The Philippines in December: Weather, Festivals and Where to Go

On Saturday 20 December 2025, Manila’s main airport handled 171,306 passengers in a single day, according to its operator, New NAIA Infra Corp. That one number explains December here better than any weather chart. Half the country is going home, the other half is going to the beach, and everyone wants the same Christmas Eve flight. The good news: December is also when the weather turns. The rains ease on the western side of the islands, the air cools, and the lanterns go up in every barangay. This guide covers the Philippines in December region by region: where it is dry and where it still pours, what is left of typhoon season, the festivals and holidays worth planning around, and where to go depending on what you want from the trip. Prices are in pesos with US dollars beside them, and there is a section for Filipinos flying home and for balikbayans bringing a foreign spouse. Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it helps keep the guides free. Quick answer: what December is like Season: PAGASA, the national weather bureau, counts December as the start of the dry season, and December to Febru...