Month guide · Berlin · Germany
Berlin in December
What December is really like in Berlin: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Janericloebe, Public domain
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 7.7 hours of daylight. Cold and festive, with dozens of Christmas markets; New Year's Eve is loud with fireworks across the city.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 7.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Berlin: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (8°C (46°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 3°C (37°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:11
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:53
- Daylight
- About 7.7 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and dark, but Christmas markets, the Berlinale in February and low hotel rates outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas markets at Charlottenburg Palace, Gendarmenmarkt and Breitscheidplatz (December)
- New Year's Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate (31 December)
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.
Park · Tiergarten
Tiergarten and the Victory Column
Berlin's great central park stretches from the Brandenburg Gate to the zoo, with lakes, woodland paths and the Café am Neuen See beer garden.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Park · Neukölln
Tempelhofer Feld
Rent a bike or bring skates and ride the full runway; sunset across the open field is spectacular.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- History
Market · Prenzlauer Berg
Mauerpark Sunday market
Laid out on part of the former border strip, the Mauerpark fills on Sundays with a flea market of vintage clothes, records and bric-a-brac, street-food stalls and buskers.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Outdoors
Landmark · Mitte
Gendarmenmarkt
Check the Konzerthaus programme for evening concerts, often with affordable tickets.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 4°C, lows near 0°C and 10 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 Berlin?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Berlin in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Berlin?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold and festive, with dozens of Christmas markets; New Year's Eve is loud with fireworks across the city.
+How warm is Berlin in December?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Berlin in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.