Places to Visit in December: 12 Trips Sorted by What You Want

Places to visit in December sort neatly by what you want from the month. For a warm escape, Key West averages 75.0°F (23.9°C) with 6 rainy days. For a southern hemisphere summer, Melbourne sits at 75.2°F (24.0°C) and Buenos Aires at 81.0°F (27.2°C). For a cold, lit-up winter city, Prague and Budapest hover around 40°F. And for a cheaper trip with mild weather, Lisbon, Valencia and Athens are in the 50s and low 60s °F.

The mistake we see most is choosing a place for the photos and ignoring which season it is in. A beach in Key West and a market square in Prague are both reasonable December plans, but they need completely different suitcases. This article takes the goal first, then the weather, using WeatherApex 20-year averages (2006 to 2025) for twelve cities.

Places to visit in December: the quick answer by goal

Places to Visit in December: The Quick Answer

Winter is the high season for the sub-tropical coast, and the figures show why. December is drier and less sticky than summer, and there is no hurricane risk once the season ends on November 30. The catch is that the best weather is also when everybody else books, so these are not bargains. Our fuller Florida notes are in the Florida in December guide.

Key West

Highs reach 75.0°F (23.9°C), and lows barely move at 71.8°F (22.1°C), so the evenings feel like the afternoon. Rainfall is 1.9 in (48 mm) over 6 days, with 9.5 hours of sun. It is the most reliable of the three. In practice that means you can plan outdoor meals and boat trips with some confidence, and keep a rain plan only for the odd afternoon. Look at the humidity (78%) and you will know to expect warm, soft air, not dry desert warmth. It suits couples and anyone who wants easy, low-effort days.

Nassau

Nassau is very close: 77.0°F (25.0°C) high, 72.3°F (22.4°C) low, 8 rainy days and 1.8 in (46 mm) of rain. It gets 9.1 hours of sun a day, a shade less than Key West, but cruise ships and resorts keep the island lively. Good for families and groups.

Miami

Miami is the coolest of this trio at 76.6°F (24.8°C), with a 67.6°F (19.8°C) low and 9 rainy days. Beach days are still comfortable, though the sea and the nights can feel a little brisk. It is the best choice if you want restaurants, neighbourhoods and nightlife in addition to the sand, and it is an easy flight from much of the eastern United States.

Winter cities and holiday markets

These are places to visit in December for atmosphere, not for the weather. Outdoor Christmas markets in this part of central Europe usually run from late November until just before Christmas, so December is the natural time to see them, but expect to spend hours outside in the cold.

Prague

Prague has a 40.1°F (4.5°C) high and a 31.1°F (-0.5°C) low, which means sub-freezing nights are normal. It sees 1.6 in (41 mm) of precipitation over 10 days and only 3.9 hours of sun a day, so the old town lights are at their best in the afternoon dusk. It is compact and walkable. Choose it if you want old streets and mulled wine over variety.

Budapest

Budapest is nearly the same on paper, 40.5°F (4.7°C) for a high, 31.1°F (-0.5°C) for a low, 8 rainy days and 3.9 hours of sun. Its edge is the thermal baths, which turn the cold from a problem into a reason to go. The sun hours are low, so plan indoor time in the morning and the river walks late in the day.

Munich

Munich is the grey one: 40.5°F (4.7°C) and a 29.3°F (-1.5°C) low, with 13 rainy days and 2.7 in (69 mm) of precipitation. That is the most rainy days of the three, and the likeliest to deliver snow or sleet. Pack waterproof boots. We would rank it third on weather and first for people who want the most traditional market atmosphere. Our guide to 40 degree weather shows how to dress for these temperatures.

Southern hemisphere summer

South of the equator the seasons are reversed, so December means the start of summer. These are the places to visit in December if you simply want the longest, brightest days.

Melbourne

Melbourne is warm but changeable. The average high is 75.2°F (24.0°C) and the low 55.6°F (13.1°C), a spread of nearly 20°F, with 11.9 hours of sun and 8 rainy days. That wide gap is the thing to plan around: warm afternoons and cool evenings, with the occasional fast change in the weather. It suits cafes, sport and day trips more than long beach days.

Auckland

Auckland is milder at 69.4°F (20.8°C) and 60.3°F (15.7°C), but it is wetter than people expect: 3.9 in (99 mm) on 13 days, with humidity at 77%. Sun is generous at 11.6 hours. Good for the islands, harbours and short hikes, and a bit too changeable for anyone who needs to guarantee a beach day.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the hottest at 81.0°F (27.2°C) with a 66.6°F (19.2°C) low, 12.5 hours of sun and humidity at 64%. Rain is 3.0 in (76 mm) over 8 days, mostly in short bursts. It is hot enough that you will do most of your walking in the morning and evening.

Cheap shoulder trips with mild weather

Southern Europe in December is the opposite of the summer rush. Prices for rooms and flights are generally lower than in July and August, except in the days around Christmas and New Year, and the sights have room to breathe. The trade is shorter days and cooler air. We would take these three and keep the itinerary flexible. A simple way to keep costs down is to arrive in the first half of the month, stay in a neighbourhood rather than the very centre, and put the big outdoor sights in the middle of the day, when it is warmest and brightest. Leave the evenings for indoor plans.

Lisbon

Lisbon has a 58.8°F (14.9°C) high and a 50.0°F (10.0°C) low, 7.4 hours of sun, and 3.1 in (79 mm) of rain over 9 days. That is the wettest of the three, but still manageable, and most of the city can be seen in a light waterproof layer.

Valencia

Valencia is our favourite weather pick of the group: 61.3°F (16.3°C) for a high, 4 rainy days, just 1.3 in (33 mm) of rain and 7.6 hours of sun a day. It is dry, bright and warm enough for lunch outside on many days. Evenings drop to 46.8°F (8.2°C), so bring a jacket.

Athens

Athens gives you 57.2°F (14.0°C) and 45.9°F (7.7°C), 8 rainy days, 2.9 in (74 mm) of rain and 7.2 hours of sun. That is cool enough to hike the ancient sites comfortably and quieter than in summer, but you need to carry a rain layer.

Combining two stops

Some of these places to visit in December pair well, which can stretch a short trip. Prague and Budapest can be linked by rail, and their weather is nearly identical, so one coat covers both. Key West and Miami make a classic Florida road trip, and their highs differ by less than 2°F. Melbourne and Auckland are a short flight apart, but you would need a bit of everything in the bag. Lisbon and Valencia are better treated as separate trips, since they sit at opposite ends of the Iberian Peninsula.

Places to skip in December

Vancouver logs 20 rainy days and 10.9 in (277 mm) of rain. Seattle has 18 rainy days and 3.9 hours of sun. Amsterdam manages 3.2 hours of sun a day. Reykjavik gets 0.8 hour, and 17 rainy days. Jakarta has 27 rainy days in the month. None of these is a bad place, but December is not the month to see them at their best unless the dark and the wet are part of the plan. If you are weighing places to go in December and your list includes one of them, we would move it to a different month, such as May or September, when the sun hours are far higher.

Which one is right for you

• Beach: Key West, then Nassau. Buenos Aires and Melbourne are the southern equivalents, but neither is a beach town.
• Cheapest: Lisbon, Valencia and Athens, away from the holiday week.
• Sightseeing: Valencia and Athens, for the dry daylight. Prague if you want atmosphere over sunshine.
• Families: Nassau and Miami for the water, Auckland for open space.
• Avoiding crowds: pick Athens or Lisbon in the first two weeks of December.

If you are still undecided, put your dates into the trip planner. The twelve cities above are not a ranking, and if warm is all you want, our warm December picks are sorted by temperature instead.

What to pack

For the warm escape: swimwear, linen, sunscreen and a light shower jacket. For the winter cities: a warm coat, thermal layers, gloves, a hat and boots with grip, because pavements get icy. For the southern summer: sun hat, sunscreen and one proper layer for Melbourne's evenings. For Lisbon, Valencia and Athens: a mid-weight jacket and a compact umbrella, plus comfortable shoes for cobbled streets.

How we grouped these destinations

We started with the December averages for every city in the WeatherApex data, then sorted them by what people actually go for rather than by temperature alone. The figures are 20-year averages for 2006 to 2025, so they describe a typical December and not a forecast. Individual years can be warmer, colder or wetter, and a week of unusual weather can change a plan, so keep dates flexible if you can. Market dates, school holidays and price patterns are general tendencies, not exact schedules, so check those separately before booking.

One practical rule if you are on the fence: pick your goal first, then pick the date. If you want sun, go to the southern hemisphere or the Caribbean. If you want atmosphere, choose the cold. If you want value, avoid the week after December 20. For official climate data, see World Weather Information Service of the WMO.