School holidays

Where to go for Christmas holidays 2026? Family guide

Christmas holidays 2026: 10 destinations tested with kids, flight times, family-of-4 budgets, kids-friendly activities.

🔄 Updated May 22, 2026

⭐ Top 5 of the month 📊 Climate compare

The essentials

Where to go in this month, in 1 minute

Climate varies by destination
Anticipate pricing
Avoid school holidays if flexible
Southern Hemisphere counter-cycle
Book 3-4 months ahead

The team's verdict

Our top 5

Our editorial pick from the 50 destinations on the site.

Longtail boat between limestone cliffs in Thailand

★ #1 of the month Ideal

🇹🇭

Thailand

Peak dry season. North and islands perfect.

🌡️ 28-32°C💰 1 500-2 400 €

Fitz Roy massif at dawn, Argentine Patagonia

★ #2

🇦🇷

Argentina

Austral summer, Patagonia open, Buenos Aires buzzing.

🌡️ 22-30°C💰 2 200-3 800 €

Sydney Opera House on the harbour at sunrise

★ #3

🇦🇺

Australia

Full summer, east coast, Tasmania. Book early.

🌡️ 25-32°C💰 3 200-5 000 €

Aerial view of overwater villas above a turquoise Maldivian lagoon

★ #4

🇲🇻

Maldives

Dry season, crystal water. Peak pricing.

🌡️ 28-30°C💰 3 500-7 000 €

★ #5

🇨🇻

Cape Verde

Sun, 22°C, affordable short-haul.

🌡️ 22-26°C💰 900-1 600 €

Full selection

12 ideal destinations

Sorted by month fit: climate, events, price.

Arenal Volcano rising above the tropical forest near La Fortuna

Nature

🇨🇷

Costa Rica

★★★★☆

The Taj Mahal in Agra reflected in the pools at sunrise

Dry everywhere

🇮🇳

India

★★★★☆

Ideal

🇦🇪

UAE

★★★★☆

Kukulkán pyramid at Chichén Itzá under a blue sky

Yucatán

🇲🇽

Mexico

★★★★☆

Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado overlooking Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay

Summer

🇧🇷

Brazil

★★★★☆

Milford Sound, Fiordland fjord with mountains plunging into the sea

Austral summer

🇳🇿

New Zealand

★★★★☆

Dry

🇲🇲

Myanmar

★★★★☆

Detailed comparison

Climate, flight, budget: compare everything

Comparison table for this month.

Destinations comparison
Destination	Climate	Temp.	Flight	Budget	Crowd	Rating
🇧🇷 Brazil (Rio)	Summer	28-32°C	11h30	1 800-3 500 €	●●● Carnival	★★★★★
🇹🇭 South Thailand	Dry	28-32°C	11h	1 200-2 000 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★★
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	Dry	28-30°C	10h	1 400-2 200 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★★
🇲🇻 Maldives	Dry	28-30°C	10h	2 500-6 000 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★★
🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Dry	26-30°C	11h	2 000-3 500 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★★
🇻🇳 South Vietnam	Dry	27-32°C	11h	1 100-1 900 €	●○○ Low	★★★★☆
🇰🇭 Cambodia	Dry	28-32°C	12h	1 200-2 000 €	●○○ Low	★★★★☆
🇮🇳 South India (Kerala)	Dry	25-32°C	10h	1 500-2 500 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★☆
🇪🇬 Egypt	Mild/dry	15-22°C	5h	900-1 800 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★☆
🇸🇨 Seychelles	Tropical	26-30°C	10h	2 500-4 500 €	●○○ Low	★★★★☆
🇦🇷 Argentina (Patagonia)	Austral summer	15-25°C	14h	2 200-3 800 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★☆
🇳🇿 New Zealand	Austral summer	18-25°C	24h	3 000-5 000 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★☆
🇹🇿 Tanzania	Mini dry	25-30°C	9h	2 800-5 500 €	●●○ Moderate	★★★★☆
🇩🇴 Dom. Rep.	Dry	26-29°C	9h	1 300-2 200 €	●●● High season	★★★★☆
🇨🇻 Cape Verde	Mild	22-25°C	6h	900-1 600 €	●○○ Low	★★★★☆

By traveler profile

Which destination for you in this month?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Family

Guaranteed sun and kid-friendly activities, no extreme long-haul.

💑

Honeymoon

Sun + beaches + romance. Boutique hotels and high-end resorts.

🎒

Backpacker

Mini budget, long duration, backpacker vibe.

🌋

Nature and adventure

Wildlife, national parks, unique-landscape hikes.

🥂

Luxury

Exceptional resorts, direct flights, VIP experiences.

🎭

Culture and events

The year's event not to miss.

Key events

Why go in this month

📅 All month

Events in decembre

See our country guides for local festivals.

🌍 Worldwide

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Best destination in decembre? +

See the comparison table for 15 destinations sorted by score. Top 5 is our editorial pick.

Should I anticipate school holidays? +

Yes, prices climb 30-60% during school zones.

Average 2-week budget? +

Backpacker: €1,200-1,800. Comfort: €1,800-3,000. Premium: €3,500+.