Month guide · Valletta · Malta
Valletta in December
What December is really like in Valletta: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Mild for Europe, with Christmas cribs, lights on Republic Street and festive concerts.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Valletta: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (21°C (70°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:05
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:50
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild highs around 16°C, some rain and wind, low prices, Christmas cribs and carnival in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 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
- Christmas lights and nativity cribs across Valletta (December)
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.
Historic site · Paola
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
A UNESCO-listed underground Neolithic burial complex, cut into the rock over centuries from around 4000 BC, with chambers carved to imitate built temples and red ochre spiral paintings.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Upper Valletta
Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery
Arrive about 15 minutes before noon to get a spot on the terrace for the gun salute.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
Garden · Lower Valletta
Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell
A small, shaded garden on the eastern bastions, centred on a neoclassical monument to Sir Alexander Ball, with views over the harbour mouth and breakwater.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- History
Architecture · Lower Valletta
Manoel Theatre
If you can, see a performance rather than a tour; the acoustics and the intimate boxes are the point.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 11°C and 10 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 Valletta?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Valletta in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Valletta?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild for Europe, with Christmas cribs, lights on Republic Street and festive concerts.
+How warm is Valletta in December?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Valletta in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.