Month guide · Cannes · France
Cannes in December
What December is really like in Cannes: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Timantha102938, Public domain
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 13°C (55°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Cool, often sunny days and Christmas lights along the Croisette and Rue d'Antibes.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 13°C (55°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 14°C (57°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Cannes: days average 13°C (55°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (16°C (61°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:59
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:56
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F)
Winter (December–February). Cool but often sunny, with mimosa on the hills in February; low hotel prices, but many beach clubs and some restaurants close.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is May at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Christmas village and lights in the centre (usually December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Gallery · La Croisette
La Malmaison
The last remaining part of the 19th-century Grand Hôtel on the Croisette is now a municipal art centre that stages temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, often focused on artists linked to the Riviera such as Picasso or Matisse.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Le Cannet
Musée Bonnard
Combine it with a wander through the old streets of Le Cannet and lunch on Rue Saint-Sauveur.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · La Californie
Russian Orthodox Church of Saint-Michel-Archange
Built in the 1890s for the Russian aristocrats who wintered in Cannes, this church on Boulevard Alexandre III has a blue onion dome and an icon-filled interior.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Street · Centre and Rue d'Antibes
Rue Meynadier
Pick up fresh pasta and Provençal olive oil here to take home.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
What to pack
For highs near 13°C, lows near 6°C and 6 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Cannes?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Cannes in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Cannes?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool, often sunny days and Christmas lights along the Croisette and Rue d'Antibes.
+How warm is Cannes in December?
Average highs are around 13°C (55°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cannes in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.