Best places to travel in December 2021

December usually brings cool and dry weather to Japan, and there are few visitors, especially in the first few weeks. This means it’s a good month to visit if you’re comfortable with the lower temperatures. Traditional ryokans, like Fujioto Ryokan, are usually minimally heated, so staying in one can be slightly chilly. However, there’s something special about soaking in an outdoor onsen during the winter, especially in the north, where you can relax in a natural hot spring surrounded by snow. Things pick up a bit at the end of the month and you may find some attractions closed in the run up to the New Year.

Hot, sunny and with little rain unless you’re in the humid north, Australia is everything you picture it to be during December. Visitor numbers pick up, not least over Christmas and New Year, so aim for the beginning of the month unless you plan to join in the celebrations. Needless to say, December is a great time to take advantage of Australia’s many sweeps of golden sand. Tasmania, with its cooler temperatures, is particularly good for hiking at this time of year, though it’s usually comfortable enough elsewhere for walking in forested national parks and along coastal trails.

Though there’s still the chance of rain in central Vietnam, the rest of the country is dry in December. This does mean there are more visitors at this time, especially in the south. In the northern areas, temperatures can get cool in the evenings, but the southern coastal areas are balmy and bright — ideal weather for beach relaxation. Plan to book early, especially if you’re visiting popular destinations like Phu Quoc, Mui Ne and Phen Thiet or want to travel near the end of the month — Christmas and New Year are busy times in Vietnam.

Italy enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, which means winters here are cool rather than cold, though sometimes wet. This means December is a good time to explore the cities, where you’ll be able to visit popular sights and explore museums with few other visitors. Areas like the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany will be very quiet, and you may find that some attractions have limited opening hours. The lead up to Christmas in Italy is celebrated with nativities, special markets and squares decked out in lights, while churches fill with worshippers, especially in Rome, where the Christmas Eve Mass is particularly popular.

Though the northern reaches of Spain can get chilly and wet in December, Andalusia usually boasts mild temperatures and sunny skies, as well as the fragrant scent of orange trees blooming. Regardless of where you go, you’re likely to be one of just a handful of visitors, making this an excellent time to see otherwise crowded sights like the Alhambra in Granada or the Mezquita in Córdoba. The cities are decked out for Christmas and you’ll find elaborate nativities as well as special foods for the season such as pestiños, little golden balls of fried dough rolled in aniseed or sesame seeds.

December is a wet, warm month in Peru, and you’ll encounter few other visitors. The rains create verdant scenery, and birds and orchids flourish in the cloudforests. If you’re visiting the Amazon, the waters will be higher than during the dry season, which means you’ll be able to explore the smaller tributaries that are too low in other months. If you’re in Cuzco for Christmas Eve, the Santurantikuy Market bustles with people drinking hot chocolate and vendors from the high Andes selling grasses and plants for the nativity manger.