Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Split in December
Split in December suits a cool-weather city break, not a beach holiday. Average highs of 11°C make daytime exploring manageable with a coat, but nights around 5°C call for warmer layers. The main catch is rain, with about 12 rainy days during the month, so outdoor plans need some flexibility. Go if you are happy to work around wet spells and spend evenings indoors; choose another month if warmth and swimming are the priority.
Long-term climate averages for Split, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Split, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Split.
- Average daytime high
- 11.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 15°C
- Average night-time low
- 5.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 1°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +3.5°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 15.7°C
- year to year: 15°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.0h
- 45% of 8.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 175 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 17.2°C
- 2014-12-01
- Record low 1991-2020
- -9.4°C
- 2009-12-21
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 36 min
- 1508 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Split and ranks 115th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Croatia it is 3rd of 4 (Croatia in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Split is 3.5°C warmer by day and 2.5°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Split peaks at 11.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 14.8°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 5.2°C; one night in ten drops to 0.6°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 17.2°C (2014-12-01) and the coldest night -9.4°C (2009-12-21).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 175 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 1995 with 404 mm, the driest 2015 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 15.7°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.7°C to 16.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (24.6°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:20 and sets about 16:18 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 54%.
Is December a good time to visit Split?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Split on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Cool days, colder evenings and a cold sea
Pack for winter rather than mild seaside weather. A coat and layers will be more useful than clothes chosen for sunshine alone, especially if you plan to stay out after dark. Milder days can reach around 15°C, but the coldest nights fall to around 1°C or below, so the averages are not a promise of comfortable evenings. The sea averages 15.7°C, firmly in the cold category: this is not a good month to build a holiday around relaxed swimming. December works better for travellers who enjoy walking in cool conditions and are content to leave the beachwear at home.
Keep outdoor plans flexible and use the daylight
Rain is a practical constraint rather than a reason to rule December out altogether. With about 12 rainy days, a waterproof outer layer and shoes that cope with wet pavements are sensible choices. Leave room to move outdoor plans around rather than depending on dry weather throughout your stay. There are about 4 hours of sunshine a day within 8.8 hours of daylight, so sunshine is possible, but it does not fill the available day. Start outdoor time earlier rather than saving it for late afternoon, and have an indoor alternative ready. This month suits a flexible itinerary better than a holiday spent almost entirely outside.
A little perspective
Split through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.1°C | 3.8°C | 13.7°C | 4.2 | 120 | 11 | 0% |
| February | 10.9°C | 3.8°C | 12.7°C | 5.0 | 106 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 13.8°C | 6.4°C | 12.8°C | 5.8 | 103 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.2°C | 9.6°C | 14.2°C | 6.5 | 100 | 11 | 1% |
| May | 21.7°C | 13.9°C | 17.8°C | 7.8 | 74 | 9 | 14% |
| Junebest | 26.0°C | 17.9°C | 21.7°C | 9.9 | 42 | 7 | 62% |
| Julybest | 29.0°C | 20.3°C | 24.0°C | 11.6 | 27 | 5 | 92% |
| Augustbest | 29.3°C | 20.7°C | 24.6°C | 10.6 | 41 | 5 | 94% |
| September | 24.3°C | 16.7°C | 22.4°C | 7.6 | 104 | 8 | 43% |
| October | 19.9°C | 13.0°C | 20.3°C | 5.7 | 137 | 11 | 2% |
| November | 15.1°C | 9.2°C | 18.0°C | 4.0 | 226 | 14 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 11.2°C | 5.2°C | 15.7°C | 4.0 | 175 | 12 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Split in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Split hot in December?
Split is cool in December: the average daytime high is 11.2°C and nights average 5.2°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Split in December?
The sea around Split averages 15.7°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Split in December?
Split sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 175 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 1995 (404 mm) and the driest was 2015 (0 mm).
How sunny is Split in December?
Split gets around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 8.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Split compare with the UK in December?
Split is on average 3.5°C warmer than London by day in December (11.2°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Split?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Split reached 17.2°C on 2014-12-01, and the coldest night dropped to -9.4°C on 2009-12-21.
Is Split warmer than London in December?
Yes, but the difference is modest rather than a change of season. Split's average daytime high is 11.2°C, compared with London's 7.7°C, making it 3.5°C warmer. You should still expect coat weather, particularly once the sun goes down.
Is December suitable for a short break?
It can be, if you want a cool-weather city stay rather than reliable sunshine. The flight from London is about 2 h 36 min. Keep plans flexible, though: rain and limited daylight make a tightly packed outdoor itinerary less appealing.
When should I go instead for warmer weather?
June, July and August are better choices if warmth is central to your holiday. December is cool and wet, so choose it for a winter city break rather than expecting summer conditions or comfortable sea swimming.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Split. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.1 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C