1
Maldives
Maldives- Temperature
- 26–30°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Dry-season conditions return and the islands have a festive atmosphere.
–Christmas and New Year create the year's biggest demand spike.
December
Best nature and outdoor destinations in December
For landscapes and the outdoors in December, Maldives comes out first, with average highs around 30°C.
Destinations known for landscapes and outdoor activities, ranked by how good the month is there. Each card shows the real average temperature, crowd level and price level for December, and links to the full December guide for that destination.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Photo: Chiang Mai (#2 on this list)
- 2
Chiang Mai
Thailand- Temperature
- 17–29°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Cool, dry weather and a festive mood.
–High season crowds and prices.
3Hong Kong
Hong Kong- Temperature
- 16–20°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Very low rainfall
–Cooler evenings
4Cape Town
South Africa- Temperature
- 16–26°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Long, warm summer days.
–High demand and expensive accommodation.
5Queenstown
New Zealand- Temperature
- 8–20°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Long days and festive energy.
–Busy and expensive towards Christmas.
6Medellín
Colombia- Temperature
- 18–27°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+The Christmas lights on the Medellín river, a major draw.
–High prices and busy holiday crowds.
7Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala- Temperature
- 11–22°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$
+Clear skies and a festive mood.
–Higher prices and bigger crowds.
8Seychelles
Seychelles- Temperature
- 25–30°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Warm weather and lush scenery
–Higher seasonal demand and frequent showers
9Cusco
Peru- Temperature
- 8–21°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Festive atmosphere and the Santurantikuy market.
–Rain and holiday bookings.
10Rovaniemi
Finland- Temperature
- -11–-5°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- €€€€€
+Santa Claus Village at its best.
–Peak prices and around 2 hours of daylight.
11Tromsø
Norway- Temperature
- -4–0°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Christmas lights in total darkness.
–The sun doesn't rise.
12Zermatt
Switzerland- Temperature
- -6–2°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Snowy village at Christmas.
–Peak holiday prices.
13Tulum
Mexico- Temperature
- 18–29°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Major event season
–Holiday prices
14Amalfi Coast
Italy- Temperature
- 9–15°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- €€
+Festive lights in Salerno and Amalfi.
–Wet weather and limited services.
15Cappadocia
Turkey- Temperature
- -1–6°C
- Crowds
- Very Low
- Prices
- €€
+Magical winter landscapes
–Cold and weather-dependent
Temperatures are monthly averages. Crowd and price levels are my own judgement. Want to narrow it down? Filter all destinations for December.
FAQ
Best nature and outdoor destinations in December
What are the best nature and outdoor destinations in December?
Maldives, Chiang Mai and Hong Kong come out best in December. Destinations known for landscapes and outdoor activities, ranked by how good the month is there.
Which of these is warmest in December?
Maldives, with average highs around 30°C in December.
Which of these is quietest in December?
Cappadocia, where crowds in December are very low.
Best nature and outdoor destinations in another month
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