Month guide · Toronto · Canada
Toronto in December
What December is really like in Toronto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: EuroCarGT, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 2°C (36°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 8.9 hours of daylight. Cold, with snow increasingly common; holiday markets, skating rinks and lights keep the city lively until New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 2°C (36°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Toronto: days average 2°C (36°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with November (8°C (46°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:44
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:42
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and snowy with wind off the lake; skating, holiday markets and indoor museums make the most of it, and hotel prices drop 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 July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Distillery Winter Village (usually until late December)
- New Year's Eve concert and fireworks at Nathan Phillips Square
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.
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Nature · Scarborough
Scarborough Bluffs
Pale cliffs of glacial sediment rise up to about 90 metres above Lake Ontario along some 15 km of shoreline in the east of the city.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
- Photo spot
Zoo · Rouge Valley
Toronto Zoo
Plan a full day, wear comfortable shoes and use the seasonal Zoomobile if young children tire.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Aquarium · Entertainment District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
At the foot of the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium holds around 20,000 animals, with a moving walkway through the Dangerous Lagoon shark tunnel, a gallery of glowing jellyfish and touch pools of rays and horseshoe crabs.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Yorkville
Royal Ontario Museum
Start with the dinosaur gallery before school groups arrive, then pick two or three other galleries rather than trying to see everything.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 2°C, lows near -3°C and 12 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 Toronto?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Toronto in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Toronto?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, with snow increasingly common; holiday markets, skating rinks and lights keep the city lively until New Year.
+How warm is Toronto in December?
Average highs are around 2°C (36°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Toronto in December?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.