Zurich in December averages a high of 5.1°C and a low of -0.3°C, with 14 rain days bringing 101 mm of precipitation. Daylight on the 15th runs to 8 hours 29 minutes, shrinking toward the year's shortest day on the 21st at 8 hours 27 minutes. It is the 11th warmest month, the 5th wettest by rain days, and the least sunny of the year. December suits travellers who want a quiet, cold-weather city break with holiday markets' cousins — indoor culture and lakeside walks — rather than sunshine or long days outdoors.
December in Zurich at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 5.1 °C, average low −0.3 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 14 days with at least 1 mm, 101 mm in total — the 5th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Zurich's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 8 h 29 min on December 15 (8 h 42 min on the 1st, 8 h 31 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (8 h 27 min).
- Crowds
- Average: visitor nights in the region run at 1.0× an average month. Busiest month July, quietest February (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Zurich are June, July, August, 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 Zurich is like in December
December sits at the cold, dim end of Zurich's calendar. It's noticeably chillier than November (8.4°C average high) and only slightly milder than January (4.4°C), with rain days holding steady at 14 across both December and January. Compared with nearby towns, Zurich is on the cooler side: Lucerne (5.8°C, 15 rain days) and Basel (6.8°C, 14 rain days) are a touch warmer, while Interlaken reaches 8.3°C with 14 rain days and Bern sits close at 5°C with 13 rain days. Colmar, at 6.8°C and 13 rain days, is both warmer and slightly drier. With 101 mm of precipitation and the year's dimmest skies, December calls for proper waterproofs and the odd layer.
The city's rhythm in December centres on its holidays: Immaculate Conception falls on 8 December (regional), followed by Christmas Day on the 25th, St. Stephen's Day on the 26th (regional), and Restoration Day on the 31st (regional). School holidays from Germany (19 Dec–12 Jan), the Netherlands (19 Dec–3 Jan) and France (20 Dec–3 Jan) overlap with this stretch, so the back half of the month draws more visiting families and travellers than the front. Visitor nights in the region still run at 1.0× an average month — not the July peak, but steadier than quiet February. It's a month for museums, cafés, and short walks along Lake Zurich before the early dark sets in.
Flights to Zurich in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €27 |
| Paris | €62 |
| Berlin | €64 |
| Amsterdam | €116 |
| Stockholm | €61 |
| New York | €380 |
Lowest fares found in recent flight searches (Aviasales), collected 11 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 a warm, waterproof layer — highs barely reach 5.1°C and 14 rain days are likely across the month.
- Make the most of short days by scheduling outdoor time around midday, since daylight dips to about 8 hours 29 minutes by the 15th and bottoms out near the 21st.
- Book ahead if you're travelling around 25–31 December, when Christmas, St. Stephen's Day and Restoration Day cluster alongside overlapping school holidays from Germany, the Netherlands and France.
- For a slightly warmer, equally rain-prone alternative, Interlaken averages 8.3°C in December against Zurich's 5.1°C.
Hotels in Zurich
See live prices and availability for stays in Zurich on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Zurich worth visiting in December?
December isn't one of Zurich's computed best months (those are June, July, August and September), but it still works for travellers happy with cold weather, short days, and a quieter, more indoor-focused visit around the holidays.
How cold is Zurich in December?
Average highs sit at 5.1°C and lows at -0.3°C, making it the 11th warmest month of the year in Zurich.
Does it rain a lot in Zurich in December?
Yes — December brings 14 rain days and 101 mm of precipitation, making it the 5th wettest month of the year.
How many hours of daylight does Zurich get in December?
Around 8 hours 29 minutes on the 15th, narrowing to the year's shortest day on 21 December at 8 hours 27 minutes.
More on Zurich
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Zurich, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Zurich'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 Zurich in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).