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Português (PT)Where to go in December
A clean split between Europe's Christmas markets and Asia's best dry-season weather.
December offers two clearly different trips. One is Europe in winter — Christmas markets, lights and short days. The other is Southeast Asia and the Gulf in the best weather of their year. Both are expensive in the last week of the month; if the dates are yours to choose, the first two weeks give much the same atmosphere at a far better price.
8 places this month suits
Thailand
Mid dry season and the best weather of the year: clear skies and comfortable evenings. Prices peak in the final week.
Thailand plansGermany
Christmas markets run through the month up to the holiday, and the cities stay walkable despite the cold because most of it happens in the centre.
Germany plansAustria
Christmas markets and the ski season start together, so one trip can take in both the cities and the mountains without a long transfer.
Austria plansUnited Arab Emirates
The best weather of the year with everything outdoors open, and a destination many cities fly to directly with little travel time.
United Arab Emirates plansPhilippines
The dry season begins and the water clears again, in the country's liveliest festival month — book domestic flights ahead.
Philippines plansNew Zealand
Early summer with long days and every trail open, before the new-year rush arrives at the end of the month.
New Zealand plansFinland
Full winter in the north: snow is a certainty and every winter activity is running. Daylight is very short, so plan around the light.
Finland plansIndia
The north is cool and dry, which suits overland travel; leave margin, because early-morning fog can delay trains.
India plansWhat this month does to a data plan
The last week of the month is the fullest airports get all year and the slowest terminal Wi-Fi gets, which is exactly when a plan to activate on arrival tends to fall apart. Install and activate before you leave home.
What to skip this month
The final week is the most expensive of the year almost everywhere. If the dates can move, the first two weeks give much the same atmosphere at a far lower price.
Thai holidays in December and what they do to fares
December carries three Thai holidays. On the Bank of Thailand's 2026 list, the 5 December holiday (King Bhumibol's Birthday, National Day and Father's Day) falls on a Saturday with Monday 7 December as the substitute; Constitution Day is Thursday 10 December; and New Year's Eve is Thursday 31 December, followed by New Year's Day on Friday 1 January 2027.
For December 2027, the list gives Monday 6 December (substitute for Sunday 5 December), Friday 10 December and Friday 31 December. The year-end break is the single most expensive time to leave Bangkok; the 7 and 10 December weekends are the cheaper way to catch Europe's Christmas markets.
Visa notes for Thai passport holders in December
These are the entry rules for the places this page recommends. Rules change, so confirm on the official page before you pay for flights.
- Schengen countries (most of the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland): Thai passport holders need a Schengen visa, and since the Entry/Exit System started, fingerprints and a face photo are taken at the first border crossing. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en
- United Arab Emirates: check the entry rule for Thai passports on the UAE government portal; airlines with a UAE hub can also arrange visas. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id
- ASEAN neighbours such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore admit Thai passport holders visa-free for short tourist stays; the permitted length differs by country, so check before a long trip, for example https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/visa_requirements or https://evisa.gov.vn.
- New Zealand: Thailand is not a visa-waiver country, so Thai passport holders need a Visitor Visa. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/visitor-visa
- Anywhere else on this page: check the country's embassy in Bangkok or its official e-visa portal, starting from the Thai Department of Consular Affairs. https://consular.mfa.go.th
Weather and crowds at a glance in December
| Destination | Typical conditions | Crowds and prices | Official forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Dry, cool evenings | Peak, highest in the last week | Thai Meteorological Department |
| Germany | Cold, short days | Christmas market weekends busy | Deutscher Wetterdienst |
| Austria | Cold; ski season starting | Busy from mid-month | GeoSphere Austria |
| United Arab Emirates | Warm, pleasant | Peak, new-year rates | UAE National Center of Meteorology |
| Philippines | Dry season beginning | Domestic flights full near Christmas | PAGASA |
| New Zealand | Early summer, long days | Rising to the new-year rush | MetService |
| Finland, Lapland | Snow, very little daylight | Peak around Christmas | Finnish Meteorological Institute |
| India, north | Cool, morning fog | High season | India Meteorological Department |
Conditions are typical patterns, not a forecast. Check the national weather service listed for the week you travel.
When to book for December
- Europe in December needs a Schengen visa, and Bangkok appointments are busy from October with year-end travellers; apply as soon as your dates are fixed.
- For the new-year break, book flights by October or November. The Christmas market weekends earlier in December, around the 7 and 10 December holidays, are cheaper and the markets are already open.
- Buy and install the eSIM at home in the days before departure; most plans in our catalogue only start counting days on first connection at the destination, which the plan page states.
Data needs in December
Install and activate before leaving home: the last week of December is when Suvarnabhumi and European hubs are fullest and terminal Wi-Fi is slowest. A Germany and Austria market trip of a week fits a 10 GB Europe or single-country plan for most travellers; a Lapland trip uses little because outdoor activities are guided, but cold drains batteries, so carry a power bank.
Where to go in December
How long do Christmas markets run?+
Most run through the month and close within a few days either side of the holiday, depending on the city. Check the closing date for that city before booking — they are not the same everywhere.
Should I avoid the last week?+
If value is the point, yes — it is the year's price peak and everything is at its fullest. If the new-year atmosphere itself is the point, that price is the cost of it.
Can an eSIM be set up before travelling?+
Yes, and this month you should. Install the profile in advance and let the plan start counting when you arrive, so you are not configuring anything in the busiest terminal of the year.
Which December 2026 days are Thai holidays?+
Monday 7 December (substitute for 5 December), Thursday 10 December (Constitution Day) and Thursday 31 December (New Year's Eve), on the Bank of Thailand list.
How do I make a long weekend from 10 December?+
In 2026, 10 December is a Thursday, so a day of leave on Friday 11 December gives four days. In 2027 it is a Friday, which gives a three-day weekend without leave.
Does a Schengen visa cover a Christmas trip to Germany and Austria?+
Yes, both are Schengen countries. Apply to the country where you spend the most nights, or the first one if the nights are equal.
Are New Zealand trips in December visa-free for Thais?+
No. Thailand is not a visa-waiver country for New Zealand, so a Visitor Visa is needed; apply well before the holiday season.