Weather in Prague in December

How December compares

December is the 11th warmest month of the year in Prague and ranks 132nd of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Prague is 3.7°C cooler by day and 3.8°C cooler at night.

Daytime and night-time in December

The typical December day in Prague peaks at 4.0°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 9.3°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -1.1°C; one night in ten drops to -6.2°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 13.6°C (2000-12-13) and the coldest night -24.7°C (1996-12-29).

Rain in December

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 41 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 1993 with 77 mm, the driest 2000 with 13 mm. Humidity averages 83%.

Sunshine and daylight

Around 2.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 7.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:55 and sets about 16:00 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 75%.

Is December a good time to visit Prague?

December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Prague on our scoring are August, July, June.

Expect colder days than London

Prague feels like a step further into winter than London, where December daytime highs average 7.7°C. A warm coat, gloves, a scarf and layers you can remove indoors are sensible packing choices. The average is not the whole story: the coldest 10% of nights fall to -6.2°C or below, so evening plans need more thought than daytime ones. Warm footwear matters if you expect to spend much time outside, and a wind-resistant outer layer is a practical choice. This month suits travellers who do not mind wrapping up; if cold limits your enjoyment of walking, a summer visit is a better fit.

Plan outdoor time around the short days

December brings about 7.9 hours of daylight, with sunshine for only a small part of that window. Put the outdoor parts of your day in the daylight hours and keep indoor plans flexible, rather than expecting long, bright afternoons. There are about 10 rainy days, so a waterproof outer layer and shoes that cope with wet conditions are useful. That does not make every day a washout, but cold and rain together can make prolonged time outside less appealing. Give yourself room to pause and warm up, and judge each day's plans by the conditions rather than committing to a packed outdoor schedule.