Month guide · Oslo · Norway
Oslo in December
What December is really like in Oslo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gislus, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 0°C (32°F), lows of -4°C (25°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 5.9 hours of daylight. Festive, with candlelit windows, skating and Christmas markets; daylight lasts barely six hours.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 0°C (32°F) / -4°C (25°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 5.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 5°C (41°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Oslo: days average 0°C (32°F) against a yearly average high of 10°C (50°F), and nights fall to about -4°C (25°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (4°C (39°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 0°C (32°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 09:14
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:11
- Daylight
- About 5.9 hours
- Sea
- 5°C (41°F)
Winter (December–February). Cold, dark and often snowy, with ski trails reached by metro, Christmas markets and quiet museums.
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
- Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at Oslo City Hall (10 December)
- Christmas market at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (usually early December weekends)
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.
Nature · Grünerløkka
Akerselva river walk
The Akerselva river runs about 8 kilometres from Lake Maridalsvannet to the fjord, dropping over a series of small waterfalls past the red-brick textile mills that powered Oslo's industrialisation.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Active
Park · Ekeberg
Ekebergparken Sculpture Park
Take the tram from Jernbanetorget up Ekebergveien, walk the park downhill and finish at the viewpoint above the Opera House.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Views
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Island · Oslofjord
Oslofjord islands
Public ferries run by Ruter link the city waterfront with the inner fjord islands, so a regular public-transport ticket covers a day of island-hopping.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Couples
Experience · Bjørvika
Fjord saunas at Langkaia and Sørenga
Book a shared session online, especially for winter evenings and weekends, and bring a swimsuit, towel and flip-flops.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 0°C, lows near -4°C and 10 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 Oslo?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Oslo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Oslo?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive, with candlelit windows, skating and Christmas markets; daylight lasts barely six hours.
+How warm is Oslo in December?
Average highs are around 0°C (32°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Oslo in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.