The 10 best places to visit in December 2026

The ideal December getaway is different for every traveler. For some, strolling through Europe’s sparkling holiday markets is the dream, while for others, chasing the thrill of fresh powder makes the month great. Or, if you prefer to kick back, the warm waters of Mexico’s Riviera Maya are just the ticket.

Plus, major hotel openings, new flight routes and seasonal celebrations make December an especially exciting time to travel.

Whether you’re chasing sunshine in the Southern Hemisphere, looking for far-flung adventures or want to snuggle up in a winter wonderland, these are the 10 best places to visit in December.

Niseko, Japan

Japan’s legendary powder snow and frosted alpine scenery is going to be easier to reach this winter. Starting Dec. 11, United Airlines is launching three weekly seasonal nonstop flights between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS), marking the first nonstop service between the continental U.S. and Hokkaido. From Sapporo, travelers can head to Niseko, one of Japan’s premier ski destinations, where a new eight-passenger gondola is set to debut for the 2026-27 ski season.

December is an especially enticing time to visit, when a winter glow settles over Niseko and the region’s famous snow season gets underway. Extra bonus: You can take a break from skiing and snowboarding to warm up in traditional Japanese hot spring surrounded by the snowy mountain scenery and the area’s restaurants offer a chance to sample Hokkaido specialties, including warm bowls of rich ramen.

TPG tip: There’s even more news in Niseko: Moxy Niseko Village, one of our most anticipated points hotels in 2026, just opened, bringing the brand’s playful style, and reasonable prices, to a mountain retreat with direct ski-in, ski-out access. After a day on the slopes, unwind in the efficient and tech savvy rooms, grab drinks at Bar Moxy or explore the area’s restaurants and shops. Rates in December start at $134 per night or 128,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, however there is limited availability during high season for the latter.

Budapest

If your head is filled with visions of mulled wine, spiced cookies, twinkling lights and sweet treats, then put Budapest on your December travel list. The Hungarian capital sparkles in December with two particularly large holiday markets, one at Vorosmarty Square and the other at St. Stephen’s Basilica. At Vorosmarty, purchase local handmade crafts and Hungarian items, including soaps and spices. Meanwhile, at the St. Stephen’s market, you’ll find copious food options to sample with your forralt bar (mulled wine), including large fried flatbread called lagos that come heaped with toppings both savory (if in doubt, go for the sour cream covered with grated cheese) or sweet (Nutella is a popular choice). Enjoy it while you watch the light show projected on the basilica.

Two more festive ways to spend time in Budapest in December: take a nighttime cruise along the Danube River to see the House of Parliament and the Royal Castle cast in a golden glow or visit the Hungarian State Opera, a restored Baroque gem, to see The Nutcracker.

TPG tip:Keep the festive spirit going at the New York Cafe, often called “the most beautiful cafe in the world.” It’s a candy box of crystal, marble and opulent golden details. Sip a hot chocolate or a cocktail, order a gorgeous layer cake or warm up with a bowl of goulash. There’s usually a long line to get in, but if you stay at the elegant Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel, special tables are reserved for hotel guests, sans wait. Opt for the elaborate breakfast, for hotel guests only, and you’ll be able to nibble Hungarian crepes under the grand chandeliers, and without the crowds, too. Rooms from $407 a night in December and can be booked through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts.

The Hilton Budapest Hotel is about as close as possible to sleeping in Buda Castle itself. The hotel is a former 13th-century church on Castle Hill just steps from St. Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion. December rates start from $175 or 54,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Looking for an easy-to-reach warm-weather escape in December? The Riviera Maya presents an ideal option. With daytime temperatures averaging 81 degrees Fahrenheit and balmy evenings around 73 degrees, it’s an ideal time for beach lounging, snorkeling, exploring ancient Mayan ruins or jumping into a cenote (natural swimming hole) without the intense heat or humidity of summer. December also marks the start of the dry season, meaning clearer skies and no chance of fall’s extended hurricane season.

Even better, holiday festivities are in full swing — including the vibrant Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, and Christmas and New Year’s celebrations at many resorts, complete with beachfront dinners, live entertainment and cultural performances. Be sure to stop at local markets offering traditional holiday foods such as sweet fried bunuelos and tamales (even though you may have seen them year-round, they’re a Christmas tradition).

TPG tip: December is the perfect time to try out the debut of Kimpton’s first all-inclusive resort, the beachfront Kimpton Tres Rios. Set in a 340-acre nature preserve, the property has multiple pools, including separate ones for kids and adults, a 10,000 square foot spa and seven restaurants and bars. Guests can also take advantage of the resort’s Tres Rios natural setting with kayaking, snorkeling or exploring the fresh-water cenotes. Rates start at $427 per night based on double occupancy, or 35,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

New York City

There are few things as memorable as visiting the Big Apple when it’s covered with sparkling holiday frosting and the entire city feels like a Hallmark movie set. Your holiday must-see list will be never-ending, but some more classic must-dos include a stop by Fifth Avenue for some last-minute shopping, an icy spin on the Wollman Rink after a festive stroll through Central Park, a visit to Macy’s Santaland if you have kids in tow, a performance of “Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes” and a visit to Brooklyn neighborhood Dyker Heights for some of the most truly jaw-dropping festive holiday lights anywhere in the country.

Plus, Rockefeller Center is celebrating 90 years of The Rink with an extra dose of holiday magic this season, transforming both sides of the iconic ice skating rink into festive tree-viewing destinations, including cozy Holiday Chalets where you can sip and dine. This year’s tree lighting celebration takes place Dec. 2 in 2026. Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has the largest holiday market in the city, plus dining, intimate igloos, skating AND the chance to meet Santa on select dates. The tree lighting here also takes place Dec. 2. (Heads up, this is going to be a really busy night in the city, so plan accordingly.) Want to give back while you’re in NYC? NH Collection New York Madison Avenue‘s “Hotels with a Heart” program combines festive decorations, seasonal cocktails and live jazz with a fundraiser that donates 100% of sales from the hotels’s handblown glass heart ornaments to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (rooms from $686 a night in December).

TPG tip: We’re anxiously awaiting the opening of Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York this month (although at press time the opening date was still set as as “late 2026”). When it does open, the nearly century-old building with a famed history of hospitality will have 145 rooms, suites with indoor-outdoor glassed terraces, a Japanese onsen, a spa and a wellness center and, of course, an outpost of the iconic namesake sushi restaurant. Rates still to be announced.

Egypt

Egypt becomes pleasantly mild in December, making it an ideal time to explore the country’s ancient wonders, including those in Cairo and along the Nile River. Don’t miss the Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the Giza pyramids, which opened last November and continues to draw crowds. Filled with wonders such as the obelisk of King Rameses II and the golden burial mask of Tutankhamun, this will continue to be a hot ticket for a long time to come. Reservations are required in advance, and walk-ups are not permitted; use this website to secure your tickets (there are many imposter sites, unfortunately).

Nile River cruising is also having a moment, with several newly launched ships, including Abercrombie & Kent’s Nile Seray, an A&K Sanctuary, which has 32 suites and sails between Luxor and Aswan on four-night journeys that combine exclusive archaeological access with exceptional dining programs. Viking also expanded its Egyptian fleet, now numbering a dozen ships, with the recent additions of Viking Sekhmet and Viking Ptah that, like other ships on the Nile, visit the enormous temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, as well as many other iconic sites of the ancient world.

TPG tip: For a luxe stay in Cairo, head to the pampering oasis of the St. Regis Cairo. The 36-story property has 366 guest rooms, suites and apartments, as well as seven bars and restaurants on-site. Rates start at $500 or 53,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night in December.

Lyon, France

Lyon may be known as the capital of gastronomy in France — it was the home of famed French chef Paul Bocuse. But in December, food comes second to the glowing Festival of Lights. The annual event, Dec. 5-8, 2025, started when residents lit candles to thank the Virgin Mary. It is now a four-day spectacle of light shows, art installations and performances across the city. The festival centers around Saint-Jean Cathedral, which transforms into a multi-hued Gothic wonder through sophisticated light projections.

And of course, cuisine is still an integral part of a visit to Lyon (the city is at the center of Vallee de la Gastronomie). Stroll through the Paul Bocuse Food Hall to shop for glistening pyramids of candied fruits and towers of hand-poured chocolates — both popular seasonal options. Then pull up a stool at an oyster bar for fresh-shucked oysters and a glass of sparkling wine.

For an even more festive meal, try Les Loges in the reopened Cour des Loges Lyon, a Radisson Collection Hotel (rooms from $297 per night). The charming chef, Anthony Bonnet, secured a coveted Michelin star for the restaurant. The centuries-old space is a grand setting for a multicourse menu that makes the most of seasonal ingredients like locally foraged mushrooms, hazelnuts and a hay-infused beef bouillon.

TPG tip: Villa Maia, perched atop Fourviere Hill, offers views of the entire old town below. Stays include access to the property’s Roman baths, a deep-soaking relaxation pool, a sauna and a steam room. Prices in December start at $308 per night. If you hold the right Amex card, you can book it through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts to get perks like complimentary daily breakfast for two and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.

The restored Intercontinental Lyon — Hotel Dieu by IHG occupies a palatial 18th-century building on the Rhone River within walking distance of the old town. Rooms start at $247 or 62,000 IHG One Rewards points per night in December.

Patagonia, Argentina

December is one of the best times to experience Argentine Patagonia, when the Southern Hemisphere summer brings long daylight hours and ideal conditions for exploring its vast wilderness. Adding a new reason to visit, Explora El Calafate is set to open Dec. 4, 2026, introducing a luxury lodge in the Patagonian steppe with sweeping views toward Lake Argentino, the Andes and the distant Perito Moreno Glacier.

The glacier is the region’s star attraction. Located within Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Perito Moreno is a spectacular expanse of ice that you can admire from panoramic walkways, approach by boat or experience on guided ice-trekking excursions. Beyond the glacier, there’s hiking across the plains, horseback riding through remote valleys and spending time with the turquoise lakes and jagged peaks that this rugged corner of South America is known for.

TPG tip:Explora El Calafate is located in the Chorrillo Malo estancia, the long, low 10-room lodge looks like a train snaking through the vast steppes as it blends into the surrounding scenery. It’s a key new link in Explora’s Patagonia Network, combinable with the new Explora Torres del Paine in Chile and Explora Patagonia National Park and Explora El Chaltén in Argentina for a multi-lodge, cross-border itinerary. Rooms in December start at $1,402 per night, all inclusive, and include all meals and beverages, activities and airport transfers.

Memphis, Tennessee

If you’re an arts and culture lover, you’re going to want to add Memphis to your travel plans this December. The Memphis Art Museum opens Dec. 6 in a stunning Herzog & de Meuron-designed building right on the Mississippi riverfront. The $222 million campus is a landmark moment for Memphis and one of the most significant museum openings in the South in decades. The inaugural exhibition, Making Beauty: Hooks Brothers Studio, 1907–1984, honors a historic African American photography studio that documented local Black communities in the urban South. The exhibit is co-presented with the nearby National Civil Rights Museum, which reopened this past September and is worth a special visit as well.

While you’re in Memphis, you’ll want to hit Beale Street not just for all the live music fun, but also for the Memphis Holiday Parade and Market on Dec. 12, which brings marching bands, festive floats and dozens of local vendors to Handy Park. Add to the holiday spirit with MOSH’s (Memphis Museum of Science and History) Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees with a snow-covered village, miniature trains and holiday laser shows in the planetarium.

TPG tip: The Hyatt Centric it is perfectly situated for all things Memphis with a prime location on historic Beale Street and Beck & Call rooftop lounge is a perfect perch to check out the neighborhood’s holiday lights. Rates in December from $171 or 12,000 points per night.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Singita, which boasts some of Africa’s most luxurious safari lodges, is expanding into Botswana’s biodiversity-rich Okavango Delta with one of our most anticipated hotel openings for 2026. The hotly anticipated Singita Elela launches on Dec. 11, giving guests the chance to experience the stunning wetland region in all seasons through a conservation-focused lens and in complete luxury.

Guests of Elela will have exclusive access to more than 420,000 acres of untouched wilderness with the chance to get up close and personal with the thousands of species that call it home

TPG tip: Unlike most traditional safari lodges where there are private accommodations and shared public spaces at a single camp, Elela comprises 10 stilted, entirely private camps, with five one-bedroom and two two-bedroom options and and one four-bedroom camp that sleeps eight.

Each camp includes a dedicated vehicle, guide, tracker, camp manager and even a private arrival point. The four-bedroom camp amps that up to include two private vehicles plus a wine cellar, a workout room and a personal chef. Rates for the one bedroom camps start at $3,100 per adult and $1,550 per child and the four-bedroom camp starts at $22,830 per night, per group. (Note that children of all ages are allowed in camp, but there are age restrictions for activities.)

South Island, New Zealand

For travelers looking to trade snowflakes for sunshine, New Zealand’s South Island offers a summer escape in December, with long, sunny days ideal for exploring dramatic landscapes, coastal towns and renowned wine regions. United Airlines resumes its seasonal nonstop service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Christchurch Airport (CHC) on Dec. 2, 2026, making it easy to reach the Southern Hemisphere destination. The route, United’s southernmost, makes Christchurch a convenient starting point for a South Island adventure.

In Christchurch, explore the city’s gardens, riverside dining scene and nearby beaches, or venture into the surrounding countryside for outdoor adventures. Wine lovers can head to the Waipara Valley, a popular wine region known for its Riesling and Pinot Noir.

Tpg tip: Head to Queenstown for a standout new hotel option on South Island. Avani Queenstown, which debuted in September 2026, offers a contemporary luxury retreat nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and a mix of traditional hotel rooms and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Rates from $277 per night in December.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Source: thepointsguy.com