Travel calendar · December

Where to travel in December 2026? 10 good destinations

December ranges from snowy Lapland to Canary Islands sunshine and full summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Prices and demand can rise around Christmas and New Year, so popular destinations are worth planning early. If planning a Christmas hotel stay or short city break, check holiday opening hours and transfers. Flight times are approximate from Helsinki; seasonal temperatures are not December 2026 forecasts.

Quick answer

For winter sun with a manageable journey from Finland, compare Gran Canaria and Tenerife. For hotter beaches, southern Thailand suits a longer trip. Prague and New York are festive city-break choices, while Lapland suits snow experiences. Madeira offers a mild nature holiday; Australia and Buenos Aires bring southern-hemisphere summer and much longer journeys. Compare total Christmas and New Year costs for the same dates. For a 3–5-day break, compare Prague city sights with Lapland's winter experiences. For roughly a week of winter sun, consider the Canary Islands; allow longer for southern Thailand to account for transfers.

Quick destination comparison

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Destination	Typical daytime temperature	Flight time from Finland	Price level	Best for
Gran Canaria	about 21–24 °C	about 6–7 h	€€	winter sun
Tenerife	about 21–24 °C	about 6–7 h	€€	sun and active travel
Madeira	about 18–22 °C	about 6–8 h	€€	nature, hiking and a mild winter
Lapland	winter conditions, often below freezing	about 1–2 h by air	€€€	snow, northern lights and winter experiences
Bangkok and southern Thailand	about 29–32 °C	about 11–14 h	€€	a tropical long-haul holiday
Marrakech	about 18–22 °C	about 6–8 h depending on connections	€€	culture and a mild-weather escape
New York	about 3–9 °C	about 9–11 h	€€€	festive atmosphere and a big city
Prague	about 1–6 °C	about 2–2.5 h	€	Christmas markets and a weekend break
Sydney and Australia's east coast	about 23–28 °C	about 20–24 h	€€€	Southern Hemisphere summer
Buenos Aires	about 25–30 °C	about 17–22 h	€€	a summer city break and long-haul travel

Weather, flight-time and price information is indicative planning guidance. Conditions, routes and prices vary by date, so check current information before booking.

Gran Canaria

Spain

Gran Canaria is a classic December sun destination. Southern resorts suit travellers looking for warmth, while the interior adds mountain scenery and easy day trips.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 21–24 °C

Best forwinter sun

Tenerife

Spain

Tenerife combines beach time with excursions around Teide in December. Weather can differ noticeably between the north and south of the island.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 21–24 °C

Best forsun and active travel

Madeira

Portugal

Madeira is green and mild in December if you do not need a hot beach holiday. Funchal's festive season and the levada network give the island a broad mix of experiences.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 18–22 °C

Best fornature, hiking and a mild winter

Lapland

Finland

December in Lapland brings deep winter, long nights and snowy landscapes. Northern lights can never be guaranteed on a given evening, but long hours of darkness create good viewing opportunities when skies are clear.

Typical daytime temperaturewinter conditions, often below freezing

Best forsnow, northern lights and winter experiences

Bangkok and southern Thailand

Thailand

December is part of the popular travel season in many parts of Thailand. City, beach and food experiences are easy to combine, although Christmas demand can push prices higher.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 29–32 °C

Best fora tropical long-haul holiday

Marrakech

Morocco

Marrakech offers mild daytime weather, the energy of the medina and excursions towards the Atlas Mountains. Mornings and evenings can be cool, so layers are useful.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 18–22 °C

Best forculture and a mild-weather escape

New York

United States

New York is cold but visually striking in December, with lights, shopping, museums and seasonal events. The weeks around Christmas are also among the most in-demand times of the year.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 3–9 °C

Best forfestive atmosphere and a big city

Prague

Czechia

Prague works well for a short December city break if cold weather is not a problem. The historic centre and seasonal events are easy to explore on foot.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 1–6 °C

Best forChristmas markets and a weekend break

Sydney and Australia's east coast

Australia

December is early summer in Sydney. Because the flight is long, the destination makes most sense for a longer holiday that combines the city with the coast or other parts of Australia.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 23–28 °C

Best forSouthern Hemisphere summer

Buenos Aires

Argentina

December is summer in Buenos Aires. It is a strong choice for travellers interested in food, neighbourhoods and culture, but the long journey is best paired with a generous number of holiday days.

Typical daytime temperatureabout 25–30 °C

Best fora summer city break and long-haul travel

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