The Top 24 Best Holiday Destinations in December

BERLIN, GERMANY

If you’ve always wanted to experience a Christmas market at its best, Germany is the place to do it. Berlin – Germany’s capital – is a location that seems most special in winter, with its lakes freezing over (and locals taking advantage of the opportunity for a spot of ice skating) and its shops, restaurants and theatres providing welcome respite against the backdrop of subzero temperatures. Take a stroll through Tiergarten park, drinking in its sombre atmosphere beneath a blanket of snow, and consider stopping at the Café am Neuen See for a candlelit dinner beside a panoramic window. If you’re around in February, keep an eye out for the stars at Berlinale – Berlin’s annual glitzy film festival – and do make the most of Berlin’s world-renowned nightlife: it’s varied, vibrant and famously progressive.