12 Best Places to Visit in December: Festive Cities, Winter Sun and Snow

TTL;DR

• Want Christmas lights? Try Naples, Copenhagen, Prague or Kyoto.
• Want warm weather? Pick Sri Lanka, St Lucia or Mauritius. Tasmania and Mendoza are in summer too.
• Want snow? Lapland is your best bet.
• Want something different? Uganda has gorillas. Bogotá has culture and a cable car.
• Late December is peak season. Book early.

Planning December travel? Start here. This winter travel guide sorts 12 places by the kind of trip you want: festive, sunny, snowy or wild.

December lets you pick your weather. You can sip hot wine in a snowy square, swim in a warm sea, or taste Malbec in summer sun. Same month, very different trips.

Here are 12 places worth building a December trip around. Each one comes with a place to stay and one thing to know before you go.

At a glance

Place	Best for	December feel
Naples, Italy	Food and tradition	Cool and festive
Copenhagen, Denmark	A short trip	Cold and candlelit
Prague, Czechia	Cozy city breaks	Cold and fairy tale
Kyoto, Japan	Culture and New Year	Crisp and calm
Sri Lanka	Beaches and wildlife	Warm and dry (south and west)
St Lucia	Beach days and scenery	Warm and breezy
Mauritius	Swimming and snorkeling	Hot and humid
Lapland	Snow and northern lights	Freezing and dark
Uganda	Gorillas and river safaris	Warm, drier season
Tasmania, Australia	Food and nature	Early summer
Bogotá, Colombia	City culture	Cool, drier season
Mendoza, Argentina	Wine	Summer

1. Naples, Italy: Christmas, the loud way

Best for: Food and tradition

Naples does Christmas with noise, sugar and devotion. Start on Via San Gregorio Armeno, the lane of workshops where artisans make handmade nativity figures. Saints sit next to politicians and footballers. Both sell well. Then eat. Look for struffoli (tiny fried dough balls glazed in honey) and roccocò (hard, spiced biscuits). The nearby coast goes quiet in winter, so the city is the main event.

Stay: Grand Hotel Parker’s, a classic hotel with bay views.

Good to know: Book early if you want a night at Teatro San Carlo, the city’s famous opera house.

2. Copenhagen, Denmark: Candles, gløgg and little pancakes

Best for: A short trip

Copenhagen does winter with candles. Lots of them. Tivoli Gardens, the old amusement park in the city center, turns into a Christmas fairground, and holiday markets glow across town. Warm your hands with gløgg (Danish mulled wine) and æbleskiver (round, puffy pancakes, often served with jam and powdered sugar). Then walk the colorful harbor at Nyhavn as the lights come on. Days are short, so plan indoor stops in cozy cafés and bakeries.

Stay: Hotel d’Angleterre, a grand hotel on Kongens Nytorv square.

Good to know: It will be cold, damp and dark early. Pack a warm coat and waterproof shoes. Check Tivoli’s Christmas dates before you book.

3. Prague, Czechia: A fairy tale with hearty food

Best for: Cozy city breaks

Prague looks like a storybook, and December makes it look better. The Old Town Square market sits under a giant tree, with stalls selling svařák (Czech mulled wine) and sweet trdelník pastries. Cross Charles Bridge early, before the tour groups arrive. Then duck into a tavern or an Art Nouveau café and order something hearty. It will be cold, so plan plenty of warm stops.

Stay: The Augustine, set in a former Augustinian monastery.

Good to know: Snow is possible, but never promised. Pack for cold and wet.

4. Kyoto, Japan: Temple markets and midnight bells

Best for: Culture and New Year

Early December can still hold the last of Kyoto’s autumn color. After that, the city shifts into year-end mode. Two temple markets are worth planning around. Kōbō-san at Tō-ji runs on the 21st of each month, and Tenjin-san at Kitano Tenmangū runs on the 25th. December’s editions are the last of the year. Expect antiques, vintage kimono and street food. On New Year’s Eve, temples ring their bells 108 times to close out the year.

Stay: Aman Kyoto, a quiet retreat in the forested hills on the city’s northern edge.

Good to know: Many shops and restaurants close for several days around New Year. Book meals early.

5. Sri Lanka: Dry season, tea trains and leopards

Best for: Beaches and wildlife

In December, the south and west coasts settle into their dry season. That makes it a good time to string together three very different places. Ride the train from Kandy to Ella through tea country. Go on safari in Yala National Park, where leopards are the star. Finish in the walled town of Galle Fort, with its cafés and ocean views.

Stay: Amangalla, a historic hotel inside Galle Fort.

Good to know: The east coast gets its rainy weather around now. Stick to the south and west.

6. St Lucia: Pitons, breezes and lanterns

Best for: Beach days and scenery

St Lucia’s drier season begins in December, and the breeze keeps the air comfortable. The two Pitons, steep volcanic peaks on the southwest coast, steal every photo. Take a boat along the coast or hike for a closer look. On December 13, the island celebrates National Day and the Festival of Lights, with lanterns and music.

Stay: Sugar Beach, set between the Pitons.

Good to know: Christmas week is busy. Book resorts early.

7. Mauritius: Warm water, flexible plans

Best for: Swimming and snorkeling

December is summer in Mauritius. Expect hot, humid days, warm seas and the odd tropical downpour. Spend your mornings in the water. Then trade the beach for Chamarel, where the Ebony Forest reserve works to restore native trees and protect rare birds. The Seven Coloured Earths, a patch of strangely striped sand dunes, are close by.

Stay: One&Only Le Saint Géran, on a peninsula on the northeast coast.

Good to know: Cyclone season runs from about November to April. Choose flexible bookings and buy good travel insurance.

8. Lapland: Snow, huskies and northern lights

Best for: Families and winter dreamers

Lapland is the closest thing to a snow globe you can book. December brings deep snow, blue twilight and a real chance of northern lights on clear nights. There are no guarantees, so give yourself several nights. Try a husky or reindeer sleigh ride. For a cultural visit, book with operators that work directly with Sami reindeer herders, and ask who runs the experience.

Stay: Treehotel in Swedish Lapland, where the rooms hang among the trees.

Good to know: Daylight lasts only a few hours. Pack thermal layers first and cute layers second.

9. Uganda: Gorillas and river safaris

Best for: Wildlife and adventure

December falls in one of Uganda’s drier seasons, which helps on forest trails. The big draw is gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Permits must be booked in advance, so plan early. Add a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel for hippos and elephants, or a Nile cruise at Murchison Falls. Save a day for Kampala, where Afriart Gallery shows contemporary African art.

Stay: Gorilla Forest Lodge in Buhoma, Bwindi.

Good to know: Treks can be steep and muddy. Hire a porter at the trailhead. It helps your legs and supports local income.

10. Tasmania, Australia: Early summer, food and art

Best for: Food and nature

Tasmania punches above its weight, and December is when it shows off. Hobart’s Salamanca Market runs on Saturdays. The MONA museum is playfully odd and worth half a day. Late December brings the Taste of Summer food festival to the waterfront, so check dates as you plan. Then head out to Bay of Fires for orange-lichen boulders, or Cradle Mountain for walks.

Stay: Pumphouse Point, a former hydro power station on Lake St Clair.

Good to know: Weather can swing from sunny to chilly in a day. Pack layers.

11. Bogotá, Colombia: A high-altitude city with heart

Best for: Culture and food

December marks the start of Bogotá’s drier season, so the city’s rainy reputation fades. Wander La Candelaria, with its colonial buildings, street art and cafés. Ride the cable car or funicular up Monserrate for a view across the whole city. Then visit the Gold Museum to see pre-Hispanic goldwork.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogotá, set in a historic building.

Good to know: Bogotá sits around 8,600 feet (2,600 meters) above sea level. Go easy on day one, drink water and bring a jacket for the evenings.

12. Mendoza, Argentina: Summer in wine country

Best for: Wine and slow days

December is summer in Mendoza. The vines are green, the days are long and the Andes frame every view. Base yourself in Luján de Cuyo, the heart of Malbec country. Book long winery lunches. Ride horses in the foothills. Soak in the thermal springs at Cacheuta.

Stay: Entre Cielos, a wine hotel and spa in Luján de Cuyo.

Good to know: Many wineries need reservations, so book ahead. Hire a driver too. Malbec and mountain roads do not mix.

Ready to Pick Your December Trip?

Start with the mood. Cold and cozy, warm and lazy, or wild and far away. Then choose the place that fits. Naples and Copenhagen suit cozy. Sri Lanka and St Lucia suit lazy. Uganda and Lapland suit wild.

Late December fills up fast, so lock in flights and stays early.

Save this guide, send it to the person you want to travel with, and explore more winter travel guides on The Chica Travelista to plan the rest. Your best December might be one booking away.

Pick the mood first

Cold and cozy, warm and lazy, or wild and far away. Choose the mood, then choose the place. The rest is booking early.

FAQ

Where can I find warm weather in December? Try the south and west coasts of Sri Lanka, St Lucia or Mauritius. Tasmania and Mendoza are in summer too, though Tasmania can still be chilly.

Which places are best for Christmas lights and markets? Naples, Copenhagen and Prague. Choose Kyoto if you want New Year traditions.

Where can I see snow in December? Lapland is the most reliable pick on this list. Prague and Copenhagen can get snow, but it is never guaranteed.

When should I book a December trip? As early as you can. Late December is the busiest stretch. Gorilla permits in Uganda also need advance booking.

Is December a good time for Mauritius? It is summer, so the beaches and warm water are the draw. It is also early cyclone season, so storms are possible. Book flexible rates and buy travel insurance.