December has a reputation as the most expensive month to travel. Flights around Christmas spike, hotels hike their rates and everyone seems to be heading home. But it doesn’t have to wreck your budget. Pick somewhere it’s off-season, dry season or Christmas market season, sleep in a hostel, and some of the best places to travel in December on a budget turn out to be surprisingly cheap.
This guide splits nine picks into three kinds of trip: Christmas markets in Europe’s cheapest cities, winter sun a short flight away, and long-haul dry season trips where December is peak weather. For each one, you’ll get why December works, what it costs and the dates that matter.
One rule before you start: book flights early and compare a few different dates around Christmas before you commit. Then pick your bed on Hostelworld and let the hostel do the social side. For year-round ideas, see our best value backpacking destinations with daily budgets.
Kraków, Poland: the cheapest Christmas market city?
If you want the full Christmas market experience without Vienna or Munich prices, start with Kraków. Wooden stalls fill the Main Square (Rynek Główny), with grilled oscypek cheese, pierogi and mulled wine under the Cloth Hall’s arches and St Mary’s Basilica lit up behind.
The market is expected to run from about 27 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, following its usual pattern of opening on the last Friday of November, according to this market guide. The city hadn’t confirmed the 2026 dates when we checked in October 2026, so look on krakow.travel before you book.
The savings come from everything around the market. Poland uses the złoty rather than the euro, the old town is walkable, so you won’t spend much on transport, and you can check live dorm prices in the hostel cards below. Our Kraków travel guides cover what to do between mugs of grzaniec, and if you’re market-hopping, these Christmas city breaks are easy add-ons.
Budapest, Hungary: markets plus thermal baths
Budapest gives you two Christmas markets and a way to thaw out between them. The Advent Basilica market in front of St Stephen’s Basilica runs from 13 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, and the older Vörösmarty Square fair is expected to match those dates, based on previous years, according to Ultimate Christmas Markets. Look out for kürtőskalács (chimney cake), lángos and mulled wine, plus the light show on the Basilica’s façade.
When the cold bites, head for the water. Budapest’s outdoor thermal pools stay steaming hot all winter. A weekday ticket at Széchenyi was 13,200 HUF (about €36) when we checked in September 2026, so pick one bath day and go early, before the crowds.
Food and drink are where Budapest stays cheap: market stalls and canteens keep costs down. Our Budapest travel guides have more on eating and drinking well for less, and the Hungary guides cover easy add-ons.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria: is it warm enough in December?
Warm enough for a T-shirt, yes; hot, no. Weather2Travel’s long-term averages give Las Palmas daytime highs of about 20°C, nights around 14°C and six hours of sunshine a day in December, with the sea at around 21°C. That makes the Canary Islands one of the warmest places in Europe for a winter escape.
The best part for budget travellers is that you don’t need a car. Las Canteras is a proper city beach, with a natural reef that keeps the water calm for swimming, a long promenade lined with cheap cafés, and a surf break at its southern end. Surfers should check our best surf spots in the world for more.
Flights are your biggest cost, so fly midweek and book early if you want to be there for Christmas.
Marrakech, Morocco: winter sun with a souk budget
Marrakech in December is sunny, not hot. Weather2Travel’s long-term averages give daytime highs of about 19°C and seven hours of sunshine, but nights drop to around 6°C. Pack a warm layer for the evenings, and check whether your hostel has heating before you book.
That mild weather is perfect for the things that are hard work in summer: getting lost in the medina, haggling in the souks and joining the evening crowds and food stalls on Jemaa el-Fna. Our first-timer’s guide to Marrakech covers where to start.
The budget win is where you sleep. Many of the city’s hostels are converted riads inside the medina, with courtyards and rooftop terraces for breakfast in the sun, at hostel prices.
Mexico City and Oaxaca: why December is dry season
December falls in central Mexico’s dry season, which usually runs from around November to April, so you’ll get clear blue skies, cool mornings and warm afternoons at altitude. It’s the most reliable weather of the year, and once you’ve paid for the flight, street food, metro rides and dorm beds keep your daily spending down.
Time it for 12 December, the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pilgrims from all over Mexico walk to the Basilica in the north of the city, and in 2025 the Basilica counted about 12.8 million visits over the celebrations, Aleteia reported. Go early, keep your valuables close and expect crowds. Our 5-day Mexico City itinerary fills the rest of your stay.
Then head south to Oaxaca, an overnight bus ride away, for mole, mezcal and some of Mexico’s best markets. Our Oaxaca travel guides show you where to start.
Antigua, Guatemala: volcano hikes on a budget
December is the start of the good stuff in Antigua. The dry season runs roughly November to April, according to Audley Travel, so you get crisp mornings, blue skies and the best chance of a clear view from the volcanoes.
The big one is Acatenango, an overnight hike where you camp near the summit and watch neighbouring Fuego erupt after dark. A guide is mandatory, and the park entrance is Q50 for foreigners, per Visit Centroamérica, usually on top of the guided package, so ask what’s included before you pay. Book with other travellers from your hostel and you’ll share the cost of transport and gear.
Back in town, Antigua is one of Central America’s most social hostel towns, with cobbled streets, ruined churches and cheap rooftop bars. Our backpacking Guatemala guide covers where to go next.
Chiang Mai, Thailand: is December too busy?
Yes, it’s peak season, because December brings Chiang Mai’s coolest, driest weather. Weather2Travel’s long-term averages give Chiang Mai daytime highs of about 28°C, nights around 14°C and just two days with any rain. That’s perfect weather for temple-hopping in the old city, cooking classes and treks into the hills, so bring a jumper for chilly mornings up in the mountains.
The catch is everyone else has the same idea. Book dorms early, especially around Christmas and New Year, and get to the big temples like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep early in the morning.
Chiang Mai is still one of the cheapest bases in Southeast Asia once you’re there: street food, songthaew rides and night markets keep daily costs low. Compare it with the rest of the region in our cheapest backpacking countries in Southeast Asia, and find a social base with our best social hostels in Chiang Mai.
Sri Lanka’s south coast: whale season and surf
December is when whale-watching boats start running from Mirissa and the south coast’s surf beaches fill up. The boats run from November to April, according to Nomadic Boys, and blue whales are the big draw. Go early, pick an operator that keeps its distance from the animals, and take seasickness tablets if you need them.
Between boat trips, the beaches along this stretch are made for cheap surf lessons, sunset swims and fresh seafood. Our top things to do in Sri Lanka covers the rest of the island.
Sort your visa first. Since 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 countries can get a free 30-day ETA, News 1st reported, but you still need to apply online before you fly. Check whether your country is on the list. For a full route, see our guide to backpacking Sri Lanka.
How do you keep a December trip cheap?
- Be flexible with your dates. Use a flexible-date flight search to compare fares across the whole month, and try flying out before mid-December or after Christmas Day.
- Book beds early for Christmas and New Year. The best-value dorms in popular cities go first, so lock in those nights as soon as your flights are booked. Our guide to seasonal hostel travel explains when to book.
- Eat at markets and street stalls. Christmas markets, street food and lunchtime set menus all cost less than sit-down dinners. At some markets you pay a deposit on your mug of mulled wine, so hand it back or keep it as a souvenir.
- Compare the total trip, not just the flight. A cheap fare to an expensive city can cost more than a pricier flight to somewhere where beds, food and transport are cheap.
Travelling solo over the holidays? Our pick of the best places to spend Christmas alone has more ideas.
How do you meet people over the holidays?
Away from home in December? The Hostelworld app makes it easy to find people for Christmas Day:
- Linkups: hostels and travellers set up Linkups like Christmas dinners, market walks and New Year’s Eve nights out, and you can join from 14 days before check-in.
- City Chats: City Chats connect you with travellers at any hostel in town, so you can find company for Christmas Day.
- Social Pass: not booked yet? Social Pass opens the chats anyway.
For bigger things on, like Christmas markets and concerts, check the Events pages, or pick from these German Christmas markets worth the train ride.
Conclusion: Where should you go this December?
The best places to travel in December on a budget depend on the trip you want:
- Christmas markets: Kraków for the cheapest mulled wine, or Budapest for markets plus thermal baths.
- Winter sun close to home: Las Palmas for a city beach, or Marrakech for souks and rooftop breakfasts.
- Long-haul dry season: Mexico City and Oaxaca, Antigua’s volcanoes, Chiang Mai’s cool mornings or whale season on Sri Lanka’s south coast.
Whichever you pick, book flights early, stay flexible with your dates and sleep in a hostel. Still deciding? Our best places to visit in January carry the cheap season into the new year.
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