In December, Barcelona sees an average high of 14.9°C and a low of 6.3°C, with 5 rain days bringing 41 mm of rain across the month. Daylight runs to about 9 hours and 12 minutes on the 15th, with the shortest day of the year falling around the 21st. It's the least sunny month on the calendar and not one of Barcelona's four computed best months (May, June, September and October), but it still suits travellers who want a quiet, cooler city break around the Christmas and Constitution Day holidays.
December in Barcelona at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 14.9 °C, average low 6.3 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 5 days with at least 1 mm, 41 mm in total — the 11th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Barcelona's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 9 h 12 min on December 15 (9 h 22 min on the 1st, 9 h 14 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (9 h 11 min).
- Sea
- 16 °C average sea-surface temperature (2022–2025, Open-Meteo Marine).
- Crowds
- Quiet: visitor nights in the region run at 0.4× an average month. Busiest month August, quietest January (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Barcelona are May, June, September, October; December is for travellers who don't mind the cold.
- Source
- ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; daylight computed for the city's latitude; crowds from Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation (region by month).
What Barcelona is like in December
December's average high of 14.9°C and low of 6.3°C mark a cooling from November's 17.5°C high, though rain eases too — 5 days against November's 8. January is slightly cooler at 13.7°C but notably drier, with just 4 rain days, so December sits as a damp, mild bridge between the two. Daylight shortens steadily through the month, from 9 h 22 min on the 1st to 9 h 14 min on the last day, dipping to the year's low of 9 h 11 min on the 21st. Nearby, Ibiza (16.7°C, 5 rain days) and Palma de Mallorca (16.3°C, 7 rain days) stay warmer, while Toulouse (11.1°C, 11 rain days) is colder and wetter.
December brings Constitution Day (6th), Immaculate Conception (8th), Christmas Day (25th) and the regional St. Stephen's Day (26th), with German, Dutch and French school holidays overlapping from the 19th into early January. Visitor nights in the region run at just 0.4 times an average month, so Barcelona feels distinctly quiet compared with August's peak — expect a calmer Sagrada Família and shorter queues, especially before the holiday stretch begins. With no days reaching 30°C and nights never holding at 20°C, this is a month for wrapping up: long lunches, museum visits and evening strolls past lit-up streets suit the cooler, shorter days better than beach time, though the sea still holds a mild 16°C if you're determined.
Flights to Barcelona in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €19 |
| Paris | €19 |
| Berlin | €36 |
| Amsterdam | €72 |
| Stockholm | €41 |
| New York | €219 |
Lowest fares found in recent flight searches (Aviasales), collected 10 November 2026. A guide to price level only — fares change daily and may not be available when you search.
Where else to go in December: warmest, driest and least crowded cities →
Where to stay in December
Holidays in December 2026
- 6 Dec
- Constitution Day — public holiday in Spain
- 8 Dec
- Immaculate Conception — public holiday in Spain
- 25 Dec
- Christmas Day — public holiday in Spain
- 26 Dec
- St. Stephen's Day (regional) — public holiday in Spain
- Germany
- School holidays 19 Dec – 12 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
- Netherlands
- School holidays 19 Dec – 3 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
- France
- School holidays 20 Dec – 3 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
December in nearby cities
The numbers side by side
| City | Distance | Avg high | Avg low | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | — | 14.9 °C | 6.3 °C | 5 |
| Palma de Mallorca | 206 km | 16.3 °C | 9.9 °C | 7 |
| Menorca | 242 km | 15.5 °C | 11.4 °C | 8 |
| Toulouse | 253 km | 11.1 °C | 4.5 °C | 11 |
| Ibiza | 283 km | 16.7 °C | 11.9 °C | 5 |
| Montpellier | 284 km | 12.5 °C | 4.7 °C | 9 |
Tips for December
- Pack layers and a light rain jacket for the 6.3°C lows and 41 mm of rain spread over 5 days.
- Make the most of the short daylight — sunrise-to-sunset runs about 9 hours and 12 minutes on the 15th — by scheduling outdoor sightseeing like the Sagrada Família around midday.
- Book ahead if you're arriving around 6th, 8th, 25th or 26th December, when Constitution Day, Immaculate Conception, Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day fall, or during the German, Dutch and French school holidays from the 19th.
- For a warmer, drier alternative this month, Ibiza averages 16.7°C with just 5 rain days.
Hotels in Barcelona
See live prices and availability for stays in Barcelona on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Barcelona worth visiting in December?
Yes for travellers who like quiet streets and mild, if cool, weather — visitor nights run at 0.4× an average month, and highs of 14.9°C are comfortable for sightseeing, even though it's not one of the city's four computed best months (May, June, September, October).
How cold is Barcelona in December?
Expect an average high of 14.9°C and a low of 6.3°C, with no days reaching 30°C and no nights staying at 20°C or above.
Does it rain a lot in Barcelona in December?
There are around 5 rain days bringing 41 mm of precipitation, fewer rain days than November's 8 but more than January's 4.
How many hours of daylight does Barcelona get in December?
About 9 hours and 12 minutes on the 15th, shrinking to the year's shortest day of 9 h 11 min on the 21st.
More on Barcelona
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Barcelona, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Barcelona's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Spain, December 2026
- OpenHolidays API — school holidays in the main source markets, December 2026
- ReasonStay methodology — how figures are computed and checked
An independent guide to Barcelona in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).