Month guide · Riga · Latvia
Riga in December
What December is really like in Riga: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Virtual-Pano, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 1°C (34°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 6.8 hours of daylight. Festive and dark, with Christmas markets in the Old Town and frequent snow.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 1°C (34°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 6.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 4°C (39°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Riga: days average 1°C (34°F) against a yearly average high of 11°C (52°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (4°C (39°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:56
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:42
- Daylight
- About 6.8 hours
- Sea
- 4°C (39°F)
Winter (December–February). Snow, Christmas markets and concerts in December; very cold and quiet after New Year, with the lowest prices.
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 June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas market on Dome Square (usually late November to early January)
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.
Zoo · Mežaparks
Mežaparks and Riga Zoo
Founded in 1912, Riga Zoo sits among the pines of the Mežaparks garden suburb beside Lake Ķīšezers, with a tropical house, giraffes and northern species.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Museum · Jugla
Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum
Go on the first weekend of June for the crafts fair, or around Midsummer for traditional celebrations.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Religious site · Old Riga
Riga Cathedral
Founded in 1211, the Dom is the largest medieval church in the Baltic states, mixing Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements around a peaceful cloister.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes, longer with a concert
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Market · Moscow Suburb
Riga Central Market
Visit in the morning, try the smoked fish in the fish pavilion and keep valuables zipped away in the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 1°C, lows near -3°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 Riga?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Riga in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Riga?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive and dark, with Christmas markets in the Old Town and frequent snow.
+How warm is Riga in December?
Average highs are around 1°C (34°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Riga in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.