Month guide · Frankfurt · Germany
Frankfurt in December
What December is really like in Frankfurt: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is one of the best months to visit Frankfurt. Expect average highs of 5°C (41°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 8.1 hours of daylight. Christmas market on the Römerberg and around the Paulsplatz, with mulled apple wine and Bethmännchen.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 5°C (41°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 8.1 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Frankfurt: days average 5°C (41°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (9°C (48°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 4°C (39°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:18
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:23
- Daylight
- About 8.1 hours
Winter (December–February). The Römerberg Christmas market in December, then cold, quiet weeks good for museums.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in October). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Frankfurt Christmas Market (usually until about 22 December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the Main
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.
Museum · Innenstadt
Goethe House and German Romantic Museum
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in 1749 in this townhouse on the Großer Hirschgraben, rebuilt after the war with its original furniture, paintings and the puppet theatre he played with as a child.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Garden · Westend
Palmengarten
On a cold or wet day, spend most of your time in the tropical glasshouses.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
Museum · Westend
Senckenberg Natural History Museum
One of Germany's largest natural history museums, famous for its hall of dinosaur skeletons, plus fossils from the nearby Messel Pit UNESCO site, mummies, whales and an exhibition on human evolution.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Market · Innenstadt
Kleinmarkthalle
Buy the seven-herb green-sauce bundle here to see what goes into Frankfurt's signature dish.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
What to pack
For highs near 5°C, lows near 0°C and 11 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 Frankfurt?
One of the best months to visit Frankfurt, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are May–September. Compare every month.
Frankfurt in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Frankfurt?
It is one of the best months to visit Frankfurt. Christmas market on the Römerberg and around the Paulsplatz, with mulled apple wine and Bethmännchen.
+How warm is Frankfurt in December?
Average highs are around 5°C (41°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Frankfurt in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.