Got December dates all locked in but no idea where to actually go? This guide will walk you through some of the best places to travel in December and get you excited for your trip. Here’s every kind of December trip worth considering: snow, sun, big hikes, and everything else in between (including the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica, if you are willing to splash some cash!), so you can pick the one that actually gets you excited to book flights.
December is a strange time because it’s so varied around the world, with so much going on; climates are doing something different all at once. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s proper cosy winter vibes: ski resorts opening, Christmas markets everywhere, and that cosy ‘let’s wrap up warm and drink a hot chocolate (or mulled wine!)’ kind of energy. In the southern hemisphere, summer is just starting to heat up. Places like South Africa, Brazil and Chile are heading into warm evenings and perfect beach days, which honestly feels like cheating the system when your friends back home are complaining about the 4 pm evenings and whacking the heating up a notch.
You’ve probably already got a few December destinations you’re considering. Lapland and the Northern Lights are a real bucket-list trip. Sydney‘s fireworks are something pretty special (I experienced them on my first big 6-month solo trip at 18). Copacabana Beach at midnight. All amazing in their own way. But there’s a lot more to do than the classic choices, and costs vary, so you can choose based on your budget.
Chasing snow, sun, and a proper hike, I have a feeling your December travel this year will turn out to be a special trip you’ll be talking about for years to come. Let’s get into it.
Lapland, Finland: proper winter magic
Lapland does winter better than almost anywhere else; it might be linked to someone who wears red and shouts ho ho ho!.
Days are super short, everything’s covered in snow, and December is one of the best months for spotting the Northern Lights if you are in luck. Think all things magical: husky sledging, reindeer safaris, glass igloos and saunas that make you excited for the cold weather. It’s not a budget trip, but it’s the kind of trip you’ll remember for a lifetime. If Lapland doesn’t get you in the Christmasy mood, then you can fully call yourself the Grinch because I don’t know what will!
If you are feeling inspired by a trip to Finland, check out some of our best Finland travel guides:
Lapland fact:
Rovaniemi, ‘home’ of Santa Claus, sits right on the Arctic Circle.
The Alps: ski season and Christmas markets
If you want a winter trip with a bit of adrenaline in it and you don’t mind your muscles aching, the Alps in December really are a great time to travel. I did a ski season 8 years ago, not quite the chalet girl experience I’d seen in the movies (much harder work!), but the build-up to Christmas and being in the snowy Alps in December is truly beautiful.
Lifts across Austria, France and Switzerland open early in December, and snow is usually solid by Christmas. Ski or snowboard by day, mulled wine at a Christmas market by night (perfect!). Pick a smaller village like Kitzbühel or Chamonix over the big-name resorts for a more intimate experience.
If all things skiing, the Alps and Christmas markets lights you up, for more inspiration, worth having a look at these guides:
Travel tip:
Skiing for Christmas is an amazing experience, but prices do go up around Christmas. If you’re looking to save a bit of money, I recommend going in January/February, once the festive season is over and the kids go back to school, as prices drop significantly.
Patagonia, Chile & Argentina: big hikes, big skies
December kicks off Patagonia‘s short summer, which is exactly why hikers plan their whole year around it; you’ve got to be strategic. Trails through Torres del Paine and El Chaltén are snow-free, days are long, and the scenery is stunning. Beautiful glaciers, mountains galore, and lakes like those on postcards; it’s hard to get bored of the views. Just don’t wing it. Refugios and campsites book out fast, so sort your route before you go, unless you want some last-minute panic!
Sri Lanka: beaches, whales and dry season sunshine
Sri Lanka‘s south and west coasts switch into the dry season right as December starts, making it a great choice for beach days without having to run into cafes to dodge heavy downpours. Warm water, beautiful beaches around Mirissa and Tangalle, and if you are lucky, you might be able to spot a whale just offshore, flashing me right back to my first trip to Sri Lanka in 2018, where we saw so many dolphins and whales.
Sri Lanka really does have it all. Head inland to the mountain towns for a break from the heat; Ella has become more touristy over the years, but it’s still a beautiful spot, especially if you love nature and hikes (watch out for leeches at Little Adam’s Peak, though, ahhh!).
It’s not one of my grandparents’ and my favourite countries for no reason: the people, the food, the culture, the beaches, the mountains, and it’s affordable… definitely a strong contender to check out.
Sri Lanka calling you name, check out Sri Lanka by having a deeper dive into some of our other guides:
Famous train journey from Kandy to Ella:
The famous train journey from Kandy to Ella through the tea plantations and Sri Lanka’s nature at its finest really is a must-do. I’ve done it a fair few times and usually end up chatting with lots of locals along the way. Just be careful when you get your classic pictures hanging out of the train; it is still a moving train!
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Cape Town, South Africa: hikes and beaches, one trip
Cape Town in December is perfect, and if you’ve been thinking about it, Table Mountain offers one of the best day hikes you must check out; the beaches at Camps Bay and Clifton are the kind you think about for years to come, and the city has a very relaxed pace that suits those travelling by themselves and couples too. You get hiking and proper beach downtime in one place, plus Cape Town wouldn’t really be a trip without some wine tasting; there are options close by if you fancy slowing things down for a day or two.
Taken an interest in a trip to South Africa, worth having a look at our other guides if you love all things nature, safaris and outdoor adventure:
Sydney and the Aussie coast: New Year’s Eve done properly
Sydney in December means summer, beach culture, and the most famous fireworks show on the planet. If you want to ring in the new year somewhere that actually feels like an event, Sydney Harbour is hard to beat. Outside of NYE itself, it’s a great base for working your way down the coast. It’s not the cheapest destination here, but for a lot of people the atmosphere alone is worth it.
Always dreamed of a trip to the famous Sydney, down under:
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Antarctica: the trip almost nobody actually takes
Hear us out on this one. December sits right in Antarctica‘s short summer season, when the ice breaks up enough for expedition ships to actually get through, and it’s genuinely one of the only windows all year to go. Think 20-hour daylight, penguin colonies that don’t care you’re there, icebergs the size of buildings, and a silence you won’t find anywhere else on Earth. It’s not cheap, and it’s not a spontaneous booking. Most trips leave from Ushuaia in Argentina, so you’d tack it onto a South America trip anyway, but if you want one truly unique place on this list, this is it. Nobody forgets an Antarctica trip.
Colombia: dry season and a proper road trip
December dries out Colombia‘s Caribbean coast, which makes it a great time to wander Cartagena’s old town and the beaches nearby. Head inland and you’ve got the Coffee Region: cooler air, green hills, and some of the best coffee farm tours around. This is a country built for a road trip. Hire a car or bus-hop between towns and you’ll cover beach, mountains and colonial streets without ever feeling rushed. Colombia’s had a big travel moment in recent years, and December, before the January crowds land, is one of the better times to go.
Vietnam: green landscapes and shoulder season prices
By December, Vietnam‘s rainy season has cleared in the south, leaving everything lush and green with far fewer crowds than peak months. Accommodation, food and transport all stay cheap, and the weather’s actually good, which is the combination you’re really after. The north cools down nicely around this time, while the south and the Mekong Delta stay warm. It rewards travellers who like to move slowly and figure things out as they go.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Réveillon on Copacabana
If Sydney’s fireworks don’t quite do it for you, Rio’s New Year’s Eve, known locally as Réveillon, might. Millions turn out on Copacabana Beach dressed in white for a night of fireworks, live music and parties that run till sunrise. December sits right in Rio’s summer, so expect heat, humidity, and a city that feels switched on from morning to night. If you want your New Year’s Eve to actually mean something, this is it.
Nicaragua and Central America: budget diving and surf towns
For warm water without the price tag, Central America is one of the best places to travel in December if you’re mid-range or lower on budget. Nicaragua‘s Pacific coast has cheap surf towns, reliable dry weather and some genuinely good value diving around the Corn Islands. Throw in Guatemala‘s Lake Atitlán or Costa Rica‘s cloud forests and you’ve got a route that covers beach, jungle and adventure without draining your savings. Great for travellers who want to string together weeks of easy, cheap travel.
Central America is a beautiful part of the world. If you are looking for more information on planning your best trip worht taking a look here:
There’s no wrong answer here, and that’s really the point of this inspiration list. December can be anything you want it to be: snow and Christmas markets, or beach days and NYE fireworks. It can be a big hike, a proper road trip, a dive trip, or a few weeks of budget travel while making the most of your annual leave. Whatever’s drawing you in, that’s the one worth booking.
What are your favourite places to travel to in December?
What are the best places to travel to in December? Anything you’d add to this December bucket list?
