Warm places to visit in December

Latin America & Caribbean

Argentina · 28°C (82°F) · 8 rainy days

Buenos Aires

Tango, steakhouses, late nights and grand avenues on the Río de la Plata. Hot early summer with long evenings outdoors; the polo season ends and the city slows down after Christmas.

Mexico · 28°C (82°F) · 8 rainy days

Cancún

Turquoise Caribbean beaches, Maya ruins, cenotes and island day trips. Pleasantly warm and drier, with the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year over Christmas and New Year.

Jamaica · 30°C (86°F) · 7 rainy days

Montego Bay

Jerk smoke, reggae and reef-protected beaches on Jamaica's north coast. Pleasant and breezy; Christmas and New Year weeks are the most expensive of the year.

Dominican Republic · 29°C (84°F) · 10 rainy days

Punta Cana

Palm-lined white-sand beaches and all-inclusive resorts on the Dominican east coast. Pleasant, breezy weather; the Christmas and New Year weeks are the most expensive of the year.

Cuba · 26°C (79°F) · 6 rainy days

Havana

Colonial plazas, the Malecón seawall and live son music on every corner. Dry, warm and the busiest time of year, especially around Christmas and New Year.

Bahamas · 26°C (79°F) · 6 rainy days

Nassau

Pastel colonial streets, Junkanoo and turquoise water on New Providence. Dry and comfortable; Christmas and the Boxing Day Junkanoo parade make it the most festive month.

Asia

Vietnam · 31°C (88°F) · 5 rainy days

Ho Chi Minh City

Colonial landmarks, war history and late-night street food on the Saigon River. Dry, breezy and pleasant with Christmas lights along Đồng Khởi and Nguyễn Huệ.

Thailand · 31°C (88°F) · 1 rainy days

Bangkok

Gilded temples, river boats, street food and rooftop bars. Dry, sunny and pleasant, with peak crowds over Christmas and New Year.

Thailand · 31°C (88°F) · 6 rainy days

Phuket

Andaman beaches, island-hopping and a Sino-Portuguese old town. Dry season settles in, with calm water and busy beaches; Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks.

Philippines · 30°C (86°F) · 7 rainy days

Manila

Spanish-era Intramuros, free national museums and Binondo food crawls. Pleasant and festive, with lights, carols and long Christmas celebrations; traffic is heavy.

Cambodia · 30°C (86°F) · 3 rainy days

Phnom Penh

Royal Palace, riverside promenades and Cambodia's modern history. Dry, sunny and the least humid month; busy with holiday visitors.

Thailand · 28°C (82°F) · 1 rainy days

Chiang Mai

Lanna temples, night markets and mountain day trips in northern Thailand. Sunny days and cool nights; the busiest and most expensive time, with Thai holidaymakers heading to the mountains.

Sri Lanka · 30°C (86°F) · 10 rainy days

Colombo

Colonial Fort streets, Buddhist temples and seafront sunsets on the Indian Ocean. Drier weather returns and the west coast's high season starts; Christmas lights decorate Galle Road and the malls.

India · 33°C (91°F) · 1 rainy days

Goa

Portuguese-era churches, 100 km of beaches, fish curry rice and beach shacks. Peak season: dry, sunny and festive, with the highest prices and crowds between Christmas and New Year.

Thailand · 31°C (88°F) · 8 rainy days

Krabi

Limestone cliffs, longtail boats and island-hopping on the Andaman coast. Mostly dry and calm; Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks.

Malaysia · 31°C (88°F) · 9 rainy days

Langkawi

Duty-free island of rainforest peaks, mangroves and west-coast sunset beaches. The dry season returns with calm seas; school holidays and Christmas make it the busiest month.

Laos · 27°C (81°F) · 2 rainy days

Luang Prabang

Gilded monasteries, dawn alms rounds and the Mekong in Laos's old royal capital. Cool, dry and busy, with cold early mornings; book rooms early around Christmas and New Year.

India · 33°C (91°F) · 0 rainy days

Mumbai

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, Bollywood, sea-facing promenades and vada pav. Dry, sunny and comfortable; the busiest and most expensive time, especially around Christmas and New Year.

Cambodia · 30°C (86°F) · 2 rainy days

Siem Reap

Gateway town to Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the temples of the Khmer Empire. The coolest and driest month and one of the busiest; book hotels early for Christmas and New Year.

Middle East

United Arab Emirates · 26°C (79°F) · 2 rainy days

Abu Dhabi

A white-marble mosque, island museums and Yas Island's theme parks. Peak season with mild days and festive events; book hotels early for National Day and the New Year.

United Arab Emirates · 26°C (79°F) · 2 rainy days

Dubai

Record-breaking towers, winter beaches, desert dunes and creekside souks. Peak season, with warm days, festive events and the highest prices around Christmas and New Year.

Oman · 26°C (79°F) · 2 rainy days

Muscat

A low-rise capital of forts, souqs and beaches between mountains and sea. Warm days and mild nights; busy over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Africa

South Africa · 25°C (77°F) · 3 rainy days

Cape Town

Table Mountain, two oceans, Cape Malay food and winelands an hour away. Hot, dry and windy summer holiday season; the busiest and highest-priced weeks run from mid-December into January.

Tanzania · 31°C (88°F) · 10 rainy days

Zanzibar

Stone Town's carved doors, spice farms and white-sand Indian Ocean beaches. Hot, with showers early in the month, then busy and expensive over Christmas and New Year.

Mauritius · 30°C (86°F) · 9 rainy days

Mauritius

Reef-sheltered lagoons, volcanic peaks, dholl puri and Creole, Indian and French culture. Hot with increasing showers; Christmas and New Year are the island's peak, with the highest prices.

North America

United States · 27°C (81°F) · 9 rainy days

Honolulu

Waikīkī surf, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and year-round warm sea. Warm with some rain and the busiest, priciest weeks of the year over the holidays; whales start to arrive.

United States · 25°C (77°F) · 7 rainy days

Miami

Art Deco beaches, Cuban coffee windows and street art in winter sun. Warm, dry and sunny; Art Basel week in early December and the holidays bring peak prices.

United States · 25°C (77°F) · 6 rainy days

Key West

Sunset at Mallory Square, Hemingway's house and reef trips at the end of US-1. Warm and dry with holiday crowds; the end-of-year weeks are especially busy and expensive.

United States · 27°C (81°F) · 9 rainy days

Maui

Haleakalā sunrise, the Road to Hāna and winter humpback whales. Whales return in numbers and the holiday weeks are the most expensive of the year.

Oceania

Australia · 26°C (79°F) · 8 rainy days

Sydney

Harbour ferries, ocean beaches and the Opera House on one waterfront. Christmas and New Year make December busy and expensive; harbour-view hotels book out months ahead for New Year's Eve.

Australia · 32°C (90°F) · 10 rainy days

Cairns

Tropical gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest. Hot and humid as the wet season begins, with storms; busy over Christmas holidays.

Australia · 29°C (84°F) · 9 rainy days

Brisbane

Subtropical river city of CityCat ferries, free galleries and koalas. Hot, humid and stormy; Christmas lights at City Hall and summer holidays begin.

Australia · 29°C (84°F) · 2 rainy days

Perth

Sunny Indian Ocean city of sunset beaches, Kings Park and Rottnest's quokkas. Hot and sunny with long evenings; Christmas holidays begin and Rottnest books out.

Australia · 27°C (81°F) · 10 rainy days

Gold Coast

Surf beaches, theme parks and rainforest hinterland on Queensland's southern coast. Hot and humid with storms building; Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks.

Beach, city or budget: December picks by trip type

What's on in December

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

• Buenos Aires: Argentine Open polo final (usually early December)
• Ho Chi Minh City: Christmas Eve crowds around the cathedral and along Đồng Khởi (24 December)
• Abu Dhabi: UAE National Day — fireworks and celebrations (2 December)
• Bangkok: Father's Day and the late King Bhumibol's birthday — public holiday (5 December)
• Cancún: Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (12 December)
• Cape Town: Festive lights on Adderley Street (usually December)
• Dubai: UAE National Day celebrations (2 December)
• Honolulu: Honolulu City Lights at Honolulu Hale (usually December)
• Miami: Art Basel Miami Beach and satellite art fairs (usually early December)
• Phuket: King's Cup Regatta sailing in Kata (usually early December)
• Sydney: Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start on the harbour (26 December)
• Brisbane: Christmas lights and events at King George Square (December)

Daylight in December

Day length on these trips ranges from about 10.5 hours in Miami to 14.5 hours in Buenos Aires (sunrise to sunset on 15 December). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.

December weather compared

Questions travellers ask