Month guide · Stockholm · Sweden
Stockholm in December
What December is really like in Stockholm: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Magnus Johansson, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 6.1 hours of daylight. Short days softened by lights, glögg and Christmas markets; Lucia processions are a highlight.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 6.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 4°C (39°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Stockholm: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 12°C (54°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (6°C (43°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 1°C (34°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:39
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 14:47
- Daylight
- About 6.1 hours
- Sea
- 4°C (39°F)
Winter (December–February). Short days, frost and occasional snow, brightened by Lucia, Christmas markets and cosy cafés; low prices after New 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 June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Nobel Prize ceremony and banquet (10 December; not open to the public)
- Lucia — candlelit processions and concerts in churches (13 December)
- Christmas markets at Skansen and Stortorget (usually until just before Christmas)
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.
Theme park · Djurgården
Gröna Lund
A compact amusement park on the Djurgården waterfront since 1883, with roller coasters, a drop tower with views over the city and gentler rides for small children.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- After dark
- Active
Viewpoint · Södermalm
Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget
Bring a drink to Skinnarviksberget on a summer evening and watch the late sunset over Lake Mälaren.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Enskede
Skogskyrkogården
The Woodland Cemetery, designed by Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz from 1917, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where graves lie among pine forest and a meandering path leads to a granite cross and chapels.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
Garden · Lidingö
Millesgården
Visit on a sunny day; the sculptures are set against the sky and water and are best seen in good light.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -1°C and 10 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 Stockholm?
A shoulder-season month, with 3 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Stockholm in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Stockholm?
It is a shoulder-season month. Short days softened by lights, glögg and Christmas markets; Lucia processions are a highlight.
+How warm is Stockholm in December?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Stockholm in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.