The 10 best places to travel in December

If you relish the festive cheer of the holidays, one of the best places to travel in December is Europe. December is when cities across the continent come alive with Christkindlmarkts, or Christmas markets, offering locally made gifts, old-world and local fare, and festive entertainment. One of the best reasons to visit Vienna in the wintertime is the city’s sprawling Christmas markets, and our Christmas Markets of Germany, Switzerland & Austria tour will take you right there. Use your free time to hop between busy food kiosks serving heaping helpings of flavorful Austrian foods like kasespatzle (cheesy pasta), kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), and krapfen (donuts filled with jam, custard, or Nutella). Vendors also sell handmade gifts ranging from wooden toys to painted pottery. Psst... Vienna isn’t the only city that excels at holiday markets in Europe. Check out 10 of the best Christmas markets and which cities you can find them in.

See more reasons why you should visit Europe during the holidays →

When it comes to where to travel in December, there’s plenty to do in Iceland that can only be done during the winter. Waterfalls that rush and roar in warmer months freeze into abstract ice sculptures, and the country’s otherworldly landscape takes on an entirely different appearance under a blanket of shocking-white snow. Of course, the much-sought-after northern lights are on full view during the winter months, too.

Experience it all, plus Iceland’s stylish capital city, Reykjavik, on our Iceland: Reykjavik & the Northern Lights tour. This tour will take you from modern Reykjavik, where you’ll get the opportunity to add the optional Blue Lagoon Spa Day visit and take a dip in the legendary, mineral-rich, restorative water, or spend a free day tucking into restaurants, shops, and cafes in this city that’s as cosmopolitan as it is traditional. Next, you’ll drive some of the Golden Circle, marvel at Gullfoss, (one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe) and try to spot the northern lights.

Curious about other times to visit? See our seasonal guide for help deciding!

Few places capture our hearts more than Norway. It’s a land of color and majesty: from the astounding fjords to the stark blue glaciers, and—if you visit in December—the brushstroke greens of the aurora borealis. Our Northern Lights of Norway: Oslo to Tromso tour will start you in Oslo, known for its all-star restaurants and world-famous art museums. Our advice? Add the optional Oslo Food Walking Tour excursion so you don’t miss a bite of the city’s well-known food. Of course, be sure to keep your eyes skyward at night so you don’t miss a chance to see those iconic northern lights as you journey further into the Arctic Circle to Tromso.

Pro tip: While the aurora borealis is the same phenomenon spotted in Norway, Alaska, Iceland, and more, Norway is considered one of the best place to view the northern lights because of its coastal location and its positioning within the auroral oval.

Curious about the aurora borealis? Learn all there is to know about the northern lights—and where to see them on tour →

It’s no secret that exploring North America is one of the top travel trends this year, but we want to talk about why Alaska is one of the best places to travel in December. While the temperature fluctuates across the expansive state, make no mistake that Alaska in December is both brisk and magical. On our new Alaska Northern Lights: Anchorage to Fairbanks, you’ll arrive in artsy Anchorage, where you can expect to be stunned by the festive holiday events and atmosphere. Travel to Talkeetna and either spend a free day on your own or take advantage of the weather and add our Talkeetna Snowshoe Adventure excursion. On this optional activity, a local guide will lead you through a pristine stretch of old-growth boreal forest to a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the Alaska Range. The cherry on top of this snow-covered tour? Visiting a reindeer ranch and meeting the gentle Arctic animals in real life.

If you’re looking for warm places to travel in December, consider Australia. While everyone back home is bundling up in their warmest winter clothes, you can be Down Under in December, sunning yourself (and surfing!) at Bondi Beach, snorkeling around the Great Barrier Reef, and marveling at Uluru as the warm desert breeze blows around you. For even more fun in the sun, travelers can hop over to neighboring New Zealand on our Australia & New Zealand tour. On this itinerary, you’ll admire the majesty in minutiae as you witness glowworms illuminate caves lining Lake Te Anau, then become astounded by nature’s grandeur when you ride the Skyline Queenstown Gondola 1,500 feet up to Bob’s Peak and witness views of the Remarkables, Walter Peak, and Lake Wakatipu. From the tiny to the mighty, it’s a tour of epic proportions.

Our recommendation? Add one of the best warm places to travel in December when you tack on our Fiji extension to this tour. You can opt for our optional A Day on a Fijian Island: Cruise & Snorkeling excursion, or spend your free time enjoying your hotel amenities. No matter what you do, you’ll get three more days in paradise.

Still not sure when to visit Australia? Check out our seasonal guide →

From the wildlife to the wine—there’s plenty to love about going to South Africa, no matter what time of year it is. Visiting South Africa in December is peak season due to the sunny weather and longer days. Plus, it’s a great time of year to try to spot baby animals! Our South Africa: Cape Town to Kruger National Park tour will take you from culturally rich Cape Town to the coastal Cape Peninsula, where you can enjoy cooler temperatures and beachside breezes. Next, you’ll explore Johannesburg and see things like the soccer stadium that hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals game, Nelson Mandela’s former home, and the Hector Pieterson Museum exhibits. Then it’s off for game drives in Kruger National Park. Look for lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and more!

Egypt is one of the best warm places to travel in December, and our Egypt & Nile River Cruise is the perfect tour to take because you can enjoy the cooler temperatures on the water (expect mid- to high 70s F during the day) and minimal rainfall. Talk about a sweet escape from North America! Start in Cairo, where modern meets ancient, before boarding your cruise ship and beginning your journey down the Nile. Follow the watery path of the pharaohs, stopping at the Temple of Karnak and Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, and even entering King Tutankhamun’s tomb. We can’t recommend enough adding our optional Nile River Hot-Air Balloon Ride excursion to get a remarkable view of the Nile and the Valley of the Kings.

A tour to Costa Rica is one of the best warm places to travel in December if you love nature and the great outdoors. There, the dry season starts in the middle of the month, which means warm days, blue skies, and gentle breezes—perfect weather for heart-pounding outdoor activities like hiking, surfing, and zip lining. Our top tour recommendation for this country is A Week in Costa Rica: San José, Arenal & Guanacaste. Animal lovers can keep their eyes peeled for colorful birds and other creatures while exploring the rainforest, and coffee connoisseurs can enjoy a tour and tasting at a family owned coffee estate.

Fewer crowds, wallet-friendly prices, and seasonal celebrations make Italy one of the best December European vacations. In the fashion capital, Milan, designer boutiques are decked out with over-the-top window displays. (Not looking to blow your whole Christmas shopping budget on couture? Check out the city’s central Christmas market for more affordable, authentic finds.) If your visit coincides with snowfall, consider yourself lucky; seeing architectural treasures in cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome under a blanket of snow is an eye-popping treat relatively few travelers get to enjoy. And if you’re looking for ideal December European destinations, our new Off-Peak Italy: Rome, Naples & Florence tour will dazzle you. Tour the Colosseum, a 2,000-year-old amphitheater that’s both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Explore the site of Pompeii, a city frozen in time by the ash of an ancient volcano, and add the optional Accademia Gallery excursion to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David—all without the peak season crowds.

If your December travel plans include a tropical escape, Thailand, especially our Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket, is tough to beat. Humidity is low in December, and daily temps hover around 80 F—a combo that’s ideal for hopping between temples in Bangkok or touring gardens and palaces in Chiang Rai. Phuket, an island in the Andaman Sea, is a can’t-miss for beach bums. Its western coast is home to some of Southeast Asia’s most gorgeous beaches. (The sand on Karon Beach is so fine and soft that it squeaks underfoot.) Waters here are calm in December and consistently clear, and the sunny weather allows for enjoying long, lazy beach days, exploring busy markets in Phuket City, bar-hopping in Patong, and taking part in outdoor activities from whitewater rafting to canoeing. All of these enchanting details are why we consider it one of the best warm places to visit in December.

Don’t have two weeks of time off? No problem, our new A Week in Thailand: Bangkok & Krabi tour is made for big experiences in just one week. You’ll get to step inside the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) in Bangkok, visit the seaside town of Krabi, which is bordered by limestone cliffs and crystalline blue waters, and walk through the Following Giants Elephant Sanctuary to watch the gentle giants roam freely.