In Basel, December brings an average high of 6.8°C and a low of 0.6°C, with rain falling on 14 days of the month. Daylight on December 15 runs to 8 hours and 27 minutes, among the shortest stretches of light in the year. December is not one of Basel's computed best months — those are May, June and September — but it suits travellers who want a quiet, cold-weather city break around the Old Town without the crowds of summer.
December in Basel at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 6.8 °C, average low 0.6 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 14 days with at least 1 mm, 87 mm in total — the 4th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Basel's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 8 h 27 min on December 15 (8 h 41 min on the 1st, 8 h 30 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (8 h 26 min).
- Crowds
- Average: visitor nights in the region run at 1.0× an average month. Busiest month August, quietest January (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Basel are May, June, September; 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 Basel is like in December
December is Basel's least sunny month and its 11th warmest, with an average high of 6.8°C and a low of 0.6°C that make for properly cold days, especially once dark falls in the afternoon. Rain is frequent — 14 days see at least 1mm, making it the 4th wettest month of the year — close to November's 15 and January's 15 rain days. Temperatures drop noticeably from November's 9.7°C high toward January's 6°C, so December sits firmly on the cold end of the year. Nearby, Interlaken stays slightly milder at 8.3°C, while Bern and Zurich run colder, at 5°C and 5.1°C.
The month holds several public holidays — Immaculate Conception on 8 December (regional), Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day (regional) and Restoration Day (regional) on 31 December — and school holidays in Germany, the Netherlands and France begin around 19-20 December, bringing family visitors into the city over the holiday stretch. Visitor numbers in the region run at an average level for the year, 1.0 times a typical month, so Basel doesn't feel overwhelmed even as locals and holidaymakers fill the Old Town's streets and cafés. With 0 days warm enough to count as heat and frequent rain, this is a month for wandering compact indoor spaces, museums, and warming up between short bursts of daylight outdoors.
Flights to Basel in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €25 |
| Paris | €36 |
| Berlin | €49 |
| Amsterdam | €117 |
| New York | €397 |
Lowest fares found in recent flight searches (Aviasales), collected 7 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
- 8 Dec
- Immaculate Conception (regional) — public holiday in Switzerland
- 25 Dec
- Christmas Day — public holiday in Switzerland
- 26 Dec
- St. Stephen's Day (regional) — public holiday in Switzerland
- 31 Dec
- Restoration Day (regional) — public holiday in Switzerland
- 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
Tips for December
- Pack layers and a waterproof jacket for highs of 6.8°C, lows near 0.6°C, and 14 rain days.
- Make the most of the short daylight — 8h27 on the 15th, as little as 8h26 around December 21 — by starting Old Town walks early.
- Book ahead if visiting around 8, 25, 26 or 31 December, when regional and national holidays fall and school holidays from Germany, the Netherlands and France overlap.
- For a touch milder weather, Interlaken averages 8.3°C in December against Basel's 6.8°C.
Hotels in Basel
See live prices and availability for stays in Basel on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Basel worth visiting in December?
It can be, if you're prepared for cold and rain: December isn't one of Basel's computed best months (May, June and September are), but it suits a quiet, holiday-season city break with plenty of indoor options around the Old Town.
How cold is Basel in December?
The average high is 6.8°C and the average low is 0.6°C, with 0 days reaching 30°C or more and 0 nights staying at 20°C or above — it's a properly cold, not freezing, month.
Does it rain a lot in Basel in December?
Yes — rain falls on 14 days and totals 87 mm, making December the 4th wettest month of the year in Basel.
How many hours of daylight does Basel get in December?
Daylight runs from 8h41 on December 1 down to about 8h27 by the 15th, bottoming out at 8h26 on the shortest day, December 21, before edging back up to 8h30 by month's end.
More on Basel
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Basel, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Basel's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Switzerland, 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 Basel in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).