Month guide · Banff · Canada
Banff in December
What December is really like in Banff: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: FlashEngineer, CC0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of -5°C (23°F), lows of -14°C (7°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 7.9 hours of daylight. Snowy and festive, with Christmas markets and busy holidays at the ski resorts.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -5°C (23°F) / -14°C (7°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 7.9 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Banff: days average -5°C (23°F) against a yearly average high of 9°C (48°F), and nights fall to about -14°C (7°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (1°C (34°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near -5°C (23°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 09:40
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:35
- Daylight
- About 7.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Three ski resorts, skating on Lake Louise, ice walks in Johnston Canyon and the hot springs in the snow; very cold.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas and New Year festivities in town and at the Fairmont hotels
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Downtown Banff
Banff Park Museum
Western Canada's oldest natural-history museum, a log building from 1903 filled with Victorian-era mounted animals and display cases.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Lake Louise
Lake Louise
Arrive by Parks Canada shuttle or Roam bus rather than driving; the lakeshore parking lot fills very early in summer.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Lake Louise
Moraine Lake
A glacier-fed lake of intense blue in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, 14 km from Lake Louise.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Gondola
Go late in the afternoon in summer; the ridge walk is quieter and evening light falls across the valley.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near -5°C, lows near -14°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Banff?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Banff in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Banff?
It is a shoulder-season month. Snowy and festive, with Christmas markets and busy holidays at the ski resorts.
+How warm is Banff in December?
Average highs are around -5°C (23°F) and lows around -14°C (7°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Banff in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.