Happy Layover

Where to go in December

15 of the 57 places we track are at their best in December. The cheapest of them to fly to right now: Muscat from ₹9,033, Abu Dhabi from ₹12,170 and Phuket from ₹12,220. Busy times to fly out of India that month: Christmas and New Year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

At their best in December

Places with their best weather in December, cheapest first where our scanner has a fare from India that month.

MuscatOman 26° / 19° dryPeak Cool season, 25-30°C: ideal for the wadis, the Hajar mountains and the Wahiba Sands. From ₹9,033 from Bangalore, one-way Abu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates 27° / 17° dryPeak Winter: sunny and 24-30°C, the best time for the Corniche, Saadiyat beaches and desert trips. From ₹12,170 from Bangalore, one-way PhuketThailand 30° / 24° rainy spellsPeak Dry season: calm, clear Andaman Sea, ideal for beaches and island trips. The Similan Islands are open from... From ₹12,220 from Mumbai, one-way BangkokThailand 31° / 22° dryPeak Cool, dry season by Bangkok standards: highs around 31-32°C and little rain. The best time to visit. From ₹12,982 from Mumbai, one-way ColomboSri Lanka 30° / 23° rainy spellsPeak Dry, sunny season on the west and south coasts (Colombo, Galle, Mirissa). Whale watching off Mirissa runs roughly... From ₹14,035 from Bangalore, one-way DubaiUnited Arab Emirates 26° / 18° dryPeak Winter: sunny and 24-30°C, perfect for beaches, desert safaris and eating outdoors. Peak season. From ₹14,741 from Mumbai, one-way DohaQatar 25° / 17° dryPeak Winter: 22-28°C and sunny, the best time for the Corniche, the souqs and desert trips. From ₹15,312 from Bangalore, one-way Ho Chi Minh CityVietnam 31° / 23° some rainPeak Dry season: sunny with little rain. March and April get very hot, up to 35°C. From ₹17,986 from Bangalore, one-way Hong KongHong Kong 20° / 15° dryPeak Autumn: sunny, dry and 20-27°C, the best time for hiking and harbour views. From ₹37,168 from Delhi, return TaipeiTaiwan 20° / 16° rainy spellsPeak Autumn: warm, drier and less humid; the best months. From ₹56,561 from Mumbai, return Cape TownSouth Africa 26° / 16° dryPeak Summer: dry, sunny and 26-27°C, the peak season for beaches, the Winelands and Table Mountain. The southeasterly... From ₹87,049 from Bangalore, return AucklandNew Zealand 22° / 16° rainy spellsPeak Summer: 23-25°C, long days, beaches and the Waiheke ferry. Late December to January is New Zealand's holiday peak. From ₹1,46,587 from Bangalore, return Chiang MaiThailand 24° / 14° dryPeak Cool season: warm, sunny days around 29-30°C and fresh nights. The best time for the old city, the temples and the hills. See the month-by-month guide KrabiThailand 28° / 24° rainy spellsPeak Dry season: calm Andaman Sea, ideal for Railay, the Phi Phi and Hong islands, and four-island boat trips. See the month-by-month guide Phu QuocVietnam 28° / 26° some rainPeak Dry season: calm seas, clear water and west-coast sunsets. The best time for the beaches and snorkelling trips. See the month-by-month guide

Think twice in December

Rain, storms, heat or closures that month. Often cheaper, but pack for it.

  • Tokyo 12° / 3°, some rainNew Year (29 December to 3 January): many shops, museums and restaurants close, and shrines are packed on 1-3 January.
  • Osaka 12° / 6°, some rainNew Year (29 December to 3 January): many shops and restaurants close, and shrines are packed.
  • Da Nang 24° / 20°, wetRainy season: October and November are the wettest, and Hoi An's old town often floods.
  • Amsterdam 8° / 4°, some rainAutumn and winter: grey, windy and drizzly, around 3-10°C.
  • Athens 14° / 7°, some rainOff season: mild (13-15°C) with rain, and many island hotels close from November to April.
  • San Francisco 14° / 8°, rainy spellsRainy season: mild (13-16°C), and the hills turn green.
  • Seattle 7° / 2°, wetGrey, drizzly season from October to April, with short days. The rain is rarely heavy but comes often.
  • Vancouver 6° / 2°, very wetRainy season: grey and wet from October to March, but mild (5-10°C).

Busy times to fly out of India in December

  • 19 Dec – 3 JanChristmas and New YearThe priciest fortnight of the year to fly out of India: school holidays, Christmas and New Year all at once. Book early or go just before or after.

Festivals and holidays abroad

  • 2–3 DecUAE National DayEid Al Etihad: fireworks, parades and a long weekend for residents; beaches and hotels are busier.
  • 4–6 DecAbu Dhabi Grand PrixFormula 1's season finale at Yas Marina: Abu Dhabi hotel prices peak that weekend.
  • 18 DecQatar National DayCelebrations and fireworks along the Doha Corniche.