December splits travel into three: northern Christmas markets and snow country, tropical dry season at its strongest, and the start of Patagonian/southern-hemisphere summer. The destinations below are the ones where the calendar actively works in your favour during December.
The December signal in one line: Northern winter and Christmas markets, peak tropical season, austral summer beginning.
Below: every destination on Packzup where December is in our best-months window, organised by region. Each link goes to the full destination guide; the best-time-to-visit links go deeper on what December specifically delivers.
Asia
Europe
Latin America
CartagenaColombiaWhy December works here →
Costa RicaCentral AmericaWhy December works here →
GuatemalaCentral AmericaWhy December works here →
Middle East
Less strong in December
Outside our December window: Cappadocia, Bali, Tokyo, Paris, Lisbon, Porto, Marrakech, Istanbul and others — see each destination’s best-time-to-visit guide for specifics. ‘Less strong’ rarely means ‘unworkable’ — just that the trade-offs (weather, crowds, or both) make other months better. The off-season has its own arguments: lower prices, fewer travellers, more locals.
December at a glance
| Destination | Country | Budget | Defined by | Best-time guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Thailand | Budget | food, urban, budget | guide |
| Chiang Mai | Thailand | Budget | culture, budget, mountains | guide |
| India | India | Budget | culture, food, history | guide |
| Prague | Czech Republic | Budget | history, culture, beer | guide |
| Cartagena | Colombia | Mid | beach, culture, food | guide |
| Costa Rica | Central America | Mid | adventure, nature, beach | guide |
| Guatemala | Central America | Budget | culture, adventure, nature | guide |
| Medellin | Colombia | Budget | urban, food, budget | guide |
| Patagonia | Argentina & Chile | Premium | adventure, mountains, nature | guide |
| Abu Dhabi | UAE | Premium | culture, luxury, beach | guide |
| Dubai | UAE | Premium | urban, luxury, beach | guide |
Weighing two against each other
If you’re torn between two destinations on the December list, the interactive comparison tool sets any two of these next to each other on best months, budget, crowds, trip length, and vibes.