Month guide · Lyon · France
Lyon in December
What December is really like in Lyon: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon - Photo Corentin Mossière, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 8.7 hours of daylight. The Fête des Lumières fills the city for four nights around 8 December; book months ahead. The rest of the month is festive and calmer.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Lyon: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (11°C (52°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:15
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:57
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
Winter (December–February). The Fête des Lumières in early December, then cold, foggy and quiet weeks with low prices outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is December at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in December). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Fête des Lumières — festival of lights (around 8 December)
- Christmas market on Place Carnot (until about 24 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.
Museum · Monplaisir
Institut Lumière
The Lumière family's Art Nouveau villa houses a museum of the Cinématographe and early cinema, next to the factory where Louis and Auguste Lumière filmed workers leaving in 1895, one of the first films ever shown.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Vieux Lyon
Musée Miniature et Cinéma
A good choice for a rainy afternoon in Vieux Lyon with children.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Vieux Lyon
Gadagne museums
The largest Renaissance building in Vieux Lyon houses two museums: one on the history of Lyon and one on puppetry, including Guignol, the puppet character created in Lyon in the early 19th century.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Museum · 7th arrondissement
Centre for the History of the Resistance and Deportation
Allow time for the recorded testimonies, which bring the exhibition to life.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 1°C and 9 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 Lyon?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Lyon in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Lyon?
It is a shoulder-season month. The Fête des Lumières fills the city for four nights around 8 December; book months ahead. The rest of the month is festive and calmer.
+How warm is Lyon in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lyon in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.