Hot holiday destinations in December

Where's Hot in December?

307 December escapes with festive sun away from the cold

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December 2026 guide

In December, Marsa Alam, Egypt is the medium-haul pick with 9 hours of sun, or go further to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a completely different scene. December is festive at home but sunny abroad. The Canaries hold near 21°C, while Dubai, Thailand and the Caribbean reach 28-30°C. Sri Lanka blends 28°C palm beaches with temples, and Cape Verde stays bright at 24-25°C with breezes. For wonder, Jordan's desert glitters under starlight. December is a month of choice: fairy lights at home or golden sands abroad, with holidays in every sense of the word.

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Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) ⋅ Spain 🇪🇸

A diverse island of beaches, dunes, and green mountains, Gran Canaria offers buzzing towns, hiking trails, and family-friendly fun - a mini-continent in the Atlantic.

A typical December day in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) hits 22°C, with rain a rare event and pleasant 17°C evenings.

High 22°C Night 17°C 6h Calm Dry

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Madeira ⋅ Portugal 🇵🇹

A lush Atlantic island of gardens, levadas, and dramatic cliffs, Madeira is a haven for hikers, food lovers, and those craving subtropical scenery with European charm.

A typical December day in Madeira hits 21°C, with scattered showers and a light breeze.

High 21°C Night 15°C 5h Light Showers

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Agadir ⋅ Morocco 🇲🇦

Morocco's Atlantic beach city blends sun, surf, and relaxed seaside promenades with modern resorts and the scent of argan oil in the coastal air.

Agadir in December: 22°C afternoons, plenty of sunshine and a refreshing drop after dark.

High 22°C Night 11°C 8h Calm Fair

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Wonder Finalist

Dubai ⋅ UAE 🇦🇪

Dubai is a vertical playground of luxury - home to the world's tallest tower, desert adventures, shopping mega-malls, and futuristic skylines contrasting with traditional souks and old-town charm.

Dubai in December: 27°C afternoons, bone-dry skies and pleasant 18°C evenings.

High 27°C Night 18°C 8h Calm Dry

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Abu Dhabi ⋅ UAE 🇦🇪

Ultra-modern yet deeply traditional, Abu Dhabi offers dazzling mosques, Louvre-inspired art, beach resorts, and desert adventures - a refined Gulf city blending culture, luxury, and Arabian tranquillity.

Expect 26°C afternoons in Abu Dhabi this December, with next to no rain and barely a breeze.

High 26°C Night 18°C 9h Calm Dry

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Chiang Mai ⋅ Thailand 🇹🇭

A spiritual and scenic city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is famous for hilltop temples, artisan markets, elephant sanctuaries, and slow travel charm among mountains and moats.

A typical December day in Chiang Mai hits 29°C, with reliable sunshine and wonderfully calm air.

High 29°C Night 17°C 8h Calm Dry

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Miami ⋅ United States of America 🇺🇸

Miami pulses with Latin flair, art deco facades, white sand beaches, and nightlife. From Little Havana to South Beach, it's a sensory, sun-soaked coastal experience.

Miami in December: 26°C afternoons, reliable sunshine and a stray shower at most.

High 26°C Night 18°C 7h Light Fair

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Hurghada ⋅ Egypt 🇪🇬

A lively beach town on Egypt's Red Sea coast, Hurghada delivers sunshine, snorkelling, diving, and family-friendly resorts with easy access to coral reefs and golden sandy shores.

A typical December day in Hurghada hits 24°C, with bone-dry skies and hardly any wind.

High 24°C Night 14°C 9h Calm Dry

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Tulum (Caribbean Coast) ⋅ Mexico 🇲🇽

Bohemian beach paradise with yoga retreats, cenotes, jungle cabanas, and stunning Mayan ruins perched above clear Caribbean waters - Tulum exudes laid-back, Instagrammable tropical appeal.

Tulum (Caribbean Coast) in December: 30°C afternoons, good spells of sunshine and comfortable nights.

High 30°C Night 18°C 6h Calm Fair

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Montevideo ⋅ Uruguay 🇺🇾

Laid-back and stylish, Montevideo mixes golden beaches, leafy boulevards, and a charming old town with tango rhythms, Uruguayan culture, and riverside strolls beneath South American skies.

December in Montevideo brings 26°C afternoons, long hours of sunshine and the odd brief shower.

High 26°C Night 17°C 9h Breezy Fair

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Mendoza ⋅ Argentina 🇦🇷

Wine tastings with mountain views - Mendoza is Argentina's viticulture heartland, offering Malbecs, olive groves, and cycling tours beneath the snow-dusted Andes skyline.

In December, Mendoza serves up 30°C days with long sunny days and bone-dry skies.

High 30°C Night 17°C 9h Calm Dry

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Varanasi ⋅ India 🇮🇳

Varanasi pulses with sacred chaos - ghats, chants, and Ganges rituals. India's oldest city stirs the soul with fire, faith, and a deep connection to life and death.

Varanasi in December: 25°C afternoons, long sunny days and hardly any wind.

High 25°C Night 11°C 7h Calm Dry

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Wonder Finalist

Cape Town ⋅ South Africa 🇿🇦

Cape Town shines between Table Mountain and two oceans - ride the cable car, sip wines in nearby vineyards, and soak in views from beaches to mountain tops.

In December, Cape Town serves up 26°C days with barely a drop of rain and still, calm air.

High 26°C Night 16°C 11h Calm Dry

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Kampala ⋅ Uganda 🇺🇬

Kampala is Uganda's energetic heart - market chaos, leafy hills, and nightlife buzz. A lively lakeside capital where tradition, traffic, and talent collide.

A typical December day in Kampala hits 26°C, with reliable sunshine and hardly any wind.

High 26°C Night 18°C 9h Calm Rainy

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Punta Cana ⋅ Dominican Rep. 🇩🇴

Puerto Plata mixes colonial history with golden beaches, cable cars, and rum factories - a lively Dominican destination with plenty of character and coastline.

December in Punta Cana brings 30°C afternoons, 22°C evenings made for eating out and long hours of sunshine.

High 30°C Night 22°C 8h Calm Showers

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Manila ⋅ Philippines 🇵🇭

Manila buzzes with colonial remnants, jeepneys, mega-malls, and coastal chaos. The Philippines' capital is frenetic, historic, and your launchpad to island escapes.

A typical December day in Manila hits 31°C, with a stray shower at most and no-jacket evenings.

High 31°C Night 25°C 7h Calm Fair

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Phnom Penh ⋅ Cambodia 🇰🇭

Phnom Penh tells Cambodia's complex story - Khmer temples, French boulevards, and harrowing history. A riverside capital full of resilience, flavour, and golden-roofed beauty.

Expect 31°C afternoons in Phnom Penh this December, with plenty of sunshine and a stray shower at most.

High 31°C Night 22°C 7h Calm Fair

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Castries ⋅ St Lucia 🇱🇨

Nestled in a sheltered bay, Castries offers a lively local market, colourful Creole culture, and access to St Lucia's stunning beaches, lush hills, and cruise port buzz.

Castries in December: 30°C afternoons, long sunny days and balmy nights.

High 30°C Night 23°C 7h Calm Showers

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Accra ⋅ Ghana 🇬🇭

Accra buzzes with Ghanaian rhythm, street eats, and Atlantic air. A coastal capital where tradition meets tech and history lives in forts and murals.

Accra in December: 32°C afternoons, a stray shower at most and no-jacket evenings.

High 32°C Night 25°C 8h Calm Fair

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Male ⋅ Maldives 🇲🇻

The bustling capital of the Maldives, Male offers colourful streets, mosques, and local life - the gateway to the islands and a fascinating contrast to the surrounding luxury resorts.

A typical December day in Male hits 30°C, with balmy nights and reliable sunshine.

High 30°C Night 26°C 7h Calm Rainy

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Hot Countries in December: Festive Winter Sun

December shifts many of the hot countries from shoulder season to peak. Thailand is in full swing around 28-31°C with drier days on the Andaman coast. The Maldives and Sri Lanka hover near 27-29°C with warm seas, and Dubai and Oman typically sit at 26-28°C with clear skies. The Caribbean and Mexico's Caribbean coast run roughly 27-29°C, with hurricane season over by late November. In the Southern Hemisphere, Cape Town moves into peak summer around 24-27°C. Short haul from the UK is milder: the Canary Islands often see 20-22°C, Madeira about 18-20°C, and southern Cyprus around 17-19°C. For value, travel in the first half of December, before school holidays lift flight and hotel prices.

Sun first, fairy lights later. December is winter sun at its most rewarding.

WhereIsHotOrNot Travel Team

Why trust us on December weather?

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Your December sun questions, answered

Thailand, much of the Caribbean and Mexico’s Caribbean coast often reach 27-31°C. Dubai and Oman typically sit 26-28°C with very reliable sunshine.

The Canary Islands are the dependable short-haul choice at roughly 20-22°C. Madeira often sits around 18-20°C. Southern Cyprus can see around 17-19°C with bright days.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman are very dry. Egypt’s Red Sea resorts are usually dry too. Thailand’s Andaman coast is in its dry season, and many Caribbean islands enter their drier months, though showers vary by island.

The Maldives and much of the Caribbean often see seas of about 27-29°C. The Red Sea is commonly around 24-26°C. The Canaries are usually near 20-21°C.

Egypt’s Red Sea resorts are the value pick – low-to-mid 20s°C without long-haul fares – and the Canary Islands price well in the first half of December, before Christmas and New Year push everything up. Flexible dates and early flight booking make the biggest difference.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November, so December is typically low risk for the Caribbean and Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Localised showers are still possible, varying by island.

Dubai and Oman sit at 26–28°C, Cape Verde around 25–26°C, and the Caribbean, Thailand and Sri Lanka at 27–31°C – all family favourites for winter sun. Set the temperature slider at the top of the page to 25–40°C to see every over-25°C option for December.

Data verified using 30-year climate norms. Last updated: October 2025.

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