Budapest in December averages a high of 4.9°C and a low of -0.4°C, with 9 rain days and 52 mm of precipitation across the month. Daylight on the 15th runs to about 8 hours 28 minutes, shrinking to the year's shortest day, 8 hours 26 minutes, on the 21st. It's the city's least sunny month and only the 11th warmest of the year. December suits travellers who want a cold, atmospheric city break around the Christmas holidays rather than mild weather or long days outdoors.
December in Budapest at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 4.9 °C, average low −0.4 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 9 days with at least 1 mm, 52 mm in total — the 7th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Budapest's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 8 h 28 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
- Busy: visitor nights in the region run at 1.1× an average month. Busiest month August, quietest January (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Budapest 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 Budapest is like in December
December sits at the cold, dim end of Budapest's year — the 11th warmest month and the least sunny, though only the 7th wettest by rain-day count at 9 days. It's a clear step down from November, which still manages a 9.5°C high despite a similar 10 rain days, and only a touch milder than January's 4.1°C high and 9 rain days. Regionally, Belgrade (7.2°C, 10 rain days) and Zagreb (6.1°C, 10 rain days) run noticeably warmer, while Vienna (5.1°C, 10 rain days) and Bratislava (4.9°C, 10 rain days) sit close to Budapest's own numbers; Kraków is both colder and wetter at 4°C and 12 rain days. Daylight shrinks from 8 hours 41 minutes on the 1st to 8 hours 30 minutes by month's end, bottoming out at 8 hours 26 minutes on the 21st.
The month brings Hungary's Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day holidays on 25 and 26 December, and school holidays from Germany, the Netherlands and France all overlap this stretch, pulling more families into the city than an average month — visitor nights in the region run at 1.1 times the typical level, though December stays well short of the August peak and busier than the quieter month of January. With short days and a real chance of rain on roughly 9 of them, this is a month for museums, thermal baths, cafés and evening walks past the lit-up Parliament rather than long outdoor itineraries, with the afternoons best used for whatever daylight remains.
Flights to Budapest in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €25 |
| Paris | €40 |
| Berlin | €22 |
| Amsterdam | €96 |
| Stockholm | €21 |
| New York | €677 |
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 Hungary
- 26 Dec
- St. Stephen's Day — public holiday in Hungary
- 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 proper winter coat, hat and gloves for highs around 4.9°C and lows near -0.4°C, plus something waterproof for the 9 likely rain days.
- Front-load outdoor sightseeing into the early afternoon, since usable daylight on the 15th runs only about 8 hours 28 minutes and shrinks further toward the 21st.
- Book ahead if you're travelling around 25–26 December, as Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day coincide with German, Dutch and French school holidays that bring extra visitors.
- If you'd rather have a milder December high, Belgrade (7.2°C) or Zagreb (6.1°C) both run warmer than Budapest's 4.9°C this month.
Hotels in Budapest
See live prices and availability for stays in Budapest on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Budapest worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you're after a cold-weather city break around the Christmas holidays — it's not one of Budapest's computed best months (those are May, June and September), but the short days and chilly temperatures suit indoor sightseeing, baths and evening strolls rather than long outdoor days.
How cold is Budapest in December?
Average highs sit at 4.9°C and lows dip to -0.4°C, making it the 11th warmest month of the year, with no days reaching 30°C and no warm nights at all.
Does it rain a lot in Budapest in December?
There are around 9 rain days and 52 mm of precipitation, which ranks it the 7th wettest month by rain-day count — fewer rain days than November's 10 but similar to January's 9.
How many hours of daylight does Budapest get in December?
Around 8 hours 28 minutes on the 15th, narrowing to the year's shortest day on the 21st at 8 hours 26 minutes, framed by 8 hours 41 minutes on the 1st and 8 hours 30 minutes on the 31st.
More on Budapest
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Budapest, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Budapest's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Hungary, 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 Budapest in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).