With winter well underway and the festive season just around the corner, are you in the mood to get away from it all? But where to go in December? Christmas markets, sunny destinations, the first snows? Here are a few travel ideas to make this end-of-year month unforgettable!
Where to go in December to spend the holidays in the sun?
If you're looking for a change of scenery for the festive season, Thailand is an excellent choice. In the land of smiles, where the cost of living is up to four times lower than in France, you can easily enjoy the comfort of an all-inclusive luxury hotel and bask on the paradisiacal beaches of Phuket or Koh Samui, for example. Scuba diving enthusiasts will also have a field day, as Thailand's seabed is particularly rich and varied, with idyllic water temperatures. Even in December!
For sunbathing not far from Paris, head for Las Palmas, the capital of the aptly named island of Gran Canaria in the Canary archipelago. Beyond its superb colonial architecture, Las Palmas boasts a beach right in the heart of the city. At 3 kilometers long, Las Canteras is one of the longest city beaches in the world. As an added bonus, it boasts a beautiful promenade lined with restaurants and boutiques. There's plenty to do on your vacation between sunbathing sessions. And when you're in the mood for more beaches, just take a trip to the rest of the island, where you'll be spoilt for choice: the beaches of Maspalomas, Gui Gui, del Inglés...
If you want to stay warm in France in winter, Guadeloupe is the perfect destination! With its two largest islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, separated by the Rivière Salée, there's no shortage of long, dreamy beaches... Guadeloupe's turquoise waters and fine sand are yours for the taking! Then there are the smaller islands, including Marie-Galante, Désirade and Les Saintes, with their many coves and more secret paradise beaches. Guadeloupe is truly a Caribbean gem when it comes to seaside pleasures! Travelling at this time of year means choosing the ideal season: just after the end-of-year festivities, Guadeloupe kicks off Carnival! From the first Sunday in January, you'll be able to watch the parades. Even though December is not the peak tourist season, you may be surprised by some of the rather high prices. So plan ahead for your trip to the sun! In any case, a trip to the West Indies in December is an opportunity to experience Christmas in a totally different way. Unique!
Where to go in December in France?
Every year, millions of tourists head forAlsace to experience the magic of Christmas. Tourist brochures from all over the world make it clear: Alsace is recognized as THE place to be for Christmas, and its reputation is well-deserved. From the first Sunday of Advent, the towns and villages of the département open their doors to Christkindelsmärik, a lively Christmas market where charming little chalets overflow with lights, ornaments and figurines, as well as local produce and delicacies. And let's not forget the stalls where you can enjoy the inevitable mulled wine. Head for the Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse or the village of Ungersheim.
Reims is an ideal destination, especially during the festive season. It's a great time for champagne tastings, THE local specialty! This charming town in eastern France is home to an exceptional Unesco-listed heritage. A stroll through its Art Deco petticoats, embroidered after the rubble of the First World War, is a must, even if the impressive Notre-Dame de Reims and its immense blue stained-glass windows, notably signed by Chagall, are also worth a visit. In short, with Christmas just around the corner, a trip to Reims is a dream weekend.
During the festive season, santons make their reappearance in Marseille, from late November to early January. Craftsmen's "roulottes" are set up in the heart of the city center, near the Vieux-Port, on Place Charles-de-Gaulle. Dozens of exhibitors present traditional classics, as well as their latest creations. Every year, new characters are added to the Provencal cribs. A program of musical entertainment also enlivens the event. Also not to be missed: Aubagne with its living crib, Allauch and Aix. It's an excellent opportunity for a short family weekend getaway, before the festive season, for example. Discover our dedicated article " Visiting Marseille in two days: what can you do in a weekend? "to help you prepare for your stay!
Where to go in December in Europe?
Vienna, a major tourist destination, is an enchantment. The city center boasts an array of Baroque palaces, Gothic buildings, Art Nouveau edifices and grandiose squares with statues of emperors and musicians, evoking the richness of its history. Other futuristic monuments stand in the heart of the business district or the fantastic MuseumsQuartier. And what about the art of living? The art of Viennese cafés, of course! And the pleasure of hiking in the forest, discovering the vineyards, strolling on the Danube island, not forgetting going out and feasting. Because Vienna is all fun and games, waltzes and skates. A great winter destination for those who don't mind the cold!
Rome is an open-air museum, a tourist city immortalized by its churches, cathedrals, basilicas and the remains of Roman temples. A European capital that's also synonymous with the dolce vita. A city of art and the art of living, it's easy to imagine Vespa bikes cruising down pedestrian streets, terraces lining pretty squares and Christmas markets at the end of the year. What's more, Rome has a wealth of cafés, trattorie, fashion boutiques and artisan workshops in each of its neighborhoods: it's up to you to discover them as you stroll along. In short, shopping and fine dining are on the agenda! To help you get organized, we recommend you read our dedicated article " How to visit Rome in three days? Itinerary tips ".
Where to go for cheap in December?
To avoid the winter blues, you can make a return trip to Casablanca, Morocco's must-see destination. Temperatures here are much milder, and pleasant all year round. And thanks to the low season, you'll benefit from affordable prices. Travel agencies offer cheap flights from Paris. Once you've made the savings, you'll be able to enjoy your excursions even more. Between the contemporary towers and the tumultuous arteries, criss-crossed by a brand-new tramway, lie beautiful Art Deco villas, vestiges of the French protectorate. And yet, a stroll through the old medina reveals a population living in a totally rural way. Otherwise, in Gautier, you'll find countless trendy addresses. From the Corniche to the pleasant beaches of Dar Bouazza, you can have a drink and enjoy grilled fish between two swims.
Prague, the city of a thousand spires, has many faces. The Czech capital will charm you with its intertwined little streets, magnificent colorful facades, squares and churches, all of which trace centuries of existence and conjure up torrents of history. But far from its image as a city frozen in time, Prague is alive and kicking, and its heartbeat can be found in every one of its smoky taverns where beer, the national pride, flows freely, or in its literary cafés, veritable havens of peace for nerds on the go. An inexpensive destination not to be missed at the end of the year.
Where to go in December to brighten up your end-of-year with a city trip?
At the beginning of December, Lyon is the perfect place to take in the sights and sounds of the city. It's the Festival of Lights, and for a hundred and sixty years and for a few days, the city has been transformed into a jewel with numerous artistic light installations. Lighting engineers, designers, video artists, architects, graphic artists and other artists create original and surprising installations, creating a magical world on the peninsula and in Vieux Lyon. Most of its monuments are also beautifully illuminated. It's a real life-size enchantment not to be missed, for a weekend for example!
Christmas means Christmas markets! In Belgium, this is a real tradition, and not just in Brussels. The pretty city of Bruges, the Venice of the North, is transformed every year into a splendid Christmas village. The Place du Markt is at the heart of the festivities, with a skating rink and stalls selling typical Christmas items, as well as mulled wine, chocolate and waffles. Alternatively, lovers of the old town will be delighted by all that this pretty city has to offer. With its canals, cobbled streets, belfry, immense cathedrals and unspoilt medieval town, Bruges is truly unique! Those touched by the grace of Gothic architecture or Flemish painting will be fascinated to discover places steeped in history, as well as the great masters and their major canvases scattered throughout the museums and churches of the area. Then it's off to the Christmas market!
In other European countries, such as Germany, traditional Christmas markets are just as superb. One of the most famous German markets is in Erfurt. It features a giant Christmas tree - 25 meters high, after all - and a magnificent nativity scene with life-size wooden figurines. Set around Domplatz, it features hundreds of stalls selling a multitude of products typical of the Thuringian region, of which Erfurt is the capital. Otherwise, markets are also an opportunity to discover the country's large, vibrant cities in an authentic and original way. In Munich, Frankfurt or Stuttgart, three cities with very different characters where some of the most famous markets are held, you can also immerse yourself in a true winter tale, between mulled wine, sweets, gifts and human warmth.
Where to go in December to celebrate December 31st in style?
If you're dreaming of an original New Year's Eve, we recommend the Chilean city of Valparaíso. The party goes on all night long, especially with the magnificent and mythical traditional fireworks display on December 31! It's one of the biggest fireworks displays in South America. And the next day, you're free to explore this beautiful city perched in the hills, whose historic center is part of humanity's cultural heritage, protected by Unesco. Atypical and picaresque, the "Pearl of the Pacific" has retained its charm as a mysterious port city. Its labyrinth of alleyways, rattling elevators and vistas that change with every step offer a wild charm.
For even more fiestas, Amsterdam is also a destination of choice on December 31. Its compact city center is ideal for exploring the streets on foot, from one festive venue to the next, without having to take a cab. And, good news, Amsterdam is overflowing with bars and clubs of all kinds to suit all budgets. If you want to pick up your strength in the evening, you can treat yourself to oliebollen, typically Dutch sweet doughnuts. Amsterdam, the fascinating capital of the Netherlands, is a complex and endearing city. At once classic and modern, wise and wild, conservative and innovative, it will leave no visitor indifferent. Made up of a sumptuous mosaic of distinctly different neighborhoods, where golden-century relics, architectural innovations, coffee shops, designer boutiques, patrician houses, brothels, sex shops, museums and historic canals rub shoulders in a peaceful atmosphere, this city is truly unique!
Edinburgh is also a great place to party in Europe on December 31. The streets, especially Princes Street, are alive with live music, DJ sets and funfairs, all set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. And at midnight, a sublime fireworks display, fired from the castle, lights up the city! Alternatively, you can enjoy a capital that's full of museums and grandiose buildings, richly decorated pubs, restaurants and cafés that are temples to Scottish delicacies and terroir... It's also a place of legend: a haunted city, where the underground life had nothing to envy the depths of the underworld, a magical city, where Harry Potter was born.
Where to go in December for a family vacation?
Another exotic destination for your loved ones,Argentina 's wide-open spaces will welcome the whole family. This immense land is rich in extraordinary landscapes. It's hard to see it all, but you can discover its most spectacular sites, such as Iguazú and its impressive waterfalls, the Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia and its enormous blocks of ice, and the hostile and rugged Tierra del Fuego in Ushuaia. Heading up the Andes mountain range, you can admire the Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, then lose yourself in the redness of the Talampaya grand canyon towards La Rioja, in the cactus mountains of the Calchaquies valley, in the salt deserts of the Salinas Grandes and the altiplano... and many other unsurpassed terrestrial beauties. Don't forget to pack warm clothes if you want to try an excursion to Tierra del Fuego, and light clothes for the tropical climate of the north!
Enjoy the Senegalese sun during the winter holidays! Senegal is a land of giant baobabs and dreamy beaches, bolongs winding through the mangroves of Sine-Saloum and Casamance, dromedaries and splashes of Sahara just outside Saint-Louis, hills and waterfalls on the edge of Kédougou... Senegal is a land of eternal sunshine and adventure, rich in magnificent, contrasting landscapes and chance encounters. It's the image of iconic Africa as we know it, but also offers families the town of Saly and its many resorts for a farniente vacation that's very welcome at the end of the year!
So, that's it, you've had your fill of travel ideas for December. Petit Futé hopes you'll make the most of your vacations and have a wonderful New Year's Eve and festive season!
Find out more about where to go in January, and take advantage of a discount by booking your travel insurance here, so you can leave with peace of mind!
