When thinking about the best places to visit in December, you may be tempted to view the month through the lens of Christmas—which is understandable, given the wealth of cities that go all out for the holidays. And while we’re always down for a European Christmas market or dazzling lights display, there are plenty of reasons to travel this month outside of the holly and the jolly.
Take a weekend sojourn to Valparaíso, or head down south (and we mean way down) for an Antarctic cruise; or book a flight to the Caribbean for Mayan ruins, guided scuba diving trips, and impossibly luxurious resorts. Over in Malaysia, meanwhile, the Eastern & Oriental Express has several once-in-a-lifetime train journeys just waiting for you.
Whether you want to get a jumpstart on ski season or escape the winter doldrums in Belize, here are the 13 best places to travel in December.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
