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Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes, Rhodes

Month guide · Rhodes · Greece

Rhodes in December

What December is really like in Rhodes: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: MattiPaavola, CC BY-SA 3.0

Quick answer

December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Wet and quiet; Rhodes Town puts up Christmas lights and is the only practical base.

Key facts

Average high / low
17°C (63°F) / 10°C (50°F)
Rainy days
About 11
Daylight
About 9.7 hours
Sea temperature
18°C (64°F)
Crowds
Very quiet
Hotel prices
Lowest

Weather in December

December is the 10th-warmest month in Rhodes: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (21°C (70°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 15°C (59°F).

Sunrise (15 December)
About 07:12
Sunset (15 December)
About 16:53
Daylight
About 9.7 hours
Sea
18°C (64°F)

Winter (December–February). Mild but often wet, with most beach resorts closed; Rhodes Town remains lively with locals and is good for quiet history visits.

Crowds and prices

On a 1–5 scale, December rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.

Events in December

  • Christmas and New Year celebrations in Rhodes Town

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.

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Rhodes
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0

Museum · Rhodes Old Town

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

Housed in the 15th-century Hospital of the Knights at the foot of the Street of the Knights, the museum displays finds from ancient Ialyssos and Kamiros, grave stelae and the marble Aphrodite of Rhodes, a small kneeling figure wringing out her hair.

Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • History
  • Art
  • Rainy day

Aquarium · Rhodes New Town

Rhodes Aquarium

It takes under an hour, so combine it with a swim at Elli Beach next door.

Time needed
45 minutes
Cost
Low cost
  • Kids
  • Rainy day
  • Nature
Kahal Shalom Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter, Rhodes
Photo: sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0

Religious site · Rhodes Old Town

Kahal Shalom Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter

Built in 1577, Kahal Shalom is the oldest synagogue in Greece, with a pebble-mosaic floor and a small museum telling the story of the Sephardic community of Rhodes, almost all of whom were deported in 1944.

Time needed
45 minutes
Cost
Low cost
  • History
  • Off the beaten path
  • Rainy day

Historic site · Lindos

Acropolis of Lindos

Climb as early as the site allows; the path from the village takes 15–20 minutes, has no shade and gets very hot by late morning.

Time needed
1.5–2 hours with the climb
Cost
Mid-priced
  • Iconic
  • History
  • Views
  • Photo spot

What to pack

For highs near 17°C, lows near 10°C and 11 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 Rhodes?

A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.

Rhodes in other months

Questions travellers ask

+Is December a good time to visit Rhodes?

It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Wet and quiet; Rhodes Town puts up Christmas lights and is the only practical base.

+How warm is Rhodes in December?

Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).

+Does it rain a lot in Rhodes in December?

Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.