Chiang Mai and Cape Town are the best places to travel in December if you want sun without much rain, Tenerife suits mild weather, Lisbon is a coat-weather city break, and Vienna and Reykjavik deliver real winter. Eleven places are compared below with December climate normals, so you can see before you book which ones are dry and which ones need a heavy coat.
Pick by weather first, then check the work side if you plan to stay a month rather than a week.
Source for all four: Wikipedia climate tables, 1991-2020 normals.
Chiang Mai, with 1.2 rain days (1 mm or more) and an 84.6 F average high. Cape Town is the alternative at 78.4 F and the driest total at 12.8 mm.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 72.0 F. Lisbon is a coat-weather city break at 59.7 F, and October to December are its three wettest months, with 108.5 mm in December.
Vienna at 40.5 F, or Reykjavik at 37.9 F if you can live with day length under five hours from 2 December to 10 January.
You dislike rain and were eyeing Medellin, or you are sensitive to dark days and were eyeing Reykjavik.
Where is the weather best in December? All 11 compared
The table sorts nothing for you, so read it across. High and low are the mean daily maximum and minimum for December. Rain days show how often it rains, which matters more for a month-long stay than total millimeters.
| Place | Dec high | Dec low | Rain or snow days | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai, Thailand | 84.6 F (29.2 C) | 62.4 F (16.9 C) | 1.2 (1 mm or more) | Warm, dry, long stays |
| Cape Town, South Africa | 78.4 F (25.8 C) | 60.1 F (15.6 C) | 2.6 (0.1 mm or more) | Southern summer, dry |
| Marrakesh, Morocco | 68.2 F (20.1 C) | 45.1 F (7.3 C) | 4.1 (1 mm or more) | Dry days, cool nights |
| Phuket, Thailand | 89.8 F (32.1 C) | 77.0 F (25.0 C) | 7.8 (1 mm or more) | Hottest beach weather |
| Cancun, Mexico | 84.0 F (28.9 C) | 68.0 F (20.0 C) | 7.7 (0.1 mm or more) | Caribbean beach time |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina | 84.2 F (29.0 C) | 65.3 F (18.5 C) | 8.9 (0.1 mm or more) | Big city in summer |
| Medellin, Colombia | 81.1 F (27.3 C) | 63.7 F (17.6 C) | 11.3 (1 mm or more) | Warm days, wet ones |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands | 72.0 F (22.2 C) | 62.2 F (16.8 C) | 8.53 (0.1 mm or more) | Mild winter escape |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 59.7 F (15.4 C) | 48.9 F (9.4 C) | 10.0 (1 mm or more) | City life, light layers |
| Vienna, Austria | 40.5 F (4.7 C) | 33.3 F (0.7 C) | 7.7 (1 mm or more) | Cold, festive city |
| Reykjavik, Iceland | 37.9 F (3.3 C) | 29.1 F (-1.6 C) | 14.6 (1 mm or more) | Winter extremes |
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals. Stations: Cape Town International Airport, Marrakesh Menara Airport, Cancun Airport, Buenos Aires Central Observatory, Medellin Olaya Herrera Airport, Vienna Innere Stadt. The other places use the city table, and each card names the agency credited under the data. Rain-day thresholds differ (1 mm or 0.1 mm), so compare rows with the same threshold when it matters.
Warm and dry places to visit in December
Three places combine low rainfall with comfortable days. They differ a lot after dark, so read the lows as well as the highs.
Ratings on the bars below are the editor’s rating, an editorial judgment and not a measurement. For crowd level, a higher number means busier.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is the cleanest answer to where to go for dry December weather. The table shows 1.2 rain days and 14.1 mm for the month, and the city is classed as tropical savanna (Koppen Aw). Nights drop to 62.4 F, which is cool enough to want a light layer.
- High 84.6 F (29.2 C)
- Low 62.4 F (16.9 C)
- 1.2 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to World Meteorological Organization.
Pros
- Almost no rain days in the month
- Warm days and cool evenings
Cons
- Editor’s crowd rating of 70, so expect company
- No beach in the city itself, so no beach days
Skip it if you need sea and sand every day. Phuket is the Thai answer to that.
Cape Town, South Africa
The Southern Hemisphere is in summer in December, and Cape Town shows it. The airport station records 12.8 mm of rain across 2.6 days, the driest figure in this list. A 78.4 F high is warm without being heavy.
- High 78.4 F (25.8 C)
- Low 60.1 F (15.6 C)
- 2.6 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to South African Weather Service and NOAA (station: Cape Town International Airport).
Pros
- Driest December in the list
- Summer weather in the middle of the northern winter
Cons
- Cooler evenings than the tropical picks
- A 78.4 F high, cooler than Phuket’s 89.8 F
Skip it if you want warm nights, because the 60.1 F low is cooler than Phuket’s 77.0 F.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakesh gives you mostly dry days at 68.2 F and a night low of 45.1 F. That 23 F swing means the same day needs a T-shirt at noon and a jacket after dark.
It rains on 4.1 days and totals 24.2 mm. It makes a good short trip and a harder month unless you check whether your room is heated.
- High 68.2 F (20.1 C)
- Low 45.1 F (7.3 C)
- 4.1 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals (Marrakesh Menara Airport).
Pros
- Mostly dry daytime weather
- Only 4.1 rain days in the month
Cons
- Cold nights at 45.1 F
- Warmth is a daytime thing only
Skip it if you want a warm evening on a terrace. Choose Chiang Mai or Phuket instead.
Warm places to visit in December, with rain in the mix
These four are warm, sometimes properly hot, and none of them is dry. Read the rain days before you read the brochure.
Phuket, Thailand
Phuket has the warmest December in this list, with a high of 89.8 F and an average low of 77.0 F. It also rains on 7.8 days and totals 82.0 mm, against 1.2 days and 14.1 mm in Chiang Mai in the same country.
Expect hot, wet weather.
- High 89.8 F (32.1 C)
- Low 77.0 F (25.0 C)
- 7.8 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals (city table).
Pros
- Warmest December highs and nights here
- Sea on the doorstep
Cons
- Rain on roughly one day in four
- An 89.8 F average high
Skip it if heat bothers you. Chiang Mai is 5.2 F cooler at the high and far drier.
Cancun, Mexico
Cancun Airport records an 84.0 F high and a 68.0 F low for December, with 7.7 rain days at the loose 0.1 mm threshold. That threshold counts drizzle, so the total of 79.5 mm is the better guide.
If you want a Mexican city rather than a resort, read the Mexico City neighborhood comparison first.
- High 84.0 F (28.9 C)
- Low 68.0 F (20.0 C)
- 7.7 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals (Cancun Airport).
Pros
- Beach weather with a comfortable 84.0 F high
- Mild nights at 68.0 F
Cons
- Rain shows up on about a quarter of days
- Editor’s crowd rating of 85, among the highest here
Skip it if you want a quiet month of focused work, because the editor’s crowd rating is 85.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
December is early summer in Buenos Aires. The Central Observatory shows an 84.2 F high and 65.3 F low, with 8.9 rain days and 122.8 mm, so warm days come with regular downpours.
Plan on a city month. Our Buenos Aires digital nomad guide covers the city side.
- High 84.2 F (29.0 C)
- Low 65.3 F (18.5 C)
- 8.9 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to Servicio Meteorologico Nacional (station: Buenos Aires Central Observatory).
Pros
- Summer warmth in a big, walkable city
- A proper base for a month of work
Cons
- Rain on 8.9 days of the month
- 122.8 mm of rain in the month
Skip it if you want reliably dry afternoons. Cape Town gets 12.8 mm in the same month.
Medellin, Colombia
Medellin is pleasant on temperature, with an 81.1 F high and a 63.7 F low. It is also the wettest place in this list, with 244.4 mm and 11.3 rain days at the 1 mm threshold.
I would not send anyone here for dry weather. Go for the city and the remote-work scene, and accept that rain is part of the month.
- High 81.1 F (27.3 C)
- Low 63.7 F (17.6 C)
- 11.3 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals (Medellin Olaya Herrera Airport).
Pros
- Warm days without extreme heat
- Established city for a longer stay
Cons
- Rain on 11.3 days of the month
- Highest December rainfall in the list
Skip it if sunshine is the reason you are leaving home in December.
Mild December weather without a long flight to the tropics
Tenerife is the mild pick, and Lisbon is a coat-weather city break. Both are cooler than the tropics and warmer than Vienna.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a 72.0 F high and a 62.2 F low, a gap of about 10 F between day and night. It records 8.53 rain days at the 0.1 mm threshold and 36.8 mm in total.
The table covers Santa Cruz only, so other resorts on the island will read differently. If you hold a non-EU passport, read the Schengen 90/180 rule guide before a long stay.
- High 72.0 F (22.2 C)
- Low 62.2 F (16.8 C)
- 8.53 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia (AEMET), provisional normals.
Pros
- Gentle temperatures from day to night
- Less rain than Medellin or Buenos Aires
Cons
- Cooler than the tropical picks at 72.0 F
- Rain days still add up to 8.53
Skip it if you need swimming weather. Phuket’s 89.8 F high is the better fit.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon in December means a 59.7 F high and a 48.9 F low, with 108.5 mm of rain over 10.0 rain days. October to December are the three wettest months, and December has 108.5 mm.
So this is a coat-weather city break, and a weak pick for sun. Our Lisbon digital nomad update covers whether the city still pays off.
- High 59.7 F (15.4 C)
- Low 48.9 F (9.4 C)
- 10.0 rain days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to Instituto Portugues do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA, temperature and rain).
Pros
- Mild by European standards
- Strong base for working remotely
Cons
- October to December are the three wettest months
- Evenings run near 49 F
Skip it if your goal is sun on your skin. Cape Town and Chiang Mai are the better bets.
Snow and festive places to travel in December
Both are cold. The Vienna table has no snowfall row, so this guide cannot give you a snow figure for the city. Reykjavik’s table shows 17.8 cm of snow over 12.6 days in December.
The tables also carry no festival or event data, so check dates yourself before you plan around one.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s Innere Stadt station gives a 40.5 F high and a 33.3 F low, which puts nights right at freezing. Precipitation comes to 39.9 mm across 7.7 days, and the table does not split rain from snow.
If you hold a non-EU passport, read the Schengen 90/180 rule guide before a long stay.
- High 40.5 F (4.7 C)
- Low 33.3 F (0.7 C)
- 7.7 rain or snow days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (station: Vienna Innere Stadt).
Pros
- Real winter atmosphere in a large city
- Easier winter than Reykjavik at 40.5 F
Cons
- Nights at about freezing
- No snowfall figure in the table
Skip it if cold weather drains you. A 40.5 F daytime high is a full-coat day.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is the coldest and darkest stop in this list. The high is 37.9 F, the low is 29.1 F, and it rains or snows on 14.6 days, with 94.9 mm of precipitation.
From 2 December to 10 January day length is under five hours, so for a working month you will use artificial light for most of the day.
- High 37.9 F (3.3 C)
- Low 29.1 F (-1.6 C)
- 14.6 rain or snow days
Source: Wikipedia climate table, 1991-2020 normals, data credited to Icelandic Met Office.
Pros
- Coldest highs in the list at 37.9 F
- Snow is in the table, at 17.8 cm over 12.6 days
Cons
- Day length under five hours from 2 December to 10 January
- Precipitation on 14.6 days
Skip it if you are sensitive to short days. This is a place for a week, and I would think twice about a month.
How to choose your December trip
- Set your weather floor and rain ceiling
Decide the lowest daytime high you will accept and how many rain days you can live with. Cold-weather lovers can ignore the first half, but everyone should check the second.
- Match the place to the length of stay
Remote workers can choose a place for a month, not a week. That favors cities such as Chiang Mai or Buenos Aires, where the table shows highs of 84.6 F and 84.2 F, and counts against places that are better as short trips, such as Marrakesh and Reykjavik.
- Book early
Book early in December, because many people travel then. Book flights and the first weeks of accommodation first, then compare the rest.
- Sort cover and connectivity before you leave
Compare nomad insurance claims experiences and read the guide to portable wifi, eSIM and local SIM options. Both are easier to fix at home than from an arrivals hall.
What goes wrong in December
Peak demand is the first problem. Many people travel in December, so book flights and the first weeks of accommodation early.
The north has short days. Reykjavik’s day length is under five hours from 2 December to 10 January, and the city logs 17.8 cm of snow over 12.6 days. Lows are 33.3 F in Vienna and 48.9 F in Lisbon, where December also brings rain on 10.0 days.
Medellin is warm and wet, with 244.4 mm and 11.3 rain days. Phuket and Cancun are hot and rainy, and Buenos Aires adds 122.8 mm of rain over 8.9 days.
Marrakesh swings from 68.2 F to 45.1 F in one day, a 23 F spread, and Chiang Mai overnight lows fall to 62.4 F. A carry-on-only setup works if you pick layers deliberately.
Working remotely from your December pick
A month abroad in December only works if the weather and your work routine both hold up. Cafe work suffers on wet days, and Medellin logs 11.3 of them against 1.2 in Chiang Mai.
Check the time difference with your team before you commit, especially for places far from your usual zone. Test your connection in the first two days, and have a backup such as an eSIM ready, as covered in the connectivity comparison.
Your desk matters more than the view. The remote work setup guide lists what to carry, and our remote work tips cover routines that survive a change of country.
If you are still looking for a job that lets you go, the list of remote companies that let you work anywhere is a starting point. Confirm your employer’s rules on working abroad before you book flights.
Where to book
Chiang Mai. It combines 84.6 F days and 1.2 rain days with a city built for long stays.
Buenos Aires, if you accept 122.8 mm of rain, or Lisbon, a coat-weather city break with 108.5 mm in December.
Vienna for a longer stay, Reykjavik for a week at most.
You want dry weather and you picked Medellin, or you want sun and you picked Lisbon.
Questions about traveling in December
What are the best places to travel in December?
According to the Wikipedia 1991-2020 climate tables, Chiang Mai and Cape Town are the best for dry, warm weather: Chiang Mai has 1.2 rain days (1 mm or more) and an 84.6 F high, and Cape Town has 12.8 mm of rain and a 78.4 F high. Tenerife is the mild pick and Lisbon a coat-weather city break at 59.7 F, while Vienna and Reykjavik are the winter picks.
Which is the best place for vacation in December?
For a beach trip, Phuket has the warmest weather at an 89.8 F high but rains on 7.8 days. For sun and low rain, Cape Town gets 12.8 mm and Chiang Mai gets 14.1 mm, so choose by whether you want sea or city.
What is the cheapest destination in December?
This guide has no price data, so naming a cheapest place would be a guess. Use the weather to shorten your list, then compare real quotes for your own dates.
What country has the nicest weather in December?
Thailand and South Africa lead for dry weather, going by the Wikipedia 1991-2020 climate tables. Chiang Mai averages an 84.6 F high with 1.2 rain days, and Cape Town averages 78.4 F with 12.8 mm of rain. Nicest depends on your taste for heat.
Is December a good month for digital nomads?
Yes, if you pick a place for a full month and check the work side first. Chiang Mai suits a long stay with 1.2 rain days in December, and so does Buenos Aires, while Marrakesh and Reykjavik work better as short trips.
Where is warm in December if I want to avoid heat and rain?
Cape Town and Marrakesh fit best. Cape Town has a 78.4 F high and 12.8 mm of rain over 2.6 days, and Marrakesh has a 68.2 F high and 24.2 mm over 4.1 days. Tenerife is milder at 72.0 F with 36.8 mm, but rain-day thresholds differ, so see the table note.