Seattle in December: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

6.7 °C

Nighttime low

1.9 °C

Monthly precipitation

201.7 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

20.8

Daylight

8.5 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

Seattle, United States. In december, the average daytime high is 6.7 °C and the night-time low is 1.9 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.

There are 20.8 wet days on average, with about 201.7 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 8.5 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 — 10.1 °C, December — 6.7 °C, next month — 7.7 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 19.9, 20.8 and 19.5.

Things to do

Seattle sits between Puget Sound and Lake Washington on hills that open onto Mount Rainier on clear days. The centre is compact but steep, so the light rail and buses save energy on the climbs between the waterfront and Capitol Hill.

Pike Place Market

Reach Pike Place Market at opening, when fishmongers lay out the catch and bakeries have not yet built a queue. Walk down to the waterfront, pass the Ferris wheel and continue to Pioneer Square.

Seattle Center

Go up the Space Needle, then look at the Chihuly glass sculptures in the garden beside it. From there cross the park to MoPOP and ride the monorail back into the centre.

The Bainbridge ferry

The ferry from Pier 52 crosses to Bainbridge Island in about half an hour. Walk from the landing along the main street to the bakeries and wine rooms, and leave the return crossing for the evening.

Where to stay

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill suits bars, bookshops and coffee rooms away from the tourist centre. Pike Place Market is within walking distance, but the slopes are steep and the streets stay loud at night.

Ballard

Ballard is an old fishing district with breweries, a market and workshops. It offers calm rooms away from downtown, though museums are half an hour away by bus. The locks are worth a separate stop.

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is built of nineteenth-century brick and stands next to the stadiums. The location works for the station and the waterfront, but few cafés stay open in the evening.

Getting to and around Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma airport connects to the centre on the Link light rail, about forty minutes to Westlake station. Buses and the same Link line cover the city, and a short monorail links downtown with Seattle Center. Streets climb over hills, so use transit for longer hops and walk the downtown blocks.

Three days in Seattle

Pike Place and the waterfront

Start at Pike Place Market, drop to the water and walk past the Ferris wheel to Pioneer Square. Return downtown in the afternoon and visit the art museum. The museum has rooms of modern art.

Seattle Center and Queen Anne

Give the morning to the Space Needle and the Chihuly garden, then look through MoPOP. In the evening climb Queen Anne to Kerry Park for the skyline and Mount Rainier.

Ballard and the ferry

Ride to Ballard, walk the market and breweries, then take the ferry to Bainbridge. Hire a bike on the island to reach the beach, and come back for dinner and a stroll along the Elliott Bay waterfront.

Weather throughout the year

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Frequently asked questions