The warmest December destinations are Phuket, Rio de Janeiro and the Maldives, all with daytime highs around 28 to 29 C (82 to 84 F), while Dubai is the driest at about 7 mm of rain. We averaged daily weather records for eight winter-sun picks across the Decembers of 2015 to 2024 to rank them.
| Destination | Average December high (C) | Average December low (C) | Rain in December (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket, Thailand | 29 | 24.6 | 137 |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 28.9 | 22.6 | 137 |
| Maldives (Malé) | 28.2 | 26.3 | 219 |
| Cancun, Mexico | 26.9 | 22.5 | 83 |
| Dubai, UAE | 26.4 | 17.1 | 7 |
| Nassau, Bahamas | 25.6 | 22.4 | 50 |
| Tenerife, Spain | 21.5 | 16.1 | 25 |
| Marrakech, Morocco | 21 | 6.8 | 25 |
If you’re not so much a snow, winter or cold lover, this list of warm weather destinations for December is for you. So the next time you wonder hmm, where should I spend my Winter holidays but I want it to be sunny so all my friends are envious? you have a list of places up and ready.
Where is warm in December?
Phuket, Thailand
Phuket has the highest average high of our list at 29.0 C, with lows around 24.6 C. December is the start of the drier season, though we still saw about 137 mm of rain in an average month, so expect short showers.
Brazil
Brazil is the world’s fifth largest country, and in December it is summer, not winter. Rio de Janeiro averages a high of 28.9 C and a low of 22.6 C. It is also one of the wetter picks at about 137 mm of rain, mostly in heavy bursts.
Maldives
The Maldives has the warmest nights in the group, at 26.3 C on average, and highs near 28.2 C. December is still wet in Malé, with around 219 mm of rain on average, so choose it for heat and water, not for guaranteed dry days.
Mexico
Cancun averages 26.9 C by day and 22.5 C at night in December, with about 83 mm of rain. That is far warmer than the old figure of 19 to 22 C that earlier versions of this article gave for the whole country.
Dubai
Also called the ‘shopping capital of the Middle East’, Dubai has a desert climate. Summers are very hot, very dry and humid, while winters are warm and short. In December the average high is 26.4 C and the low 17.1 C, with about 7 mm of rain, making it the driest city here. Evenings can feel cool.
Bahamas
With more than 700 islands, the Bahamas has a tropical climate. Nassau averages a December high of 25.6 C and a low of 22.4 C, with about 50 mm of rain. Tropical cyclones can affect the islands, but the Atlantic hurricane season ends on 30 November, so December is calmer.
Spain: the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are a year-round tourist destination, with Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote the most popular islands. Tenerife averages 21.5 C by day and 16.1 C at night in December, with about 25 mm of rain. If you go, visit Teide National Park on Tenerife, which received more than 4.4 million visitors in 2023, or Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote. We left mainland Spain off this list because December in Barcelona is cool.
Morocco
Officially the Kingdom of Morocco, this destination has a few different climates. In Marrakech the December average is a mild 21.0 C by day but only 6.8 C at night, so it depends on when you are outside. Sometimes the weather can be warm, sometimes freezing at night. If you choose Morocco for your December holiday, make sure you throw a sweater in your suitcase.
How to choose between them
Our rule of thumb: pick Dubai or the Canaries if you want dry days, the Maldives or Phuket if you want swimming-level heat and can accept showers, and Cancun or Nassau for a short flight from North America. Rio suits you if you want city life with beach heat.
Otherwise, if you’re a winter lover and don’t know where to spend your vacation, check this out: 5 Luxury All Inclusive Winter Destinations.
Keep reading
- 15 places to enjoy luxurious sunshine in Bali: another warm-weather option for the same season
- Best luxury hotels in Cape Town: Cape Town is in high summer in December
FAQ
Which destination is warmest in December?
Of the eight places we checked, Phuket, Rio de Janeiro and the Maldives are warmest, with December daytime highs of about 28 to 29 C. The Maldives is also the most humid and the wettest of the group.
Where is warm and dry in December?
Dubai is the driest, with about 7 mm of rain in an average December and highs near 26 C. Tenerife and Marrakech are dry too, but cooler at about 21 C.
Is Brazil hot in December?
Yes. December is early summer in Brazil, and Rio de Janeiro averages a daytime high of about 29 C, with the most rain of the group outside the Maldives.
Is Morocco warm in December?
Days in Marrakech are mild at about 21 C, but nights drop to about 7 C. Pack a sweater for the evenings.
Where in the Caribbean is warm in December?
Nassau in the Bahamas averages a high of about 26 C and a low of about 22 C, with a moderate 50 mm of rain. Cancun in Mexico is similar at about 27 C.
How did you get these temperatures?
We averaged daily weather records for each city across the Decembers of 2015 to 2024. Individual years vary, so treat them as typical, not guaranteed.
How we put this list together
We averaged daily maximum and minimum temperatures and total rainfall for each city across every December from 2015 to 2024. Destinations were chosen for reliable winter warmth and ease of travel, and we did not use anyone else’s ranking.
Last updated: October 2026.
