Where to go on holiday in December
293 of our destinations have good weather in December, and 137 of them are at their very best. For sun without a long flight, Cairo in Egypt is about 20°C, around 5 hours from London. On a budget? Vang Vieng costs about £35 a day.
Top picks for December
- Best month
Bangkok
Thailand
A vibrant capital with street food, temples, markets, and buzzing nightlife.
- ☀️ December: about 31°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Angkor Wat temples and Cambodian culture.
- ☀️ December: about 32°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Luxury shopping, skyscrapers, beaches, and desert.
- ☀️ December: about 25°C, dry
- 💷 About £185 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
- Best month
Cairo
Egypt
Pyramids, museums, and bustling city life.
- ⛅ December: about 20°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 5h from London
- Best month
Cape Town
South Africa
Mountains, beaches, wine, and warm weather.
- ⛅ December: about 23°C, dry
- 💷 About £100 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Cancún
Mexico
Resorts, nightlife, and turquoise waters.
- ☀️ December: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 10h from London
- Best month
Tulum
Mexico
Beaches, ruins, and boutique hotels.
- ☀️ December: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Phuket
Thailand
Thailand’s largest island with beaches, nightlife, and tropical scenery.
- 🌦️ December: about 28°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Maafushi
Maldives
Affordable Maldives island with beaches and snorkeling.
- 🌧️ December: about 28°C, very wet
- 💷 About £280 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Sydney
Australia
Harbour city with beaches, nightlife, and iconic landmarks.
- 🌦️ December: about 27°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
- Best month
London
United Kingdom
World‑class museums, iconic landmarks, diverse neighbourhoods, and endless cultural experiences.
- ⛅ December: about 7°C, some rain
- 💷 About £165 a day
- Best month
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Skyscraper skyline, dim sum, markets and harbour views.
- ⛅ December: about 21°C, some rain
- 💷 About £155 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
✈️ Short-haul: under 5 hours from the UK
- Best month
Cairo
Egypt
Pyramids, museums, and bustling city life.
- ⛅ December: about 20°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 5h from London
- Best month
Dublin
Ireland
A lively capital with historic streets, cosy pubs, and rich Irish culture.
- 🌦️ December: about 8°C, rainy
- 💷 About £175 a day
- ✈️ About 1h from London
- Best month
Bruges
Belgium
Fairytale medieval town of canals, belfries and chocolate shops.
- 🌦️ December: about 7°C, rainy
- 💷 About £125 a day
- ✈️ About 1h from London
- Best month
Cologne
Germany
Soaring Gothic cathedral, Rhine views and beer halls.
- ❄️ December: about 5°C, rainy
- 💷 About £125 a day
- ✈️ About 1h from London
- Best month
Tromsø
Norway
Arctic city for Northern Lights, husky sledding and whale safaris.
- ❄️ December: about -3°C, rainy
- 💷 About £195 a day
- ✈️ About 3h from London
- Best month
Rovaniemi
Finland
Official home of Santa Claus, reindeer and the Northern Lights.
- ❄️ December: about -7°C, some rain
- 💷 About £160 a day
- ✈️ About 3h from London
- Best month
Las Palmas
Spain
Warm weather year‑round and volcanic beaches.
- ⛅ December: about 20°C, some rain
- 💷 About £105 a day
- ✈️ About 4h from London
- Best month
Strasbourg
France
A blend of French and German heritage with canals, timber houses, and festive markets.
- ❄️ December: about 4°C, some rain
- 💷 About £140 a day
- ✈️ About 1h from London
🏖️ Beach holidays in December
- Best month
Cancún
Mexico
Resorts, nightlife, and turquoise waters.
- ☀️ December: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 10h from London
- Best month
Tulum
Mexico
Beaches, ruins, and boutique hotels.
- ☀️ December: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Phuket
Thailand
Thailand’s largest island with beaches, nightlife, and tropical scenery.
- 🌦️ December: about 28°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Maafushi
Maldives
Affordable Maldives island with beaches and snorkeling.
- 🌧️ December: about 28°C, very wet
- 💷 About £280 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Pattaya
Thailand
Beach city with entertainment and nightlife.
- ☀️ December: about 30°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Florianópolis
Brazil
Island city with beaches, surfing, and nightlife.
- 🌧️ December: about 27°C, very wet
- 💷 About £70 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Resorts, beaches, and reggae culture.
- ☀️ December: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £130 a day
- ✈️ About 10h from London
- Best month
Nassau
Bahamas
Luxury resorts, beaches, and turquoise waters.
- ☀️ December: about 25°C, some rain
- 💷 About £220 a day
- ✈️ About 9h from London
🏙️ City breaks in December
- Best month
Bangkok
Thailand
A vibrant capital with street food, temples, markets, and buzzing nightlife.
- ☀️ December: about 31°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Luxury shopping, skyscrapers, beaches, and desert.
- ☀️ December: about 25°C, dry
- 💷 About £185 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
- Best month
Sydney
Australia
Harbour city with beaches, nightlife, and iconic landmarks.
- 🌦️ December: about 27°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
- Best month
London
United Kingdom
World‑class museums, iconic landmarks, diverse neighbourhoods, and endless cultural experiences.
- ⛅ December: about 7°C, some rain
- 💷 About £165 a day
- Best month
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Skyscraper skyline, dim sum, markets and harbour views.
- ⛅ December: about 21°C, some rain
- 💷 About £155 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Markets, food, and fast-paced city life.
- ☀️ December: about 30°C, some rain
- 💷 About £40 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Historic temples and riverside views.
- ☀️ December: about 32°C, some rain
- 💷 About £45 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Modern architecture, beaches, and cultural landmarks.
- ☀️ December: about 25°C, dry
- 💷 About £180 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
🏛️ Culture and history in December
- Best month
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Angkor Wat temples and Cambodian culture.
- ☀️ December: about 32°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Cairo
Egypt
Pyramids, museums, and bustling city life.
- ⛅ December: about 20°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 5h from London
- Best month
Luang Prabang
Laos
UNESCO town with waterfalls and temples.
- ☀️ December: about 25°C, dry
- 💷 About £40 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Muscat
Oman
Mountains, beaches, and traditional Arabian culture.
- ☀️ December: about 25°C, dry
- 💷 About £110 a day
- ✈️ About 8h from London
- Best month
Havana
Cuba
Classic cars, colonial streets, and Cuban music.
- ☀️ December: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £60 a day
- ✈️ About 10h from London
- Best month
Antigua
Guatemala
Colonial streets, volcano views, and backpacker culture.
- ☀️ December: about 24°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Chiang Mai
Thailand
Mountain city with temples, night markets, and a relaxed northern atmosphere.
- ☀️ December: about 24°C, dry
- 💷 About £45 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Delhi
India
Historic monuments, markets, and vibrant street life.
- ⛅ December: about 23°C, dry
- 💷 About £40 a day
- ✈️ About 9h from London
🏔️ Mountains and nature in December
- Best month
Cape Town
South Africa
Mountains, beaches, wine, and warm weather.
- ⛅ December: about 23°C, dry
- 💷 About £100 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Hobart
Australia
Mountains, food culture, and Tasmanian wilderness.
- ⛅ December: about 19°C, some rain
- 💷 About £130 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
- Best month
Queenstown
New Zealand
Adventure capital with lakes and mountains.
- 🌦️ December: about 15°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 24h from London
- Best month
Bariloche
Argentina
Lakes, mountains, and chocolate shops.
- ⛅ December: about 17°C, some rain
- 💷 About £65 a day
- ✈️ About 16h from London
- Best month
Galápagos Islands
Ecuador
Unique wildlife, volcanic landscapes, and world-class snorkeling.
- ☀️ December: about 24°C, dry
- 💷 About £70 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Lake Atitlán
Guatemala
Volcano-ringed lake with Mayan villages.
- ☀️ December: about 26°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Great Ocean Road
Australia
Coastal drive with cliffs, beaches, and wildlife.
- ⛅ December: about 21°C, some rain
- 💷 About £130 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
- Best month
Rotorua
New Zealand
Geothermal landscapes and Maori culture.
- 🌦️ December: about 21°C, rainy
- 💷 About £135 a day
- ✈️ About 24h from London
How we choose
"Best month" places are at their best in December. The others have pleasant weather then: typically 17–32°C by day and not too wet, based on long-term NASA climate averages. Costs are a typical mid-range day per person, and flight times are from London. Always check the latest travel advice before you book.