Month guide · Athens · Greece
Athens in December
What December is really like in Athens: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Panos Aravantinos (1886-1930), Public domain
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.5 hours of daylight. The wettest month but rarely cold; Syntagma Square gets a Christmas tree and stalls, and the city is festive around the holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Athens: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (19°C (66°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:34
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:07
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, sometimes wet and occasionally cold, with quiet ruins, low prices and snow sometimes dusting the mountains around the city.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas tree and festivities in Syntagma Square (December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the Acropolis
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Plaka
Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds
The Roman-era market square at the foot of Plaka is best known for the octagonal Tower of the Winds, a marble clock tower of the 1st century BC with sundials and reliefs of the eight wind gods on its faces.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Market · Omonia
Varvakios Central Market
Go on a weekday morning, wear closed shoes because the floors are wet, then browse the spice and olive shops on Evripidou Street.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Historic site · Acropolis
Acropolis and Parthenon
The rocky citadel above the city holds the Parthenon, completed in 438 BC for Athena, the Erechtheion with its Caryatid porch, the Propylaea gateway and the small Temple of Athena Nike.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
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Historic site · Thiseio
Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus
Enter from Adrianou Street in Monastiraki and climb to the Temple of Hephaestus for a view of the Acropolis across the Agora.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 9°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Athens?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Athens in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Athens?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. The wettest month but rarely cold; Syntagma Square gets a Christmas tree and stalls, and the city is festive around the holidays.
+How warm is Athens in December?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Athens in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.