The Best Places to Travel in December

Strasbourg is known by some as the “capital of Christmas.” To see the town in full swing, visit during the Advent weeks. The town doesn’t have just one Christmas market, but several. The market in Old Town is one of the oldest in the world and is a bona fide UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Thanks to its latitude, Mexico City stays warm all year round, but the holiday season is a particularly excellent time to visit as many locals leave and the city’s infamous traffic eases up a bit. From mid-December through Christmas, the city becomes festive with the Las Posadas festival, honoring Mary and Joseph’s search for a room in Bethlehem. Hang out near a Catholic church to catch a glimpse of a local parade. 

Not only is Orlando an ideal summer destination, it also becomes a magical paradise in the weeks leading up to the holidays. Plan a visit to Disney or Universal Studios to see the theme parks go all out for the holidays with fireworks, parades, and parties. You can even make it a white Christmas with fake snow-fueled activities. 

December is the tail end of dry season and the best time to visit before the rains start to pour. At this time of year, the rivers go down lower and you have a better chance of seeing caiman crocodiles. You’ll also be able to access more trails, hook more fish, spot more birds, and get bit by less mosquitos. 

While it doesn’t typically snow in Edinburgh in December, the city puts on its full holiday regalia every year. The festivities center around the Princes Street Gardens with a Santa contest, Christmas market, and a reindeer garden. If you stick around through the end of the year, you can take part in the Hogmanay celebration, a multiday event with fireworks, street performers, and a torchlit parade through the streets. 

If your December isn’t complete without hitting the slopes, head up to Whistler for some early season skiing or snowboarding. Not only is it the start of peak powder season, the town of Whistler comes alive with twinkling holiday lights. Take part in family-friendly activities like caroling, craft-making, and hot cocoa apres-ski hours. 

High season in the Dominican Republic starts mid-December so if you’re trying to avoid the crowds, opt to visit in the early part of the month. If you want to be part of the holiday masses, there are fewer more joyful parts of the world at this time of year. It’s an ideal place to spend Christmas on the beach.

Temperatures will likely hover around 90° F around this time so you’ll be spending the month in as few layers as possible. Head to the coast and take part in windsurfing, snorkel tours, or scuba diving. When you’re back on land, the colorful walls become an ideal backdrop for exploring the city.