Season guide · Jerusalem · Israel
Jerusalem in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: איתן פרמן 13:56, 4 December 2006 (UTC), Public domain
Quick answer
Cool, wet and sometimes cold, with occasional snow; few crowds and Christmas celebrations in the Christian Quarter. Expect highs up to 14°C (57°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 26 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 6°C (43°F) to 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C (54°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 | 10.3 h | 2/5 |
| February | 13°C (55°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 | 11 h | 2/5 |
| December | 14°C (57°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 8 | 10.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 43 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Purim (February or March, date varies)
- December: Hanukkah (usually December)
- December: Christmas celebrations (25 December; Orthodox Christmas on 7 January)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Givat Ram
Israel Museum
Start with the Shrine of the Book and the city model before the galleries fill, then pick one wing.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Mount Herzl
Yad Vashem
Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust includes the Holocaust History Museum, a triangular concrete prism by Moshe Safdie, the Hall of Names, the Children's Memorial and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Historic site · Old City
Western Wall Tunnels
Tours are not suitable for anyone uncomfortable in narrow passages; wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 75 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Jaffa Gate
Tower of David Museum
The citadel beside Jaffa Gate has layers from the Hasmonean, Herodian, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods and now houses the Jerusalem history museum, which reopened in 2023 with new galleries.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
Day trips in winter
- Tel Aviv and Jaffa (About 35 minutes by fast train) — A complete change of pace: Mediterranean beaches, Bauhaus boulevards, Carmel Market and the old port and hill of Jaffa, with cafés and restaurants that stay open on Shabbat.
- Abu Ghosh (About 20 minutes by car) — An Arab village in the Judean Hills known for its hummus restaurants and a well-preserved 12th-century Crusader church, part of a Benedictine monastery, with medieval frescoes.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Jerusalem?
It is a trade-off: Cool, wet and sometimes cold, with occasional snow; few crowds and Christmas celebrations in the Christian Quarter. The best months overall are April–June and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Jerusalem in winter?
Highs of up to 14°C (57°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.