Where to go for a December long weekend
Early December is the most expensive long weekend of the year in Spain. These are the options that still work out, and when to book them.
The problem with long weekends
Everyone travels on exactly the same dates, so flights and accommodation spike and cities fill up. The only way around it is booking two or three months ahead, or picking destinations that aren't on everyone's list.
Cities with Christmas markets
Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Strasbourg and Kraków are the classics. Great atmosphere, but expect real cold (0 to 6 degrees) and crowds. Kraków and Budapest are by far the cheapest of the group.
The alternative: cities without markets
Porto, Seville, Málaga or Rome in December sit at 15 to 18 degrees, with far fewer people than in summer and more contained prices. If you want to walk and eat well without freezing, it beats central Europe.
Snow
The long weekend coincides with many resorts opening, but early December snow is unreliable: some years there's a full season, others only the high runs open. Don't book skiing without checking the report a few days before.
Winter sun
The Canaries are the obvious choice and therefore the most expensive. If you want warmth without that price, southern Morocco and Madeira sit at 20 to 23 degrees and work out considerably better.
When to book
For an early December trip, September or early October. From November prices have already risen and the best accommodation is gone.
Indicative budget
Four days in a European city with the flight booked in time: 300 to 500 euros per person. Booked late, it easily reaches 600–700. The flight accounts for nearly all the difference.
Keep reading
Browse every winter destination, or go back to the board and filter by month.