Where to go in December: Top Winter Holiday Destinations

December carries more travel pressure than almost any other month. There is Christmas to plan around, New Year to sort, and often a desperate need to escape the cold.

The good news is that whether you want snowy and festive or warm and sunny, there is a great destination for it. Here is a proper look at the best places to visit in December, built around what most people are searching for at this time of year.

Why is December Such a Unique Month to Travel?

December splits travellers into two camps. Some people want snow, fairy lights, and mulled wine in a market square. Others want to swap grey skies for sun and spend Christmas Day by a pool instead of a radiator. What makes December holiday destinations interesting is that both camps get exactly what they are after. You need to pick the right spot. 

December also has two very different booking windows. The run-up to Christmas, roughly the first two to three weeks, tends to be calmer and often cheaper, while the days around Christmas and New Year are the most expensive and heavily booked of the year. Hence, plan your trips earlier to avoid paying extra.

Christmas Markets and Festive Cities

If you want December to actually feel like December, a European Christmas market city is hard to beat. These trips lean into everything the month is known for: twinkling lights, mulled wine, and streets that smell like cinnamon.

Best picks: 

Here are some of the best destinations picked for your Christmas vacation:

• Vienna has arguably Europe’s most elegant Christmas market scene, spread across several squares with classical music drifting through the cold air. 
• Prague’s Old Town Square market, framed by Gothic and Baroque architecture, is one of the city’s most loved festive sights. 
• Budapest pairs thermal baths by day with festive markets by night. 
• Cologne in Germany has several markets, each with its own character.

These Christmas holiday destinations work brilliantly for a short break too, since most are a few hours’ flight away and pack in plenty of festive atmosphere over three or four nights.

Warm Places to Visit in December

Not everyone wants a cold Christmas, and that is the exact appeal: you get to choose. If you are after warm places to visit in December, plenty of destinations are hitting their best weather of the year right now and will be the perfect destination for you.

Best picks: 

Here are some of the sunny destinations to look for this Christmas holiday:

• The Canary Islands are mild, sunny, and only a few hours from Ireland, with Tenerife averaging around 22°C by day. 
• Dubai is in its peak season, with daytime highs averaging about 27°C. 
• The Caribbean is in its dry season, prime time for turquoise water and sunshine. 
• Egypt’s Red Sea coast is warm and dry.
• Thailand’s cool, dry season makes December one of its best months.

For those chasing winter sun instead of scarves, these destinations deliver reliably, without the gamble of hoping for a mild winter back home.

New Year Holiday Destinations Worth Booking Early

New Year’s Eve trips book up fast, because these destinations work perfectly during this time. If you are planning for New Year holiday destinations, these are consistently among the best.

Best picks: 

These are some of the best destinations to book early:

• Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the most famous New Year celebrations anywhere, with a torchlight procession and fireworks from the castle ramparts. 
• Sydney suits anyone happy with a longer flight who fancies starting the year somewhere warm, as its harbour fireworks are hard to top. 
• Rome is a more relaxed alternative to the big firework cities, full of good food and atmospheric piazzas. 
• Dubai’s Burj Khalifa fireworks are among the most spectacular New Year shows anywhere.

Whichever you choose, book well ahead, as flights and hotels around the 31st climb quickly once December begins.

Where should you spend Christmas?

A simple way to think about it: want the full festive atmosphere? Head to Vienna, Prague, or Budapest for markets and cold weather charm. Want sun over snow? The Canary Islands, Dubai, or the Caribbean will give you a warm Christmas Day. Want a big New Year’s Eve? Edinburgh, Dubai, or Rome each offer something memorable.

If you are travelling with family, warmer destinations like the Canaries or Egypt tend to work best, with reliable weather and resorts built around relaxing rather than sightseeing in the cold. If it is just you and a partner or friends, a festive European city break makes December feel special without a long-haul flight.

Choosing among December holiday destinations does not have to mean picking between cosy and cold or warm and sunny, because both are excellent, and the right one comes down to the Christmas or New Year you are picturing. 

Whether you are after the best places to spend Christmas surrounded by markets and fairy lights, or warm places to visit in December where you can trade the cold for a pool, this is one of the busiest booking months of the year, so earlier is always better. 

At Travelodeal, we put together flight and hotel packages from Ireland to destinations across this list, from Vienna’s Christmas markets to the Canary Islands’ winter sun, and you can compare current deals to lock in your festive trip with confidence.

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