Top December Cities

Where on Earth did, that year go?

The enticement of sneaking in a week or two’s worth of sun at a tropical paradise during the cold and harsh winter months is definitely irresistible. Or if you would rather spend the holidays in a traditional winter paradise than at home then there are multiple places that you can pick in your top places to visit in the world.

And wouldn’t it be fantastic, if you see the year out with an unforgettable holiday to a destination that will leave you wanting more for the year 2020? To help you pick that memorable ending to this year, check out some of the best places to visit in December in the world.

1.Lapland, Finland

What better way to end the year than by heading to the winter wonderland that is Lapland and most notably famous as being Santa Clauses home town. It is the last remaining region of wilderness in northern Europe with plenty of forests, mountains, rivers, and coastlines creating a vast amount of adventures to be had. With activities, such as snowmobiles, toboggans, sleigh rides and being pulled by huskies who wouldn’t want to spend a week or two here?

From the moment, you land in Lapland your time will be filled with magical things that only you can possibly dream of and most importantly, make that all-important visit to Santa to make sure he knows exactly what to get you for Christmas.

2. Cancun, Mexico

This beautiful part of Mexico is often underlined for its parties and luxurious resorts, but Cancun has the capacity to surprise holidaymakers and present a case for it being as one of the best places to travel in December. The weather makes it the perfect place for those searching for some winter sun with temperatures ranging from 20 to 28 Celsius.

While it is primarily all-inclusive resort-based, it does have fantastic beaches stretching for miles with bath warm water to relax and swim in. Fancy a bit more of an adventure? Then definitely book a day tour to the world wonder that is Chichen Itza or head to the stunning island of Holbox which is famous for its pink flamingos.

3. Kauai, Hawaii

Personally, I think this is one of the most stunning islands that offers the opportunity to enjoy the tropics all year round, and throughout the month of December it hosts a variety of fun holiday events, like the Festival of Lights, which is a lighted Christmas parade and Christmas hula concerts. This is a good time for whale watching too with humpbacks migrating to the warm waters that surround the island to mate and birth their young. If you like to surf, winter enjoys some of the best opportunities for that too.

Most notably known as being the main film destination for many blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, they also filmed the hit TV show Lost here as well and for those film buffs out there its incredible to visit these incredible backdrops.

4. Tenerife, Spain

With average daily temperatures in December in the mid-20 Celsius range, along with over 900 miles of magnificent coastline, it provides the ideal chance for enjoying the sun and the sand while topping up your tan. Forget the wet winter back home and instead, head to Tenerife, which is the largest of the Canary Islands in Spain and enjoy the black volcanic sand beaches on the northern part of the island, and the golden that are framed by crystal clear blue waters in the south. It is also popular for diving and snorkelling and just about every other type of water sport, like surfing, windsurfing, and jet-skiing.

5. Innsbruck, Austria

This beautiful city is known as the ski and snowboard capital of the world. As the two-time host of the Winter Olympics and covered in internationally recognized alpine resorts, Innsbruck does not disappoint. In addition to tearing up the slopes, visitors can tour the famous Olympic ski jump and other nearby athletic facilities.
Innsbruck was also a seat of power for centuries and history buffs will love visiting the royal Hapsburg home and soaking up the city’s beautiful architecture. As if you needed more of a reason to visit, Innsbruck is the home of Swarovski Crystals, and no visit to this city is complete without a tour of their bizarre but beautiful headquarters.

6. Edinburgh, Scotland

With awe-inspiring winding streets, stunning castles and palaces, and beautiful Princes Street Gardens transformed into a winter wonderland, this makes Edinburgh the place to be during December. There is nothing more charming than ice skating in the centre of one of Europe’s oldest cities and wandering through the Edinburgh castle taking in the striking history.
Arthur’s Seat, on the edge of the city, is the perfect place to take a walk while soaking up unparalleled views, that a photo just simply cannot capture. With bountiful cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars you will definitely be able to escape the chill of the winter with a hot cut of tea or hot chocolate.

7. Sydney, Australia

What’s the best way to end the year you may ask? Well, a trip down under is the best way to celebrate, for two reasons: to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks above the harbor bridge and also to soak up the sunshine as it’s their mid-summer season.
For sun-seekers and beach lovers you will certainly be spoiled for choice as the city boasts more than 100 beaches within easy reach of the Central Business District (CBD), ranging from picturesque coves to pounding surf spots. Iconic Bondi Beach is one of the world’s best strands. Sure, it can get crowded, but its laid-back vibe and sapphire ocean are always appealing. There are family-friendly ocean pools at either end or stay between the flags for the safest swimming.

8. Las Vegas, United States

In December, Las Vegas, also known as Sin City welcomes thousands of travellers looking to start the New Year in style. Because after all, Vegas has almost anything you can dream of to usher out the last month of the year: world-renowned food, global superstar performers, and a dazzling fireworks spectacular on New Year’s Eve.
The famous neon lights of Las Vegas have drawn many tourists there for years and for good reason. It truly is a spectacular place to visit with lots of diverse activities such as visiting the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, thrill-seeking on top the Stratosphere, practicing your aim at the Gun Shop or just simply hanging out in one of the many hotel pools and trying your luck at some gambling.

Be sure to check out my website Take The Leap Travel for more information and travel advice as well as my Instagram @explorewithlee and @taketheleaptravel.

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