Month guide · Paris · France
Paris in December
What December is really like in Paris: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ali Sabbagh, CC0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 8.3 hours of daylight. Festive lights, department-store window displays and Christmas markets; busy around the holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 8.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Paris: days average 8°C (46°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 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 08:38
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:54
- Daylight
- About 8.3 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and short days, but quiet museums, low prices outside the holidays, festive lights in December and the January sales.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas markets at the Tuileries and other squares (usually late November to early January)
- New Year's Eve on the Champs-Élysées
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.
Garden · 1st arrondissement
Tuileries Garden
The formal garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde is the natural walking route between the big museums.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
Museum · 7th arrondissement
Musée Rodin
Combine it with Les Invalides next door and Rue Cler for lunch.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · 20th arrondissement
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Paris's largest cemetery is a hilly, tree-shaded city of tombs where Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Molière and Jim Morrison are buried.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Canal Saint-Martin
Canal Saint-Martin
Pick up wine and cheese and join the locals on the quays around sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 8°C, lows near 4°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Paris?
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.
Paris in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Paris?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive lights, department-store window displays and Christmas markets; busy around the holidays.
+How warm is Paris in December?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Paris in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.