Month guide · Zurich · Switzerland
Zurich in December
What December is really like in Zurich: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 8.5 hours of daylight. Festive, with the Christkindlimarkt in the main station hall and markets in the Old Town and at Sechseläutenplatz.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 8.5 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Zurich: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (8°C (46°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 3°C (37°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:07
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:36
- Daylight
- About 8.5 hours
Winter (December–February). Christmas markets and cosy fondue evenings in the city, with ski resorts within two hours by train.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christkindlimarkt in the main station hall (late November to 24 December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the lake (31 December)
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.
Gallery · Heimplatz
Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland's largest art museum spans the original building and David Chipperfield's extension, opened in 2021, across Heimplatz.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Museum · Main station
Swiss National Museum
It is right behind the main station, so it fills an hour before or after a train.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
Zoo · Fluntern
Zurich Zoo
On the wooded Zürichberg hill, the zoo is known for its Masoala Rainforest hall, a recreation of a Madagascan rainforest with free-roaming lemurs and birds, the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park and the Lewa savannah with giraffes and rhinos.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Rainy day
Museum · Enge
FIFA Museum
Leave time for the interactive football games on the lower floor, which children enjoy most.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 4°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 Zurich?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Zurich in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Zurich?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive, with the Christkindlimarkt in the main station hall and markets in the Old Town and at Sechseläutenplatz.
+How warm is Zurich in December?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zurich in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.