Month guide · Nice · France
Nice in December
What December is really like in Nice: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 8.9 hours of daylight. Mild and festive, with a Christmas village on Place Masséna and quiet beaches for winter walks.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Nice: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (17°C (63°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:58
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:55
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild days with clear Alpine views, Christmas lights in December and the Carnival in February; some beach clubs close.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Christmas village and ice rink on Place Masséna (usually December)
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.
Waterfront · Le Port
Port Lympia
Nice's 18th-century harbour is framed by tall façades in Genoese reds and yellows and the neoclassical Notre-Dame-du-Port church.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Food
- Views
Garden · Arénas
Parc Phoenix
Reach it on tram line 2 towards the airport and combine it with a walk back along the Promenade.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
Nature · Le Port
Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban
The wooded hill east of the port is a forest park of pine and holm oak with walking paths and the 16th-century Fort du Mont Alban at its summit.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- Nature
Neighbourhood · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
Vieux Nice
Explore in the morning when the lanes are cool and quiet, then return in the evening when the terraces fill up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 6°C and 6 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Nice?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Nice in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Nice?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and festive, with a Christmas village on Place Masséna and quiet beaches for winter walks.
+How warm is Nice in December?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nice in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.