Month guide · Jerusalem · Israel
Jerusalem in December
What December is really like in Jerusalem: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.1 hours of daylight. Cool and rainy, with Hanukkah lights in the Jewish Quarter and Christmas in the Christian Quarter and nearby Bethlehem.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Jerusalem: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (19°C (66°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:32
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:37
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Cool, wet and sometimes cold, with occasional snow; few crowds and Christmas celebrations in the Christian Quarter.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Hanukkah (usually December)
- Christmas celebrations (25 December; Orthodox Christmas on 7 January)
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.
Religious site · Mount of Olives
Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations
At the foot of the Mount of Olives, a small garden of very old olive trees is venerated as the place where Jesus prayed before his arrest.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · South of Dung Gate
City of David archaeological park
Bring water shoes and a torch or phone light for Hezekiah's Tunnel; a dry alternative tunnel is available.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Active
Religious site · Mount Zion
Mount Zion and the Dormition Abbey
Just outside Zion Gate, Mount Zion holds the Room of the Last Supper (the Cenacle), the site venerated as King David's Tomb below it, and the Benedictine Dormition Abbey with its round tower and gold mosaics.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Mount Herzl
Yad Vashem
Allow at least three hours and plan something quiet afterwards; the light rail stops at Mount Herzl, a short walk away.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 8°C and 8 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 Jerusalem?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Jerusalem in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Jerusalem?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cool and rainy, with Hanukkah lights in the Jewish Quarter and Christmas in the Christian Quarter and nearby Bethlehem.
+How warm is Jerusalem in December?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Jerusalem in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.