Month guide · Tampa · United States
Tampa in December
What December is really like in Tampa: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 12°C (54°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Mild and sunny, with holiday lights along the Riverwalk and at the Plant Museum; busy around Christmas.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 20°C (68°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Plan a trip to Tampa
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Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Tampa: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 28°C (82°F), and nights fall to about 12°C (54°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with November (26°C (79°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:14
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:37
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, dry and sunny, with Gasparilla, the state fair and manatees in warm-water refuges; too cool for most people to swim.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is March at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in March). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum (usually December)
- Winter Village ice rink in Curtis Hixon Park (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
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Park · North Tampa
Lettuce Lake Park
A county park on the Hillsborough River with a boardwalk through cypress swamp and an observation tower over the water, where alligators, turtles, ibis and herons are common.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Ybor City
Ybor City Historic District
Visit by day for the history and cigar shops, then come back after dark if you want the bars on 7th Avenue.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Food
- After dark
Theme park · North Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
An Africa-themed theme park with some of Florida's biggest roller coasters, including the dive coaster SheiKra, the inverted Montu and the wooden-steel hybrid Iron Gwazi.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- Active
- Nature
Aquarium · Channel District
The Florida Aquarium
Time your visit with a scheduled dive show at the coral reef tank; the timetable is posted at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 23°C (73°F), lows near 12°C (54°F) and 5 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Tampa?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and November are better overall. Compare every month.
Tampa in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Tampa in December?
At about 17:37 local time in mid-December, with sunrise at about 07:14: roughly 10.4 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Tampa in December?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tampa in December?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.