Where to travel in December 2024?

While the winter months are not always seen as prime travelling time, they come with their own unique advantages when going on holiday. December stands out since all the Christmas markets are open and the holiday festivities are taking place. The touristic low season also means it’s a lot more convenient entering and booking attractions like museums and tours. With that mind, we have prepared this list of some of our favorite destinations where to travel in December, so you can take advantage of these upsides.

Part of our month-by-month breakdowns, we have highlighted some of the most interesting and popular attractions for each destination along with a brief explanation for why they are part of our best places to go in December. Keep this in mind for future travelling plans, NH Hotels has a guide like this one for every month of the year.

So, here are some of our best places to vacation in December featuring some of the world’s most famous Christmas markets, cities where you can go ice skating, and plenty of leisure options ranging from vast museums to amazing culinary offers. Whether you are planning a family vacation, a solo trip, or a romantic getaway, here you’ll find an option to suit you.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is one of our favourite places for a Christmas-centric holiday. In Christkindlmarket, it has one of the biggest and most well-known Christmas markets, visited by millions of people every year. It’s a great place to visit with the whole family and it offers all kinds of Christmas items, from traditional toys and gifts to mugs and decorations. Glühwein, a local alcoholic drink and a Christmas favorite, is served from large cauldrons.

The winter weather (average daily high temperature of 4ºC) doesn’t mean you can’t dress warm and explore the historic charm of Nuremberg. Dating to the 13th century, the Kaiserburg Castle is not to be missed. A walk through the Medieval Old Town will reveal many stunning landmarks including historic castles, churches, and fountains as well as the Main Market Square.

Dresden

Dresden is an incredibly culturally rich city, filled with historic sites, spectacular Baroque architecture, and amazing museums. The Zinger Palace is one of Germany’s most noteworthy Baroque buildings and the Dresden Frauenkirche, or the Church of Our Lady, is another stunning landmark. The Green Vault art museum, located in the Dresden Castle, contains the largest treasure collection in all of Europe.

We count Dresden among the best places to vacation in December, when its average daily high temperature is of 5ºC, thanks in part to Dresden Striezelmarkt in Altmarkt Square, Germany’s oldest Christmas market. Here you’ll find an incredibly wide selection of local Christmas items and food products, including Stollen, the traditional Christmas bread.

Bruges

While it has plenty of charm year-round, Bruges has a unique set of attractions to enjoy during December. Visit Grote Square where you can go ice skating in its rink as well as visit its amazing Christmas market, featuring plenty of Christmas treats. Also visit the Burg Square, surrounded by many historic buildings like the former Manor of the Franc of Bruges, which features a beautiful Christmas tree covered in lights during December.

The winter weather (average daily high and low temperatures of 7ºC and 3ºC) offers a great chance to try hot chocolate at establishments like The Old Chocolate House. You can also visit a chocolate shop and bring authentic handmade Belgian chocolate home, perhaps as a gift for friends or family. Check out our hotels in Bruges for a lovely Christmas holiday.

Vienna

Vienna is another great place where to travel in December if you are looking to embrace the Christmas spirit. The Upper Belvedere Palace is a beautiful Baroque building that you’ll never forget, and, in December, it features one of Vienna’s many world-famous Christmas markets, packed with food and local traditions. Local foods to try include Glühwein (hot wine with spices, perfect for the December weather that averages a 5ºC daily high temperature) and Schaumrollen (a pastry filled with whipped cream or meringue).

Additional attractions include going ice skating, enjoying one of the Christmas concerts that take place in churches like St. Stephen’s Cathedral (an architectural landmark), and visiting one of Vienna’s fascinating museums, like the Natural History Museum. Stay at one of our hotels in Vienna to enjoy all these activities.

Budapest

December is a great time to enjoy a trip with friends or family to Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Budapest has maintained its old-world charm throughout the years, which you may witness in some of the most iconic buildings in its history. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the Parliament of Budapest, and the Hungarian State Opera House are some of the must-see attractions in the capital of Hungary.

Cold weather takes over Budapest throughout December, with average daily high and low temperatures of 4ºC and 0ºC. However, you can visit the Széchenyi Thermal Bath to fight the cold, a unique location in the centre of the city. You can also enjoy the Christmas Markets, which open during this special time of year and are considered to be some of the most beautiful ones in Europe.

London

While London has plenty of attractions throughout the entire year (it is one of the top touristic destinations in the world), December in London comes with its own distinctive leisure options. For one, you can go sky skating at the many ice rinks that open across the city. The lovely Trafalgar Square, a holiday central point, features carol singing, a giant Christmas tree, and a giant menorah.

December is not as cold as in other European destinations, showing average high and low temperatures of 9ºC and 5ºC, which means you can dress warm and comfortably explore the city’s many landmarks. The Kew Gardens, an incredibly large and varied botanic garden, also features attractions unique to the holidays: its popular night time Christmas at Kew events feature spectacular lights and projections for an unforgettable experience of the gardens.

Berlin

Berlin is one of the best places to go in December: the lesser crowds make it easier to visit the city’s many attractions and museums (including those in the famous Museum Island complex), and activities specific to the winter are available, such as Christmas markets or ice skating.

Brandenburg Gate hosts one of the world’s biggest outdoors New Year’s events, filled with fireworks and exciting celebrations. A great activity for the whole family is visiting the Christmas Circus at the Tempodrom. While the weather can be a bit cold (with an average daily high temperature of 4ºC), Berlin is one of our favorite destinations where to travel in December thanks to all the festive attractions available. Take a look at our many hotels in Berlin with convenient central locations to enjoy all this and more.

Hamburg

The temperatures drop in December (average daily high and low temperatures of 5ºC and 1ºC) but Hamburg remains incredibly lively throughout the month. The first four Saturdays of the month Hamburg is taken over by joyous Christmas parades that feature festive music and colorful Christmas characters. Hamburg also has more than 30 Christmas markets, where you can try the mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, and ice-skating rinks that are open during the month.

Hamburg is an all-around fascinating city to visit with attractions including the Miniatur Wunderland (a miniature airport and railway, the largest of its kind), splendid works of architecture like the Chilehaus building and the Hamburg Cathedral, and plenty of enriching museums such as the Kunsthalle Museum for art and the Automuseum PROTOTYP for car enthusiasts.

Munich

December attractions in Munich include Christmas concerts at the Hercules Hall, which is a stunning structure with Greek motifs and great acoustics, Christmas markets with plenty of mulled wine and bratwurst sausages and curling in the Nymphenburg Canal (where both experienced players and absolute beginners are welcome).

The cold weather, with the daily high temperatures averaging at around 3ºC, only make it more appealing to try the world-famous beer and cuisine of Munich. You can book a beer tour or try local hearty dishes like schnitzel or schweinebraten, a traditional pork roast with a rich gravy.

Prague

The Prague Castle is an awe-inspiring building and a must-visit at any time, but, in December, the fewer tourists mean it is easier to visit plus it features two Christmas markets you are going to want to check out. Ice skating, holiday performances, and the manually lit lamplights across Charles Bridge also make Prague a charming destination where to travel in December.

The weather can be cold throughout the month, with average daily high and low temperatures of 4ºC and 0ºC, but there are plenty of great indoor activities in Prague. Visit the city’s restaurants and try some warming traditional dishes like cesnecka (garlic soup) or gulás (a thick stew); or visit the museums like the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Franz Kafka Museum.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen offers a wide range of leisure options to enjoy during a month as special as December. It is a city with a lot of charm, surrounded by canals and iconic buildings. You can’t miss Nyhavn, the most famous canal in Copenhagen, the famous statue of the Little Mermaid, the Stroget shopping street, or the Rosenborg Castle.

The temperatures in December range between average daily high and lows of 5ºC and 0ºC. To fight the colder days, you can stroll through some of the Christmas Markets in Copenhagen and enjoy some delicious mulled wine or some typical Danish pastries. We also recommend visiting the Christmas Market held at the Tivoli Gardens, considered to be one of the most beautiful ones in the city.

Madrid

Madrid features a large number of attractions to enjoy during December. It is one of the most diverse cities in Europe, famous worldwide for its cultural, gastronomical, and leisure offerings. If you are considering travelling to Madrid in December, we recommend walking through the city and enjoying the Christmas lights that decorate the different neighborhoods of the Spanish capital. Also, you cannot miss the Christmas Markets or the Gran Vía, one of the city’s most iconic and commercial streets.

The average daily high and low temperatures in Madrid are of 10ºC and 4ºC, making it one of the less chilly European capitals during December. Some of the key places to visit in Madrid include the Palacio Real (the Royal Palace of Madrid), the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, and the Puerta del Sol square.

New York City

If you are looking where to travel in December, New York City needs no introduction during this month: the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center, ice skating in Central Park, and the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop on Times Square are all world-famous attractions and cultural touchstones. Additional December activities include sightseeing through the Christmas markets and the Christmas trees or catching a production of The Nutcracker, like the one famously performed by the New York City Ballet.

The average daily high temperature of 7ºC means the weather is still agreeable enough to explore the city. Dine at some of NYC’s highly regarded restaurants (there’s something for every taste) and visit your pick of amazing museums from choices like the MoMA, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History.

Three reasons to travel in December

1) Christmas markets and festive traditions. December is the best opportunity to get to know all the popular Christmas markets we have highlighted, filled with colorful local holiday traditions.

2) Ice skating! The winter weather is such that rinks are finally open. Bruges, New York City, and Hamburg are all destinations with open ice-skating rinks during the month.

3) Easier access to your favorite attractions. December is part of the touristic low season for many destinations in Europe and the Americas, which means you’ll have a much simpler time at accessing museums and booking tours or other attractions.

Where to travel in December as a couple?

The historic setting and hearty local cuisine of cities like Prague or Munich make them perfect settings for a romantic vacation. Calmly walk through their stunning architectural marvels and sights and go for an intimate dinner at a local restaurant.

If what you are looking for is a warm destination where to go in December with your partner, we recommend the Canary Islands for a paradisiacal beachside romantic getaway.

What are the best places to go in December with kids?

The European Christmas Markets we have noted—in cities like Vienna, Nuremberg, and Munich—are all perfect for children. The colorful festivities and costumes along with the food offerings, with plenty of sweets, are sure to fascinate your young ones. This makes these European cities great choices for where to travel in December with the whole family.

London and New York City, both big cities with wide-ranging attractions, are also some of the best places to go in December with kids. The sheer number of interesting museums in both of them makes it so that you’ll always have a kid-friendly place to visit, no matter how long your stay is.

You may also be interested in the following destinations:

• Best places to visit in January
• Best places to visit in February
• Best places to visit in March
• Best places to visit in April
• Hotels for your Winter Holidays