December is the month when a little planning pays off most. The days at home are at their shortest, the Caribbean is moving into its dry season, the Indian Ocean is calming down and the Arctic is at its most magical. Choosing the best places to travel in December comes down to what you want from the month: proper sunshine and warm sea, a long-haul luxury escape over Christmas, or snow, reindeer and the chance of the northern lights.
Below, our Travel Designers pick ten December destinations that work well for UK travellers, with why each one suits the month, what the weather is generally like, who it is best for and a luxury stay we would happily book. There is a comparison table further down if you want to see them side by side.
The quick answer
- For guaranteed warmth and calm seas: the Maldives, Sri Lanka’s south and west coasts, or Cape Town at the start of its summer.
- For winter sun without a long flight: Dubai, Oman, Marrakech or the Canary Islands, all within about three and a half to eight hours of London.
- For the Caribbean: Barbados and Antigua, with the hurricane season officially over at the end of November.
- For a white Christmas: Finnish Lapland, now reachable by direct flights from London.
- Christmas and New Year weeks book up first and fly at peak rates, so the first half of December is the sweet spot for space and value.
The best places to travel in December
We have ordered these broadly from long-haul beach escapes to shorter flights and colder climates. Flight times are approximate non-stop times from London; schedules change, and we will always check the current routing for your dates.
1. The Maldives
Why December: December marks the start of the dry northeast monsoon season, which generally runs through to April. Rain eases, the sea settles and visibility for snorkelling and diving improves.
Weather: hot and humid all year, with sea temperatures that feel like a warm bath. Expect some short tropical showers in early December, then increasingly settled weather.
Best for: honeymooners, couples marking a big anniversary and anyone who simply wants to do nothing beautifully. Families do well here too, as many resorts have excellent kids’ clubs.
Luxury stay: Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a barefoot-luxury island of large villas with their own pools and an observatory for stargazing. British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Malé in about ten and a half hours. Our Maldives holidays page has more resort ideas.
2. Barbados
Why December: the Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on 30 November, and Barbados moves into its drier, breezier months. The island is at its liveliest over Christmas and New Year, with a busy social calendar of restaurants, beach bars and events on the west coast.
Weather: warm days in the high 20s, cooling trade winds and short passing showers rather than prolonged rain.
Best for: British travellers who want easy, sophisticated Caribbean sun with no jet lag to speak of, families over the school holidays and returning guests who like to know exactly what they are getting.
Luxury stay: Sandy Lane on the platinum west coast, the island’s grande dame, with its golf, spa and a beach that is calm and clear for swimming. Flights from London take around eight and a half to nine hours. See our Barbados holidays.
3. Antigua
Why December: the same dry-season shift as Barbados, plus the start of the sailing season, when English Harbour fills with yachts. Antigua is famous for its beaches, and December light shows them off.
Weather: warm, sunny and relatively dry, with steady trade winds that make it one of the more comfortable Caribbean islands in the heat of the day.
Best for: beach lovers, couples and sailors, and anyone who wants a private-island feel within a short boat ride of a lively main island.
Luxury stay: Jumby Bay Island, part of the Oetker Collection, on its own car-free island a short boat transfer from the Antigua coast. Flights from Gatwick take around eight and a half hours. Read our Antigua and Barbuda holiday guide for more.
4. Dubai
Why December: the fierce summer heat has gone, so you can walk the creek, visit the souks and spend whole days on the beach in comfort. It is one of the most reliable short-to-medium-haul winter-sun choices.
Weather: warm and sunny, with pleasant daytime temperatures in the mid-20s and cooler evenings that sometimes call for a light layer.
Best for: families who want a straightforward flight and endless things to do, couples after a glamorous city-and-beach break, and anyone combining a few days of sun with a long-haul stopover.
Luxury stay: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah for the full statement, or a beach resort on Palm Jumeirah for something calmer. Non-stop flights from London take about seven hours, and Dubai is only four hours ahead of the UK in winter, so jet lag is minimal.
5. Oman
Why December: Oman is at its most comfortable in winter, when you can combine the capital, the mountains, the desert and the coast in one trip without the summer heat.
Weather: warm and dry on the coast, cooler in the mountains and noticeably chilly at night in the desert, which makes a campfire under the stars all the better.
Best for: travellers who want winter sun with culture and landscape, couples on a first trip to Arabia and families with older children who enjoy a little adventure.
Luxury stay: The Chedi Muscat, a serene beachfront hotel of pools, gardens and clean lines, as a base before heading inland to the Hajar Mountains or the Wahiba Sands. Non-stop flights from Heathrow to Muscat take around seven and a half hours.
6. Marrakech, Morocco
Why December: a short flight, bright winter sunshine and a city that comes alive at dusk. With snow often on the High Atlas behind the city, December is one of the most photogenic times to visit.
Weather: mild, sunny days that suit sightseeing, and cold nights. It is not beach weather, but it is ideal for riads, gardens and long lunches outdoors.
Best for: a long weekend or a festive escape for couples and friends, food lovers, and anyone who wants a complete change of scene within about three and a half hours of London.
Luxury stay: La Mamounia, a Marrakech institution since 1923, with its celebrated gardens just inside the old city walls. Pair it with a few nights in the Atlas Mountains for contrast. See our Morocco holidays.
7. Tenerife and the Canary Islands
Why December: the Canaries are the closest place to the UK with dependable winter warmth. They are also in the same time zone as London, so a week here barely disturbs your routine.
Weather: mild and generally sunny on the southern and western coasts, with days in the low 20s. The Atlantic is fresh rather than warm, which is why heated pools matter.
Best for: families who want a short flight, golfers, walkers and multi-generation groups.
Luxury stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Abama on Tenerife’s west coast, with its own golf course and views across to La Gomera. Flights take a little over four hours. Browse our Spain holidays for the islands and the mainland.
8. Cape Town, South Africa
Why December: it is early summer in the Western Cape, with long days, dry weather and the winelands at their greenest. South Africa is only an hour or two ahead of the UK, so there is no jet lag despite the distance.
Weather: warm and dry, with plenty of sunshine. The Cape is known for strong summer winds, so we plan beach days around the forecast.
Best for: food and wine lovers, families over Christmas, and couples who want city, coast and safari in one trip.
Luxury stay: The Silo Hotel at the V&A Waterfront, set above the Zeitz MOCAA art museum, or Belmond Mount Nelson for classic garden calm beneath Table Mountain. Non-stop flights from Heathrow take around eleven and a half hours, mostly overnight.
9. Sri Lanka’s south and west coasts
Why December: the south and west coasts move into their best season from December, and it lasts through to around March. That makes it the right time for the beaches around Galle, Weligama and Tangalle, combined with the tea country and the Cultural Triangle.
Weather: hot and increasingly dry on the south and west coasts, cooler in the hill country, where the mornings can be crisp.
Best for: curious travellers who want a beach holiday with real depth, families with older children and anyone who loves wildlife, food and heritage.
Luxury stay: Amanwella near Tangalle, a calm, contemporary resort on a crescent bay, or Cape Weligama on its clifftop above the Indian Ocean. SriLankan Airlines flies non-stop from Heathrow to Colombo in about eleven hours.
10. Finnish Lapland
Why December: this is the month for snow, reindeer sleigh rides, husky safaris and the long blue twilight of the Arctic winter. Northern lights season is well under way, and Christmas in Lapland is an experience children remember for life.
Weather: properly cold, with snow cover and only a few hours of daylight. With the right clothing, which good lodges provide or hire out, it is magical rather than miserable.
Best for: families with young children at Christmas, couples hoping to see the aurora and anyone who wants a festive season that feels genuinely different.
Luxury stay: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel near Rovaniemi, whose glass-fronted suites look straight out into the forest. British Airways is launching direct seasonal flights from Gatwick to Rovaniemi this winter, adding to its Gatwick to Ivalo service, with a flight time of around three and a half hours.
December destinations compared
A quick way to narrow the list. Flight times are approximate for non-stop flights from London and vary with the season and the airline.
| Destination | Flight time from London | December weather | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Maldives | About 10.5 hours | Hot, start of dry season | Honeymoons, diving, total relaxation |
| Barbados | About 8.5 to 9 hours | Warm, drier, breezy | Easy luxury, families, festive social scene |
| Antigua | About 8.5 hours | Warm, sunny, trade winds | Beaches, sailing, private islands |
| Dubai | About 7 hours | Warm days, cooler evenings | Families, city and beach, stopovers |
| Oman | About 7.5 hours | Warm coast, cool desert nights | Culture, landscape, gentle adventure |
| Marrakech | About 3.5 hours | Mild sunny days, cold nights | Short breaks, food, riads |
| Tenerife | About 4 to 4.5 hours | Mild, mostly sunny | Short-haul families, golf, walking |
| Cape Town | About 11.5 hours | Warm, dry, often windy | Wine, food, city and safari |
| Sri Lanka (south and west) | About 11 hours | Hot, drying out | Beaches with culture and wildlife |
| Finnish Lapland | About 3.5 hours | Snowy, cold, short days | Christmas with children, northern lights |
Christmas and New Year at sea
A cruise solves one of the trickiest parts of a December holiday: everyone in the family can do their own thing by day and meet for dinner, and Christmas lunch and the New Year’s Eve party are taken care of. Options range from Canary Islands and Caribbean voyages to winter sailings to Norway in search of the northern lights.
Our guide to Christmas and New Year cruises 2026 covers the festive sailings still worth booking, and our pick of the best Caribbean cruises from the UK is useful if you want winter sun with several islands in one trip.
How to choose your December trip
Travelling with children? Our Lapland Santa holidays list every December departure by UK airport, and adults can see the festive northern lights break.
Early December or the festive weeks?
The first two weeks of December are one of the best-kept secrets in travel. The weather in most of these places is already good, flights are calmer and the top resorts have more choice of rooms. From around 20 December to the first days of January, demand peaks everywhere on this list, and many hotels set minimum stays.
How far do you want to fly?
For a week or less, we usually suggest staying within about eight hours: Dubai, Oman, Morocco or the Canaries. With ten nights or more, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cape Town and the Caribbean come into their own, and an upgraded cabin makes a long overnight flight far easier.
Guaranteed heat, gentle warmth or snow?
If swimming in warm sea is the point, choose the Maldives, the Caribbean or Sri Lanka. If you are happy with sunshine and 20-something degrees, Morocco and the Canaries are excellent. And if the idea of a hot beach at Christmas feels wrong, Lapland gives you the festive season children imagine.
Combine two places
December is ideal for two-centre trips: Dubai or Oman on the way to the Maldives or Sri Lanka, Cape Town with a safari, or Marrakech with the Atlas Mountains. A Travel Designer can line up flights so the connection becomes part of the holiday rather than a chore.
Frequently asked questions
Where is hot in December for a holiday from the UK?
For proper heat and warm sea, the Maldives, the Caribbean islands such as Barbados and Antigua, Sri Lanka’s south and west coasts and Cape Town are all reliable in December. For pleasant warmth with a shorter flight, look at Dubai, Oman and the Canary Islands.
What is the closest winter sun to the UK in December?
The Canary Islands are the closest dependable winter-sun destination, at a little over four hours’ flight, and they share the UK’s time zone. Marrakech is even closer, at about three and a half hours, but it is mild and sunny rather than beach-hot.
Is December a good time to visit the Caribbean?
Yes. The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on 30 November, and islands such as Barbados and Antigua move into their drier, breezier months. Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks, so book early for those dates.
Is December a good time to visit the Maldives?
December is the start of the dry northeast monsoon season, which generally runs until April, so the weather becomes more settled and sea visibility improves. The festive weeks are the most popular of the year and the best villas go early.
Where can we have a white Christmas?
Finnish Lapland is the most dependable choice for snow at Christmas, with reindeer, husky safaris and the chance of the northern lights. British Airways flies direct from Gatwick to Ivalo and is adding Rovaniemi this winter.
When should I book a December holiday?
As early as possible for travel between Christmas and New Year, when the best rooms and flights sell out first. For early December there is usually more choice, but popular resorts in the Maldives and the Caribbean still fill quickly.
Plan your trip with us
Our Travel Designers know which resorts still have space over Christmas, which flights connect best and when to go for the weather you want. Tell us how you would like to spend December and we will shape a trip around you, with full financial protection.
Keep planning
- Maldives holidays
- Barbados holidays
- Antigua and Barbuda holiday guide
- Christmas and New Year cruises 2026
- The best swim-up room hotels
- The best cruises for January 2027
Updated 31 October 2026. Flight times are approximate non-stop times from London and weather descriptions are general seasonal patterns; we check current schedules and conditions for your travel dates.
