Are you looking for a good destination to travel to in December ? Special dates are approaching and you surely won’t want to stay home. Do you feel like escaping the European winter cold? There are plenty of perfect places to travel in December ! But spending Christmas in a swimsuit is also a very curious experience. In this post we tell you the 15 best destinations to travel to in December
15 BEST DESTINATIONS TO TRAVEL TO IN DECEMBER
There are few places more special than New York to enjoy Christmas . Although it is an ideal destination all year round, the Big Apple looks splendid decorated with magical Christmas lights. There are also a lot of things to do in New York that you can only enjoy during those dates. For example, hallucinating the Christmas tree at Rockefeller or skating on the ice rink at Bryant Park. In addition, there are also a lot of beautiful Christmas markets throughout the city, very well decorated.
Of course, you must keep in mind that despite being one of the best destinations to travel to in December , it also has negative aspects . The main one, the cold . December is one of the coldest months of the year with average temperatures of 6ºC.
Furthermore, the days are short , the sun sets around 4:30 p.m. and there are quite a few crowds. Regarding prices, it is not the cheapest time to travel to New York, but it is the most special. Without a doubt, the most spectacular city to see in the United States .
2. Rovaniemi (Finland), the land of Santa Claus
December is synonymous with Christmas. And is there a better place than the land of Santa Claus? This city is located in the heart of Lapland, in the Arctic Circle . So you won’t have to wait for Santa Claus to bring you the gifts, this time you can go look for them and at the same time get to know one of the most beautiful areas to see in Finland .
But Rovaniemi is much more than Santa Claus and his town (where they say he originates). Let yourself be carried away by its beautiful snowy forests, travel through them at full speed on a snowmobile and enjoy the opportunity to see the northern lights . During those dates you will have a lot of chances to see this curious phenomenon.
But like most places in Europe, Christmas is also synonymous with cold. Prepare a good coat and thermal clothing because you will have to endure average temperatures of -11 °C . However, it is one of the most interesting destinations to travel to in December.
3. Krabi (Thailand), one of the best destinations to travel to in December to enjoy the sun
December is a fairly cold month in Europe. If you’re looking for a sun and beach holiday , there are few better destinations than the Krabi province of Thailand. Although it is a very good month to tour the entire country, we advise you to enjoy this little piece of paradise. You will be at about 30ºC on average resting on your lounger!
For us, Krabi has the best beaches in Thailand . The famous Railay beach is the best known, but from Ao Nang, the main tourist center of the province, you can visit a lot of islands with deserted beaches . Among them, the Phi Phi islands, which appeared in Leonardo Di Caprio’s film The Beach. For some reason it is an ideal destination for honeymooners! If you are interested, we tell you the 10 best beaches in Krabi .
It is also a fairly cheap destination to travel to in December . You can sleep in good hotels for very little and, above all, enjoy dream beaches. You can also take advantage of the trip to see some of the most spectacular places in Thailand .
4. Canary Islands (Spain)
If you are looking for a nearby place with good weather to travel to in December , the Canary Islands are an excellent destination. The flight from the peninsula only lasts a couple of hours, long enough to forget about the winter cold. The Canary Islands have an enviable climate with warm temperatures all year round . To give you an idea, the thermometer is around 20º during the month of December.
It is a very complete destination with a lot of attractions for nature lovers : scandalous beaches, volcanic landscapes that will make you travel to another planet and the famous Teide in Tenerife. Plus, you’ll have the luxury of enjoying all of this without the typical summer crowds .
When the cold weather arrives and the Christmas lights come on, almost everyone thinks of Strasbourg. This city, located near the French – German border , is home to the oldest Christmas market in Europe .
6. Cologne (Germany)
Germany is one of the best destinations to travel to in December . Basically because Christmas markets are original to the Germanic country. And due to its long tradition, in Germany you can enjoy the best Christmas markets in Europe. So in December, the markets can put the beauty of Cologne’s spectacular Gothic cathedral in the background .
7. Vienna and Tyrol (Austria), one of the most romantic destinations to travel to in December
Elegant . That is the adjective that best defines the Austrian capital. Vienna is one of the main tourist destinations in Europe and although December is a fairly cold month, the city has its charm. It doesn’t matter when you visit its imperial palaces and other attractions in Vienna , you will fall in love. But in December you can enjoy its Christmas markets and its historic illuminated streets.
Mainly, the Christkindlmarkt Market . It is set up every year in mid-November and is one of the most spectacular in Europe. There you can try a lot of local products such as glühwein (mulled wine) or their cakes.
But don’t settle for just Vienna. Rent a car and get lost in the towns of Tyrol to experience Christmas in a different and peaceful way. And enjoy the snow! If you are interested, we will tell you the most spectacular places to see in Austria .
8. Tallinn (Estonia) and its magical medieval old town
Did you know that Tallinn was the first city to put up a public Christmas tree in the town hall square in 1441? Several centuries have passed, but the Christmas tradition is still very much alive in the capital of Estonia. Its Christmas market is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
There are stalls selling all kinds of things: from food and drinks to crafts, including typical Christmas decorations. They also have an ice skating rink and there is a marzipan museum where you can create your own figurines.
Its atmosphere seems straight out of a story: houses with colorful facades and snow-covered roofs create a perfect winter setting. We tell you all the things you can’t miss in Tallinn . The medieval historic center of Tallinn is a true gem, it is a pleasure to walk through its streets. In fact, it is considered a World Heritage Site. Plus, it’s the perfect size to discover on a weekend, even in a day . So if you don’t know where to travel in December because you have few days of vacation… put Tallinn on your list! We recommend the best accommodations in Tallinn for all budgets.
9. Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and its modernity
European Christmas markets are a great option to travel to in December . But… what happens if you are one of those who hate the cold? We have another solution for you! 😉 Dubai is a very popular destination for sunbathing in December.
It is the most famous city in the country, although there are other very interesting places to see in the United Arab Emirates . In reality, Dubai practically did not exist until a couple of decades ago, when they began to build imposing skyscrapers. You will have the opportunity to go up to the Burj Khalifa observation deck , the tallest building on the planet.
Beyond its luxurious buildings, you cannot leave Dubai without taking an excursion to the desert. Walking barefoot on the dunes is a great feeling. You can also lie down on the sand of its beaches and take a swim to cool off. One of the best areas to stay in Dubai on these dates is on Jumeirah Beach itself. There are several hotels where you will barely have to take two steps to get on the beach.
Temperatures are around 25ºC, a luxury while in Europe everyone wears gloves and a scarf! If you visit Dubai at the end of December you can witness the spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa . Without a doubt, one of the most impressive destinations to travel to in December.
10. Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) for nature lovers
Argentine and Chilean Patagonia is a perfect destination to travel to in December for nature lovers . There are hundreds of kilometers to hike surrounded by stunning landscapes: glaciers, emerald lakes, snow-capped peaks…
You cannot miss the Torres del Paine National Park, the famous Perito Moreno or the mountains that surround El Chaltén. Nature in its purest form! You can also visit Ushuaia, known for being the southernmost city in the world.
If you can, it is better to choose the first half of December . This way you will avoid school holidays. Therefore, prices are lower and there are fewer people everywhere.
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