Month guide · Cinque Terre · Italy
Cinque Terre in December
What December is really like in Cinque Terre: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
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 9 rainy days and roughly 8.9 hours of daylight. Quiet and mild; Manarola lights its huge hillside nativity of illuminated figures in early December.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 13°C (55°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Cinque Terre: 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 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (16°C (61°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:50
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:44
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Quiet, mild and partly closed, with the Manarola light nativity and clear days for walking when the paths are open.
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
- Manarola light nativity switched on (usually 8 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.
Castle · Vernazza
Castello Doria, Vernazza
The round medieval watchtower and ruined walls on the rock above Vernazza's harbour were built to watch for pirate raids and are among the oldest fortifications in the Cinque Terre.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Nature · Manarola
Vineyard trail via Volastra
Do the steep climb in the morning shade, and pause in Volastra's tiny square before the level stretch.
- Time needed
- 2.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Free
Religious site · Riomaggiore
Madonna di Montenero sanctuary
High on the ridge above Riomaggiore, at about 340 metres, this hilltop sanctuary has a terrace with one of the widest views in the area, from the Punta Mesco headland beyond Monterosso to the islands off Porto Venere.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours round trip
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- Nature
Religious site · Monterosso al Mare
Madonna di Soviore sanctuary
Allow about 1.5 hours to walk up; you can return the same way or by the local bus.
- Time needed
- 3 hours round trip
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- History
What to pack
For highs near 13°C, lows near 6°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Cinque Terre?
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.
Cinque Terre in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Cinque Terre?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Quiet and mild; Manarola lights its huge hillside nativity of illuminated figures in early December.
+How warm is Cinque Terre in December?
Average highs are around 13°C (55°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cinque Terre in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.