Month guide · Philadelphia · United States
Philadelphia in December
What December is really like in Philadelphia: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: William Zhang, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 9.3 hours of daylight. Cold, with festive lights around City Hall, the Christmas Village market and ice skating on the waterfront.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 9.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Philadelphia: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (13°C (55°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 5°C (41°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:16
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:37
- Daylight
- About 9.3 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold with occasional snow, but holiday markets, the Mummers Parade and quiet museums at the lowest hotel prices of the year.
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 May). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas Village at City Hall (through December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks on the Delaware waterfront
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.
Religious site · Old City
Christ Church and Burial Ground
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin worshipped at Christ Church on 2nd Street, and its burial ground at 5th and Arch holds Franklin's grave, where visitors toss pennies in a nod to 'a penny saved is a penny earned'.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Zoo · Fairmount Park
Philadelphia Zoo
Visit in spring or autumn mornings when the animals are most active and the paths are shaded.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Park · Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square
One of the five squares in William Penn's 1682 plan, Rittenhouse is the city's favourite park for people-watching, with bronze animal sculptures that children climb, a reflecting pool and benches under plane trees.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
Waterfront · Penn's Landing
Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing
Go around dusk on a summer evening, when the lights come on over the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near -1°C and 11 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 Philadelphia?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Philadelphia in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Philadelphia?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold, with festive lights around City Hall, the Christmas Village market and ice skating on the waterfront.
+How warm is Philadelphia in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Philadelphia in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.