Month guide · Bratislava · Slovakia
Bratislava in December
What December is really like in Bratislava: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -2°C (28°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 8.4 hours of daylight. Christmas markets on the Main Square fill the Old Town with food stalls and mulled wine.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -2°C (28°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Bratislava: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about -2°C (28°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (9°C (48°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 3°C (37°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:36
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:58
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Christmas markets bring December crowds; January and February are cold, quiet and inexpensive.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 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
- Bratislava Christmas Market on the Main Square and Františkánske námestie (usually until just before Christmas)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the Danube
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.
Zoo · Karlova Ves
Bratislava Zoo
The city zoo is set on wooded hillsides in the Mlynská dolina valley west of the centre.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Historic site · Rusovce
Gerulata Roman fort
Combine it with the Danubiana museum nearby for a half-day by bike or car.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Old Town
St Martin's Cathedral
This Gothic cathedral was the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1563 to 1830, when Bratislava, then Pressburg, was its capital.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Old Town
Main Square and Old Town Hall
Spot the cannonball on the tower facade facing the square, just left of a window.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Free
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -2°C and 8 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 Bratislava?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Bratislava in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Bratislava?
It is a shoulder-season month. Christmas markets on the Main Square fill the Old Town with food stalls and mulled wine.
+How warm is Bratislava in December?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Bratislava in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.