Introduction
These are the very best trips to enjoy in December, whether you're seeking out some winter sun or taking the family to meet Santa in his Lapland home.
Festive breaks, worldwide
December is a time for festivities, whether it’s celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sydney and Rio, or taking in the Christmas markets of Germany or Copenhagen. Further north, Swedish and Finnish Lapland are given over to sled rides and visits to Santa’s Grotto, while the likes of Norway’s Tromso wow with Northern Lights spectaculars. The world-famous winter ICEHOTEL also opens its doors for the season. New Year’s in Iceland is also particularly popular, combining Reykjavik’s buzzy nightlife with the country’s spectacular natural world.
Antarctic cruises
Inaccessible for most of the year, Antarctica opens up in summer, with luxury expedition cruises crossing the Drake Passage to take in the mesmerising landscapes and wildlife of the White Continent. Routes change with the weather, but in favourable conditions you can expect to land on shorelines packed with vast seal and penguin colonies, all framed by vast icebergs, creaking glaciers and snow-packed mountain peaks. What's more, you can get planning early, with Antarctica cruises are now available to book for winter 2022 and even into 2023.
Soak up some winter sun
If the British winter leaves you cold, head instead to the Caribbean and the islands of Barbados or Antigua. And, it's worth bearing in mind that you can find excellent deals on beach destinations for the first 10 days of December, beating the Christmas rush for the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.
Discover the Americas
Across in the Americas, Costa Rica offers a delightful combination of superb weather and off-peak crowds, while Mexico impresses with similarly delightful temperatures. But, if you’re looking towards the USA, Florida offers America’s finest weather – December is among the state's driest months.
