7 Best Places to Visit in December for Winter & Festivities

Looking for the best places to visit in December? The holiday season brings not only Christmas cheer, but also New Year’s Eve excitement and even winter magic in many parts of the world.

Whether you’re chasing snowy landscapes or vibrant city festivals, the best places to travel in December offer something special. From tropical year-end events to fairytale winter scenes, here are the best places to travel, and what makes each destination shine during this month.

7 Best Places to Visit in December

December is filled with holiday festivities and a sense of seasonal charm around the globe. Below, we will explore seven top destinations, each with unique December attractions. Ranging from warm-weather celebrations in Southeast Asia to winter wonderlands in the Arctic. Read on to discover why these are among the best places to visit as the year comes to a close.

1. Indonesia

Indonesia might not have snow, but it bursts with holiday spirit in December. Manado, a city in North Sulawesi, is renowned for its vibrant Christmas celebrations. As a predominantly Christian region, Manado comes alive with lights and festivities all month. In fact, the entire province hosts a December Christmas Festival featuring concerts, markets, choir competitions, and parades. 

Visitors in Manado during December can experience local traditions like Kunci Taon, the “closing of the year” ceremony. In this unique event, Minahasan communities visit cemeteries to decorate graves with lights and hold a costumed parade to cap off the Christmas season. The joyful atmosphere and citywide decorations make Manado one of the best places to travel in December in Indonesia for holiday cheer.

Jakarta, Indonesia’s bustling capital, also offers special year-end experiences. In North Jakarta’s Kampung Tugu, a Portuguese-Eurasian community preserves the Rabo-Rabo tradition during Christmas. This century-old ritual has families visiting each other’s homes, smearing faces with white powder, and dancing to Keroncong music – a symbol of unity and cleansing before the New Year. 

Throughout Jakarta, shopping malls and main streets are decked out in twinkling lights and Christmas displays. As New Year’s Eve approaches, the city buzzes with excitement. Popular spots like Monas (National Monument) and Ancol Beach host countdown events and fireworks at midnight. With its mix of cultural traditions and modern celebrations, Jakarta is a great place to travel in December for those wanting a lively urban holiday.

Also Read: 7 Best Family Vacation Destinations in the World

2. Singapore

Singapore combines tropical warmth with dazzling holiday displays, making it one of the best places to visit in December for a mix of festivities and mild weather. The city’s famous shopping street, Orchard Road, transforms into a glittering wonderland all month. 

“Christmas on A Great Street” is an annual extravaganza where the entire boulevard is strung with thousands of lights and elaborate decorations. Strolling under the ornate arches and massive Christmas trees of Orchard Road, often accompanied by holiday music and pop-up stalls, is a must-do in December.

Another highlight is Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay. From late November through December, the gardens light up with sculpted illuminations, nightly “snow” in the tropics, carnival games, and festive markets. 

As the year winds down, Singapore also hosts one of Asia’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations at Marina Bay. On December 31st, crowds gather by the water for a spectacular Countdown Concert and fireworks show. Singapore’s December weather is warm (around 28°C/82°F) with occasional showers, so you can comfortably enjoy outdoor events. 

3. Japan

Japan in December offers a magical blend of winter illuminations, cultural traditions, and holiday romance. In Tokyo, for example, many districts put on famous light shows: the trees of Marunouchi glow in champagne-gold lights, Roppongi Hills features a gorgeous illumination, and even amusement parks like Yomiuriland create a gemstone-themed wonderland of lights. 

Tokyo also has European-style Christmas markets (in places like Hibiya and Shinjuku), where you can sip hot chocolate or even the occasional mulled wine while browsing stalls of crafts – a nod to Japan’s adoption of some Western holiday customs.

Even though only a small percentage of Japanese people are Christian, Christmas is widely celebrated in a secular, fun way. You’ll find lavish store decorations and events throughout December. Uniquely, Christmas Eve in Japan is viewed as a romantic night for couples, who may exchange gifts and dine out amid the city lights. It’s also a time to enjoy specialty foods – notably fried chicken and strawberry shortcake have become popular Christmas treats in Japan!

Late December also marks the approach of Japan’s most important holiday: Oshogatsu, the New Year. Unlike the rowdy parties of the West, the Japanese New Year is a quiet, family-oriented time. Many businesses close at year’s end while people return to their hometowns. 

December is also the start of ski season in Japan’s mountains. By mid-December, many ski resorts in Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps are open with decent snow. Places like Niseko (Hokkaido) or Hakuba (Nagano) offer fantastic powder snow for skiers and snowboarders, with the peak snowfalls coming in January-February. 

Also Read: A Traveler’s Guide: 10 Best Places to Visit in Japan

4. Finland

If your December dream is a true winter wonderland, Finland’s Lapland region is hard to beat. In Finnish Lapland, December means deep snow, long polar nights, and the enchanting glow of the Northern Lights dancing overhead. The aurora borealis can be seen in Lapland roughly 200 nights a year on clear, dark nights. Mid-winter offers some of the best chances, with almost endless darkness above the Arctic Circle. 

Many travelers head to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, which markets itself as the “Official Hometown of Santa Claus”. Just outside Rovaniemi lies Santa Claus Village, a unique attraction where it’s Christmas every day. 

One of the biggest natural highlights of a Lapland trip is chasing the Northern Lights. On cold, clear nights, join an aurora safari by snowmobile or snowshoe to escape any light pollution and watch green and purple lights shimmer across the sky. 

With luck, you might witness the auroras flickering directly above Santa’s Village – a truly magical sight. Statistically, the aurora appears often throughout the winter in this region, given Rovaniemi’s prime location under the auroral oval.

December in Finland also offers many winter activities. You can speed through the powdery forests on a husky sled or reindeer sleigh, try ice-fishing on frozen lakes, or warm up in a traditional Finnish sauna (a must after playing in the snow). 

If you prefer city sights, Helsinki in southern Finland has very short days in December but comes alive with its own Christmas market in Senate Square and beautiful light displays downtown. However, the real star of a Finnish December is Lapland’s wild beauty and holiday charm. For anyone wanting a Christmas trip straight out of a fairy tale, Finland is one of the best places to travel in December.

5. “Stan” Countries

Central Asia’s so-called “Stan” countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, etc.) may not be the first places that come to mind for December travel, but they offer truly stunning winter scenes and unique cultural experiences. 

Kazakhstan, the largest of these nations, is particularly noteworthy in winter. By December, Kazakhstan turns into a snow-filled holiday landscape. From modern cityscapes under frost to pristine mountain vistas. In Almaty, the country’s biggest city set against the Tian Shan Mountains, winter starts in late November and covers the city in a blanket of white.

Importantly for adventure lovers, Almaty is a gateway to great winter sports. The famous Shymbulak Ski Resort in the mountains nearby offers skiing and snowboarding with panoramic views, and the Medeu Ice Rink (one of the world’s highest outdoor skating rinks) is a popular spot to glide on natural ice surrounded by peaks.

The capital city, Astana, is known for its extreme cold in winter. Watch out, because temperatures can plummet below -20°C. Yet Astana in December can be magical in its own way. The city’s futuristic architecture, like the Bayterek Tower and Khan Shatyr tent mall, often gets coated in sparkling frost. 

Beyond the cities, Kazakhstan’s natural landscapes are breathtaking in winter. The pine forests and lakes of places like Burabay National Park turn into silent wonderlands ideal for snowshoeing or simply peaceful reflection. Red rock canyons like Charyn Canyon take on a special beauty with a dusting of snow, offering a crowd-free, tranquil experience for visitors willing to brave the cold. 

Over in Kyrgyzstan, December means alpine valleys and yurt camps in snowfall – perfect for offbeat skiing or horseback riding in the snow-covered jailoo (pastures). And in Uzbekistan, winter is the low tourist season, so you can explore the iconic Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara without crowds. Sometimes, even with snow on their blue-tiled domes, it makes for magical photos.

If you’re an adventurous traveler who doesn’t mind the cold, visiting the Stans in December will reward you with postcard-perfect snow scenes, warm hospitality, and bragging rights to having experienced some of the world’s most beautiful, yet under-appreciated, winter destinations.

Also Read: 6 Tried-and-True Practical Tips on Traveling with Kids

6. Ladakh, India

For a truly off-the-beaten-path December adventure, consider Ladakh in northern India. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert in the Himalayas, known for its stark mountains and Tibetan Buddhist culture. 

In December, Ladakh enters its deep winter, a time that only a trickle of travelers experience. But those who do, are rewarded with breathtaking vistas and authentic local festivities. By late December, temperatures in Leh (the main town) drop well below freezing at night, and a serene blanket of snow covers the monasteries and mud-brick houses. 

It’s a harsh season, yet astonishingly beautiful: snow-capped peaks surround frozen rivers and lakes, and the air is crystal clear. One remarkable sight is Pangong Lake starting to freeze over; this high-altitude lake (famous from movies) turns into a sheet of ice by January.

If you’re into an extreme adventure, make sure to try the Chadar Trek, where trekkers walk on the frozen Zanskar River through steep gorges. By December’s end, the Zanskar begins to ice up, heralding this unique trek’s season. Even if you’re not doing the trek, just witnessing the frozen rivers and icicles along the rocks can be mesmerizing.

Culturally, December is a special time in Ladakh because it coincides with Losar, the Ladakhi New Year. The timing of Losar follows the Tibetan lunar calendar, and in 2025, for example, Ladakh’s Losar was celebrated on December 20th. Losar is one of the most important festivals for Ladakhis: families gather to feast and exchange blessings, homes are cleaned and decorated with auspicious symbols, and monasteries hold ceremonial prayers. In Leh, you might witness cheerful mask dance performances by monks in honor of Losar, as well as local crowds in traditional attire coming out despite the cold to mark the occasion. 

Traveling to Ladakh in winter does require preparation, as many hotels and roads shut down for the season due to heavy snowfall, and the only reliable way in is by flight via Delhi. But now, even some adventure travelers seek out Ladakh’s winter for its quiet beauty and unique events. 

For its dramatic landscape and cultural richness, Ladakh in December is an under-the-radar gem for intrepid travelers. It is truly one of the best places to travel in December if you crave solitude and snow-kissed adventure.

7. Germany

When it comes to the best places to visit in December, Germany in December is an absolute winner. Germany is famed for its Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) – a tradition that began in the German-speaking regions in the Middle Ages and continues stronger than ever today. 

Throughout the country, from big cities to small towns, December means town squares filled with wooden stalls, festive music, and the enticing aromas of holiday treats. The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, for example, is one of the world’s most famous Christmas markets and dates back to 1628. 

In this picturesque Franconian city, the central square transforms into a Christmas village of red-and-white striped stalls selling gingerbread, hand-carved nutcrackers, ornaments, and more, all presided over by the Nuremberg Christkind (Christmas Angel) who opens the market with a prologue each year.

Each region has its specialties: in Nuremberg, don’t miss the Nürnberger Lebkuchen (gingerbread), which has protected status and has been baked there for centuries. In Dresden, home of one of the oldest markets (the Striezelmarkt, founded in 1434), you can try the original Christstollen fruitcake. 

In Munich, the city hall’s Glockenspiel might serenade market-goers as they sip Feuerzangenbowle (a flaming rum punch) or munch on roasted almonds. Nearly every German city has multiple markets: Berlin, for instance, hosts around 60 Christmas markets, from a nostalgic one by Charlottenburg Palace to a trendy design market in Prenzlauer Berg.

As December 31st approaches, Germans prepare to celebrate Silvester (New Year’s Eve). One of the biggest New Year’s parties in Europe normally takes place at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, where hundreds of thousands gather for live music and a midnight fireworks show that lights up the sky over the Gate. 

For travelers, the appeal of Germany in December lies in how each city and village brings the holidays to life in its own charming way. No wonder many consider Germany one of the best places to travel in December to fully savor the Christmas spirit.

Also Read: 8 Best Retreats in Malaysia to Recharge Your Mind and Body!

Cozy Transit, Zero Stress at Bobopod Airport CBC Tangerang

From the tropics to the Arctic, these diverse destinations showcase the best places to visit in December for every kind of traveler. Whether you’re chasing cultural festivals, winter adventures, or holiday traditions, December delivers unforgettable experiences around the globe. 

And after journeying to these amazing places, you may find yourself transiting back home or onto your next stop through a busy airport. If you happen to be traveling via Jakarta, Indonesia, keep in mind there’s a convenient place to rest right near the airport. Bobobox’s Bobopod Airport CBC, Tangerang, is one of the brand’s most strategic locations, situated in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area. 

It’s a perfect solution for travelers who are in transit or have a late-night/early-morning flight – you can stay close to the terminals in a modern, comfortable capsule pod and recharge. In fact, Bobopod Airport CBC offers cozy, high-tech pods and even free shuttle drop-off service to the airport, so you’ll never worry about missing your flight. It’s safe, affordable, and an efficient way to get some quality sleep during your travels.

As you plan your year-end trip to the best places to travel in December, don’t forget to arrange your stays and transit accommodations in advance. Make the most of your journey by staying comfortable and well-rested. That way, you can fully enjoy the New Year fireworks, Christmas markets, or tropical celebrations that await you.

Ready for your next adventure? Download the Bobobox app now to book smart, comfy accommodations and make your December travel dreams come true! 

 

Featured photo: Pixabay

Writer: Syifa Nuri Khairunnisa