01Weather
Paris weather in December
Afternoons in December average 8.4 °C (47 °F) and nights cool to 3.3 °C (38 °F). The month brings about 76 mm (3.0 in) of rain spread over roughly 13 days, with around 106 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with November it is 2.6 °C cooler; January is 1.1 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical December | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 13 °C / 56 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 4 °C / 39 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | -2 °C / 28 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 7.3 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.3 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 42 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest December day 2016–2025 | 15.9 °C / -5.5 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 08:22 | 16:56 | 8.6 h |
| 15 December | 08:37 | 16:54 | 8.3 h |
| 31 December | 08:44 | 17:03 | 8.3 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 18 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris).
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in December
moderate Paris hotels registered 1,290,174 arrivals in December 2019, an index of 0.91 against the monthly average of 1.0 (1,449,873 in December 2022). What drives it:
- Christmas market and department-store windows
- school holidays from 19 December
- New Year's Eve, the most expensive night of the year
School holidays that fill the city in December
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Christmas (all zones) | 19 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 |
| Germany (16 states, staggered) | Christmas | 21 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027 |
| England (local authorities set dates; Royal Greenwich shown, most councils within a few days) | Christmas | 21 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
04Public holidays
Public holidays in December 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Paris in December
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas market on the Champs-Élysées (Jardins des Champs-Élysées) | 22 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Jardins des Champs-Élysées · source |
Every year in December
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas markets (Tuileries, La Défense) | late November to early January | seasonal |
| New Year's Eve on the Champs-Élysées | 31 December, light show at the Arc de Triomphe | seasonal |
06Closures
What is closed, and what to book
- Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Non-EEA adults pay €32 since 14 January 2026, EEA residents €22.
- Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required.
- Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays.
- Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
- Catacombs: Reopened 8 April 2026 after renovation; closed Mondays; online timed booking only, no tickets at the door.
- Giverny, Monet's house and garden: Open 1 April to 1 November 2026 only; closed all winter.
- Shops and markets: Winter sales 6 January to 2 February 2027 (national dates, to be confirmed by decree). Most shops close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; many close on Sundays except in tourist zones.
07Packing
What to pack for Paris in December
- a winter coat, gloves and a hat
- thermal layer for early mornings
- waterproof shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
- gloves: frost on about 7 mornings
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
December is two months in one. The first three weeks are calm, with hotel arrivals for the month nine percent below the yearly average and the Christmas market on the Champs-Élysées, open from 22 November 2026, drawing locals rather than tourists on weekday evenings. The final ten days are the opposite: French schools break up on 19 December 2026, English schools from the 21st, and the average room rate in December 2025 was €372 at 77 percent occupancy, with New Year's Eve the most expensive night of the year.
Afternoons average 8 °C and nights hover around 3 °C, with frost on about seven mornings and the shortest days of the year, sunset around five all month. Christmas Day closes the Louvre, Orsay, Versailles and most shops; Christmas Eve sees restaurants switch to fixed menus, and 1 January closes everything again, so the 26th to the 30th are the days to book museums. The Catacombs run on timed online tickets and the Pompidou remains closed until 2030. Hotel prices fall back after the first week of January, when the sales begin.
09Compare
Paris month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 13 | 106 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C | 11 | 149 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| March | 12 °C | 4 °C | 13 | 225 | moderate 0.99 | Good |
| April | 16 °C | 6 °C | 10 | 306 | busy 1.04 | Mixed |
| May | 19 °C | 10 °C | 13 | 340 | busy 1.03 | Good |
| June | 24 °C | 14 °C | 12 | 354 | very busy 1.12 | Good |
| July | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 367 | very busy 1.1 | Good |
| August | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 340 | moderate 0.96 | Excellent |
| September | 22 °C | 12 °C | 10 | 270 | busy 1.06 | Good |
| October | 17 °C | 10 °C | 12 | 205 | very busy 1.09 | Good |
| November | 11 °C | 5 °C | 13 | 140 | busy 1.02 | Mixed |
| December | 8 °C | 3 °C | 13 | 106 | moderate 0.91 | Mixed |
Not sure about December? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
December in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in December | 8 °C | 11 |
| Amsterdam in December | 8 °C | 14 |
| Dublin in December | 9 °C | 14 |
| Barcelona in December | 16 °C | 3 |
| Venice in December | 9 °C | 6 |
| Prague in December | 5 °C | 8 |
11FAQ
Paris in December: your questions
Is December a good time to visit Paris?
December is a reasonable month with trade-offs to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 8 °C (47 °F), rain falls on about 13 days, and hotel arrivals run below the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in Paris in December?
Expect cold days around 8 °C (47 °F) and nights near 3 °C (38 °F), with about 106 hours of sunshine over the month. One December in ten brings afternoons above 13 °C, and one in ten stays below 4 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in December?
December brings about 76 mm (3.0 in) of rain over roughly 13 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 42 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in December?
Pack a winter coat, gloves and a hat, thermal layer for early mornings, waterproof shoes.
Is Paris crowded in December?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,290,174 arrivals in December 2019, 9 percent below the monthly average, so expect moderate conditions. Main drivers: Christmas market and department-store windows; school holidays from 19 December; New Year's Eve, the most expensive night of the year.
What time does it get dark in Paris in December?
Around the middle of December the sun sets at about 16:54 and rises at 08:37, giving 8.3 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in December?
Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required. Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays. Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
Are there school holidays in December that affect Paris?
Yes: France christmas (all zones) 19 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027; Germany christmas 21 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027; England christmas 21 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.