri Lanka
December to March is the main season for the west and south coasts, the hill country and the cultural sites. The weather is dry and sunny, the sea is calm for swimming, and whale watching off the south coast is at its best. It is the busiest and dearest time, especially around Christmas and New Year. See the Sri Lanka travel guide. Pair the hill country and the cultural sites with a few days on the south coast, where the sea is calm.
Costa Rica
The dry season starts in December on the Pacific side and in the central valley: sunny mornings, clear volcano views and the best beach weather. Prices peak around Christmas, New Year and Easter, so book rooms and rental cars well ahead. The Caribbean coast follows its own pattern, so check the forecast. The Costa Rica travel guide explains the two coasts. Both coasts are within a day's drive, so pair a volcano with a beach. Nights are cool in the mountains.
South Africa
Summer is hot and dry in Cape Town, with long days and beach weather, and a strong south-easterly wind in the afternoons. Christmas and January are school holidays, when beaches, the Garden Route and the national parks are busy and dear. Use the Cape Town itinerary and the South Africa travel guide. Combine Cape Town with the Garden Route, and book early. A strong afternoon wind is normal in the Cape.
Colombia
December to March is the main dry season in the Andes and on the Caribbean coast: sunny days, clear mountain views and the best weather for beaches, Bogotá and Medellín. It is also high season, with Christmas pushing up prices and filling hotels on the coast. Bogotá stays cool, so pack a jacket. See the Colombia travel guide. Bogotá, Medellín and the coast make a natural loop. Book flights between them early over the holiday weeks.
Planning a trip for December
December is the month where the calendar decides for you. Flights, ski chalets, Christmas market weekends, beach rooms and campervans all sell out before the end of the summer, so the best time to book is early. Our advice on how far in advance to book gives an order for it. If you can leave in the first half of the month, you save on almost everything.
If you are travelling as a group, agree dates and budget early, since the busiest weeks are the hardest to move. For a quieter trip, shoulder-season travel explains why the weeks either side of the holidays are worth a look.
Last, make a list of what must be done before you go: tickets for markets and ski passes, restaurant bookings for Christmas and New Year, and transport on the days when little runs.
