Best Holiday Destinations in December: Warm Winter Sun Escapes

Quick answer: The best holiday destinations in December include Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and Egypt, the warmest easy escapes from the UK, holding 20 to 25°C while home sits near freezing. For full Christmas heat, Dubai, Thailand and the Caribbean offer 26 to 30°C and largely dry weather.

Where is still warm in December? Plenty of places, and some are closer than you might expect. That is why searches for destinations that are hot in December peak this month. The best holiday destinations in December fall into two camps: short and mid-haul winter sun that thaws you out within a day of leaving home, and long-haul heat that feels like a different season entirely. Our winter sun round-up compares the hottest options across the whole season. If you would rather lean into the cold, there is a third camp: the festive city break, covered further down.

The best holiday destinations in December at a glance

Six destinations carry the December list, and the closest ones are the easiest on the wallet. Tenerife is the shortest flight at 4 to 4.5 hours, averages 21°C, and sits in the lowest budget bracket: the go-to Christmas escape for families. Hurghada in Egypt is close behind at 5.5 hours and 22°C, also in the lowest budget bracket: the strongest pick for an all-inclusive Christmas week.

Sal in Cape Verde is the warmest of the shorter flights, averaging 25°C on a 6-hour journey in the mid-range budget bracket: the beach-first choice for reliable sun. Dubai averages 24°C on a 7-hour flight, pairs a festive city break with beach time, and sits in the premium bracket: the priciest mid-haul option.

For full heat, the long-haul picks lead. Barbados averages 27°C on a 9-hour flight and is the classic Christmas and New Year choice, priced in the premium bracket. Phuket is the hottest destination here at 30°C, in its peak dry season, and despite the 11 to 12-hour flight it sits in the mid-range budget bracket once you arrive.

Short-haul: Canary Islands and Egypt

For a December escape that does not eat the whole budget on flights, the Canary Islands and Egypt’s Red Sea coast are the standard picks, both with all-inclusive resorts that handle the festive extras over Christmas week.

Tenerife: the reliable Christmas escape

Tenerife holds around 21°C in December, which feels like warm spring weather: t-shirt warm in the midday sun, good for sunbathing, with a light jacket once the sun drops. The sea sits at around 20°C, warm enough for a swim for most people, and the south, around Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, is the driest, sunniest part.

December is a great month to be active here: whale and dolphin trips run all year from Los Gigantes, Mount Teide is often snow-dusted while you are in shorts at the coast, and Siam Park stays open. The island takes Christmas seriously too: belenes, the traditional nativity scenes, in town squares, festive lights in Santa Cruz and La Laguna, and gala dinners at the big resorts. It suits families first, but couples do well in quieter bases such as Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz.

Hurghada: all-inclusive value on the Red Sea

Hurghada averages around 22°C in December and feels warmer than that suggests, thanks to strong sun and dry air. The Red Sea holds around 22°C, a touch warmer than the Atlantic off Tenerife, and December is prime time for snorkelling and diving around Giftun Island, when the water is at its clearest. On land, days split between the marina, desert safaris, and day trips to Luxor if you want history with your sun. Most resorts are all-inclusive, suiting anyone who wants the festive week wrapped into one predictable cost. One caution: evenings cool quickly in the desert air, so pack a proper layer.

Cape Verde: warmer without going long-haul

Cape Verde consistently ranks among the best holiday destinations in December, edging out the Canaries and Egypt on warmth, with a 25°C average in December, while staying under six hours of flight time. On Sal, that feels like proper beach weather: the sea sits around 24°C, comfortable for long swims, and a steady trade wind takes the edge off the midday heat. Life centres on Santa Maria, a laid-back town with a long beach, a working fishing pier and live music at night. December starts the wind season at Kite Beach, and the salt crater at Pedra de Lume, where you float in the brine lake, makes an easy half-day trip.

The dry, volcanic island has limited sightseeing, suiting beach-first travellers and couples rather than big family complexes. The wind is the trade-off: bring a layer for evenings, and expect choppier water on exposed beaches.

Dubai and the Caribbean: festive long-haul

Dubai: a festive city break with a beach attached

December is one of Dubai’s most pleasant months: 24°C, dry and low in humidity, like a warm summer’s day without the Gulf’s extreme heat, and the sea sits around 22°C. The city goes all in on the festive season: a winter city at Expo City, a Christmas market at Madinat Jumeirah, Global Village in full swing, and the Shopping Festival usually starting in late December. New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Burj Khalifa are world famous. Days split easily between beach mornings, a desert safari and dinner in the marina. Dubai sits in the premium budget bracket and suits couples and families with older children who want city energy as much as sun.

Barbados and the Caribbean: Christmas Day on the beach

By December the Caribbean is just outside hurricane season, the dry season is settling in, temperatures sit at 26 to 28°C and the sea is around 27°C. Barbados is the classic Christmas and New Year choice: many locals head to the beach on Christmas Day itself, after church and the traditional Queen’s Park gathering in Bridgetown, and Old Year’s Night, as New Year’s Eve is known locally, is a major party night. Days fill with catamaran cruises, Harrison’s Cave, rum distillery tours, and calm west coast beaches or surf at Bathsheba. Jamaica is the larger, livelier alternative. The Caribbean sits in the premium bracket and suits couples and families celebrating something special.

Thailand: the hottest option on this list

December falls in Thailand’s cool, dry season, which still means 30°C in Phuket and very little rain: the biggest temperature jump on this list, and genuine heat rather than mild warmth. The Andaman Sea sits around 28 to 29°C and is calm in December, so boat trips to the Phi Phi islands and Phang Nga Bay run reliably, alongside the Big Buddha, Old Town and night markets. New Year’s Eve brings fireworks over Patong beach. Phuket is the longest flight here at 11 to 12 hours, but it sits in the mid-range budget bracket once you arrive, suited to heat seekers who can spare the travel days.

Best holiday destinations in December for snow: Christmas markets and festive city breaks

Not every December trip is about escaping the cold: if your ideal break involves twinkling lights rather than sun loungers, Europe’s Christmas markets are the main event. Germany and Austria are the heartland: Nuremberg, Cologne, Vienna and Salzburg fill their old towns with wooden stalls, roasted almonds and mulled wine from late November, with Prague, Budapest and Strasbourg close behind.

Expect it to be properly cold, often around freezing, and treat the cold as part of the atmosphere: thermal layers, hats and gloves are essential kit. Our dedicated festive guide covers the best Christmas destinations in detail. Most markets wind down just before Christmas Day, suiting an early or mid December long weekend rather than Christmas week, and the biggest names get very busy on weekend evenings. Edinburgh, Bath and York run well-regarded UK markets if you would rather not fly.

Family vs adults-only picks

Tenerife and Hurghada run strong kids’ clubs, making them the easier Christmas choice with children, while Dubai pairs big family attractions with premium hotels that suit couples. Cape Verde and the Caribbean suit couples or adults-only groups better, with a quieter resort scene. Families tied to school dates pay the peak prices described below; couples without children get better value in the first half of the month.

Planning your December trip

Getting there: flights and airlines

Canary Islands and Egypt routes run from most UK regional airports through December, though Christmas week sees higher demand for the same routes, so seats fill faster than in a normal week. Dubai and Caribbean routes concentrate at the major hubs, so check for a direct flight before assuming a connection.

When to book, and the early December trick

Christmas and New Year week carries the highest prices of the year on almost every destination here. Travelling in the first two weeks of December, before the festive premium kicks in, is the most reliable way to get the same weather for meaningfully less. School holidays run from a week or so before Christmas Day into the New Year, and that stretch is peak season: the best resorts and flight times sell early, so for Christmas week itself, book in the summer to early autumn. Early December is more forgiving.

What is included varies too: Canary Islands and Egypt packages typically bundle flights, transfers and all-inclusive food and drink, while Dubai and Caribbean stays are often room-only or breakfast terms, so festive dinners and excursions add to the total.

What to pack for warm and cold picks

For the sun picks, evenings cool noticeably even at warm destinations, so pack a light layer alongside your summer clothing. If you are travelling over Christmas itself, check your resort’s dress code for festive dinners, as many all-inclusive properties have one for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and pack one smarter outfit. For the market picks, pack for standing still in the cold: a warm waterproof coat, insulated footwear, hat, gloves and thermal base layers.

Before you book

Check the current FCDO travel advice for your destination before committing, and again closer to departure, as advice can shift and affects insurance validity.

A December sun trip as a Christmas gift

Booking a January trip as a Christmas present is an increasingly common way to get the same warm escape without the Christmas-week premium. Our January guide shows where the warmth holds up best in the New Year, and the February guide covers the other side of winter, when some destinations run warmer still.

Hot destinations in December: which one suits you

The hot destinations in December on this list split into two groups. Tenerife, Hurghada and Cape Verde give you the shortest flights to real warmth and sit in the lowest to mid-range budget brackets. Dubai, Barbados and Thailand ask for longer flights but deliver full 26 to 30°C heat, in the premium to mid-range brackets. Pick the first group for value and the second for maximum warmth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is still warm in December?

The closest reliable warmth is the Canary Islands and Egypt at 20 to 25°C, Cape Verde is warmer still at around 25°C, and Dubai, the Caribbean and Thailand deliver 26 to 30°C if you fly further.

What is the cheapest warm destination in December?

Tenerife and Hurghada sit in the lowest budget bracket here and are usually the cheapest warm options from the UK. Travelling in the first two weeks of December, before the festive premium, keeps costs down further.

Where can I spend Christmas somewhere warm from the UK?

The Canary Islands and Cape Verde are the most practical, both under six hours away with temperatures between 21 and 25°C. For full heat over Christmas itself, Barbados and Thailand are the strongest long-haul choices.

When do Christmas markets run, and are they worth the cold?

Most open in late November and close just before Christmas Day, so they suit an early or mid December trip. They are cold, often around freezing, but dress for it and the lights, food stalls and atmosphere make them one of the most festive short breaks of the year.

When is the best time to book a December holiday?

As early as you can for Christmas and New Year week, ideally in the summer or early autumn, when prices are at their highest and the best options sell first. Early December trips are more flexible, and the same destinations cost the least then.

Where is hot in December for a December sun holiday?

The closest reliable heat is the Canary Islands and Egypt at 20 to 25°C, with Cape Verde warmer still at around 25°C. For full heat, Dubai, the Caribbean and Thailand deliver 26 to 30°C in mostly dry weather. Tenerife and Hurghada sit in the lowest budget bracket, so they are usually the cheapest December sun holidays from the UK, while Dubai and Barbados sit in the premium bracket.

Where is the warmest place to go in December?

For the warmest December weather on a short flight, Cape Verde leads at around 25°C, while Dubai sits at 24°C and the Caribbean and Thailand deliver 26 to 30°C if you fly further. The warmest of the cheapest options are Tenerife and Egypt at 21 to 22°C.