Summer is in full swing come December at Queensland’s Gold Coast, one of the best places for families looking for a holiday getaway. Take your pick of beaches, ideal for picnicking, sandcastle building and lazing the day away. Experienced surfers, head to Snapper Rocks, Kirra and Green Mount for wave after wave. Then embrace the Goldie’s café culture with a long, lazy brunch in Burleigh Heads. Surfer’s Paradise tends to attract the lion’s share of international arrivals, but if you want to find a stretch with more of a local vibe, throw your towel down at Broadbeach or Coolangatta. Solitude is often found north of Kirra or at Currumbin Creek.

December is one of the snowiest months in Niseko, a premiere snow sports town in Hokkaido, Japan. Come to ski, snowboard, tube and snowshoe among fresh snow (some skiers even claim it’s the best for powder). There are four ski interlinked resorts to choose from, each with their own offerings. Groomed runs welcome beginner and intermediate riders, but more experienced riders will want to take advantage of the off-piste powder. Stunning snow-capped Mount Yotei stands as a backdrop. Once a day on the slopes is done, warm up in an onsen and grab a drink at Bar Gyu+, where you enter through a fridge door.

Christmastime at home means beachside barbecues and cossies—but if you’re dreaming of a Christmas with a more festive feel, there’s few better places than Berlin. The city is always alive with events and activities, even more so once the Christmas markets open by the beginning of December. Dry hot spiced wine (gluhwein), roasted chestnuts, candied almonds and currywurst. The city is also illuminated with twinkle lights, even at the train stations. Many of Berlin’s big sights like the Berlin Wall Memorial, Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Cathedral tend to be quieter this time of year, allowing you to take it all in without a crowd. If temperatures dip too low, wander around the many museums like the Pergamonmuseum, Neues Museum of the Jewish Museum.

In December, Goa is dry, sunny and warm, making it an ideal spot for a retreat into nature. If you’ve ever wanted to practice yoga, go on a retreat on the coastline for beach bliss. Arambol Beach, Assagao Beach and Mandrem Beach on Goa’s northern end have yoga classes to escape the region’s party scene. Veda5 is a centrally located option. Or, for true solitude, retreat inland to move and meditate in lush jungle. Swan Yoga Retreat has yoga teacher, meditation and tantra training. Anahata Retreat has eco-friendly stays with meditation and yoga classes, and is within close distance to many of the region’s beautiful temples. In South Goa, Bamboo Yoga Retreat is a luxurious option on the shores of quiet Polem Beach.

Tromsø lies at the heart of the northern lights’ prime viewing zone, offering you a great chance to witness this natural spectacle. In December, despite frigid temperatures, the mesmerizing dance of electric blues, greens, yellows and purples in the night sky makes braving the cold worth it. With polar nights, when the sun never fully rises, your chances of seeing the aurora borealis are even greater. To increase your odds, venture on a guided tour outside the city to escape light pollution. And if the northern lights don’t make an appearance, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy Tromsø—stay in a magical ice dome, go snowmobiling or embark on a whale watching tour at twilight, where you might spot humpback and orca whales migrating along the icy coastline.