Where to Travel in December 2024It's the end of the year and everyone's feeling festival with Christmas celebrations

If you fancy spending Christmas somewhere hot, then December is a great month to head to Egypt. Temperatures are still warm enough to get around in a t-shirt, but a long way from the extreme heat of summer. And the weather is beautiful compared to December in the UK or North America!

The cold and short days in Finland are perfect for a truly wintery December with snow guaranteed. Here you can meet Father Christmas, drive a herd of reindeer, try your hand at husky sledding, and enjoy a thrill ride on a snowmobile. With a gorgeous Arctic landscape and a vast sky decorated with the Aurora Borealis for almost 200 nights of the year, Finland is a magical December destination.

Often seen in the polar regions, the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis as they are scientifically known, are one of the world's most beautiful natural phenomena. As electrically charged particles from the sun hit the earth's atmosphere, it creates sheets of dancing colour. December is in the heart of winter across Iceland, with long, dark nights ideal for catching a glimpse of these impressive visual performances with a wintery backdrop of frozen rivers and snow-covered pines.

Each December planet Earth crosses the orbital path of an asteroid that gets close enough to the sun so that its rocky body begins to crumble, resulting in what is known as the Geminid Meteor Shower. The astral debris vaporises on contact with the upper atmosphere, and from Terra firma it appears as streams of coloured light tracing a path across the sky. The Moroccan Sahara is one of the best places to witness this phenomenon with no light pollution and expansive vistas.

Morocco's most popular city is a great destination in December. It's relatively warm and tends to be quiet at this time of year, so you can avoid the crowds. Plus, it's in a Muslim country, so if you're a bit of a grinch looking to escape the festive madness back home, then you'll find Marrakech nice and Christmas-free! Time spent shopping in the city's numerous markets or heading out to explore the dunes of the Sahara are both worthwhile experiences.

There couldn’t be a more magical time to visit London than in December. Oxford Street and Regent Street come alive with twinkling street lights and epic window displays; Hyde Park is taken over by the festivities of Winter Wonderland, and outdoor ice-skating rinks appear across the city. Head to Trafalgar Square to see the magnificent Christmas tree, gifted from Norway every year. And when you need a break, there are hundreds of cosy pubs offering hearty meals and mulled wine.

With a fresh powdering of snow covering its rooftops and cobblestone lanes, Tallinn’s medieval Old Town is particularly enchanting in December. And this month sees the Christmas Market at the Town Hall Square in full swing, offering everything from cosy knitwear to traditional Estonian Christmas food. While Tallinn hosts many wonderful markets in December, this is by far the main event. But as much of the rest of Europe is yet to catch on, you can enjoy the festivities without hordes of other visitors.

While New York is worth visiting at any time of year, there’s something extra special about visiting at Christmas time. There’s no shortage of festive activities, with people flocking to do their Christmas shopping and marvel at the holiday window displays of the city’s department stores. Don’t miss the famed Rockefeller Center Christmas tree or the elaborate decorations of the homes in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. And, of course, December ends with the New Year’s Eve countdown and ball drop in Times Square.