Where to go in December
December splits the world in two. Much of northern Europe is cold, grey and wet. Finland and Norway reach highs of only about 1°C. Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany see 14 to 15 rain days, so they are poor choices for a beach or sightseeing trip. The best weather is further south. Chile tops our list, with highs of 25°C and almost no rain. Mauritania, Qatar, Egypt and Bahrain are warm and dry, with highs of 21 to 26°C. Nepal is at its best too, with clear, mild days around 18°C. India, Cuba and Australia are also good bets.
Top picks
Best places to go in December
Ranked by our month score: temperature, rain, sunshine and sea.
-
1.Chile
10.0/10Americas
Top score of 10, with highs of 25.1°C, 13.3 sun hours a day and just 1 mm of rain.
- High / low
- 25°C / 15°C
- Rain days
- 0
- Sun daily
- 13.3 hrs
-
2.Mauritania
9.9/10Africa
Scores 9.9 with pleasant 25.8°C highs, 13.1°C lows, only 0.3 rain days and 9.7 sun hours.
- High / low
- 26°C / 13°C
- Rain days
- 0
- Sun daily
- 9.7 hrs
-
3.Qatar
9.8/10Asia
Top score of 9.8. Highs of 24.5°C, lows of 15.5°C, 9.3 hours of sun and about 1 rain day.
- High / low
- 25°C / 16°C
- Rain days
- 1
- Sun daily
- 9.3 hrs
-
4.Egypt
9.7/10Africa
Scores 9.7. Cairo highs of 21.3°C, lows of 11.4°C, 9.1 sun hours and 1.4 rain days.
- High / low
- 21°C / 11°C
- Rain days
- 1
- Sun daily
- 9.1 hrs
-
5.Nepal
9.7/10Asia
Scores 9.7. Very dry with 1 rain day and 9 mm, 9.1 sun hours, but cooler at 17.9°C highs.
- High / low
- 18°C / 7°C
- Rain days
- 1
- Sun daily
- 9.1 hrs
-
6.Bahrain
9.6/10Asia
Scores 9.6, with mild 23°C highs, 16°C lows, about 2 rain days and 9 hours of sun.
- High / low
- 23°C / 16°C
- Rain days
- 2
- Sun daily
- 9.2 hrs
-
7.Ethiopia
8.8/10Africa
Also scores 8.8. Only 22 mm of rain on about 6 days and 11 sun hours, but nights drop to 8.1°C.
- High / low
- 19°C / 8°C
- Rain days
- 6
- Sun daily
- 11.0 hrs
-
8.Cuba
8.6/10Americas
Scores 8.6. The dry season starts, with 3.9 rain days, 29 mm of rain and highs of 27.2°C.
- High / low
- 27°C / 25°C
- Rain days
- 4
- Sun daily
- 10.1 hrs
-
9.Australia
8.5/10Oceania
Scores 8.5. Adelaide gets 12.5 sun hours a day, highs of 26°C and only 4.4 rain days.
- High / low
- 26°C / 16°C
- Rain days
- 4
- Sun daily
- 12.5 hrs
-
10.Spain
7.7/10Europe
Highs around 12°C, rain on about 7 days.
- High / low
- 12°C / 3°C
- Rain days
- 7
- Sun daily
- 6.4 hrs
-
11.Bermuda
7.6/10Americas
Scores 7.6 with mild highs of 21.3°C and 11.2 rain days, but short days of 7.5 sun hours.
- High / low
- 21°C / 19°C
- Rain days
- 11
- Sun daily
- 7.5 hrs
-
12.New Zealand
7.3/10Oceania
Highs around 17°C, rain on about 12 days.
- High / low
- 17°C / 12°C
- Rain days
- 12
- Sun daily
- 11.9 hrs
-
13.Gibraltar
7.2/10Europe
Highs around 16°C, rain on about 10 days.
- High / low
- 16°C / 12°C
- Rain days
- 10
- Sun daily
- 7.8 hrs
-
14.Fiji
7.0/10Oceania
Highs around 30°C, rain on about 23 days, sea 30°C.
- High / low
- 30°C / 24°C
- Rain days
- 23
- Sun daily
- 10.4 hrs
-
15.Cyprus
6.6/10Europe
Highs around 15°C, rain on about 9 days.
- High / low
- 15°C / 7°C
- Rain days
- 9
- Sun daily
- 8.0 hrs
December
Warm & sunny
Highs of 24 °C or more and few rainy days.
-
Chile 10.0/10Highs 25°C · 0 rain days
-
Mauritania 9.9/10Highs 26°C · 0 rain days
-
Qatar 9.8/10Highs 25°C · 1 rain days
-
India 8.8/10Highs 28°C · 1 rain days
-
Cuba 8.6/10Highs 27°C · 4 rain days
-
Australia 8.5/10Highs 26°C · 4 rain days
-
Thailand 7.4/10Highs 31°C · 2 rain days
-
El Salvador 6.9/10Highs 31°C · 3 rain days
December
Short-haul from Europe
Within about 3,500 km of central Europe.
Honest advice
Toughest weather in December
Places where the weather is usually at its worst this month.
-
Finland 0.5/10
Wet month: rain on about 14 days.
For better weather, try Cyprus · 6.6/10 · highs 15°C
-
Denmark 0.7/10
Wet month: rain on about 15 days.
For better weather, try Spain · 7.7/10 · highs 12°C
-
Netherlands 0.8/10
Wet month: rain on about 15 days.
For better weather, try Spain · 7.7/10 · highs 12°C
-
Norway 0.9/10
Wet month: rain on about 13 days.
For better weather, try Gibraltar · 7.2/10 · highs 16°C
-
Germany 0.9/10
Wet month: rain on about 14 days.
For better weather, try Gibraltar · 7.2/10 · highs 16°C
Side by side
December weather comparison: top 10 destinations
Average weather of each destination's main city this month, and our month score out of 10.
| Destination | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Sun hrs/day | Sea temp | December score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 25°C | 15°C | 1 mm | 13.3 hrs | – | 10.0 |
| Mauritania | 26°C | 13°C | 3 mm | 9.7 hrs | – | 9.9 |
| Qatar | 25°C | 16°C | 10 mm | 9.3 hrs | – | 9.8 |
| Egypt | 21°C | 11°C | 6 mm | 9.1 hrs | – | 9.7 |
| Nepal | 18°C | 7°C | 9 mm | 9.1 hrs | Inland | 9.7 |
| Bahrain | 23°C | 16°C | 11 mm | 9.2 hrs | – | 9.6 |
| Ethiopia | 19°C | 8°C | 22 mm | 11.0 hrs | Inland | 8.8 |
| Cuba | 27°C | 25°C | 29 mm | 10.1 hrs | – | 8.6 |
| Australia | 26°C | 16°C | 24 mm | 12.5 hrs | 22°C | 8.5 |
| Spain | 12°C | 3°C | 42 mm | 6.4 hrs | Inland | 7.7 |
FAQ
Travelling in December
Where is warm in December?
Thailand is the warmest place in our December list, with average highs of 30.6°C and only 1.6 rain days. India is next at 28°C with 0.9 rain days. Cuba reaches 27.2°C, Australia 26°C, Mauritania 25.8°C and Chile 25.1°C. All of these stay dry for most of the month.
What is the best country to visit in December?
Chile has the highest December score in our data, at 10. Highs average 25.1°C and there are only 0.2 rain days, so you can expect warm, dry weather. Mauritania is close behind at 9.9, with highs of 25.8°C and 0.3 rain days. Qatar follows at 9.8, with 24.5°C and 1 rain day.
Where should I avoid travelling in December?
Avoid northern Europe if you want good weather. Finland scores just 0.5, with highs of 1.2°C and 14.3 rain days. Denmark (0.7), the Netherlands (0.8), Germany (0.9) and Norway (0.9) are also at the bottom. Highs stay between 1.2°C and 7.7°C, and rain or snow falls on 13 to 14.6 days of the month.
Is Spain good in December?
Spain is rated best for December, but expect mild, cool weather, not beach weather. It scores 7.7, the only European country in our top list. Average highs are just 11.5°C and there are 6.9 rain days. It is a fair choice for cities and sightseeing, but go further south or east if you want warmth.
Can you swim in Australia in December?
Yes, Australia is one of the better swimming options in December. The sea averages 21.5°C, which feels fresh but fine for most swimmers. Air highs reach 26°C, and there are 4.4 rain days in the month. It scores 8.5 in our data, with a verdict of best.