Month guide · Bordeaux · France
Bordeaux in December
What December is really like in Bordeaux: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Captaintapas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 11°C (52°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 8.8 hours of daylight. Cool and wet, brightened by Christmas lights and the market on the Allées de Tourny.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 11°C (52°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Bordeaux: days average 11°C (52°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with November (14°C (57°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:33
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:22
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cool, damp and quiet, with low prices, a Christmas market in December and empty museums; some châteaux limit visits.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas market on the Allées de Tourny (usually until late 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.
Market · Saint-Michel
Marché des Capucins
Bordeaux's main covered food market, nicknamed the belly of Bordeaux, has butchers, cheese stalls, fishmongers and oyster bars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Riverfront quays
Garonne river cruise and BatCub shuttles
Ride the BatCub from Quinconces to Stalingrad on the right bank for a cheap mini-cruise, then walk back across the Pont de Pierre.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · La Bastide
Darwin
The former Niel military barracks on the right bank now house a large alternative complex: an indoor-outdoor skatepark, street-art-covered warehouses, co-working spaces, an organic restaurant and grocery, and weekend events.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Food
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Fondaudège
Basilique Saint-Seurin
Walk on to the Palais Gallien Roman amphitheatre ruins, about five minutes north.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 11°C, lows near 4°C and 12 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Bordeaux?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Bordeaux in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Bordeaux?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and wet, brightened by Christmas lights and the market on the Allées de Tourny.
+How warm is Bordeaux in December?
Average highs are around 11°C (52°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Bordeaux in December?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.