Vienna in December averages a high of 5.1 °C and a low of 0 °C, with 10 rain days and 47 mm of precipitation across the month. Daylight on December 15 runs to 8 hours 22 minutes, narrowing toward the year's shortest day on December 21 at 8 hours 20 minutes. It ranks as the 11th warmest month and the least sunny of the year, yet also the busiest. December suits travellers who want cosy indoor sightseeing and a festive, crowded city, not those chasing daylight or mild, dry weather.
December in Vienna at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 5.1 °C, average low 0 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 10 days with at least 1 mm, 47 mm in total — the 4th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Vienna's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 8 h 22 min on December 15 (8 h 36 min on the 1st, 8 h 25 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (8 h 20 min).
- Crowds
- Peak season: visitor nights in the region run at 1.3× an average month. Busiest month December, quietest January (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Vienna 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 Vienna is like in December
December's average high of 5.1 °C is a clear step down from November's 9 °C, though it sits a little above January's 4.1 °C. Lows hover around 0 °C, and 10 rain days bring 47 mm of precipitation, slightly more than November's 9 rain days and close to January's 9. Against nearby cities, Vienna is milder than Bratislava, Budapest and Prague, all around 4.8–4.9 °C, but cooler than Salzburg and Bled at 6.1 °C — though Salzburg sees far more rain, 15 days against Vienna's 10. Short, grey days are the rule: December ranks as the least sunny month of the year here.
December's public holidays — Immaculate Conception on 8 December, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen's Day on 26 December — anchor a month when school holidays in Germany, the Netherlands and France overlap from mid-to-late December, filling the city. Visitor nights run at 1.3 times an average month, making December the busiest month of the year, especially around the holidays, while January turns quiet again. With daylight down to little more than 8 hours, the rhythm favours indoor pursuits — museums, grand interiors, and the space around St. Stephen's Cathedral — alongside early evenings that invite long dinners. Outdoor time works best bundled up against damp chill rather than deep cold.
Flights to Vienna in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €28 |
| Paris | €29 |
| Berlin | €59 |
| Amsterdam | €101 |
| Stockholm | €48 |
| New York | €275 |
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
- 8 Dec
- Immaculate Conception — public holiday in Austria
- 25 Dec
- Christmas Day — public holiday in Austria
- 26 Dec
- St. Stephen's Day — public holiday in Austria
- 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 coat: daytime highs average just 5.1 °C and the month brings 10 rain days.
- Plan sightseeing around the light, since daylight shrinks from 8h22m on December 15 to the year's shortest day, 8h20m, on December 21.
- Book ahead for Immaculate Conception (8 Dec), Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec), when overlapping school holidays from Germany, the Netherlands and France push visitor nights to 1.3 times an average month.
- If you want slightly fewer rain days at similar temperatures, Budapest (214 km away) averages a 4.9 °C high with 9 rain days versus Vienna's 10.
Hotels in Vienna
See live prices and availability for stays in Vienna on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Vienna worth visiting in December?
December isn't one of Vienna's computed best months (those are May, June and September), but it's the busiest month of the year and suits travellers happy with short, damp days in exchange for indoor sights and a festive, crowded city.
How cold is Vienna in December?
Average high is 5.1 °C and the average low is 0 °C — milder than January's 4.1 °C high but a clear drop from November's 9 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Vienna in December?
There are 10 rain days and 47 mm of precipitation, a touch more than November's 9 rain days and similar to January's 9.
How many hours of daylight does Vienna get in December?
Daylight runs about 8 hours 22 minutes on December 15, narrowing to the year's shortest day on December 21 at 8 hours 20 minutes.
More on Vienna
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Vienna, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Vienna's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Austria, 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 Vienna in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).