17 Best Countries to Visit in December (2026 Guide)

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For Christmas markets in December, start with Austria or France. For a beach trip, compare Thailand’s Andaman coast with the Bahamas; for an Arctic winter experience, look at Finnish Lapland. New Zealand is the summer-adventure option. The right country depends just as much on which part of December you can travel as on whether you want sun or snow.

These 17 country recommendations each name a specific base, because weather and travel conditions vary within a country. The comparison below explains who each trip suits and the main planning catch. Confirmed 2026 event dates are linked to their organizers; where a full calendar is still unconfirmed, the guide says so.

Refreshed October 9, 2026. Climate descriptions are seasonal guidance, not forecasts. Event dates were checked against the official sources linked below; recheck hours and availability before booking.

Best countries to visit in December at a glance

Country and suggested base	Best fit and the main planning catch
1. Colombia: Medellín	Christmas lights and city culture. Choose your neighborhood carefully and check the current lights route.
2. Austria: Vienna	Christmas markets, cafés and museums. Market closing dates differ, especially after Christmas.
3. Guatemala: Antigua and Lake Atitlán	Colonial streets, lake villages and volcanic scenery. Leave time for road transfers and cool highland evenings.
4. Finland: Lapland	Arctic winter and family activities. Limited daylight, peak demand and weather-dependent snow activities.
5. Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur	Food and an urban break. Warm, wet weather; this is not a dry-season recommendation for all Malaysia.
6. Thailand: Phuket	Andaman beaches and food. Popular holiday dates and a December festival can affect availability.
7. France: Strasbourg	An Alsatian Christmas-market break. The 2026 opening is confirmed; check closing dates and holiday hours.
8. The Bahamas: Nassau or an island stay	Beaches plus Junkanoo. Pick the island first; Nassau events are not next door to every resort.
9. United Arab Emirates: Dubai	Winter sun and city sights. New Year’s plans can add substantial hotel, dining and transport costs.
10. Spain: the Canary Islands	Milder weather and volcanic landscapes. Island, coast and altitude matter; beach conditions vary.
11. India: Kerala	Backwaters, food and slower travel. Choose coast versus hills and check exactly what a houseboat includes.
12. New Zealand: Queenstown	Long summer days and outdoor trips. Peak-season bookings and onward travel need planning.
13. Iceland: Reykjavík	Winter city breaks and possible auroras. Short daylight and weather can interrupt road itineraries.
14. Canada: Banff	Rocky Mountain winter scenery and skiing. The Christmas market ends before Christmas week.
15. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro	Summer beaches and year-end celebrations. New Year’s accommodation and access need a separate plan.
16. United States: New York City	Holiday lights, shows and museums. Price hotels early and distinguish a real event view from marketing.
17. Morocco: Marrakech	Medina walks, architecture and riad stays. Cool evenings and mountain winter conditions matter.

Early December or Christmas and New Year?

Early December and the year-end holiday period are different trips. Do not assume one price or crowd description applies to the whole month. Compare the same itinerary and accommodation on your exact dates before deciding which destination offers better value.

Your travel window	How I would plan it
Early December	A useful window for Christmas-market trips before Christmas itself. Banff’s market finishes December 13; Vienna has options that continue later. Check event days before choosing flights.
Mid-December	A good point to check the destination’s event calendar carefully. EDC Thailand runs December 18–20 in Phuket, so even a pre-Christmas stay can overlap a major event.
Christmas week	Confirm restaurants, attraction hours and transfers for the specific holiday dates. Some markets close before or soon after Christmas, while resort and winter-activity availability can tighten.
New Year’s Eve and early January	Choose the celebration first, then book accommodation and a workable return journey. Check minimum stays, required dinner packages and the exact location of any advertised view.

Confirmed dates that can change your 2026 itinerary

Event	2026 dates and why they matter
Vienna: Rathausplatz market	November 13–December 26. A post-Christmas arrival has a limited window here.
Vienna: Schönbrunn market	November 6–January 6, 2027. An option for a visit after Christmas; holiday hours vary.
Strasbourg Christmas season	Opens November 27. Check the final 2026 closing date and hours; the older 2025 schedule is still visible on parts of the site.
Banff Christmas Market	November 19–December 13, Thursday–Sunday. It will not cover a Christmas-week stay.
Rockefeller Center tree lighting	December 2. Check the organizer’s later viewing and access information.
EDC Thailand, Phuket	December 18–20 at Rhythm Park. Arrange event transport and accommodation together.
Rhythm and Alps, New Zealand	December 30–31 in Cardrona Valley near Wānaka, not central Queenstown.

The 17 countries and where to base your trip

1. Colombia: Medellín

For a festive city trip without a European winter, Medellín is an appealing base. Colombia’s tourism board highlights the city’s Christmas lights across its streets, parks and plazas. Combine evening displays with neighborhood walks, cafés and museums rather than making the whole trip depend on one event.

El Poblado and Laureles are useful neighborhoods to compare for accommodation, but choose a specific location that suits how you plan to get around. For Comuna 13, book a neighborhood walk if you want context for its street art and transformation; do not confuse that visit with a cable-car excursion to another part of the city.

Check EPM’s current Alumbrados announcements before arranging an evening around the lights. This update does not confirm the 2026 opening date, nightly hours or full route, so last year’s schedule should not be treated as this year’s. I would choose Medellín for an urban holiday with a festive atmosphere, while leaving room for rain and checking transport for the return to your hotel.

2. Austria: Vienna

Vienna is a place I return to often; my wife is Austrian. In December, the combination of Christmas markets, palace courtyards and cafés makes it easy to build a trip that still works in cold or wet weather. Snow is a bonus, not something to base the booking on.

The dates make a real difference. Rathausplatz’s Christmas market runs November 13–December 26, 2026. The Schönbrunn market runs November 6, 2026–January 6, 2027. If you arrive after Christmas, you can still visit Schönbrunn, but should not expect every market to be open. Check the individual holiday hours, especially on Christmas Eve.

I would put a market visit after an indoor museum or palace visit, with a café break between them. That gives the day a natural rhythm instead of trying to spend every hour outside. For evenings, decide whether a concert or a particular restaurant is essential and book that first. If markets are the main reason for the trip, the flight and market calendar need to line up before you commit.

3. Guatemala: Antigua and Lake Atitlán

Antigua and Lake Atitlán make a complementary Guatemala trip: one base for colonial streets and cafés, another for lakeside villages and volcano views. December is a popular time for this combination, so I would choose the accommodation and transfers before filling every day with excursions.

For a short visit, pick one base rather than spend much of the holiday moving between them. With longer, give each its own stay. At the lake, the village you choose affects access to restaurants, boats and evening activities. Ask the property how to reach it at your actual arrival time and what happens if you arrive after the usual boat services.

Pack for cool highland evenings, even if the daytime photos look sunny. A volcano trek is a separate mountain undertaking with equipment and guide requirements, not an automatic add-on to a city walk. For holiday processions or local fairs, confirm the current program locally before planning a long transfer around a date copied from an older calendar. This is a good choice for culture and scenery; it is not a tropical beach substitute.

4. Finland: Lapland

Lapland suits travelers who want winter itself to be the experience: snowy forests when conditions cooperate, sauna time and activities organized around the Arctic landscape. Rovaniemi is a practical base for Santa Claus Village; Levi and Saariselkä offer different resort settings. Choose the base and available experiences together rather than booking a flight to anywhere in northern Finland.

Visit Rovaniemi lists only about two and a half hours of daylight in December. Schedule the outdoor activity you care most about during the useful daylight window, then allow time to warm up. Snow cover and the northern lights are natural conditions, so neither should be promised for a particular stay.

For a family trip, compare the age limits, transport, warm clothing and cancellation terms of the activities you want before paying for accommodation. A lower room rate can be misleading if every outing needs an extra transfer. I would book the important activity slots alongside the hotel, and treat aurora viewing as a possibility rather than the sole measure of a successful trip.

5. Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur works well for food, city sights and a flexible itinerary. Mix the Petronas Twin Towers area with Chinatown, markets and time around the city’s different food neighborhoods. It is a better fit for someone happy to move between indoor and outdoor plans than someone looking for a guaranteed dry beach holiday.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department describes a hot, humid climate and important regional rainfall differences. The east coast of Peninsular Malaysia has its wettest period around November through January. A Kuala Lumpur recommendation should not be read as an endorsement of every Malaysian island in December.

Book Petronas Twin Towers admission for your actual dates if it is a priority, and leave street-food walks movable around showers. Compare the hotel’s location with your sightseeing plans rather than choosing on nightly price alone. Christmas displays can add atmosphere, but this guide does not promise a free KLCC New Year’s fireworks event without a confirmed current program.

6. Thailand: Phuket

Phuket is the Thai option I would compare for a December beach trip. The Andaman coast generally moves into its drier season by this time of year, but showers and rough-sea days remain possible. Choose the beach area for the trip you want: a quieter stay around Kata or a nightlife-focused base in Patong, with time in Old Phuket Town for a different side of the island.

One specific 2026 date matters: EDC Thailand runs December 18–20 at Rhythm Park in Phuket. If you are going for the festival, arrange the ticket, accommodation and transport together. If you are not, compare availability around those dates before assuming that a pre-Christmas stay will be quiet.

For island excursions, check the exact itinerary, sea-condition policy and travel time from your hotel. Do not book consecutive nonrefundable boat days just because a guide calls December dry season. Thailand’s regions have different weather patterns; Phuket’s December outlook is not a reliable description of the Gulf coast or the whole country.

7. France: Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the France pick for travelers whose main goal is a Christmas-market trip. Cathedral views, half-timbered streets and Alsatian food make the city enjoyable between market visits too. I would leave time for Petite France in daylight, then return to the central squares after the lights come on.

The city’s official Christmas website confirms Friday, November 27 as the 2026 opening date. Some sections of the same site still describe the November 26–December 24, 2025 edition. Those older dates are not a confirmed 2026 schedule. As of the October 8 check for this guide, the full 2026 closing-date and holiday-hours details were not established by that page.

If the markets are essential, a visit earlier in December is easier to plan than assuming they continue after Christmas. Confirm the final calendar before booking the latter part of the month. Compare accommodation with the tram or walking route to the center, and reserve any restaurant that is central to your plans. This is a cold-weather city break with indoor pauses, not a reason to expect snow on demand.

8. The Bahamas: Nassau or an island stay

The Bahamas can suit a shorter warm-weather escape from the US, but start with the island rather than booking the first cheap fare into the country. Nassau and Paradise Island are a different trip from Harbour Island or the Exumas. A second flight or boat transfer changes both the budget and the amount of usable holiday time.

For holiday culture, Junkanoo traditionally takes place on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. If the Nassau parade is your priority, base that part of the trip around Nassau and check the current Junkanoo information for the route, access and timing. Do not assume an excursion from another island is simple in the middle of the night.

For a beach-focused stay, compare the full resort bill, meals and airport transfer before choosing. Keep some flexibility around boat outings and ask about cancellation for unsuitable sea conditions. I would choose Bahamas activities around the island where I am actually staying, rather than trying to collect widely scattered highlights in a short visit.

9. United Arab Emirates: Dubai

Dubai is an option for warm daytime sightseeing without the intensity of its summer heat. Visit Dubai’s December climate guide describes an average high around 27°C, or 81°F. That is a seasonal average, not a forecast. Light layers make sense for cooler evenings as well as air-conditioned interiors.

I would balance the skyline with the older city: time around Dubai Creek, the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk gives a trip more variety than moving only between malls and observation decks. Pick accommodation based on the parts of Dubai you plan to visit, because a cheap room can mean repeated long journeys.

For New Year’s Eve, book an actual plan rather than a vague promise of a fireworks view. Confirm the venue’s package, whether the view is guaranteed from your seat or room, and the transport arrangements for that night. A hotel photo featuring the Burj Khalifa does not establish your view. If the celebration is not your reason for traveling, compare an earlier December stay before paying the holiday premium.

10. Spain: the Canary Islands

For a Spanish December trip with a milder coastal setting, look at the Canary Islands rather than assuming mainland Spain has the same winter weather. Tenerife offers a mix of resorts and volcanic scenery; Lanzarote suits an itinerary around distinctive landscapes and villages. Choose the island for the activities you want, not just a sunshine slogan.

A coastal afternoon and a mountain outing need different clothing. In Tenerife, Teide is a high-altitude environment, not an extension of the beach. The national park’s summit-permit page directs reservations to Tenerife ON. Check the exact trail restrictions and weather before planning a hike, and do not assume a cable-car ticket includes summit access.

For a short stay, I would pick one island and a well-located base. Inter-island travel adds cost and reduces time on the ground. If swimming is essential, look into the beach conditions and whether your chosen hotel has a heated pool rather than assuming warm air means warm water. Price Christmas-week accommodation separately from early December.

11. India: Kerala

Kerala is a good December idea for travelers who prefer a slower route: Fort Kochi, a backwater stay and perhaps time in the hills. Kerala Tourism describes the cooler period following the October–November monsoon rains. That is more accurate than saying the monsoon is always months in the past, and Munnar’s higher ground is cooler than the coast.

For a houseboat around Alappuzha or Kumarakom, compare the same experience. Ask whether the booking is private or shared, which meals are included, the cruising route, when air conditioning operates and where the boat moors overnight. A lower headline rate does not help if it describes a different kind of stay.

I would avoid combining every corner of the state into a short visit. Choose coast and backwaters, or allow more time to include the hills. If you want Fort Kochi’s year-end celebrations, confirm the current local program instead of relying on an old Carnival schedule or effigy description. Kerala is the recommendation here, not a claim that all of India shares the same December weather.

12. New Zealand: Queenstown

Queenstown is the choice for travelers who want December to feel like summer. Queenstown’s official summer guide highlights long daylight hours and outdoor activities. Use the lake and nearby trails as the core of the trip, with bigger excursions chosen around the time you actually have.

A Milford Sound visit involves substantial travel from Queenstown. Decide whether you want a coach excursion, a flight or a longer route with a different overnight base; do not treat it as a quick stop between other activities. Weather can also affect mountain and flight plans, so allow flexibility around anything essential.

For a festival trip, Rhythm and Alps is scheduled for December 30–31, 2026 in the Cardrona Valley near Wānaka. It is not in central Queenstown. Arrange accommodation and transport for the event location before booking the rest of the trip. For a wider New Zealand itinerary, reserve the important stays and transport together, especially over Christmas and New Year.

13. Iceland: Reykjavík

Reykjavík suits a December traveler who is happy to build around a winter city base, warm pools and flexible excursions. The daylight window is short, and northern lights require the right sky and solar conditions. A longer night creates opportunity, not a guarantee of a sighting.

I would choose a compact route rather than try to reproduce a summer road trip. Iceland’s SafeTravel guidance stresses checking weather, road conditions and alerts. If winter driving is outside your experience, compare guided excursions and their cancellation policies instead of assuming a rental vehicle solves the problem.

For northern-lights tours, check what happens if the outing is canceled or there is no sighting. Keep an indoor alternative for a weather day, and avoid putting a long drive immediately before your international flight. If a particular lagoon or attraction is essential, check its own operating notices close to the visit; access can change. Choose Iceland for the complete winter experience, with auroras as a possible bonus.

14. Canada: Banff

Banff is the Canadian pick for a mountain-focused December trip. Base your plans on whether skiing is essential, rather than booking solely for a snowy town photograph. Check the resort’s current terrain and lift openings; early-season coverage varies and no guide can promise every run will be open.

For 2026, the Banff Christmas Market runs Thursday–Sunday from November 19 through December 13. That makes it an early-December attraction, not a Christmas-week activity. Confirm a dated ticket before arranging a visit around it.

Away from the ski areas, use Parks Canada’s winter safety and trail guidance to choose appropriate outings. Summer hiking routes can enter avalanche terrain, and a frozen-looking lake is not proof of safe ice. I would combine a manageable winter activity with time in town, and book transport to the ski area if needed rather than assume everything is walkable from the hotel.

15. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro

Brazil is the country, and Rio de Janeiro is the suggested December base. It is a summer trip built around beaches, neighborhoods and viewpoints, with hotter conditions and the possibility of rain. I would keep the main outdoor viewpoint movable rather than reserve every day around a fixed clear-sky assumption.

Copacabana and Ipanema suit a beach-centered stay, while time in Santa Teresa or around the city’s other cultural sights gives the itinerary variety. Compare the accommodation’s actual location with the activities you want, particularly if you plan late evenings away from the hotel.

Réveillon is the major year-end draw, but a prior year’s crowd estimate, stage count or entertainment lineup is not a confirmed program for December 31, 2026. Check Riotur’s official event information before arranging the night. Book accommodation and understand the transport and access plan if you are coming for the celebration. If you want Rio’s summer atmosphere without building everything around New Year’s Eve, compare dates earlier in December.

16. United States: New York City

New York City is the US choice for a December trip centered on holiday displays and performances. The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is scheduled for December 2. Check the official site for viewing hours and access details as your trip approaches.

I would group activities by neighborhood: Midtown’s decorations and a show on one day, then a different part of the city on another. Build in indoor time, since cold, wind and rain can matter as much as snow. Buy the performance or timed attraction you most want first, then keep the rest of that day workable around it.

Hotel costs can dominate this trip. Compare exact dates and transit access before deciding that a flight is a deal. For New Year’s Eve, a Times Square hotel is only a solution if the booked room or package explicitly provides the view and access you want. Being near the square is not the same thing as seeing the ball. If Christmas atmosphere is the goal, you do not need to add New Year’s Eve to the itinerary.

17. Morocco: Marrakech

Morocco is a December option for travelers who want city exploring rather than a northern-European winter break. In Marrakech, build the visit around the Medina, souks, architecture and meals, with time to enjoy the riad itself. This is a sightseeing recommendation, not a promise of tropical heat.

Choose a Marrakech riad for more than its courtyard photo. Ask about room heating, the approach from the nearest vehicle access and arrival arrangements, especially for a late flight. An atmospheric building can still feel chilly in December, and a bargain is less useful if the location does not suit how you plan to explore.

Keep the Atlas Mountains separate from assumptions about city weather. Morocco’s tourism office describes snowy winter peaks in the nearby mountains. Check current conditions and use a suitable local guide for a mountain outing rather than treating December as automatically easy hiking weather. I would keep a short trip centered on Marrakech and add the mountains only when the conditions and available time justify them.

Before booking a December trip

• Choose the exact region and base. A country-wide weather label is too broad for places such as Thailand, Malaysia, India and Spain.
• Check your must-do experience first. Market opening days, festival tickets, family activity slots and holiday restaurant hours can determine the useful dates.
• Compare the complete trip total: flights, bags, accommodation, transfers, meals and the activities that matter to you. Include any holiday packages or minimum stays.
• Confirm how you will get back after an evening event. A late-night parade or mountain festival is a different transport problem from daytime sightseeing.
• Leave a workable alternative for weather-dependent activities. Snow, auroras, clear mountain views and calm seas cannot be guaranteed.
• Check entry requirements for your passport and transit route before paying for nonrefundable arrangements.

If your dates are flexible, Going flight alerts can help you compare opportunities from your home airport. Read the current membership terms and price the accommodation on the same dates before booking. A cheap flight is only useful when the rest of the December trip works.

How this guide was updated: official organizers supplied the confirmed event dates; tourism boards, weather services and park authorities informed the seasonal and access corrections. The comparisons are editorial recommendations to help match a destination to your dates, interests and practical travel needs.