Strasbourg in December brings an average high of 6.5°C and a low of 1.3°C, with rain falling on 14 days. Daylight on the 15th runs to 8 hours and 18 minutes, among the shortest spans of the year. December is colder than November (9.4°C) and only slightly milder than January (5.6°C), and it's the city's least sunny stretch of the year. It suits travellers who enjoy quiet, cosy city breaks around the Christmas holiday and don't mind short, often grey days — not sun-seekers, since December isn't one of Strasbourg's three best months (May, June, September).
December in Strasbourg at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 6.5 °C, average low 1.3 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 14 days with at least 1 mm, 90 mm in total — the 3rd wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Strasbourg's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 8 h 18 min on December 15 (8 h 33 min on the 1st, 8 h 21 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (8 h 17 min).
- Crowds
- Busy: visitor nights in the region run at 1.3× an average month. Busiest month August, quietest January (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg is like in December
December days in Strasbourg average a high of 6.5°C and a low of 1.3°C, with no days reaching 30°C or warmer and no nights staying above 20°C — this is winter proper. Rain falls on 14 days, the same tally as November and January, making it the third wettest month of the year, though overall precipitation is a modest 90 mm. Daylight shrinks from 8 hours 33 minutes on the 1st to 8 hours 17 minutes at the solstice on the 21st, settling near 8 hours 18 minutes mid-month. Nearby Colmar and Basel run marginally warmer at 6.8°C, while Zurich is the coolest of the group at 5.1°C.
Strasbourg's December calendar centres on Christmas Day, a public holiday, with school holidays overlapping from France, Germany and the Netherlands stacking visitors into the city especially after the 19th. Visitor nights in the region run at 1.3 times an average month, busier than the quiet depths of January but well short of August's peak. Expect to divide time between covered attractions — museums, cathedral visits, cosy cafés — and brisk walks through Petite France's half-timbered lanes when the rain eases. Evenings suit warming up indoors after short days, with the long dark stretch from late afternoon leaving plenty of time for sit-down dinners rather than lingering outdoors.
Flights to Strasbourg in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €35 |
| Paris | €59 |
| Berlin | €99 |
| Amsterdam | €120 |
| Stockholm | €184 |
Lowest fares found in recent flight searches (Aviasales), collected 6 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 France
- 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 coat, layers and waterproof shoes — highs sit at 6.5°C and lows dip to 1.3°C with rain on about 14 days.
- Make the most of daylight by starting outdoor sightseeing around Petite France early, since there are only about 8 hours 18 minutes of daylight on the 15th.
- Book ahead if travelling around Christmas Day or during the school holidays running from 19 December into early January, when visitor nights climb to 1.3 times an average month.
- For marginally milder days nearby, Colmar and Basel both average 6.8°C in December, a touch warmer than Strasbourg's 6.5°C.
Hotels in Strasbourg
See live prices and availability for stays in Strasbourg on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Strasbourg worth visiting in December?
Yes for travellers who like quiet, cosy city breaks around Christmas Day despite short days and 14 rain days — though it isn't one of Strasbourg's three best months (May, June, September).
How cold is Strasbourg in December?
Average high 6.5°C and low 1.3°C, with no days reaching 30°C and no warm nights.
Does it rain a lot in Strasbourg in December?
Rain falls on 14 days, matching November and January, with 90 mm total — the third wettest month of the year.
How many hours of daylight does Strasbourg get in December?
About 8 hours 18 minutes on the 15th, shrinking to the year's shortest day, 8 hours 17 minutes, on the 21st.
More on Strasbourg
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Strasbourg, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Strasbourg's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in France, 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 Strasbourg in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).