Month guide · Calgary · Canada
Calgary in December
What December is really like in Calgary: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tyson2k at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
December is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 0°C (32°F), lows of -12°C (10°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 7.9 hours of daylight. Cold with short days; holiday lights at the zoo and Heritage Park brighten evenings.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 0°C (32°F) / -12°C (10°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 7.9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Calgary: days average 0°C (32°F) against a yearly average high of 11°C (52°F), and nights fall to about -12°C (10°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (4°C (39°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 09:34
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:30
- Daylight
- About 7.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and sunny with chinook thaws; a base for ski trips to Banff, Lake Louise and Kananaskis.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Zoolights at the Calgary Zoo (usually late November to early January)
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 · Downtown
Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park
Santiago Calatrava's red, helix-shaped Peace Bridge carries pedestrians and cyclists across the Bow River from downtown to Sunnyside.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Zoo · Inglewood
Calgary Zoo
Arrive by CTrain (Zoo station) to avoid parking queues on summer weekends.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Historic site · Southwest Calgary
Heritage Park Historical Village
One of Canada's largest living-history villages sits on the Glenmore Reservoir, with relocated historic buildings, costumed interpreters, a working steam train and a paddlewheel boat on the reservoir.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
Historic site · Inglewood
Fort Calgary at the Confluence
The grounds and riverside paths are free to wander even when you skip the interpretive centre.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Free
What to pack
For highs near 0°C, lows near -12°C and 6 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Calgary?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Calgary in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Calgary?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Cold with short days; holiday lights at the zoo and Heritage Park brighten evenings.
+How warm is Calgary in December?
Average highs are around 0°C (32°F) and lows around -12°C (10°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Calgary in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.