Paris in December: a seasonal travel plan
Paris, France. In december, the average daytime high is 8.0 °C and the night-time low is 2.5 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: December
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Paris
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 8.0 °C
- Nighttime low
- 2.5 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 69.8 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 13.0
- Daylight
- 8.3 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 4.1 |
| Days 11–20 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 3.9 |
| From day 21 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 5.0 |
What this month is like
Paris, France. In december, the average daytime high is 8.0 °C and the night-time low is 2.5 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 13.0 wet days on average, with about 69.8 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 8.3 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 11.1 °C, December — 8.0 °C, next month — 6.6 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.2, 13.0 and 12.7.
Things to do
Paris is built around two banks of the Seine: the Louvre, the Marais and the Grands Boulevards on the right, the Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens on the left. The centre is compact, so a hotel near a metro line replaces daily taxis, and crossing between the banks takes about twenty minutes.
The Louvre and the Tuileries
Give the Louvre a morning, covering the antiquities and French painting, then leave through the Tuileries Garden towards Place de la Concorde. Follow the river on foot to the Musée d'Orsay; the half-hour walk replaces a metro ride.
Montmartre early
Climb to Sacré-Cœur through the streets behind Place Pigalle while the cafés are still opening and the stairways are quiet. The whole city opens below; come down past the vineyard and Rue Lepic to Abbesses metro.
The Marais and Île de la Cité
Walk from Saint-Paul metro through the Marais to Place des Vosges and look into the courtyards of the old mansions. Pont Marie leads to Île de la Cité, where Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame stand minutes apart; half a day covers both.
Where to stay
Le Marais
The Marais suits wandering without a plan: boutiques, galleries and hidden courtyards sit behind unmarked doors. Rooms are expensive and weekends fill the streets, but the Louvre and Île de la Cité are within walking distance.
Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter appeals for its closeness to the Seine, the Luxembourg Gardens and student cafés. The narrow streets around Saint-Michel stay loud late, so for quiet nights look at lanes nearer the Panthéon or the Arènes de Lutèce.
Canal Saint-Martin
Canal Saint-Martin fits anyone who wants a calm base with waterside bars and bakeries. The Louvre is half an hour away by metro, evening towpaths belong to locals, and large museums are not on the doorstep.
Getting to and around Paris
RER B runs from Charles de Gaulle airport into the centre: about half an hour to Gare du Nord and a little longer to Châtelet. Within the city the metro is the main way around, linking both banks and nearly every mainline station; between neighbouring districts walking is faster. Keep tickets on your phone or a Navigo card, and treat trips to the outer suburbs as separate fares.
Three days in Paris
Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter
Start with Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame in the morning, then cross to the left bank and the Luxembourg Gardens. Climb to the Panthéon in the afternoon and end the day at the Seine book stalls.
Louvre, Tuileries and Orsay
Begin at the Louvre, cross the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and take a bridge to the Musée d'Orsay. The evening leaves time for Saint-Germain and dinner in a bistro on a side street.
Montmartre and the canals
Climb to Sacré-Cœur early, come down to Place Pigalle and continue to Canal Saint-Martin. Sit by the water in the afternoon, then walk the quays as the light fades over the river.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.6 | 0.6 | 64.5 | 12.7 | 8.8 |
| February | 9.3 | 1.4 | 52.6 | 10.7 | 10.1 |
| March | 12.4 | 2.8 | 60.2 | 12.3 | 11.9 |
| April | 15.9 | 4.7 | 44.2 | 8.9 | 13.7 |
| May | 19.2 | 8.3 | 71.7 | 12.5 | 15.3 |
| June | 23.3 | 12.2 | 68.9 | 11.4 | 16.1 |
| July | 25.4 | 13.9 | 47.4 | 8.7 | 15.7 |
| August | 25.6 | 14.0 | 47.2 | 8.8 | 14.4 |
| September | 22.1 | 11.1 | 57.2 | 10.2 | 12.6 |
| October | 17.4 | 8.1 | 67.7 | 12.7 | 10.8 |
| November | 11.1 | 4.3 | 62.3 | 12.2 | 9.2 |
| December | 8.0 | 2.5 | 69.8 | 13.0 | 8.3 |
Frequently asked questions
Paris: what is the temperature in December?
The average daytime high is 8.0 °C and the night-time low is 2.5 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in December?
On average, there are 13.0 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 69.8 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in December?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 7.5 °C; 11–20 — 7.6 °C; 21 to month-end — 8.8 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in December?
The average is 8.3 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Paris worth visiting in December?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 8.0 °C and nights around 2.5 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Paris on a wet day in December?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Paris in December?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 8.3 hours.