Deciding where to go in December really means choosing one of three trips. You can chase the sun to a beach, go north for snow and the northern lights, or spend a week in a city that does Christmas properly. Here are 15 trips worth taking in December 2026, five of each kind, with the weather to expect and what’s on. Jump to the quick list, the warm escapes, the snow trips or the Christmas city breaks.
Where to go in December: the 15 at a glance
| Trip | Best for | December days / nights |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | Sun with no passport (for US citizens) | 84°F / 73°F |
| Maui, Hawaii | Beaches and the first whales | 83°F / 66°F |
| Guanacaste, Costa Rica | Dry-season beaches and wildlife | 90°F / 70°F |
| Thailand’s Andaman coast | Island-hopping on a long trip | 89°F / 75°F |
| Madeira, Portugal | Mild Europe and New Year’s fireworks | 70°F / 60°F |
| Lapland, Finland | Santa, reindeer and the Arctic Circle | 23°F / 13°F |
| Iceland | Northern lights | 38°F / 29°F |
| Banff, Canada | Skiing and frozen lakes | 24°F / 8°F |
| Tyrol, Austria | Skiing plus Christmas markets | 39°F / 26°F |
| Hokkaido, Japan | Deep snow and winter lights | 36°F / 25°F |
| New York City | Christmas lights and shows | 44°F / 34°F |
| Quebec City, Canada | A snowy old town and markets | 26°F / 12°F |
| London, England | Lights and Winter Wonderland | 48°F / 39°F |
| Vienna, Austria | Markets and coffee houses | 40°F / 33°F |
| Strasbourg and Colmar, France | Fairy-tale Christmas markets | 43°F / 33°F |
Warm Escapes: Beaches Without the Winter
For warm weather in December, head to the tropics. The Caribbean, Hawaii, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and Thailand’s Andaman Sea all sit in the 80s°F, and December is the start of the dry season in most of them. In Europe, real beach heat is hard to find, so Madeira is our pick for mild sun.
Puerto Rico
If you want sun without a passport, Puerto Rico is the easy answer, and December is when its Christmas season starts. It’s one of the longest anywhere, running well into January. Old San Juan’s blue cobblestones and colored houses are hung with lights, and you can try coquito, a coconut eggnog, and lechón, slow-roasted pork. On a long weekend, we’d pick it over anywhere else on this list.
Short tropical showers are common, though they rarely last long. Beach hotels fill up for the holiday weeks, so book early.
Maui, Hawaii
December is when the first humpback whales of the season reach Maui’s waters, and the numbers keep growing into the peak months of January to March. You’ll spend your days on the sunny south and west shores, around Kihei, Wailea and Kaanapali, and watch the sun come up over the crater of Haleakalā.
Winter is Hawaii’s wetter season, and big surf hits the north shores, so swim where the lifeguards say it’s calm. Prices climb for the last two weeks of the year.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
December is when the dry season arrives on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and Guanacaste turns sunny for months. You can split your time between surf beaches like Tamarindo and the volcano and hot springs of Rincón de la Vieja. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys and coatis along the way. It’s our pick for a warm family trip.
The weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive of the year. The Caribbean side doesn’t share this dry season, so stay on the Pacific.
Thailand’s Andaman Coast
December starts the high season on Thailand’s west coast, when the Andaman Sea turns calm and clear. You can climb or kayak around the limestone cliffs at Railay in Krabi, island-hop to Koh Phi Phi, or slow down on Koh Lanta’s long beaches.
It’s a long way to go, so plan two weeks, not one. Avoid the Gulf islands, like Koh Samui, which get their rainy season from October to December. Prices peak from about 20 December.
Madeira, Portugal
If you want Europe without the cold, Madeira is mild all winter, and Funchal goes all out for the holidays. Its streets are strung with Christmas lights from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, and on New Year’s Eve, fireworks fill the whole bay.
It’s mild, not hot. The sea is chilly for most swimmers. Treat it as a walking trip: you’ll follow the levadas, the island’s old irrigation channels, and end your day in a heated pool.
Madeira, Portugal · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 70°F (21°C) by day and 60°F (16°C) at night.
- Getting there
- about 1¾ hours by air from Lisbon.
Madeira: plan for the bay view
if you’re coming for New Year’s Eve, book a room with a view of the bay months ahead.
Snow Trips: Mountains, Northern Lights and Santa
Lapland, Finland
Rovaniemi sits right on the Arctic Circle, and in December it’s the closest you’ll get to the North Pole of the storybooks. Santa Claus Village stands on the Arctic Circle line. You can ride a reindeer sleigh, take a husky safari, and stand under the northern lights on a clear night. The sun barely clears the horizon, so you get a few hours of blue light around noon.
This is the most expensive month to visit, so book as early as you can. It’s also seriously cold.
Lapland, Finland · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 23°F (-5°C) by day and 13°F (-11°C) at night, and often colder.
- Getting there
- about 1¼ hours by air from Helsinki, or take the overnight train.
Iceland
December is dark in Iceland, with less than five hours of daylight a day, but those long nights give you more chances to see the northern lights. For a first winter adventure, it’s our pick of the snow trips. It’s also a fun time to be there. From 12 December, the 13 Yule Lads, Iceland’s mischievous Christmas trolls, arrive one a night. On New Year’s Eve, Reykjavík lights bonfires and fills the sky with fireworks.
Iceland: plan around winter roads
Winter storms can close roads with little warning. Unless you’ve driven on ice before, take tours rather than renting a car.
Iceland · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 38°F (3°C) by day and 29°F (-2°C) at night, and windy.
- Getting there
- about 6 hours by air from New York.
Banff, Canada
By December, Banff’s ski areas are running and the town looks like a snow globe. Between ski days, you can skate on frozen Lake Louise once the ice is thick enough. Or soak in the outdoor pool at the Banff Upper Hot Springs while the snow falls.
Cold snaps can drop far below the averages, and the days are short. You’ll need a passport, and good gloves.
Banff, Canada · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 24°F (-5°C) by day and 8°F (-13°C) at night.
- Getting there
- about 1½ hours by road from Calgary airport.
Tyrol, Austria
In Austria’s Tyrol, you can ski in the morning and walk a Christmas market in the evening. Innsbruck’s markets sit right below the mountains, and big resorts open early in the season: Ischgl on 26 November and St. Anton on 2 December. On 5 December, Krampus night brings horned figures through the towns.
Early-season snow can be thin lower down, so choose a high resort. Holiday prices start around 19 December.
Tyrol, Austria · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 39°F (4°C) by day and 26°F (-3°C) at night in Innsbruck; colder up high.
- Getting there
- about 1 hour 50 minutes by train from Munich.
Hokkaido, Japan
Sapporo gets about 44 inches of snow in December alone, and Japan’s best-known ski resort, Niseko, is expected to open on 28 November. In the city, the White Illumination fills Odori Park with lights from late November to Christmas Day, beside a German-style Christmas market.
Niseko is busy and expensive over Christmas and New Year. The deepest powder usually comes in January and February. If you’re skiing, we’d go in early December for value or wait until January.
Hokkaido, Japan · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 36°F (2°C) by day and 25°F (-4°C) at night in Sapporo.
- Getting there
- about 1½ hours by air from Tokyo; Niseko is about 2½–3 hours by bus from New Chitose airport.
Christmas City Breaks: Markets and Lights
New York City
New York in December is cold, crowded and completely worth it. The Rockefeller Center tree is lit on 2 December 2026, the Rockettes are dancing at Radio City, and Bryant Park has free skating. In Brooklyn, whole streets of houses in Dyker Heights glow with lights.
Midtown is shoulder to shoulder on weekend evenings, and hotels are at their priciest, so you’ll do better on weekdays in the first two weeks of the month.
New York City · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 44°F (7°C) by day and 34°F (1°C) at night.
- Getting there
- from JFK, it's about $12 by AirTrain and subway.
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City is the closest thing to a European Christmas market you can reach without crossing an ocean. Inside the old city walls, snow settles on stone houses and the Château Frontenac hotel looks over the river. The German Christmas Market runs from 19 November to 23 December 2026, with about 125 stalls across five sites, and entry is free.
It’s properly cold, and the old town’s steep streets and stairs get icy. Wear boots with grip.
Quebec City, Canada · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 26°F (-3°C) by day and 12°F (-11°C) at night, with about 30 inches of snow over the month.
- Getting there
- about 3 hours by train or car from Montreal. You'll need a passport.
Quebec City: check market days
the market opens Thursday to Sunday, so plan your weekend around it.
London, England
London goes big on Christmas lights, from Regent Street to Oxford Street. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with rides, ice skating and a market. Tickets are timed, so book a slot ahead.
London: plan Christmas Day transport
It’s dark before 4 pm, and the Tube doesn’t run on Christmas Day, so plan how you’ll get around if you’re there on the 25th.
London, England · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 48°F (9°C) by day and 39°F (4°C) at night, and often damp.
- Getting there
- about 7 hours by air from New York.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna seems to have a Christmas market on every other square, and you can walk between most of them. Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, and Schönbrunn Palace’s market stays open until 6 January. Between markets, warm up in a coffee house. It’s our pick for a first Christmas trip to Europe.
The big markets are packed on weekend evenings, so arrive when they open, or plan your visit midweek.
Vienna, Austria · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 40°F (5°C) by day and 33°F (1°C) at night.
- Getting there
- the CAT train runs from the airport to the center in 16 minutes.
Strasbourg and Colmar, France
Strasbourg calls itself the capital of Christmas, and its markets open on 27 November 2026. Half an hour away by train, Colmar’s market runs from 23 November to 29 December, and its canals and half-timbered houses glow at night. Together, they’re the Christmas scene you’ve seen on Pinterest.
Both get very crowded, and hotels sell out early. Stay in one, day-trip to the other, and visit on weekdays.
Strasbourg and Colmar, France · December essentials
- Weather in December
- about 43°F (6°C) by day and 33°F (1°C) at night in Strasbourg.
- Getting there
- about 1 hour 50 minutes by TGV from Paris.
Find the December trip that fits you
Where can you go in December in the US?
For warm weather, go to Hawaii, or to Puerto Rico, which needs no passport for US citizens. On the mainland, December is mild rather than hot. Key West averages about 78°F (25°C) by day, while San Diego and Phoenix are both about 66°F (19°C), good for walking but cool for the beach.
For Christmas lights, go to New York. For snow, most big ski resorts in Colorado and Utah are open by mid-December. Either way, you won’t need to change money or worry about a passport.
Where should you go in December in Europe?
For Christmas, go to Vienna, or to Strasbourg and Colmar, where the markets are at their best in the first three weeks of the month. For snow, Tyrol gives you skiing and markets on the same day, and Lapland and Iceland add the northern lights. For mild sun, Madeira is the safest bet, at about 70°F (21°C).
The rest of Europe is cold, dark by 4:30 pm and often wet in December. Plan your days around the lights and the markets, not the beach.
Where should you go in December with kids?
For a family vacation, Lapland is the classic, because Santa is the main event, and yes, your kids can meet him! New York has the Rockettes and a holiday train show, and London has Winter Wonderland. For a warm trip, Costa Rica’s monkeys and Maui’s whales will keep children watching for hours.
Tip: with kids, a shorter flight often matters more than the place. Puerto Rico, Quebec City and Costa Rica are all within about five hours by air of much of the eastern US.
Where is cheap in December?
Nowhere is cheap over the holidays, but some places cost far less than others. Thailand is the best value on this list. Food and local transport cost little, and a plate of pad thai from a street stall is often 60–80 baht (about US$2, 2026). Puerto Rico saves you the passport and currency hassle, and Costa Rica’s dry season off the beach strip is gentler on your wallet.
Timing matters more than the place. Travel in the first two weeks of December, before the holiday rush, and flights and rooms usually cost noticeably less. Avoid 19 December to 3 January if you can.
Where should you go for New Year's Eve?
Madeira is our pick for a first New Year’s Eve trip: the fireworks fill the whole bay of Funchal on 31 December, and the weather is mild. Vienna is the best city party, with a free trail of stages through the old town from 2 pm to 2 am. New York has the Times Square ball drop, though you’ll stand for hours in the cold to see it. Reykjavík lights bonfires and fireworks across the city.
Book as early as you can. Rooms near the main celebrations sell out first, and prices peak on the 31st.
When should you book a December trip?
As early as you can. The weeks around Christmas and New Year, roughly 19 December to 3 January, are the busiest and most expensive of the year almost everywhere on this list. If your dates are flexible, travel in the first two weeks of December. You’ll find lower prices and calmer streets, and the markets and lights are already up. Missed December? Our January guide covers where to find warm weather after the holidays.
Four things to sort before you go
- When you choose your dates
Decide which December you want
If your dates are flexible, compare the first two weeks with the Christmas and New Year holiday weeks. Pick your main reason to travel: sun, snow or Christmas lights.
- Before you commit
Match bookings to the main event
Check the official dates for the Christmas market, ski resort or celebration you want to visit. Reserve the stays and journeys that matter most to that plan.
- The week before
Save a simple arrival plan
Keep your airport transfer, hotel address and booking confirmations together. For Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, check how you will get around.
- Before you pack
Check the destination forecast
Use the December temperatures as a planning guide, then check the forecast for your actual travel dates. For snow trips, check local road and resort updates too.
Pack for your kind of December
Use the essentials for every trip, then tick the pieces that suit your sun, snow or city plans.
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