Where to go in December?
26 destinations at their best in December, with what to think about before you leave.
- Musée du Louvre What to pack for Musée du Louvre? The Louvre is open year-round but July–August brings extreme queues due to peak Parisian tourism; visiting outside school holidays makes for a far more pleasant experience.
- Dubai What to pack for a trip to Dubai? From November to March, temperatures range between 20 and 28 °C; from June to September, heat regularly exceeds 42 °C with high humidity.
- Bangkok What to pack for a trip to Bangkok? The dry season (November to March) is the best time to visit Bangkok; the monsoon (May to October) brings torrential rain and flooding.
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc What to pack for a trip to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc? Chamonix peaks in winter for skiing (December to March) and in summer (July–August) for hiking and Mont Blanc; spring and autumn bring avalanche risk and unstable conditions.
- Maldives What to pack for a trip to Maldives? The dry season from November to April guarantees clear skies and calm seas; June to August is the heart of the southwest monsoon with heavy rain and swell.
- Wien What to pack for a trip to Wien? Vienna is delightful in spring and autumn for its museums and cafés; winter is worthwhile for Christmas markets and concerts, and summer remains pleasant despite some heat.
- Zermatt What to pack for a trip to Zermatt? Zermatt offers year-round glacier skiing, but the peak winter season (December–April) and summer season (July–August) offer the best conditions; late spring and autumn are quiet with many closures.
- Courchevel What to pack for a trip to Courchevel? The resort operates from December to April, with reliable snow cover thanks to its high altitude reaching 3,200 m.
- Val d'Isère What to pack for a trip to Val d'Isère? At 1 850 m base with peaks at 3 456 m, Val d'Isère has reliable snow from December to April and hosts World Cup ski races.
- Val Thorens What to pack for Val Thorens? Europe's highest resort at 2 300 m, Val Thorens guarantees exceptional snow cover from December to April and can open as early as November.
- Thailande What to pack for a trip to Thailande? The dry season from November to March brings clear skies and manageable heat; the monsoon from May to October brings heavy rains and localised flooding.
- Argentina What to pack for a trip to Argentina? The Southern Hemisphere reverses the seasons: the austral summer (November to March) is the best time to visit Patagonia, Buenos Aires, and the Mendoza vineyards.
- L'Alpe d'Huez What to pack for a trip to L'Alpe d'Huez? A high-altitude resort (1,860–3,330 m), the ski area is open from December to April with reliable snow; summer also attracts cyclists.
- La Plagne What to pack for La Plagne? Located between 1,800 and 3,250 m, La Plagne benefits from reliable snow from December to April across one of the largest ski areas in the Alps.
- Ischgl What to pack for a trip to Ischgl? The resort opens in mid-November and closes at the end of April; its summit altitude of 2,872 m ensures reliable snow throughout the season.
- Kitzbühel What to pack for a trip to Kitzbühel? The ski season runs from December to March; snow cover is reliable between 800 and 2,000 m, with famous runs like the Streif.
- Méribel What to pack for a trip to Méribel? At the heart of the Three Valleys (1,450–2,950 m), Méribel benefits from reliable snow from December to April in one of the world's largest ski areas.
- Sankt Anton am Arlberg What to pack for a trip to Sankt Anton am Arlberg? One of Austria's premier ski resorts, the slopes are reliably snow-covered from December to April thanks to elevations reaching 2 800 m.
- Sölden What to pack for a trip to Sölden? Sölden has glaciers enabling skiing from October, but the full resort operates reliably from December to April above 3 000 m.
- Strasbourg What to pack for a trip to Strasbourg? Pleasant in spring and summer for its canals and old town, Strasbourg is also a prime destination in November–December for one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets.
- Tignes What to pack for a trip to Tignes? Thanks to the Grande Motte glacier (3 456 m), Tignes offers one of France's longest ski seasons, from December to May.
- Avoriaz What to pack for a trip to Avoriaz? Avoriaz (1,800 m, Portes du Soleil ski area) is reliably snow-covered from December to April thanks to its altitude and north-facing aspect.
- Les Deux Alpes What to pack for a trip to Les Deux Alpes? Les Deux Alpes has a glacier skiable until April and reliable snow from December at altitudes between 1,650 and 3,600 m.
- Arc 1800 What to pack for Arc 1800? Arc 1800 is a high-altitude resort (ski area up to 3,226 m); the ski domain is open and reliably snow-covered from December to April.
- Mayrhofen What to pack for a trip to Mayrhofen? A Zillertal resort with a village at 630 m but slopes up to 2,500 m, Mayrhofen opens its runs from December to April with good snowmaking to complement natural snow.
- Riquewihr What to pack for a trip to Riquewihr? Riquewihr is beautiful in summer for the Alsace Wine Route and in November–December for its famous Christmas market; January–February are cold and the village sees little activity off-season.
✔ Best avoided in December
- Venezia — Spring and autumn offer pleasant weather and manageable crowds; summer is overwhelmingly hot and busy, while winter brings frequent acqua alta flooding.
- Berlin — Berlin's summer is lively, sunny, and ideal for enjoying green spaces and cultural life; winter is cold and dark.
- Istanbul — Spring and early autumn bring mild temperatures and little rain for visiting mosques and the Bosphorus; summer is hot and crowded, winter cold and wet.
- Budapest — Spring and autumn are ideal for visiting Budapest; summer is hot and busy, while winter is cold but lively in December for Christmas markets.
- Château de Chambord — Château de Chambord is open year-round, but the park and estate are at their best from spring to autumn; winter is cold and outdoor activities are limited.
- Dublin — The Irish summer offers the longest days and mildest temperatures; winter is cold, rainy and windy.
- Edinburgh — Summer is the mildest and brightest season, ideal for visiting the old town and the Highlands; winter is cold, dark and very windy.
- Bordeaux — Spring through autumn allows visitors to enjoy the vineyards, the Garonne, and the architectural heritage; the grape harvest in September–October is a highlight.
- Marseille — Marseille shines from May to September with sunshine, swimmable sea, and accessible calanques; winter is windy (mistral) and unsuitable for swimming.
- Puy du Fou — Puy du Fou is open from April to early November; the major night shows such as La Cinéscénie take place mainly in summer, offering the best experience from June to September.
- Reykjavík — The Icelandic summer (June–August) brings near-permanent daylight, mild temperatures and access to natural landscapes; in January–February, intense cold, storms and polar night severely limit activities.
- Biarritz — The beach season runs from June to September, with a swimmable Atlantic and pleasant Basque sunshine; winter is mild but windy and dull.
- Saint-Malo — Saint-Malo is ideal from May to September: swimmable sea, lively ramparts and spectacular high tides; winter is windy, beaches are deserted and many restaurants close off-season.
- Honfleur — Norman spring and summer offer the best weather to enjoy the old harbour and nearby beaches; winter is cold, grey and rainy.
- Nantes — Nantes' oceanic climate is most pleasant from April to September, with mild temperatures and enough sunshine to enjoy the city and its outdoor attractions.
- Nigloland — Nigloland is open from early April to early November; outside this period the park is closed, and the summer season offers the greatest number of operating attractions.
- Walibi Rhône-Alpes — Walibi Rhône-Alpes is an outdoor theme park open mainly from April to October; it is closed in winter except for occasional special events.