Berlin in December averages a high of 5.2°C and a low of 0.9°C, with 12 rain days bringing 50 mm of precipitation. Daylight on the 15th runs to 7 h 41 min, shrinking toward the year's shortest day on the 21st. It's the city's least sunny month and its 11th warmest, so this is a trip for layered clothing and low light rather than mild afternoons. December suits travellers who want Christmas-period atmosphere, museums and evenings indoors more than outdoor sightseeing.
December in Berlin at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 5.2 °C, average low 0.9 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 12 days with at least 1 mm, 50 mm in total — the 3rd wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Berlin's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 7 h 41 min on December 15 (7 h 58 min on the 1st, 7 h 44 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (7 h 39 min).
- Crowds
- Average: visitor nights in the region run at 0.9× an average month. Busiest month July, quietest January (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Berlin 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 Berlin is like in December
December sits near the cold, damp end of Berlin's year: the 11th warmest month, the 3rd wettest by rain days, and ranked the least sunny of all twelve. Compared with November's 8.3°C high and 10 rain days, the city cools and gets wetter; January follows with a similar chill (4.1°C high) but more rain days still, at 13. Among nearby cities, Hamburg runs slightly milder at 5.9°C though wetter with 14 rain days, while Prague and Wrocław are both a touch cooler (4.8°C and 4.9°C) but drier, at 11 rain days each. Daylight fades from 7 h 58 min on the 1st to 7 h 39 min on the shortest day, December 21, before edging back up to 7 h 44 min by month's end.
The city's calendar is anchored by Christmas Day on the 25th and St. Stephen's Day on the 26th, with German school holidays running 19 December to 12 January and overlapping breaks in the Netherlands (19 Dec–3 Jan) and France (20 Dec–3 Jan). Visitor numbers in the region sit at 0.9 times an average month — quieter than July's peak but busier than January's quiet stretch — so expect a holiday hum rather than crowds. With short days and frequent rain, this is a month for museums, galleries and long indoor evenings, with brisk daylight walks around landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate best fitted into the midday hours.
Flights to Berlin in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €44 |
| Paris | €37 |
| Amsterdam | €98 |
| Stockholm | €42 |
| New York | €317 |
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
- 25 Dec
- Christmas Day — public holiday in Germany
- 26 Dec
- St. Stephen's Day — public holiday in Germany
- 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 a warm, waterproof coat and layers for a high of 5.2°C, a low of 0.9°C, and 12 rain days bringing 50 mm of rain.
- Schedule outdoor walks around midday, since daylight on the 15th is just 7 h 41 min and shrinks to 7 h 39 min by the shortest day on the 21st.
- Book ahead of Christmas Day (25 Dec) and St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec), which fall inside school holidays running 19 December to 12 January in Germany and similar breaks in the Netherlands and France.
- If you'd rather dodge a few rain days, Prague and Wrocław each average only 11 rain days in December versus Berlin's 12, though both run slightly cooler.
Hotels in Berlin
See live prices and availability for stays in Berlin on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Berlin worth visiting in December?
It isn't one of Berlin's computed best months (those are May, June and September), but it suits travellers who want a quieter, indoor-leaning trip around the Christmas period — crowds run at 0.9 times an average month, below July's peak.
How cold is Berlin in December?
Average high is 5.2°C and the average low is 0.9°C, making it the 11th warmest month of the year; there are no days reaching 30°C or warm nights of 20°C or above.
Does it rain a lot in Berlin in December?
There are 12 rain days bringing 50 mm of precipitation, making it the 3rd wettest month of the year by rain days — more than November's 10 but fewer than January's 13.
How many hours of daylight does Berlin get in December?
Around 7 h 41 min on the 15th, falling to the year's shortest day on the 21st at 7 h 39 min, after starting the month at 7 h 58 min.
More on Berlin
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Berlin, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Berlin's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Germany, 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 Berlin in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).