Where to go in December: markets, sun and events

Pick a December trip by weather and festivals: Christmas markets in Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia, dry-season weather in Thailand, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and New Year events.

Christmas markets in Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia run in the weeks before Christmas. A trip there suits travelers who don't mind cold weather and short days, and it leaves room for indoor breaks between market stops. In Thailand, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the dry season starts around this time of year, so beach days and outdoor plans are more reliable. Pack warm layers for Central European nights and light clothes for island days. Hogmanay in Edinburgh and New Year's Eve in Sydney both take place on December 31.

Pick one or two regions rather than covering several in one trip, since each has its own weather and travel times. Choose by what you want most: cold-weather markets and city evenings in Central Europe, or warm beaches in Thailand, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. If a New Year's Eve event is the goal, Edinburgh and Sydney are the two cities to compare.

Best in December

Our writers rate these countries at their best this month

brown rock formation on body of water during daytime

AsiaThailandDry, busy

AsiaCambodiaDry, cooler

people walking on road between concrete houses during daytime

South AmericaColombiaDry, festive

AsiaPhilippinesDry, festive

AsiaSri LankaDry begins

EuropeAustriaChristmas markets

AfricaGuinea-BissauDry, sunny

AfricaBurkina FasoDry, harmattan

Also at their best: Senegal, Macau, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Qatar, India, Slovakia, Nicaragua. Every country, month by month

Big events in December

Dates checked with the organisers

Events calendar

Christmas market with people and festive lights

Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 · Dom- und ResidenzplatzSalzburg ChristkindlmarktThe Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is the Advent market on the Dom- und Residenzplatz, the square between the cathedral and the Residenz in the old town. It runs in Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Entry to the market area is free, and food, drink and goods are paid for at the stalls. The old town is a short walk from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, the main train station, and taxis and buses also run there from the airport. The market is busiest on weekend evenings, so an earlier visit in the day gives more space. The program includes a Krampus procession on 5 December at 18:30, a Nikolo and children's Krampus event on 6 December at 15:30, and a Perchtenlauf on 21 December at 13:00. Opening hours change over Christmas and New Year, so the hours row below lists each day. The old town is compact, which makes it easy to combine the market with the cathedral, the Residence and the Getreidegasse shopping street.Read the event guide