Month guide · Palermo · Italy
Palermo in December
What December is really like in Palermo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.5 hours of daylight. Mild for December, with nativity scenes, Christmas lights and arancine eaten all day on Santa Lucia.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Palermo: days average 16°C (61°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (20°C (68°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:16
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:48
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild with occasional storms, low prices and quiet monuments; arancine day on 13 December.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Santa Lucia — a day of arancine and cuccìa instead of bread and pasta (13 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Nature · Monte Pellegrino
Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
The 606-metre headland that Goethe praised as the most beautiful promontory in the world rises between the city and Mondello.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Free
- Active
- History
Garden · Kalsa
Orto Botanico
Pair it with Villa Giulia, the 18th-century public garden next door, for a shady afternoon with children.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Palace · Albergheria and Ballarò
Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel
The Norman kings' palace, today the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, holds the Cappella Palatina, consecrated in 1140, where gold Byzantine mosaics cover the walls and a wooden muqarnas ceiling made by Arab craftsmen is painted with scenes of court life.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Il Capo and the Cathedral
Palermo Cathedral
Walk the roof terraces late in the afternoon for views over the domes towards Monte Pellegrino.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 10°C and 10 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 Palermo?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Palermo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Palermo?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild for December, with nativity scenes, Christmas lights and arancine eaten all day on Santa Lucia.
+How warm is Palermo in December?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Palermo in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.