Warsaw in December: a seasonal travel plan
Warsaw, Poland. In december, the average daytime high is 2.3 °C and the night-time low is -2.3 °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: Warsaw
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 2.3 °C
- Nighttime low
- -2.3 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 48.9 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.2
- Daylight
- 7.8 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 | 1.8 | -3.0 | 3.5 |
| Days 11–20 | 1.8 | -2.7 | 3.6 |
| From day 21 | 3.1 | -1.3 | 5.1 |
What this month is like
Warsaw, Poland. In december, the average daytime high is 2.3 °C and the night-time low is -2.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 12.2 wet days on average, with about 48.9 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 7.8 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. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 6.6 °C, December — 2.3 °C, next month — 0.7 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 9.0, 12.2 and 12.4.
Things to do
Warsaw gathers around Castle Square: the Old Town rebuilt after the war, the Royal Route running south to Lazienki Park, and Praga on the far bank with a character of its own. Metro and trams cross the river, so choose a district by its evenings.
Old Town
Start on Castle Square by the royal castle and follow the cobbled lanes to the city walls and the Barbican. From there drop down to the Market Square with its rows of townhouses and the small chapel.
Lazienki Park
Lazienki Park, with the palace on the water, an amphitheatre and free-roaming peacocks, fills half a day. Enter from Aleje Ujazdowskie and work deeper into the park, returning along the canal.
Praga
Right-bank Praga keeps its tenement houses and factory buildings, now taken over by galleries and bars. Zabkowska street and the Rózycki market show the old trading quarter, cheaper in the evening than the centre.
Where to stay
Sródmiescie
Sródmiescie suits a first visit: the station, the Palace of Culture and the Royal Route are close. The district comes alive at night, and side streets can be noisy.
Powisle
Powisle by the Vistula is known for riverside boulevards and cafés under the bridges. The centre is walkable, and summer evenings happen down by the water.
Zoliborz
Zoliborz is a green district of interwar houses, gardens and quiet courtyards. It stays calm, with a tram or metro ride to the centre and the Old Town twenty minutes away.
Getting to and around Warsaw
Chopin Airport lies inside the city limits: buses and a suburban train reach the centre in about half an hour. Warsaw runs a metro and a dense tram network, while the Royal Route is better walked. Bridges cross the Vistula, and Praga is an easy tram ride from the old town.
Three days in Warsaw
Old Town and the Royal Route
Castle Square, the Old Town and the Barbican fill the morning. Walk down Krakowskie Przedmiescie to Nowy Swiat, then finish on the Vistula embankments.
Lazienki
A day in Lazienki Park: the palace on the water, the amphitheatre and shaded avenues. Return to Powisle in the afternoon and walk the riverside boulevards.
Praga
Take the tram to Praga for Zabkowska street, the Rózycki market and factory buildings turned into galleries. Cross back into the centre in the evening.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.7 | -4.6 | 47.9 | 12.4 | 8.3 |
| February | 3.5 | -3.1 | 42.9 | 10.5 | 9.9 |
| March | 8.3 | -0.8 | 35.2 | 9.1 | 11.8 |
| April | 13.8 | 3.2 | 45.4 | 10.2 | 13.9 |
| May | 19.3 | 8.2 | 61.7 | 11.0 | 15.7 |
| June | 24.5 | 13.5 | 58.7 | 11.1 | 16.7 |
| July | 25.7 | 14.9 | 78.7 | 13.9 | 16.2 |
| August | 26.7 | 15.2 | 65.6 | 9.6 | 14.7 |
| September | 21.3 | 10.5 | 59.7 | 9.2 | 12.7 |
| October | 14.2 | 5.5 | 59.2 | 10.8 | 10.7 |
| November | 6.6 | 1.1 | 39.9 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| December | 2.3 | -2.3 | 48.9 | 12.2 | 7.8 |
Frequently asked questions
Warsaw: what is the temperature in December?
The average daytime high is 2.3 °C and the night-time low is -2.3 °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 12.2 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 48.9 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. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. 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 — 1.8 °C; 11–20 — 1.8 °C; 21 to month-end — 3.1 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in December?
The average is 7.8 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Warsaw worth visiting in December?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 2.3 °C and nights around -2.3 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Warsaw 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 Warsaw in December?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 7.8 hours.