# Where to Travel in December URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/where-to-go/december Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Where to travel in December: Cape Town summer, Maldives dry season, gorilla trekking, and Europe’s Christmas markets, plus holiday booking timelines and tips. **Quick answer:** December is high summer in Cape Town and the start of the Maldives’ dry season, making both top beach picks. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda enters a drier window, and Tanzania’s herds return to the southern Serengeti. For festive cities, Vienna, Prague, and New York shine. Book early: the Christmas and New Year’s weeks are the most expensive of the year. - Top beach pick: Maldives (dry season begins) - Top safari pick: Rwanda gorillas or southern Serengeti - Top city pick: Cape Town (summer) or Vienna (markets) - Best for corporate travel: Art Basel Miami Beach (typically early December) - Book by: Holiday weeks 9–12 months ahead ## Why is December good for Cape Town, the Maldives, and gorillas? December is summer in the Southern Hemisphere and the start of the dry season in the Maldives, so you can trade a northern winter for long beach days. Cape Town is warm and lively, and it pairs well with a green-season safari in the Greater Kruger, when newborn animals are everywhere. In the Maldives, calmer seas and more sunshine typically settle in by December. In Central and East Africa, December begins a drier window for gorilla trekking that typically runs to February, and Tanzania’s wildebeest herds typically return to the southern Serengeti after the short rains. ## What should you avoid in December? December’s biggest challenge is demand, not weather. - Christmas to New Year’s: peak prices everywhere, and many luxury resorts require minimum stays over the holidays. - French Polynesia’s wet season: still warm and beautiful, but rainier than May to October. - Bali: the wet season is underway, with heavier rain. - Northern Europe: short, cold days; lovely at the Christmas markets, less so for countryside touring. - Mauritius: cyclone season typically starts around November and peaks from January to March. ## What should business travelers know about December? Art Basel Miami Beach typically takes place in early December, filling Miami and Miami Beach hotels at premium rates. AWS re:Invent can run into the first days of December in Las Vegas. After mid-December, many companies slow travel for year-end, and offices across Europe and North America largely close between Christmas and New Year’s. December is the right time to plan first-quarter trips around CES and Lunar New Year, and to review your corporate travel program for the year ahead. ## How far ahead should you book December travel? Christmas and New Year’s are the hardest weeks of the year to book. For Cape Town, the Maldives, safari camps, and ski resorts over the holidays, 9–12 months ahead is common. Early December is easier and often better value, a smart window if your schedule allows. ## Best places to travel in December - **Cape Town & Winelands** (South Africa · Summer): Beach days, Table Mountain, and wine estates at their liveliest. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/cape-town-and-winelands - **Maldives** (Indian Ocean · Dry season begins): Calmer seas and more sunshine, ideal for a holiday in an overwater villa. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/destinations/mle - **Volcanoes National Park** (Rwanda · Drier trekking window): December to February brings firmer trails; holiday permits go fast. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/rwanda - **Southern Serengeti** (Tanzania · Herds return south): After the short rains, the herds typically move back onto the green southern plains. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/tanzania - **Dubai** (UAE · Peak winter season): Sunny, comfortable days and a festive city atmosphere. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/destinations/dxb - **Prague** (Czechia · Christmas markets): Old Town Square’s market, mulled wine, and a fairy-tale skyline. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/destinations/world/prague - **New York** (USA · Holiday season): Window displays, ice rinks, and Broadway; book well ahead for the holiday weeks. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/destinations/world/new-york - **Sydney** (Australia · Summer and New Year’s Eve): Beach days and the famous harbour fireworks on New Year’s Eve. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/destinations/world/sydney ## Frequently asked questions **Q: Where is warm in December?** A: Warm December picks include Cape Town, the Maldives, Dubai, Sydney, Thailand, and Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Cape Town and Sydney are in summer, the Maldives and Thailand are entering their dry seasons, and Dubai is in its pleasant winter. French Polynesia is warm too, but December falls in its wetter season, so expect more showers. **Q: Is December a good time for a safari?** A: Yes, with tradeoffs. In Tanzania, the herds typically return to the southern Serengeti after the short rains, and December begins a drier window for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda. Southern Africa is in its green season: lush, full of newborn animals, and often better value outside the holiday weeks, though thicker bush makes some sightings harder. **Q: How far ahead should I book Christmas and New Year’s travel?** A: For the most popular resorts, safari camps, and villas over Christmas and New Year’s, book 9–12 months ahead; many luxury properties sell out early and require minimum stays. Flights also fill, especially premium cabins. If you’re planning in the fall, consider the first two weeks of December or early January, when availability and prices are better. **Q: When is Art Basel Miami Beach?** A: Art Basel Miami Beach typically takes place in early December, with satellite fairs and events across Miami during the same week. Hotel rates in Miami Beach and nearby neighborhoods rise sharply, and the best properties sell out months ahead. If you’re attending for business, book rooms as soon as the fair’s dates are announced. ## Sources - [Art Basel](https://www.artbasel.com/) - [Visit Rwanda](https://www.visitrwanda.com/) - [South African Tourism](https://www.southafrica.net/)