December is Christmas market season. Add the festival in Tallinn’s UNESCO-designated Old Town to your list.
Photo by dotmiller1986/Shutterstock
This article was originally published in 2022 and is updated regularly. It was updated most recently on October 7, 2026, to include current information.
If you feel you deserve a present to yourself after powering through any holiday gift lists, we don’t blame you (in fact, we feel the same). So why not plan a trip as a reward? Tack on some time for a family visit, perhaps, or burn through some of the excess PTO that you’ve involuntarily accrued.
There are plenty of options for people deciding where to travel this December. Take a quick break in a Caribbean country that’s easier to get to than ever starting this month, or head to a corner of the Midwest where it’s Christmas 24/7 every day. Then again, why not celebrate Christmas in a country that’s so festive, decorations are usually set up in most homes by early fall?
Here are the 10 best places to travel this December.
Europe for Christmas markets
Call it Christmaxxing. Where better to deliriously overindulge in the season than at one of Europe’s traditional markets? In Sicily, Palermo’s Piazza Castelnuovo is the hub of a hundred-strong stall extravaganza, and you’ll likely encounter the unique, bagpipe-like players known as zampognari, itinerant musicians who roam the island playing traditional melodies.
In the Baltics, Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, has its own market anchored by a landmark Christmas tree; this claims to be the first place in the whole of Europe to display one in public, with records indicating it started in the 1440s.
Straddle the French and German traditions of Christmas in Strasbourg, that dual-identity French city close to the border. The market there is called Christkindelsmärik (or “market of the Christ Child,” in the local German-skewing dialect), and the wooden chalets are clearly reminiscent of the Teutonic tradition. You’ll drink vin chaud (mulled wine) rather than glühwein, though, and snack on choucroute garnie (a plate of meats, potatoes, and sauerkraut).
And in London, you’ll have many markets to choose from, including the massive Hyde Park Winter Wonderland with its amusement-park rides, the Southbank Centre Winter Festival along the Thames, and Christmas in Covent Garden.
Feeling inspired? We have even more ideas for you: Map out a route to Europe’s most magical Christmas markets, as well as its less-crowded ones.
Where to stay: Claridge’s
Claridge’s, London’s grande dame hotel, has become holiday Insta-catnip in the past few years via a splashy partnership on its lobby tree and decor with fashion brands like Burberry, Jimmy Choo, and Sir Paul Smith. There’s no word yet on 2026’s festive partner, but expect a glamorously over-the-top display throughout the season.
In Estonia, stay at the Hotel Telegraaf, Autograph Collection. Located on a quiet block a few minutes’ walk from Tallinn’s main square, the 1878 building used to be the city’s central telegraph office.
Belize for an easier than ever getaway
Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island, about 10 miles off the mainland.
Photo by Paul Harding 00/Shutterstock
The often overlooked Anglophone Central American country of Belize is easier to reach than ever from the USA starting this month, thanks to new nonstop services on BermudAir, connecting it to hubs that include Tampa–St. Petersburg, Orlando, Raleigh–Durham, and Boston. And this is the start of Belize’s dry season, an ideal time to enjoy its Caribbean coastline. The fringing reefs here and crystal blue water might easily be mistaken for the Maldives, without the jet lag.
Head to the largest of the 200 or so islands that dot the coastline, the 25-mile long Ambergris Caye, and use the town of San Pedro as your base to explore. Try snorkeling and diving the reef just off its shoreline or take a boat out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the nearby Shark Ray Alley, a fine spot for swimming among stingrays, turtles and nurse sharks. Enjoy all that, plus the annual Holiday Boat Parade, when a flotilla of a dozen or more decorated vessels sails past the town as part of the festive run-up—it’s usually on a Saturday in late December, but check here for updates on 2026’s regatta.
Where to stay: Victoria House Resort & Spa
The 42-room beachfront Victoria House was a pioneering high-end hotel when it opened here in the 1980s, around two miles south of San Pedro town. There’s a private pier and on-site dive shop, as well as free-to-use kayaks for exploring the coastline independently. Take trips into town for a lively evening, or idle away at Admiral Nelson’s Beach Bar, the best waterside perch for rum punch made with the local fave, One Barrel.
Keystone, Colorado, for late night skiing
Keystone’s trails stay open late for night skiing.
Photo by Cascade Creatives/Shutterstock
Colorado’s newest town, incorporated as a self-governing municipality from Summit County two years ago, has embraced its autonomy with gusto. There’s new skiing terrain—550 acres in the Ericsson and Bergman Bowls, reachable via a six-person lift—and the new Kindred Resort, aiming to lure luxe-loving piste-seekers from Breckenridge and Vail. On weekends and holidays this winter, you can ski here until 7 p.m., later than anywhere else in the state, thanks to the extensive slope lighting.
Come in December, and you can enjoy a festive twist, including ice-skating shows on Keystone Lake and scenic sleigh rides. Need a souvenir to take home? Pick up a custom ski run sign from Keystone Sports Mountain House, at the base of the mountain.
Where to stay: Kindred Resort
The year-old Kindred Resort is the newest luxury crash pad in the region, with 107 rooms and ski-in, ski-out access, steps from the River Run Gondola, plus a slopeside tavern and the best bonus of all: First Track access for guests.
Bonaire for peak bird-watching migration season
Bonaire is a bird-watching paradise; more than 250 species have been recorded here.
Photo by Thomas Roell/Shutterstock
Most people associate Bonaire with diving, because the appeal of this flat, arid island has long been underwater, with fringing reefs off its coast. (Salt Pier is a great place to start.) Come December, though, and there’s more to appeal than diving or snorkeling, as a slew of birds conclude their migration south from the cold of North America and take up a winter roost in the southern Caribbean.
Roam amid the salt pans, mangroves, and freshwater ponds, and you’ll find yourself in a balmy bird-spotters’ heaven where more than 250 species have been recorded; almost 200 of them are nonresident. The rainbow-colored Cargill Salt Ponds will teem with everything from sanderlings to whimbrels, while you’ll find waterthrushes and American redstarts in the mangroves and dry forest. The Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary is one of a handful of natural flamingo breeding sites in the world—and it’s the start of courtship and breeding season this month.
Related: Skip the Crowds: Smarter Ways to Experience the Caribbean
Where to stay: Delfins Beach Resort
The 148-room Delfins Beach Resort on Belize’s southwestern coast, a short drive from the main airport, is handily located on its own reef, with an on-site PADI 5-star diving center; the Pekelmeer sanctuary is also only about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. (Start early, around 6.30 a.m., for the best bird-spotting.)
Frankenmuth, Michigan, for the ultimate Christmas wonderland
Frankenmuth, Michigan, has a vibe reminiscent of Bavaria.
Photo by Craig Sterken/Shutterstock
If you’re not heading to Europe this year for twinkly cheer, perhaps opt for the next best thing: Little Bavaria in Michigan, two hours north of Detroit. A group of Lutheran immigrants originally established Frankenmuth during the 1840s, bringing their traditions with them to the Midwest. One such tradition: a devotion to Christmas, which remains evident each December, as visitors can visit the world’s largest Christmas store, meet reindeer-in-training at Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm, or see the upside-down Christmas tree at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, a nod to the German tradition in which the tree represented the Holy Trinity. Hitch a ride on the Golden Ticket Trolley to trundle round town in style and see the festive decor in comfort. (The Bavarian tradition is especially evident in the fall too, when Frankenmuth hosts the only Oktoberfest in the country that’s approved by officially approved by the original Munich festival.)
One key sightseeing spot: Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, which claims to be the largest Christmas store in the world. The family-owned, almost seven-acre site stocks more than 50,000 festive items. One standout item: a $15 custom ornament painted to your exact liking by one of the staff.
Related: This “Little Bavaria” Town Has the Only Germany-Sanctioned Oktoberfest in the USA
Where to stay: The Bavarian Inn Lodge
It’s worth checking into the 360-room, German-accented Bavarian Inn Lodge for its retro-style architecture alone. But the lodge also features the state’s largest indoor water park, the 170,000-square-foot Bavarian Blast, which boasts 16 waterslides and a swim-up bar.
Abu Dhabi for the new Guggenheim and an F1 race
Located in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, the new Guggenheim will exhibit modern and contemporary art.
Photo by Emic Works
On December 11, the billion-dollar-plus Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will finally open, one of the last buildings designed by the late starchitect Frank Gehry (also behind the Guggenheim Bilbao). It’s another piece of the arty jigsaw puzzle assembled in the Saadiyat Cultural District that includes an outpost of the Louvre.
The inaugural show at the 30-gallery Guggenheim is still under wraps, but expect it to draw heavily on the permanent collection that’s been assembled by the emirate under the Guggenheim’s watchful guidance, heavy on familiar names like Warhol and Pollock.
Come a few days before it debuts and you can also catch the final F1 race of the season, held on Yas Island on a circuit that’s known for its day-to-night race, starting just before sunset and finishing under klieg lights. Last year, it was a nail-biter, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen managed to win the race but lose the season, since third place was enough for Lando Norris to earn enough points to end up on top. Here’s hoping for a similar seat-edging finale to the season this year.
Where to stay: Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort
The 207-key Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort (an Anantara-operated property) is a refuge-like oasis 90 minutes outside the main urban sprawl of the emirate, sitting in the middle of the Liwa desert—the aptly named Empty Quarter here is the largest stretch of bare sand in the world. The Bedouin-inspired rooms have spectacular views across that desert, which you can explore on camel treks, or on sandboarding and dune bashing excursions.
Related: The 8 Best Hotels in Abu Dhabi for a Truly Local Stay
Bahamas for a Caribbean Boxing Day
Junkanoo is a colorful, musical festival celebrated on December 26 and New Year’s Day.
Photo by Montez Kerr/Shutterstock
December 26 is what the British—and this former British colony—call Boxing Day. It’s also when you can immerse yourself in a rowdy, vibrant festival known as Junkanoo, which combines elements of West African and Caribbean heritage and celebrates the cultural heritage of the inhabitants of what’s now the Bahamas.
There are festivals across all 16 major islands, but the largest is in the capital Nassau: Bay Street there becomes a throbbing party starting in the early hours when locals appear in handcrafted costumes and rush through downtown to the rhythmic accompaniment of goatskin drums, bells, and horns.
Visit the Educulture Junkanoo Museum to learn more about the history of this fest; one theory involves a slave owner giving his enslaved people the day off, and deeding a version of his name, John Canoe, to the festivities. Another version suggests the name was an Anglo sobriquet for a West African spirit protector. That story, of course, hints at the fact that underneath the riotous fun that characterizes the day is a subtle form of protest and resistance that still animates the day.
Related: A Fashion Designer Shares His Favorite Spots in the Colorful, Creative Bahamas
Where to stay: British Colonial
The 288-room hotel sits right on Bay Street, ideal for easy access to the festival, and on a site that once held Nassau’s Old Fort. If the hotel looks familiar, that’s likely because you’ve seen it in Never Say Never Again, the last Connery Bond outing; Bond Girl Fatima Blush water-skis toward it in one of the film’s most memorable sequences. For relaxation after the festivities, escape to the suites and villas of the Potlatch Club on Eleuthera, Nassau’s quieter cousin with pink-sand beaches and plenty of solitude (and an Afar pick for one of the best off-the-beaten-path places to travel in 2026).
Savannah, Georgia, for festive Southern hospitality
Every part of Savannah is decorated during December, including Forsyth Park.
Courtesy of Visit Savannah
The Hostess City rolls out the red carpet for the holidays, and you won’t need to pack anything too cozy—daytime averages in Savannah are in the mid-60s. In addition to festive decor on Victorian and Gothic revival homes, there’s the Old Town Trolley tour around the decked-out city, where conductors will unspool stories about the Christmas traditions here between a few snatches of carols.
You’ll also find the River Street’s Christmas Market, seasonal refreshments like the cranberry-spiked Bee’s Knees at the Prohibition Museum, and the family-friendly “A Christmas Tradition” variety show at the Historic Savannah Theatre.
The Lighted Christmas Parade trundles through town on December 12 (expect plenty of 4x4s festooned like Christmas trees), or buy a ticket to the Pink House’s party on December 3, where all 13 rooms of the beloved local restaurant are given over to a swanky fundraising cocktail party to kick off the season.
Where to stay: Thompson Savannah
Spring for a river-facing room at the 193-room Thompson Savannah, a soaring new-build skyscraper in the Eastern Wharf district, with killer views of the city. Even if you don’t stay here, have a sundowner at the rooftop Bar Julian, which has hosted a pop-up festive-themed takeover, dubbed Frosty’s, each December in recent years. (Check its website for exact 2026 dates.)
The Philippines for a Christmas countdown
A type of Christmas lantern, parols line the streets of the Philippines all month.
Photo by Cherish Gonzales/Shutterstock
If any country could claim to be Christmas obsessed, it’s the Philippines, where the holiday season will often span what’s colloquially known as the ’ber months: September through December. It’s arguably the longest such celebration anywhere in the world. Expect to see the streets decorated with star-patterned lanterns known as parols, crafted from paper and bamboo and inspired by the Star of Bethlehem.
Make sure, too, to sample Christmas day treats such as bibingka, made with rice flour and coconut milk, or the brioche-like ensaimadas pastries. “Food is the love language of Filipinos, and it’s very common to send food to each other over the holidays,” says travel advisor Tinky Gonzalez de Castilla Locsin of Cantik Travel, who lives and works in the Philippines.
Nowhere will you see more holiday spirit than in San Fernando, Pampanga, a city that out-Christmases the rest of the country: During the Giant Lantern festival, different neighborhoods, or barangays, vie for supremacy in a contest to create the most elaborate, jaw-dropping parol. It typically takes place in mid-December (check here for updates on the exact date for 2026), but the lanterns will be on view through New Year’s Day.
Where to stay: Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila is suitably luxe, given that it’s a longtime outpost of the Hong Kong–based chain. But the real appeal here is the soaring lobby, with its mascot-like ceiling installation (Napoleon Abueva’s Sunburst) and a buzzy nighttime scene most nights of the week.
Kennebunkport, Maine, for an IRL Hallmark movie
Maine Down East Turbats Creek in winter
Photo by Capt’ Tom/Shutterstock
Coastal Maine may be a summertime hot spot, but don’t dismiss the idea of a trip during the festive season to one of the region’s charming small towns—especially Kennebunkport, whose decor-trimmed makeover each winter has earned it multiple plaudits. The annual Christmas Prelude festival runs December 3–13 this year, and you can expect a picture-perfect backdrop, with garland-trimmed stores, the sound of carolers in the crisp night air, and the smell of cinnamon and firewood everywhere.
Don decorated headgear for the annual Hat Parade (December 5), attend the tree lighting on the 11th, or dress up your dog for the Pooch Parade (the 13th). In between, head over to the Seashore Trolley Museum, a family-friendly showcase for the electric railways where the trolleys are strung with twinkly lights for the season.
Related: Portland, Maine, Is America’s Best Bakery Town
Where to stay: Kennebunkport Inn
Situated downtown in an erstwhile tea merchant’s mansion dating to the Gilded Age, the Kennebunkport Inn was gut-renovated four years ago to give it a more contemporary edge, such as sleeker rooms and a glass-enclosed solarium. Stop in this month for the Tinsel Bar, a festive makeover of its signature restaurant, the Burleigh.
