Month guide · Helsinki · Finland
Helsinki in December
What December is really like in Helsinki: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 1°C (34°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 5.9 hours of daylight. Dark, festive and often snowy, with candles in windows and Christmas markets.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 1°C (34°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 5.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 3°C (37°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Helsinki: days average 1°C (34°F) against a yearly average high of 10°C (50°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with November (4°C (39°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 09:19
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:12
- Daylight
- About 5.9 hours
- Sea
- 3°C (37°F)
Winter (December–February). Snow, frozen sea, short days and long sauna evenings, with Christmas markets and light festivals.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- St Thomas Christmas Market on Senate Square (December)
- Independence Day — students' torchlight procession and candles in windows (6 December)
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.
Theme park · Alppila
Linnanmäki amusement park
Finland's oldest amusement park opened in 1950 on a hill just north of Kallio and is run by a children's welfare foundation.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Active
- Views
Park · Ullanlinna
Kaivopuisto park and seafront
Walk the shore from Kaivopuisto west to Eira and Hernesaari, ending with a sauna at Löyly.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
Religious site · Töölö
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)
Designed by the brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969, this Lutheran church was blasted into a granite outcrop, with raw rock walls and a copper dome ringed by skylights.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Gallery · Kluuvi
Ateneum Art Museum
Head for the Finnish Golden Age rooms first; they explain the national-romantic imagery you see across the city.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
What to pack
For highs near 1°C, lows near -3°C and 12 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Helsinki?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Helsinki in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Helsinki?
It is a shoulder-season month. Dark, festive and often snowy, with candles in windows and Christmas markets.
+How warm is Helsinki in December?
Average highs are around 1°C (34°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Helsinki in December?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.