Hot Places to Go in December: 15 Sunny Destinations

Bali in December is a rain-soaked gamble. Thousands of travelers book it every year anyway, because “tropical island” sounds warm and dry. It isn’t always.

Here’s the problem with most Hot Places to Go in December lists: they never check the dry season. You land, and it rains for six days straight.

Every pick in this guide is chosen for dry-season weather, real December temperatures and honest crowd levels. Each of the 15 destinations gets a quick verdict on cost, what to expect and when to book.

You’ll know where to go in minutes, not hours. No guesswork.

Hot Places to Go in December at a Glance: Quick Answer List

Here’s the short version. Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Thailand and Queensland top the heat charts at 31°C (88°F) or higher. Below are 15 hot locations in December, each with its average high and what it does best.

• Thailand (Phuket): 32°C / 90°F, best for beaches
• Vietnam (Phu Quoc): 31°C / 88°F, best for budget beach time
• Philippines (Palawan): 31°C / 88°F, best for island hopping
• Maldives: 30°C / 86°F, best for luxury
• Sri Lanka (south coast): 30°C / 86°F, best for beaches and wildlife
• Australia (Queensland): 31°C / 88°F, best for reef trips
• Zanzibar: 31°C / 88°F, best for beaches and culture
• Dubai: 26°C / 79°F, best for cities and desert
• South Africa (Cape Town): 26°C / 79°F, best for scenery and wine
• Cape Verde: 26°C / 79°F, best for short-haul sun
• Dominican Republic: 29°C / 84°F, best for all-inclusives
• Mexico (Cancun): 28°C / 82°F, best for ruins and cenotes
• Aruba: 30°C / 86°F, best for calm water
• Costa Rica (Pacific coast): 33°C / 91°F, best for surf and wildlife
• Brazil (Rio): 30°C / 86°F, best for city plus beach

Temperature only tells half the story. Rain, crowds and prices decide whether a spot is worth the flight, so the next section puts them side by side.

Best Warm Places to Visit in December: Comparison Table

The pattern jumps out once everything sits in one grid. Dry-season heat in Asia and the Caribbean comes with big crowds, while a few cheaper picks stay quiet.

Destination	Avg High	Rain Level	Crowd Level	Budget	Best For
Thailand (Phuket)	32°C/90°F	Low	High	$$	Beaches
Vietnam (Phu Quoc)	31°C/88°F	Low	Medium	$	Budget beaches
Philippines (Palawan)	31°C/88°F	Low	Medium	$$	Island hopping
Maldives	30°C/86°F	Low	High	$$$	Luxury
Sri Lanka (south)	30°C/86°F	Low	Medium	$	Beaches, wildlife
Australia (Queensland)	31°C/88°F	Medium	High	$$$	Reef trips
Zanzibar	31°C/88°F	Medium	Medium	$$	Beaches, culture
Dubai	26°C/79°F	Very low	High	$$$	City, desert
Cape Town	26°C/79°F	Low	High	$$	Scenery, wine
Cape Verde	26°C/79°F	Low	Medium	$$	Short-haul sun
Dominican Republic	29°C/84°F	Low	High	$$	All-inclusives
Cancun	28°C/82°F	Low	High	$$	Ruins, cenotes
Aruba	30°C/86°F	Low	High	$$$	Calm water
Costa Rica (Pacific)	33°C/91°F	Low	Medium	$$	Surf, wildlife
Rio de Janeiro	30°C/86°F	Medium	High	$$	City plus beach

Vietnam and Sri Lanka are the value plays, with strong weather and lower prices. The Maldives, Aruba and Australia cost the most.

For budget options, check out: Best Countries to Visit in December: 12 Ideas by Budget.

These ratings come from a set of filters, and the next section shows exactly how each destination made the cut.

How We Chose These Warm Countries in December

Every destination on this list passed five filters. Fail one, and it’s out, no matter how good it looks on Instagram.

• Reliable sunshine: enough bright days that you’re not gambling on the forecast.
• Dry season or low rainfall: December sits inside the good weather window, not on its edge.
• Safety and infrastructure: working transport, decent healthcare and low risk for ordinary tourists.
• Flight access: direct or one-stop routes from major hubs.
• Value for money: prices that match what you get, even at peak season.

That cut some famous names. Bali is the obvious casualty, because December falls in its wet season, with heavy downpours and murky water. Parts of the southwest Indian Ocean and South Pacific also carry cyclone risk from roughly November to April, so any pick with a weather catch gets flagged in its own entry.

What remains are warm countries in December that actually deliver on the forecast. The first stop is Asia and the Pacific, where the dry-season bets are strongest.

Hot Places to Go in December in Asia and the Pacific

Asia hits its stride in December. The wet season has ended across most of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, so skies clear, humidity drops and the sea settles into a flat, warm calm. Australia flips the script entirely, with peak summer arriving just as the northern hemisphere freezes.

The catch is timing. Prices spike from roughly December 20 to January 5, when flights and beachfront rooms can cost double what they do a week earlier. Travel in the first half of the month or book months ahead, and you get the same sunshine for a lot less money. Australia is the exception, since school holidays keep its prices high well into January.

Coastlines matter as much as countries here, because one island can sit in a different weather system from the one next door. That’s why each entry below names the specific coast or island to book. Thailand comes first, and it sets the standard the rest have to match.

1. Thailand (Phuket, Krabi and the Andaman Coast)

Thailand’s Andaman coast is one of the most dependable hot places to visit in December. The southwest monsoon has ended, the sea sits around 28°C (82°F), and days are dry and sunny at roughly 32°C (90°F).

Base yourself in Krabi for Railay Beach, limestone cliffs and easy boat trips to the Phi Phi Islands. Phuket suits first-timers who want nightlife and plenty of options, while Koh Lanta is the quieter pick. Divers should target the Similan Islands, open from mid-October to mid-May.

Expect chaos between December 20 and January 5. Rooms fill, prices jump and the famous beaches are packed by mid-morning. Arrive early in the month or choose a smaller island. If Thailand’s Christmas premium stings, Vietnam’s Phu Quoc offers similar weather for less.

2. Vietnam (Phu Quoc Island)

Among the places to go in December hot and dry, Phu Quoc is the budget winner. This island in the Gulf of Thailand sits in its dry season, with highs near 31°C (88°F), calm seas and very little rain.

Skip Vietnam’s central coast in December. Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue are deep in their rainy season, with grey skies and flooding risk. Phu Quoc runs on a different weather pattern, which is why it works when the mainland doesn’t.

Sao Beach has the whitest sand, Long Beach delivers the sunsets, and Ong Lang stays quiet. Budget travelers can manage on $40-70 a day, including a decent room, food and a scooter.

Cheap sunshine gets harder to find as you move east, and the Philippines proves it.

3. The Philippines (Palawan and Cebu)

Palawan is in full dry season by December, with highs around 30°C (86°F) and steady sunshine. El Nido delivers the classic island-hopping day: hidden lagoons, limestone cliffs and clear water. Coron adds wreck diving and Kayangan Lake.

Cebu works too, though it’s less reliable. Moalboal has sardine shoals you can snorkel straight from the beach, and Kawasan Falls is a short ride away.

Typhoon season officially fades by December, but late storms still happen. Cebu and the central Visayas were hit hard by Typhoon Odette in December 2021, so buy flexible tickets and travel insurance.

For logistics, fly Manila to Puerto Princesa or straight to El Nido’s airport, and reach Coron via Busuanga. Cebu is a quick domestic hop from Manila.

Islands are Asia’s calling card, but the Maldives takes the idea to its most extreme form.

4. The Maldives

Few places rank among the best places to travel in December for warm weather like the Maldives, and it’s the top luxury pick on this list. The northeast monsoon brings the dry season, with highs near 30°C (86°F), calm seas and water around 28°C (82°F).

Resorts run from roughly $400 to well over $1,500 a night, and Christmas week pushes rates higher still. Budget travelers aren’t shut out. Guesthouses on local islands like Maafushi start around $80-150 a night, and snorkeling trips and sandbank excursions are easy to add. The trade-off is no alcohol on local islands and a designated bikini beach only.

Book early either way, because December is peak season.

Sri Lanka has a similar sea and far gentler prices, and the south coast is where to find them.

5. Sri Lanka (South and West Coast)

Sri Lanka earns its spot among the places to go in December hot and dry, but only if you pick the right coast. The south and west coasts are in season, with highs around 30°C (86°F) and calm seas. The east coast is in monsoon, so skip Trincomalee and Arugam Bay.

Mirissa is the base for whale watching, with blue whale sightings possible from roughly December. Unawatuna and Tangalle cover the beach side. Add a safari at Yala for leopards, then head inland.

The Kandy to Ella train climbs into tea country, where it’s cooler and misty and the views are worth the crowded carriage. Pack a light jacket for Nuwara Eliya, because nights get properly cold.

Sri Lanka packs beaches, wildlife and mountains into one small island. Australia offers the same range at a much larger scale, and flips the calendar entirely.

6. Australia (Queensland and Sydney)

While the northern hemisphere shivers, Australia is in peak summer. Sydney averages around 26°C (79°F), and Queensland runs hotter and more humid at roughly 31°C (88°F). That’s the hook: a Christmas spent on the beach.

The trade-offs are real. Stinger jellyfish season runs roughly November to May in tropical Queensland, so swim in netted areas or wear a stinger suit. The UV index is extreme, and you can burn in 15 minutes. Wear sunscreen, a hat and a rash vest.

School holidays run from mid-December through January, so beaches fill and accommodation costs jump. Book early and expect Australian prices, not Asian ones.

Sydney’s beaches suit city breaks, while Cairns and Port Douglas are the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Asia and the Pacific are covered. Next, Africa and the Middle East bring reliable heat on a different scale.

Hot Locations in December Across Africa and the Middle East

Africa and the Middle East deliver some of the most reliable hot locations in December. Southern Africa is in high summer, East Africa’s coast is hot with rain easing, and the Gulf and Atlantic islands sit in their driest, mildest stretch.

Four stops cover the range, starting with a tropical island off Tanzania.

7. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar sits just south of the equator, so December is hot and humid. Highs reach about 31°C (88°F), and the Indian Ocean stays around 28°C (82°F). The short rains fall mostly in November, and by December they’re brief afternoon showers rather than all-day washouts.

Spend beach days on the northeast coast, at Nungwi and Kendwa, where the tide barely drops. On the east coast, Paje and Jambiani have shallow lagoons but big tidal swings, which suit kitesurfers more than swimmers.

Save a day or two for Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with narrow alleys, spice markets and old merchant houses.

To stretch the trip, add a short flight to the mainland for a safari in the Serengeti or Selous. Beach after game drives is a hard combination to beat.

Zanzibar’s heat is humid and tropical. The next stop trades it for dry desert air.

8. Dubai and the UAE

The UAE is one of the places to go in December hot enough for the beach yet mild enough to actually walk around. Highs sit near 26°C (79°F), a far cry from the 40°C-plus summer, and sea temperatures hover around 23°C (73°F).

December kicks off the outdoor season. Terraces are open, beaches are comfortable and desert excursions are finally bearable. You can spend a morning at Jumeirah Beach, an afternoon at the Burj Khalifa and an evening at a desert camp on the same day.

Pack a layer. Desert nights drop to around 15°C (59°F), and it gets properly chilly after sunset.

Abu Dhabi is quieter and more cultural, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi. Dubai gets the crowds, so book hotels early.

Heading south, Cape Town swaps desert dunes for mountains and Atlantic surf.

9. South Africa (Cape Town and the Garden Route)

December is high summer in Cape Town, with long, dry days and highs around 26°C (79°F). The Atlantic side stays cold, so swim at Boulders Beach, where you’ll share the sand with African penguins, or on the warmer False Bay coast. The southeaster wind can blow hard, so plan around it.

Drive to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for wine estates, then follow the Garden Route east for forests, lagoons and beaches. Wildlife is close: whale-watching in Hermanus starts later in the year, but private reserves near Port Elizabeth run game drives all summer.

This is peak season for South Africans too. Accommodation and rental cars sell out, and prices jump around Christmas. Book at least three to four months ahead.

One more African stop, and it’s the easiest on the wallet: a short flight from Europe to the Atlantic.

10. Cape Verde

Cape Verde is the shortest route to reliable winter sun. Flights from western Europe take about five to six hours, and December is dry, with highs around 26°C (79°F) and little rain. Temperatures barely move from day to day, so you can plan a beach week without checking the forecast.

Sal and Boa Vista have the long, flat beaches and the resorts. Santiago and Santo Antão suit hikers and travelers who want culture, with mountains, music and Creole food.

Wind is the trade-off. The trade winds blow hard and steady, which is great for kitesurfing and windsurfing but less pleasant for lounging. Atlantic swells build through winter, so surfers get good waves, especially on Sal, but should expect strong currents.

Africa and the Middle East are covered. The Caribbean and Americas come next.

Warm Places to Go in December in the Caribbean and Americas

The Caribbean saves its best weather for winter. Hurricane season ends November 30, the dry season begins, and humidity drops. That makes the region one of the most dependable warm places to go in December, with seas around 27°C (81°F).

Costa Rica and Brazil round out the Americas. First stop is the Dominican Republic, where the all-inclusive resorts are at their best.

11. The Dominican Republic (Punta Cana)

Punta Cana is one of the easiest places to go in December hot and hassle-free. Highs sit near 29°C (84°F), the sea is around 27°C (81°F), and the dry season keeps showers short.

The all-inclusive resorts are the main draw. Food, drinks and activities are covered, which keeps costs predictable, and many run kids’ clubs and shallow pools. Beaches such as Bávaro have soft sand and a reef offshore that keeps the water calm, so they suit families with young children.

Flights are simple. Direct routes run from many North American cities, and several European hubs connect too, usually in 8 to 9 hours. Peak-week prices climb, so book early.

Mexico offers the same easy beach formula, with ruins and cenotes on top.

12. Mexico (Riviera Maya and Cancun)

The Riviera Maya hits a sweet spot in December: dry, sunny days around 28°C (82°F) and a Caribbean sea near 27°C (81°F). The humidity of summer is gone, so sightseeing stays comfortable.

Beaches are the base, but the peninsula has more to offer. Cenotes are limestone sinkholes filled with clear freshwater, ideal for a cool swim between beach days. Chichén Itzá and the clifftop ruins at Tulum add the history. Go early, before the heat and tour buses arrive.

December is high season, so expect peak rates from mid-month. Sargassum seaweed is mostly a spring and summer problem, but check recent beach reports, since it can linger on some stretches.

For calmer water and less seaweed, Aruba sits farther south in the Caribbean.

13. Aruba

Aruba is the safest bet in the Caribbean for dry weather. It sits well south of the main hurricane belt, and its desert-like climate means little rain even in the wettest months. December brings highs around 30°C (86°F) and steady trade winds that keep the heat bearable.

The beaches match the forecast. Eagle Beach is wide and quiet, Palm Beach is livelier with water sports, and Baby Beach has shallow, calm water for kids. Nearly the whole west and south coast is swimmable.

Expect premium prices. Hotels on Palm Beach and Eagle Beach can run $300-600 a night in December, and food costs more than on neighboring islands. For a cheaper stay, look at apartment rentals or condos with kitchens, a short walk from the sand.

The last two stops trade island calm for rainforest and city energy, starting with Costa Rica.

14. Costa Rica (Pacific Coast)

For jungle and surf in the same trip, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast ranks among the places to go in December hot and green. The dry season starts in December, so rain fades, the forest is still lush and highs reach 33°C (91°F).

Head to Guanacaste for reliable sun and long beaches, or the Nicoya Peninsula for surf towns like Santa Teresa and Nosara. Wildlife is easy to find here. Howler monkeys, sloths and scarlet macaws turn up on hikes and boat trips, and Manuel Antonio National Park packs a lot into one visit.

The Caribbean coast works differently. It follows its own weather pattern, and December is often wet there, so skip Puerto Viejo for this trip.

Book early, because Costa Rica’s dry season is its most popular one.

Brazil finishes the list with a different kind of heat: city energy, samba and the tropical summer.

15. Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast)

December is the start of summer in Rio de Janeiro, with highs around 30°C (86°F) and heavy humidity. The city is built for it. Ipanema and Copacabana fill up early, and you’ll want a caipirinha in hand by sunset.

Expect afternoon rain showers, usually short but sometimes heavy. Plan outdoor days for the morning, then save museums and lunches for the downpour.

For a quieter option, head to the northeast coast. Salvador and the beaches around Porto de Galinhas are hot, sunny and less hectic, with warm, calm water.

New Year’s Eve on Copacabana draws millions, so book accommodation far ahead and stay aware of your belongings in the crowds. Rio’s pickpocketing risk rises sharply during big events.

That’s all 15 destinations covered. Now let’s match them to your travel style.

Best Places to Travel in December for Warm Weather by Travel Style

Your travel style narrows the field fast. Here are the best warm-weather destinations for December, sorted by what you want from the trip.

• Budget: Vietnam, for cheap beach days
• Families: Dominican Republic, for calm all-inclusive beaches
• Luxury: The Maldives, for overwater villas
• Nature: Costa Rica, for wildlife and surf
• Nightlife: Rio de Janeiro, for beach parties and samba

Picked one? The planning steps come next.

How to Plan a Trip to Hot Places to Visit in December

Snippet target: numbered steps

Planning a trip to any of the hot places to go in December takes seven steps:

1. Set your budget before you pick a destination.
2. Confirm the dry season for your exact coast or island.
3. Book flights three to five months ahead.
4. Reserve lodging early, since the best rooms sell out first.
5. Check entry rules and passport validity.
6. Pack light clothing, reef-safe sunscreen and one warm layer.
7. Buy travel insurance with weather and cancellation cover.

Price tip: Fly before December 18 or after January 6 to skip the peak-week premium.

The questions below cover what readers ask most.

FَAQ | About Hot Places to Go in December

Choosing Your Hot December Getaway: Next Steps

Pick by budget. Vietnam’s Phu Quoc wins on cost, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast balances price and adventure, and the Maldives rules if money is no object. Any of these hot places to visit in December delivers the sunshine you’re chasing.

Still weighing continents? Read our guide to the Best Countries to Visit in December for more options.

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