Florence in December: a seasonal travel plan
Florence, Italy. In december, the average daytime high is 8.4 °C and the night-time low is 1.8 °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: Florence
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 8.4 °C
- Nighttime low
- 1.8 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 65.0 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 10.7
- Daylight
- 9.0 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 | 8.2 | 1.7 | 5.0 |
| Days 11–20 | 7.9 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
| From day 21 | 9.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
What this month is like
Florence, Italy. In december, the average daytime high is 8.4 °C and the night-time low is 1.8 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 10.7 wet days on average, with about 65.0 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 9.0 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
There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 12.2 °C, December — 8.4 °C, next month — 6.8 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.6, 10.7 and 9.6.
Things to do
Florence fits into a few blocks around Santa Maria del Fiore, and nearly all its treasures stand inside that ring. The Arno divides the city in two, and beyond the Ponte Vecchio lies Oltrarno with its workshops and the Boboli Gardens.
The cathedral and Brunelleschi's dome
In the Duomo complex see the marble facade, the baptistery with Ghiberti's doors and Giotto's bell tower. The climb up the dome follows a narrow passage between the two shells and ends above the tiled roofs.
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Leonardo's Annunciation, and the long corridors face the Arno through windows. Book a morning slot and start on the upper floor while the rooms are quiet.
Oltrarno and Piazzale Michelangelo
Cross the Arno on the Ponte Vecchio, where jewellers' shops hang above the water, and climb to Piazzale Michelangelo. The whole centre spreads below with the dome, best in the hour before sunset.
Where to stay
Duomo
The Duomo quarter works for a first visit, with the cathedral, baptistery and San Lorenzo market a couple of minutes apart. It is busy all day, so choose a side street away from the square for sleep.
Santo Spirito
Santo Spirito in Oltrarno suits anyone who wants workshops, wine bars and family trattorias close by. The Uffizi is a twenty-minute walk over the bridge, and evenings here are calmer than in the centre.
Santa Croce
Santa Croce clusters around a basilica holding the tombs of Michelangelo and Machiavelli, with leather workshops nearby. The district is quieter than the Duomo, and the Arno embankment and Piazza Signoria are walkable.
Getting there and around
From Florence airport the T2 tram reaches Santa Maria Novella station in about twenty minutes, and trains from Pisa arrive at the same station. There is no metro: the centre is compact and every major sight is walkable, though summer days are better started early. Buses serve Fiesole and the outskirts, and a car is best left outside the centre.
Three days in Florence
Duomo and San Lorenzo
Start at the baptistery, where Ghiberti's doors hang and the dome mosaic shows inside, then climb the dome and see the bell tower. After lunch visit the San Lorenzo market and finish at Santa Croce.
Uffizi and Oltrarno
Spend the morning in the Uffizi, then cross the Arno on the Ponte Vecchio to Santo Spirito, where trattorias serve ribollita and workshops open by the river. Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the evening.
Accademia and Boboli
See Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, then visit San Marco, where Fra Angelico painted a fresco in each cell of the cloister. Spend the afternoon in the Boboli Gardens.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.8 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 9.6 | 9.3 |
| February | 8.9 | 1.2 | 68.2 | 9.8 | 10.5 |
| March | 11.6 | 2.3 | 54.1 | 9.0 | 11.9 |
| April | 15.6 | 4.9 | 49.0 | 9.0 | 13.4 |
| May | 19.8 | 9.6 | 69.5 | 12.1 | 14.7 |
| June | 26.3 | 14.2 | 43.5 | 8.7 | 15.4 |
| July | 31.0 | 17.4 | 21.8 | 5.4 | 15.1 |
| August | 30.2 | 17.3 | 40.2 | 7.4 | 14.0 |
| September | 24.2 | 13.0 | 59.1 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
| October | 18.9 | 9.3 | 80.3 | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| November | 12.2 | 4.8 | 89.4 | 12.6 | 9.7 |
| December | 8.4 | 1.8 | 65.0 | 10.7 | 9.0 |
Frequently asked questions
Florence: what is the temperature in December?
The average daytime high is 8.4 °C and the night-time low is 1.8 °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 10.7 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 65.0 mm. There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What should I pack for walks in December?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 8.2 °C; 11–20 — 7.9 °C; 21 to month-end — 9.0 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in December?
The average is 9.0 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Florence worth visiting in December?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 8.4 °C and nights around 1.8 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Florence 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 Florence in December?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 9.0 hours.