Where to go · 2026

Where to go in December

December is peak season for Cabo San Lucas, the Bahamas and Mexico City, and 13 more of our 34 destinations are at their best. For better value, Okinawa is in shoulder season (21°C highs). Skip Iceland and Bali: their guides call December a month to avoid.

Peak season

At their best in December

16 destinations are in their best season in December, ranked by the Atlas Ranger Score for the month. The warmest is Thailand at 32°C; the driest is Mexico City with 11mm of rain.

  • El Arco rock formation rising from the sea at Cabo San LucasPeak season

    Cabo San Lucas

    28°/18°C13 mm rainScore 88
    Warm, dry days and the return of the whales
  • Aerial view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes dome in Mexico CityPeak season

    Mexico City

    22°/8°C11 mm rainScore 87
    Cool, dry and festive — sunny holiday season
  • Aerial view of the Miami Beach coastline and high-rise buildings, FloridaPeak season

    Miami

    25°/19°C118 mm rainScore 82
    Mild and mostly dry; Art Basel week and Christmas are peak-priced
    Miami in December →
  • Wooden dock stretching over calm water from a beach in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin IslandsPeak season

    St. Thomas

    27°/26°C50 mm rainScore 78
    Dry season returns; Christmas fortnight is peak-priced
  • Maya ruins on a cliff above the turquoise Caribbean at TulumPeak season

    Tulum

    28°/22°C88 mm rainScore 77
    Dry, warm winter — festive-season price spike
  • Aerial view of a Punta Cana beach with a boat moored in turquoise waterPeak season

    Punta Cana

    28°/24°C86 mm rainScore 75
    Dry season returns; Christmas fortnight is peak-priced
  • An overwater villa on stilts above the turquoise lagoon of a Maldivian atollPeak season

    Maldives

    30°/26°C145 mm rainScore 56
    Dry season returns + festive-season price spike
Shoulder season

Good value in December

Okinawa is the best-value pick for December: shoulder season, a score of 67 and 21°C highs, without the peak-season crowds. New Orleans is also worth it this month.

  • Turquoise waters and beaches of Ishigaki, Okinawa with boats moored offshoreBest value

    Okinawa

    21°/16°C105 mm rainScore 67
    Mild and dry — Japan's warmest December
  • Historic French Quarter architecture in New Orleans with brown and white concrete facade under bright blue skyWorth it

    New Orleans

    19°/12°C129 mm rainScore 63
    Cool and damp — Reveillon dinners and holiday lights
Skip

Where to avoid in December

8 guides warn against December. Iceland leads the list: Shortest days — Christmas markets and 13 Yule Lads.

All destinations

December at a glance

DestinationDecemberHigh / lowRainScore
Cabo San LucasPeak28° / 18°C13 mm88
BahamasPeak26° / 22°C52 mm88
Mexico CityPeak22° / 8°C11 mm87
HawaiiMixed26° / 21°C72 mm87
Key WestPeak24° / 22°C78 mm84
VietnamPeak22° / 15°C18 mm83
JamaicaPeak28° / 22°C52 mm82
MiamiPeak25° / 19°C118 mm82
CancunPeak27° / 22°C98 mm78
St. ThomasPeak27° / 26°C50 mm78
TulumPeak28° / 22°C88 mm77
ThailandPeak32° / 23°C14 mm76
MexicoPeak29° / 20°C80 mm75
Punta CanaPeak28° / 24°C86 mm75
Costa RicaPeak31° / 23°C39 mm74
IbizaSkip17° / 12°C32 mm72
ArubaPeak29° / 26°C53 mm72
MallorcaSkip17° / 9°C37 mm71
PhilippinesMixed30° / 24°C118 mm68
OkinawaGood21° / 16°C105 mm67
KrabiMixed31° / 23°C135 mm64
New OrleansGood19° / 12°C129 mm63
MaldivesPeak30° / 26°C145 mm56
TokyoMixed12° / 4°C58 mm55
SpainSkip11° / 4°C50 mm55
JapanMixed12° / 4°C50 mm54
GreeceMixed15° / 9°C101 mm54
KyotoMixed12° / 3°C50 mm53
OsakaMixed12° / 4°C50 mm52
Hoi AnSkip24° / 21°C413 mm52
Koh SamuiSkip29° / 24°C263 mm52
Da NangSkip24° / 21°C336 mm50
BaliSkip31° / 25°C299 mm42
IcelandSkip2° / -3°C129 mm18
Questions

December travel questions

Where is warm in December?

Thailand (32°C highs), Costa Rica (31°C highs) and the Maldives (30°C highs) are the warmest of the destinations that are good to visit in December.

Where is good for a beach trip in December?

Cabo San Lucas, the Bahamas, Key West and Jamaica are in a good season with beach weather (24°C or warmer) in December.

Where is cheapest to visit in December?

None of our destinations has December among its cheapest months without a warning attached. Shoulder-season picks are the better-value route this month.

Where should I avoid in December?

Iceland, Bali and Da Nang. Their own guides flag December: Iceland, shortest days — christmas markets and 13 yule lads; Bali, heavy rain + christmas/new year price spike; Da Nang, cool and grey — wet season fades but skies stay overcast.

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