The best places to visit in Europe in December are Vienna, Strasbourg, Prague, Tallinn, Salzburg, Budapest, Rovaniemi, Tromsø, Zermatt, Tenerife, Madeira, Seville, Valletta, Rome, and Edinburgh. They cover the full range of December trips, from Christmas markets and snowy Arctic adventures to skiing, winter sun, and New Year celebrations.
- Vienna, Austria: best for classic Christmas markets, cafés, palaces, and culture.
- Strasbourg, France: best for full-on Christmas atmosphere and an easy Colmar day trip.
- Prague, Czechia: best for a romantic and relatively affordable winter city break.
- Tallinn, Estonia: best for a compact medieval old town that feels made for December.
- Salzburg, Austria: best for Advent traditions, music, and Alpine scenery.
- Budapest, Hungary: best for thermal baths, festive streets, and good-value winter weekends.
- Rovaniemi, Finland: best for snow, Santa Claus, reindeer, huskies, and a true Lapland experience.
- Tromsø, Norway: best for Northern Lights trips and Arctic adventures.
- Zermatt, Switzerland: best for skiing, the Matterhorn, and a polished Alpine escape.
- Tenerife, Spain: best for the warmest weather and a beach break without leaving Europe.
- Madeira, Portugal: best for mild weather, hiking, Christmas lights, and New Year celebrations.
- Seville, Spain: best for a mild city break, tapas, architecture, and festive evenings.
- Valletta, Malta: best for history, sea views, and a warmer December city break.
- Rome, Italy: best for major sights, food, Christmas traditions, and a quieter winter feel.
- Edinburgh, Scotland: best for a dramatic festive city break and Hogmanay.
December is one of the most interesting months to travel around Europe because you are not choosing between “good” and “bad” weather. You are choosing the type of winter you actually want. You can spend one trip under Christmas lights in Vienna, another chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, and another eating lunch outside in Tenerife.
If you are planning a broader cold-season trip, our guide to the best places to visit in Europe in winter gives you more ideas beyond December.
How to choose where to go in Europe in December
Start with the weather you want. If you want proper winter, choose Rovaniemi, Tromsø, Zermatt, Tallinn, or Salzburg. If Christmas markets are the main reason for the trip, Vienna, Strasbourg, Prague, Salzburg, Budapest, and Tallinn are the strongest options on this list.
If you want to escape the cold, look south. Tenerife is the safest choice for real winter sun, while Madeira, Seville, and Malta are better for sightseeing in mild weather than for a guaranteed beach holiday.
Timing matters too. The first three weeks of December are usually the sweet spot for festive trips because cities are decorated and Christmas markets are running, but you are not yet in the busiest Christmas and New Year travel period. The days around Christmas and New Year can be much more expensive, and restaurants, museums, shops, and public transport may follow holiday schedules.
Vienna, Austria: best for Christmas markets, cafés, and culture
Vienna is one of the easiest answers to the question “Where should I go in Europe in December?” because December makes the city feel even more like itself. Grand architecture, warm cafés, classical music, palaces, and elegant streets all work perfectly with cold weather and early sunsets.
Christmas markets appear across the city from Rathausplatz and Schönbrunn to smaller squares and neighborhood streets. The important thing is not to spend the whole trip walking from market to market. Vienna is better when you mix festive evenings with museums, coffee houses, palace visits, and long dinners.
Best things to do in Vienna in December
Visit the Christmas markets in the late afternoon when the lights come on. Explore Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere, or the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Stop for coffee and cake in a traditional café, book a classical concert, and try Austrian dishes such as schnitzel, tafelspitz, and Kaiserschmarrn.
**Best for: couples, first-time visitors to Europe, Christmas-market trips, culture lovers, and food travelers.**
Strasbourg, France: best for the strongest Christmas atmosphere
Strasbourg takes Christmas very seriously. Its historic center fills with lights, decorations, wooden stalls, food, and markets spread around several squares. The Gothic cathedral and half-timbered streets give the city exactly the kind of setting people imagine when they picture Christmas in Europe.
The city is also a smart base if you want to turn one December weekend into a small Alsace trip. Colmar is an easy addition, and smaller towns around the region can feel even more intimate than Strasbourg itself.
Best things to do in Strasbourg in December
Walk through the Christmas markets after dark, explore the streets around the cathedral and Petite France, try Alsatian food, and leave time for a day trip to Colmar if your schedule allows. Strasbourg is popular in December, so book accommodation early if you want to stay in the historic center.
**Best for: Christmas lovers, couples, photographers, food travelers, and anyone who wants a trip built almost completely around festive atmosphere.**
Prague, Czechia: best for a romantic winter city break
Prague is beautiful in every season, but December gives the old city more mood. Church towers, cobbled streets, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, warm pubs, and Christmas lights all work together without needing a complicated itinerary.
It can also be easier on the budget than cities such as Copenhagen, Zurich, or London, although the most famous parts of the Old Town are not cheap. Stay a little outside the tourist core, use public transport, and do not assume every meal needs to be next to Old Town Square.
Best things to do in Prague in December
See the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets, cross Charles Bridge early in the morning, visit Prague Castle, walk through Malá Strana, and warm up over Czech food and beer. For a quieter atmosphere, explore neighborhoods such as Vinohrady or Karlín between the major sights.
**Best for: couples, first-time city breaks, Christmas-market trips, photographers, and travelers looking for strong atmosphere at a more manageable price.**
Tallinn, Estonia: best for a small medieval Christmas city
Tallinn is a good choice if you want a Christmas-market trip without spending the whole weekend crossing a huge capital. The medieval Old Town is compact, walkable, and especially atmospheric when the streets are dark early and the Town Hall Square is lit for Christmas.
December can be cold, snowy, wet, or a mix of all three, so come for the atmosphere rather than guaranteed postcard snow. Tallinn works best when you combine the old town with cozy restaurants, cafés, saunas, museums, and a few modern neighborhoods outside the medieval walls.
Best things to do in Tallinn in December
Visit the Christmas market on Town Hall Square, walk the old city walls and viewpoints, explore Telliskivi and Kalamaja, try Estonian food, and book a sauna or spa session when you want a warm afternoon indoors.
**Best for: short winter weekends, couples, Christmas lovers, photographers, and travelers who prefer compact cities.**
Salzburg, Austria: best for Advent traditions and Alpine scenery
Salzburg feels smaller and more intimate than Vienna, but December gives it just as much atmosphere. The old town, cathedral squares, fortress, church bells, mountain backdrop, and traditional Advent markets create a classic Central European Christmas trip.
It is also a strong choice if you want a city break that can easily include the Alps. You can spend one day exploring Salzburg and another taking a winter day trip into the surrounding lakes and mountains.
Best things to do in Salzburg in December
Visit the Christkindlmarkt around Domplatz and Residenzplatz, walk through the old town, ride up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, see Mirabell Gardens, and look for a classical concert or Advent performance. If you have an extra day, add a snowy excursion outside the city.
**Best for: couples, Christmas-market trips, music lovers, families, and travelers who want both a city and mountain scenery.**
Budapest, Hungary: best for thermal baths and festive evenings
Budapest is one of the best December city breaks if you like doing something outdoors, getting cold, and then having a very good reason to spend the next two hours in hot water. The city’s thermal baths make winter feel like part of the experience rather than something you need to tolerate.
December also brings festive lights, Christmas markets, ice skating, hearty Hungarian food, and long evenings along the Danube. Compared with many Western European capitals, Budapest can still offer good value if you avoid the most tourist-heavy restaurants and book accommodation before the holiday rush.
Best things to do in Budapest in December
Spend a morning at Széchenyi or another thermal bath, walk along the Danube, see Parliament and the Buda Castle area, visit the Advent markets, and try dishes such as goulash, lángos, chimney cake, and paprika-heavy comfort food. City Park is especially good in winter when the seasonal ice rink is operating.
**Best for: couples, friends, spa lovers, food travelers, and people who want a lively winter weekend without Swiss or Scandinavian prices.**
Rovaniemi, Finland: best for a real Lapland Christmas
Rovaniemi is the place to choose when you want December to look and feel completely different from everyday life. By this point in the season, Finnish Lapland is usually snowy, daylight is very short, and the whole destination is built around winter activities.
Santa Claus Village is the obvious draw for families, but Rovaniemi is not only a Santa trip. Reindeer farms, husky rides, frozen forests, saunas, snowmobiles, Arctic museums, and Northern Lights tours give you enough to fill several days.
Best things to do in Rovaniemi in December
Visit Santa Claus Village, try a husky or reindeer experience, book a sauna, explore Arktikum, and join a Northern Lights tour away from city lights. Do not overbook every hour. The Arctic light, snow, fireplaces, and slow evenings are part of why the trip feels special.
**Best for: families, couples, bucket-list trips, snow lovers, and travelers who want the full Christmas experience.**
Tromsø, Norway: best for the Northern Lights
If seeing the Northern Lights is the main goal, Tromsø is one of the strongest December choices in Europe. The city lies far above the Arctic Circle and has long, dark winter nights that give you plenty of opportunities to go aurora hunting when the sky is clear.
The Polar Night is part of the experience. The sun stays below the horizon for several weeks, but that does not mean the city is pitch black all day. Around midday, the sky can shift through deep blue, pink, and violet light, which makes even a simple waterfront walk feel unusual.
Best things to do in Tromsø in December
Join a Northern Lights chase with a guide who can move around according to the weather, ride the Fjellheisen cable car, try dog sledding or snowshoeing, visit the Arctic Cathedral, and make time for a sauna or good seafood dinner.
**Best for: Northern Lights seekers, couples, photographers, Arctic adventures, and travelers who want nature without giving up restaurants and city life.**
Zermatt, Switzerland: best for skiing and the Matterhorn
Zermatt is the polished version of a December mountain trip. The car-free village sits below the Matterhorn, with ski lifts, mountain restaurants, chalet-style hotels, winter walks, and some of the most famous scenery in the Alps.
It is not a budget destination, and December prices rise quickly as Christmas approaches. But if you want a special ski trip, a romantic Alpine break, or a few days built around mountain views and good hotels, Zermatt is hard to beat.
Best things to do in Zermatt in December
Ski or snowboard, take mountain lifts for Matterhorn views, walk through the old village, eat fondue or raclette, and plan one slow afternoon rather than spending every minute on the slopes. Even non-skiers can enjoy Zermatt if they like scenic railways, winter walks, spas, and mountain restaurants.
**Best for: skiers, couples, luxury travelers, mountain lovers, and special-occasion trips.**
Tenerife, Spain: best for winter sun
Tenerife is the easiest answer if your December fantasy has absolutely no snow in it. In the Canary Islands, December is much warmer than most of continental Europe, and southern Tenerife is especially popular for sunshine, beaches, pools, and outdoor lunches.
The island is more interesting than a simple resort break. You can spend a morning by the sea, drive into volcanic landscapes around Teide National Park, walk through Anaga, visit small towns, and end the day back on the coast.
Best things to do in Tenerife in December
Stay in the sunnier south if warm weather is the priority, spend time on the beach, explore Teide National Park, drive through mountain villages, hike in Anaga, and book a whale-watching trip if conditions are good. Pack layers because temperatures change dramatically between the coast and the mountains.
**Best for: winter sun, couples, families, beach breaks, hikers, and travelers who want outdoor weather in December.**
Madeira, Portugal: best for mild weather and New Year celebrations
Madeira is a different kind of winter-sun destination. Do not choose it because you expect a week of lying on a sandy beach. Choose it for green mountains, ocean cliffs, levada walks, gardens, viewpoints, waterfalls, Funchal, and mild weather that makes outdoor days comfortable.
December adds another layer because Funchal is decorated for Christmas and the island builds toward its famous New Year celebrations. If you want to travel over New Year’s Eve, book early because the holiday period is one of Madeira’s major annual events.
Best things to do in Madeira in December
Explore Funchal, visit Monte and the gardens, drive to dramatic viewpoints, walk one of the levada trails that is open and safe, see the volcanic pools around Porto Moniz, and spend a day exploring the island’s villages and coastline. Check trail conditions before hiking because mountain weather can change quickly.
**Best for: active couples, hikers, nature lovers, New Year trips, and travelers who want mild weather without a traditional resort holiday.**
Seville, Spain: best for a mild December city break
Seville is one of the best places in Europe in December if you care more about architecture, food, and walking than Christmas markets. The weather is much gentler than in Central and Northern Europe, which makes it easier to spend long days outside without the heat of summer.
The city still feels festive, with lights, markets, seasonal events, and busy streets in the run-up to Christmas. But the bigger reason to visit is that you can see the Alcázar, cathedral, Plaza de España, Triana, tapas bars, and orange-tree-lined streets in comfortable sightseeing weather.
Best things to do in Seville in December
Visit the Real Alcázar and Seville Cathedral, walk through Santa Cruz, cross into Triana for tapas, see Plaza de España, and stay out after dark for the Christmas lights. Build the itinerary around neighborhoods and food rather than racing between attractions.
**Best for: couples, food travelers, architecture lovers, first-time Spain trips, and anyone who wants a warmer city break.**
Valletta, Malta: best for history and mild weather
Valletta is a useful December option if you want a compact city, sea views, historic architecture, and temperatures that are usually much easier than Northern Europe. The old capital is small enough to explore on foot, but the wider island gives you plenty of reasons to stay for several days.
December is not beach season in the classic sense, but it can be excellent for sightseeing. You can walk the city walls, take ferries across the harbors, explore the Three Cities, and visit Mdina without the heat and crowds of summer.
Best things to do in Valletta in December
Explore St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Upper Barrakka Gardens, the waterfront, and the streets around the old center. Take a ferry toward the Three Cities, spend half a day in Mdina, and use the mild weather for coastal walks when the forecast is good.
**Best for: history lovers, couples, short city breaks, mild-weather trips, and travelers who want an easy island escape without planning around beaches.**
Rome, Italy: best for famous sights, food, and Christmas traditions
Rome in December gives you a version of the city that feels very different from peak summer. The days are cooler, the light is softer, and walking between major sights is far more comfortable than in July or August.
Christmas also matters in Rome in a way that goes beyond decorations. Piazza Navona has festive traditions, churches display nativity scenes, and Vatican City becomes a major focus around Christmas. The holiday dates themselves can be busy, but earlier in December can be a very good time for sightseeing.
Best things to do in Rome in December
Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum, walk through the historic center, see the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, spend time in Trastevere, and visit St Peter’s Basilica. Keep evenings flexible for long dinners and neighborhood walks rather than treating Rome like a checklist.
**Best for: first-time visitors, couples, history lovers, food travelers, and people who want a major European capital without summer heat.**
Edinburgh, Scotland: best for Christmas and Hogmanay
Edinburgh already has the right architecture for winter. Stone streets, steep closes, the castle, dark early evenings, pubs, and views from Calton Hill all become more dramatic in December.
The city runs festive events through much of the month, and the final days of December lead into Hogmanay, Scotland’s New Year celebration. If you want to be in Edinburgh for New Year, treat it as a major event trip and book accommodation and tickets well in advance.
Best things to do in Edinburgh in December
Walk the Royal Mile, visit Edinburgh Castle, explore Dean Village and Stockbridge, climb Calton Hill if the weather is clear, and spend an evening in a pub or restaurant in the Old Town or Leith. Around New Year, check the official Hogmanay programme before you build the rest of the itinerary.
**Best for: couples, friends, festive city breaks, New Year trips, pub lovers, and travelers who enjoy dramatic winter atmosphere.**
Frequently asked questions about Europe in December
Where is warm in Europe in December?
For the warmest reliable weather, choose the Canary Islands. Tenerife is one of the best options because coastal temperatures can still reach the low 20s Celsius in December. Madeira is mild rather than hot, while Seville and Malta are good for comfortable sightseeing but not guaranteed beach weather.
Where is the best place in Europe for Christmas markets in December?
Vienna is the best all-round choice because it combines several Christmas markets with museums, cafés, palaces, concerts, and excellent public transport. Strasbourg is the better choice if you want the entire trip to feel like Christmas, while Prague, Salzburg, Budapest, and Tallinn are also very strong.
Where can you see snow in Europe in December?
For the best chance of real winter conditions, look north or into the Alps. Rovaniemi, Tromsø, and Zermatt are the strongest options on this list. Tallinn and Salzburg can also be snowy, but snow in European cities is never something you should treat as guaranteed.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Europe in December?
Yes. December is a strong month for Northern Lights trips because nights are long in the far north. Tromsø and Rovaniemi are both excellent bases. The important thing to remember is that the aurora is a natural phenomenon, so no destination can guarantee a sighting on a specific night.
Is December a good time to visit Europe?
Yes, especially if you choose the destination for the season. December is excellent for Christmas markets, winter cities, Northern Lights, skiing, and winter sun. It is less ideal if you want long daylight hours, warm mainland-European beach weather, or completely predictable transport during the Christmas holidays.
If keeping costs down is important, compare dates carefully and see our guide to the best budget travel destinations in Europe before booking. Early December is often easier than the Christmas and New Year period.
Plan your Europe trip in December with EasyMiles
The hardest part of a December Europe trip is usually not choosing a beautiful city. It is turning that choice into a plan that actually works with short daylight hours, opening times, weather, travel time between places, restaurant reservations, and holiday schedules.
EasyMiles can build the whole trip around your dates, pace, interests, food preferences, and the kind of December you want. It can organize sights and restaurants into a realistic itinerary, help you discover places that fit your style, and adjust the plan when weather or plans change.
Instead of keeping fifteen browser tabs, a saved Google Maps list, restaurant screenshots, and a separate notes document, you can keep the trip in one place and spend more time actually enjoying it.