Best destinations to visit in December
Best destinations to visit in December
Festive public square markets and classic snow-covered winter tracks in December
December splits the travel calendar in two, with the Northern Hemisphere heading into the coldest part of winter while the south moves into full summer.
Christmas and the school break that follows drive a huge amount of travel this month, filling flights, resorts and family destinations well before the holiday itself arrives. Ski season shifts into full gear across the Northern Hemisphere, with more reliable snow than the earlier weeks of the season. Christmas markets reach their busiest stretch across parts of Europe too, especially in the final two weeks before the holiday. The Southern Hemisphere heads into peak summer instead, with beaches and coastal towns filling up as local school holidays begin. Prices across most of the world climb steadily as the month goes on.
The destinations on our list cover that same range, from deep winter snow to the height of a Southern Hemisphere summer.
Lists by region
City
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting draws large crowds to Manhattan each December. Ice skating rinks open at Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park through the winter. Fifth Avenue store windows fill with elaborate holiday displays. Central Park stays scenic for walks even in the colder weather.
Country
India
Palaces, temples, backwaters and Himalayan peaks
Mild December weather across northern India suits visits to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Goa's beaches fill with visitors during the cooler, drier winter months. Camel safaris cross the dunes near Jaisalmer in the Thar Desert. Houseboats drift along the calm backwaters of Kerala.
City in Japan
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
Late autumn foliage can linger into early December in Kyoto's temple gardens. The Philosopher's Path follows a canal lined with maples that hold color late into the season. Fushimi Inari's thousands of vermilion torii gates climb a wooded hillside. Fewer crowds in December make popular temples easier to visit.
City in Germany
Cologne
Gothic cathedral, Roman ruins and Kölsch
Cologne Cathedral's twin spires rise 157 meters above the old town, among Germany's tallest church towers. A Christmas market fills the square in front of the cathedral each December. Mulled wine stalls and wooden huts line the Rhine riverside markets. The cathedral took more than 600 years to complete, finishing in 1880.
Other lists you may like
Discover
Best winter sports destinations in Europe
Europe is the heartland of alpine skiing culture, with a resort infrastructure and mountain tradition that has been developing for well over a century. The best destinations…
Read more
Discover
Best street art destinations in Africa
Africa's street art scenes have emerged rapidly, with several cities developing mural cultures of genuine international standing that sit at the intersection of local artistic…
Read more
Discover
Best slow travel destinations in North America
Rural New England and a culinary region in Mexico offer two very different versions of slow travel, one built around small-town routine, the other around centuries-old culinary and…
Read more
Discover
Best cherry blossom destinations in Africa
Cherry blossoms are a rarity across Africa, limited to a small handful of regions in South Africa, Algeria and Morocco rather than any continent wide tradition. Jacaranda trees are…
Read more
Discover
Most beautiful beaches and coastal escapes
For a lot of people, a beach is the whole point of a holiday, but what makes a beach day perfect really depends on personal taste. Some travellers want isolation and the feeling…
Read more
Discover
Best winter sports destinations in North America
North America has some of the most varied and celebrated winter sports terrain on earth, with resort cultures on both the east and west coasts that have developed distinct…
Read more
Discover
Best slow travel destinations in Oceania
New Zealand's southern regions and the wider Pacific Islands both reward a slower pace, shaped as much by geography and limited transport links as by deliberate choice, with…
Read more
Discover
Best cherry blossom destinations in South America
Cherry blossoms are not native to South America, but Japanese immigrant communities have successfully planted Yoshino and other cherry varieties throughout the continent since the…
Read more
What other users say about travelfilters
“travelfilters made it easy for me to find ski areas and compare what else they offer, so that I could find the best place for my personal travel style.”
Chris
Snowboarding & Onsen trip to Japan
“I love how transparent the data feels. There is no pushy upsell, just honest information and settings I can tune to my own travel style.”
Maria
After booking her 2027 winter escape
“The level of detail for each destination and how well those are displayed, make planning feel confident instead of overwhelming.”
Mina
Planned a week in New York City
“We used travelfilters for our planning from start to end. The trip turned out even better than expected, thanks to all their tools and customization options.”
Allan & Etienne
Trip to Japan to see autumn foliage
“Thanks to travelfilters, I found some hidden gems to see. Being able to filter for exactly your interests is a game changer for my travel planning.”
Michael
Tour through the old cities of Northern Italy
“The customizable filters helped me find a quiet beach town with good wifi and low season crowds in under five minutes.”
Diego
Weekend Escape to Llanes, Spain
“The airport connection map saved me hours by showing good flight options from my home airport to lesser-known cities.”
Nguyen
Planning a 2027 trip to France
“The website is clean, fast and focused on the search itself, which makes travelfilters feel more like a professional tool than an ad-heavy booking site.”
Hassan
Christmas Market trip, Germany
