Month guide · Quebec City · Canada
Quebec City in December
What December is really like in Quebec City: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of -5°C (23°F), lows of -13°C (9°F), about 16 rainy days and roughly 8.6 hours of daylight. Snow-covered streets and Christmas decorations make the old town festive; busy around the holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -5°C (23°F) / -13°C (9°F)
- Rainy days
- About 16
- Daylight
- About 8.6 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Quebec City: days average -5°C (23°F) against a yearly average high of 9°C (48°F), and nights fall to about -13°C (9°F). Rain falls on roughly 16 of its 31 days. Compared with November (3°C (37°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around -8°C (18°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:24
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:57
- Daylight
- About 8.6 hours
Winter (December–February). Deep snow, Christmas markets, the Ice Hotel and Carnaval; very cold, so pack proper gear.
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 July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- German Christmas Market continues (usually until shortly before Christmas)
- New Year's Eve celebrations in the old town
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.
Museum · Old Québec – Lower Town and Old Port
Musée de la civilisation
Designed by Moshe Safdie around older stone buildings, this museum covers Quebec history and society, with a long-term exhibition on the province's story and another on First Nations and Inuit.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Old Québec – Upper Town
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
Visit quietly outside service times and look for the crypt tours, which run at certain periods of the year.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Architecture · Montcalm and Grande Allée
Parliament Building
Quebec's Second Empire-style Hôtel du Parlement, completed in 1886, has a façade lined with bronze statues of figures from the province's history.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Market · Limoilou
Grand Marché de Québec
Buy cheese, cider and maple products here rather than in old-town souvenir shops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
What to pack
For highs near -5°C, lows near -13°C and 16 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Quebec City?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Quebec City in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Quebec City?
It is a shoulder-season month. Snow-covered streets and Christmas decorations make the old town festive; busy around the holidays.
+How warm is Quebec City in December?
Average highs are around -5°C (23°F) and lows around -13°C (9°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Quebec City in December?
Expect rain on about 16 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.