The best places to go this December are a mix of old, easy-to-reach standbys and out-of-the-way destinations that are sure to reward you with one-of-a-kind experiences once you get there. If you’re the type who gets on flights for food, pop over to San Francisco for 48 hours or sneak away to Seville for a long weekend, where enticing restaurants and long-anticipated hotel openings make for compelling city breaks. For those who love to get off the beaten path, try a winter escape in Finland’s Oulu, a European Capital of Culture; or a desert dream in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, where the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is finally cutting its ribbon. And if you’re chasing a summer vibe, head to the Southern Hemisphere’s adventure capital Queenstown, New Zealand. Sure, you might have holiday obligations, as you do every December, but why not travel right after Thanksgiving? Or make a stop at one of the best places to travel in December, all featured on our annual list of the Best Places to Go, on the way to the places where you have to go.
(For more ideas, find our full list of the best places to go in 2026 here.)
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
-
GettySan FrancisoGo this December for: iconic landmarks with exciting dining rooms, buzzy nightlife, and a hotel rebornSituated on its eponymous bay, San Francisco has an iconic skyline that features Californian landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge (duh), the Transamerica Pyramid in Chinatown (the oldest in North America!), and the waterfront Ferry Building—which in the last few years has become one of the city’s top dining destinations. There’s newly opened Arquet, from the Michelin-acclaimed team behind Sorrel, spotlighting fresh locally sourced produce from the Ferry Building Farmers Market next door, and Hayati, a Mediterranean kitchen by Paris-born restaurateur Kaïs Bouzidi of local faves Sens and Barcha. If you’re looking for nightlife, then The Deluxe has got you covered after the city’s famed jazz club completed its rebirth in June this year. The restored Haight spot has an improved sound system, classic cocktails like espresso martinis and greyhounds, and, of course, live music every night. To get into the holiday spirit, get your tickets to the San Francisco Ballet’s staging of The Nutcracker, on from December 4 to 27. And if you wanna ring in the new year in San Fran, catch the free public fireworks show over the San Francisco Bay at midnight on New Year’s Eve, launched from barges near the Ferry Building and Pier 14. As for a place to stay, check out The Huntington Hotel, a storied landmark (another one!) that closed during the pandemic and reopened in March this year.How to plan it: Fly into the well-connected San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on any major airline; it is one of United’s biggest hubs. To get into the city, take the BART, the Bay Area’s public transport system, which brings travelers to the heart of the city, the Mission District, in just 35 minutes.Where to stay in San Francisco:For a reimagined landmark in Nob Hill: The Huntington HotelFor a stay with an eco ethos near the Embarcadero: 1 Hotel San Francisco -
GettySeville, SpainGo this December for: a culinary adventure and a luxury hotel boomWant a redo of what has been an extremely too-hot Eurosummer? Try a Eurowinter. Seville, in the south of Spain, historically hits mild daytime temps of 61°F to 63°F in December, making it a perfect place to go for a balmy week. Good thing this city is jam-packed with great places to eat like iconic restaurants Cañabota, Jaylu, Casa Ruperto, and Yebra; and to drink, like the new buzzy cocktail bars Naked and Famous (yes, in English), Plácido y Grata (which is also a charming hotel), and Tremenda Muela. The Andalusian capital welcomed La Casa del Limonero in April 2025 after a major renovation of the 15th-century palace-house, and Cristine Bedfor in September 2025, the third and chicest opening from a Spanish hotelier (it also landed on Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List this year). Up next: Scheduled to open in September, Serras Sevilla will be set in a historic building near La Giralda bell tower, and Thompson Seville is forthcoming in October, situated on Plaza de la Gavidia. Further out, Four Seasons will arrive in 2028, occupying the Generali building in Plaza Nueva. Far from a little-sibling city, Seville is giving Madrid and Barcelona a run for its money.How to plan it: Tying a Seville visit to a stop in Madrid is highly doable—just be sure to spend as much, if not more, time here in Andalusia—by taking the high-speed train that connects the two cities in just two and a half hours. If you’d like to head straight to Seville, keep an eye out for upcoming flights direct from Miami and Beijing. Other new air routes include departures to and from Düsseldorf, Baden-Baden, Copenhagen, Basel, and Istanbul.Where to stay in Seville, Spain:For a boutique hotel with a sun terrace and a year-round outdoor swimming pool: La Casa del LimoneroFor a super stylish stay in a building designed by Seville’s star architect: Cristine Bedfor Guest Houses Sevilla
-
GettyQueenstown, New ZealandGo this December for: updated adventure areas and plush new digsThis tiny town of just under 30,000 people is the adventure capital of the Southern Hemisphere, boasting snowy white peaks, glassy lakes, and wide valleys that evidence the unfettered majesty of nature—and all of it has never been more accessible. The Soho Basin ski area expanded in 2025 with the addition of half a square mile of advanced terrain to Cardrona Alpine Resort. Skyline Queenstown, a mountaintop tourist complex on Bob’s Peak, opened its new $58 million extension building in March 2026, which has new dining outlets and an expanded viewing deck that grants panoramic views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. Bikers, wine lovers, and especially those who are both will love the new Kawarau Gorge bike trail, slated to open in October 2026, connecting the vineyards of Gibbston Valley with Cromwell—drink and cycle responsibly!Furthermore, Queenstown is getting some fab new hotels—because who doesn’t want a dose of plush luxury with their adrenaline rush? Last year, the 15-key all-suite Roki Collection opened in September on the edge of Lake Wakatipu—and landed a spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List to boot. Then in March this year, the erstwhile Nugget Point Hotel on Arthur’s Point, above the Shotover River, was reborn as the 41-room alpine retreat Coronet Ridge Resort. Contributing to all the what’s-new buzz, QT Queenstown—also on the Wakatipu waterfront—has been growing its room count this year by gradually taking over the neighboring Rydges Lakeside Queenstown hotel; expect the work to be done by mid-2027. Waimarino Luxury Lodge will top it all off once its 20 oversized villas are bookable in late 2026.How to plan it: For most travelers on this planet, it will take multiple hops and skips to get to Queenstown. Those living in well-equipped and nearby international hubs like Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland will have the easiest time getting here—everyone else will have to connect through one of the aforementioned. In December, it’s summer in New Zealand, so pack a bathing suit for some gorgeously warm lake days.Where to stay in Queenstown, New Zealand:For a luxury lodge experience on the Lake Wakatipu: Roki CollectionFor a stunning alpine retreat on Arthur’s Point: Coronet Ridge Resort -
Visit FinlandOulu, FinlandGo this December for: of-the-moment art experiences and sauna culture in the happiest country in the worldIf your Eurowinter is going somewhere to disconnect and breathe, the remote Finnish city of Oulu, home to the purest air in Europe, is calling your name. It’s one of this year’s two European Capitals of Culture (the other being Trenčín, Slovakia) and is closing out 2026 with aplomb. In December, Oulu Art Museum will have two exhibits on view that speak to the ECC theme of Cultural Climate Change: Adaptation – Time Is Not On Our Side: Towards Possible Futures, which asks how humans and nature adapt to each other, and who dictates the terms; and Out of Time, regarding our present moment when reality is an accumulation of parallel, overlapping, and even artificial events. Outdoors, a new permanent art trail called Climate Clock opened in June, with contemporary art pieces set amid Oulu’s forests and along its rivers and seashores that inspire visitors to connect with nature and confront the climate crisis. Oulu is also Finland’s science and technology capital—don’t miss the Peace Machine, a multidisciplinary art installation that uses AI to brainstorm conflict solutions, and the Museum and Science Centre Tiima, set to open this October. When you need a break from all that mental stimulation, get into Oulu’s strong sauna culture (choose from wood-smoke saunas, floating river saunas, or luxury saunas). Breathe in, breathe out. Again. And again.How to plan it: Situated just under the Arctic Circle, Oulu takes at least one stop to reach—fly through Frankfurt on Lufthansa’s Discover Airlines, or Helsinki on the national carrier Finnair. Pack for freezing conditions in December (bring a good winter coat) and enjoy that bone-white landscape.Where to stay in Oulu, Finland:For a newly renovated stay with design-forward rooms: Lapland Hotels OuluFor an eco-friendly hotel overlooking the Gulf of Bothnia: Radisson Blu Hotel, Oulu
-
GettySaadiyat IslandGo this December for: the opening of the art world’s latest great destinationThis isle, one of Abu Dhabi’s many, is on the rise with savvy travelers to the Middle East, thanks to the development of the Saadiyat Cultural District. The waterfront complex is home to the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum, both of which opened in late 2025, as well as the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Most excitingly, the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, an architectural jumble of boxes and cones on the waterfront, finally has an opening date: December 11. It’s the last major work completed by the late Canadian architect, and so art and design devotees will surely flock to the museum once its ribbon is cut. All this, plus the multi-sensory art experience teamLab Phenomena and the architecturally stunning interfaith complex Abrahamic Family House, make this corner of the island an all-in-one destination. Up next in the District: Saadiyat Grove, a new residential and retail project that promises to bring over 85 fashion and beauty stores, 40 food and drink outlets, and roughly 645,000 square feet of retail, entertainment, and leisure spaces—all to come by the end of 2026.How to plan it: It’s a 30-minute taxi journey from Zayed International Airport to Saadiyat Island’s museum quarter. You can book a two-night stopover in the UAE capital, with a complimentary city hotel stay, via Etihad Airways. The Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus is a hop-on-and-off complimentary service, linking hotels and tourist attractions across the city centre and beyond, including Saadiyat Island.Where to stay on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi:For a palatial stay near a white-sand beach (and a Condé Nast Traveler Gold List winner): The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu DhabiFor a resort that balances luxury and eco-conscious policies: Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi
Source: www.cntraveler.com
