{"id":2878,"date":"2025-11-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/beste-reiseziele-weihnachten-silvester-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T13:34:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:34:13","slug":"beste-reiseziele-weihnachten-silvester-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/best-travel-destinations-for-christmas-and-new-years-eve-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The best travel destinations for Christmas & New Year's Eve 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best travel destinations for Christmas and New Year's Eve 2025 \u2014 My personal recommendations<\/h2>\n

Celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve somewhere other than home has been a tradition for me for years. While most Germans are sitting under the Christmas tree on December 24th, I'm standing with my drone on a beach, a mountaintop, or in a city I've never seen before. In over ten years as a travel creator, I've experienced New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro, Christmas in Thailand, the turn of the year in Cape Town, and festive nights in Dubai. Every year, I get asked the same question: Where should I go for the holidays? Here are my honest recommendations for 2025\u2014no sponsored content, just places that have truly inspired me.<\/p>\n

Thailand \u2014 The classic that never gets boring<\/h2>\n

I know Thailand is on every "Best Winter Travel Destinations" list. But there's a reason for that: it simply works. In December, the southern islands offer perfect conditions\u201430\u00b0C, hardly any rain, turquoise water. Koh Lanta is my personal favorite for the Christmas season: significantly quieter than Koh Samui or Phuket, with long sandy beaches and a relaxed, hippie vibe that's perfect for the holidays.<\/p>\n

What many people don't know: New Year's Eve is celebrated in a big way in Thailand, even though it's not a traditional holiday. On Koh Phangan, there are the legendary Full Moon Parties (which sometimes coincide with New Year's Eve), and even on quieter islands, beach bars organize fantastic countdowns with fireworks over the sea. My tip: If you want to go to Thailand for Christmas, book by September at the latest\u2014the popular accommodations are booked up months in advance.<\/p>\n

Budget for Thailand over Christmas<\/h3>\n

Flights from Germany cost between \u20ac600 and \u20ac900 (round trip) during peak season. On-site, you can easily get by on \u20ac40 to \u20ac60 per day \u2013 including upscale dining, scooter rental, and excursions. A nice bungalow on the beach costs between \u20ac30 and \u20ac80 per night. Overall, two weeks in Thailand over Christmas is realistically budgeted from around \u20ac2,000, with more comfortable accommodations closer to \u20ac3,000 to \u20ac3,500.<\/p>\n

Cape Town, South Africa \u2014 Summer, wine and Table Mountain<\/h2>\n

If you want to celebrate Christmas in summer, Cape Town is hard to beat. December and January are the height of summer in South Africa \u2014 25-30\u00b0C, long evenings, and an infectious energy in the city. I spent New Year's Eve 2022 in Cape Town and it was one of my best New Year's experiences ever.<\/p>\n

Table Mountain at sunset, the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the penguins at Boulders Beach, the Cape of Good Hope \u2014 Cape Town easily offers enough to do for two weeks. New Year's Eve is best celebrated at Camps Bay Beach or in the V&A Waterfront district, where there's live music, street food, and a spectacular countdown.<\/p>\n

Attention drone pilots: South Africa has relatively strict drone laws. Theoretically, you need an RPAS registration with the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). In practice, many tourists fly without registration, but I recommend checking the regulations beforehand. Drone flying is strictly prohibited at Table Mountain itself (national park), but there are plenty of other spots\u2014Signal Hill, Chapman's Peak Drive, and the coast near Camps Bay offer fantastic perspectives.<\/p>\n

Costs Cape Town<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Position<\/th>\nCosts (approx.)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Flight from Germany (return)<\/td>\n\u20ac600\u20131,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Airbnb \/ Hotel per night<\/td>\n50\u2013150 \u20ac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rental car per day<\/td>\n25\u201340 \u20ac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Food (restaurant per meal)<\/td>\n8\u201325 \u20ac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2 weeks total (1 person)<\/strong><\/td>\n\u20ac2,000\u20133,500<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
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Dubai \u2014 Luxury New Year's Eve for Content Creators<\/h2>\n

Dubai on New Year's Eve is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. The fireworks at the Burj Khalifa are legendary\u2014the world's tallest building enveloped in a 360-degree display of fireworks, broadcast live to over 200 countries. I was there in 2023 and filmed the spectacle from the promenade along Dubai Creek\u2014the view of the entire skyline is better from there than directly at the Burj Khalifa, where hundreds of thousands of people are gathered.<\/p>\n

The days between Christmas and New Year's are best spent exploring the desert (a hot air balloon flight at sunrise over the dunes is an absolute highlight for photographers), visiting the Miracle Garden (the world's largest flower garden), and the Palm Jumeirah. The weather in December is perfect\u201422-26\u00b0C, no rain, and pleasantly warm without the brutal summer heat.<\/p>\n

The catch: Dubai over New Year's is expensive. Hotel prices triple, restaurants require minimum orders, and flights cost more than usual. Expect to spend \u20ac3,000-\u20ac5,000 for a week, depending on the hotel standard. But in return, you'll get content that will take your portfolio to the next level.<\/p>\n

Lapland, Finland \u2014 White Christmas guaranteed<\/h2>\n

If you're looking for a classic experience, there's no better place than Lapland. Guaranteed snow in December, Northern Lights, reindeer, and yes\u2014even Santa Claus in Rovaniemi. It sounds cheesy, but it's magical. Lapland is a paradise, especially for photographers and drone content creators: the snow-covered forests seen from above, the Northern Lights over frozen lakes, the glass igloos where you can drift off to sleep under the aurora borealis.<\/p>\n

I recommend not only visiting Rovaniemi (very touristy), but continuing on to Inari or Saariselk\u00e4. It's quieter there, the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are higher, and you get the authentic Lapland experience \u2014 dog sledding, ice fishing, a sauna at -20\u00b0C and then jumping in the snow.<\/p>\n

Lapland isn't cheap: flights to Rovaniemi cost \u20ac300-600 (return), accommodation during Christmas week costs \u20ac150-400 per night, and activities like Northern Lights tours or husky safaris cost \u20ac80-200 per person. Expect to spend \u20ac2,500-4,000 for a week.<\/p>\n

Colombia \u2014 The insider tip travel destination for New Year's Eve<\/h2>\n

Colombia is my personal insider tip for anyone looking for something off the beaten path. Cartagena on New Year's Eve is a feast for all the senses\u2014the entire old town transforms into one giant street party. Colombians celebrate New Year's Eve with a tradition I've never experienced anywhere else: at midnight, they burn life-size effigies ("A\u00f1o Viejo") in the street, symbolizing the old year. Add to that salsa, champagne, and fireworks over the Caribbean coast.<\/p>\n

During the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, a trip to the Rosario Islands (a 30-minute boat ride from Cartagena) or to Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean coast is well worth considering. The blend of colonial history, Caribbean flair, and South American joie de vivre makes Colombia one of the most exciting New Year's destinations I know.<\/p>\n

The best part: Colombia is extremely affordable. Flights from Germany cost \u20ac500-800, you can get by on \u20ac30-50 per day, and a beautiful boutique hotel in Cartagena's old town is available from \u20ac60-100 per night.<\/p>\n

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Maldives \u2014 For the ultimate luxury Christmas dream<\/h2>\n

If budget is no object: The Maldives at Christmas are the epitome of paradise. December is peak season, the weather is perfect, and the overwater villas of the luxury resorts offer a sunset that still leaves even me speechless after years in the travel industry. I was out over the atolls with my DJI Mini 5 Pro and took some of the most shared photos I've ever taken\u2014the color gradients of the Indian Ocean from above are simply surreal.<\/p>\n

But let's be honest: the Maldives over Christmas are extremely expensive. An overwater villa in a 5-star resort easily costs \u20ac800-\u20ac2,000 per night during Christmas week. Add to that the flight (\u20ac700-\u20ac1,200), the speedboat or seaplane transfer (\u20ac200-\u20ac500 each way), and the restaurant prices on the island. Expect to spend at least \u20ac5,000-\u20ac8,000 per person for a week. But in return, you'll get an experience you'll never forget.<\/p>\n

My recommendation depending on your budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
budget<\/th>\nRecommendation<\/th>\nTotal costs approx.<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Low Budget<\/td>\nThailand (Koh Lanta)<\/td>\n\u20ac2,000\u20133,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
middle class<\/td>\nColombia or Cape Town<\/td>\n\u20ac2,500\u20133,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Upscale<\/td>\nDubai or Lapland<\/td>\n\u20ac3,000\u2013\u20ac5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
luxury<\/td>\nMaldives<\/td>\n\u20ac5,000\u201310,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Practical tips for traveling over the holidays<\/h2>\n

No matter where you're going \u2014 traveling over Christmas and New Year's has some special features you should be aware of:<\/p>\n