Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Florence in December
Florence in December suits a city break if you are happy with cool weather and flexible plans, but it is not a winter warmth trip. Average daytime highs are around 10°C, nights fall to around 3°C, and about 12 days have rain. Go for time outdoors mixed with indoor breaks, rather than long days sitting outside. The main catches are damp conditions, cold evenings and limited daylight, so a warm coat and waterproof footwear deserve space in your bag.
Long-term climate averages for Florence, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Florence, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Florence.
- Average daytime high
- 10.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 14°C
- Average night-time low
- 2.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -2°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +2.4°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.4h
- 39% of 8.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 97 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 83%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 17.6°C
- 2018-12-05
- Record low 1991-2020
- -10.7°C
- 1996-12-30
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 12 min
- 1185 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 11th warmest month of the year in Florence and ranks 120th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Italy it is 10th of 16 (Italy in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Florence is 2.4°C warmer by day and 0.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Florence peaks at 10.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 13.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 2.9°C; one night in ten drops to -1.9°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 17.6°C (2018-12-05) and the coldest night -10.7°C (1996-12-30).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 97 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2020 with 194 mm, the driest 2015 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 83%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:42 and sets about 16:38 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 61%.
Is December a good time to visit Florence?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Florence on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Cool days, with a sharper chill after dark
The daytime average is comfortable enough for walking with warm layers, but stopping outside for long can feel chilly. December is among Florence's coolest months, so do not build your plans around mild afternoons. The warmest days reach around 14°C or more, offering a gentler spell, while the coldest nights drop to around -2°C or below. That range makes an extra layer useful even if the afternoon feels fairly mild. Plan outdoor time for the warmer part of the day and dress more warmly for evenings. This month suits travellers who prefer cool-weather walking to heat, provided they are comfortable wrapping up.
Keep plans flexible for rain and short days
Rain is a meaningful part of the December trade-off: about 12 days receive measurable rain, so a fully outdoor itinerary leaves little room to adjust. That does not mean every wet day is a washout, but it does make indoor alternatives useful. There are about 3.4 hours of sunshine within 8.7 hours of daylight, so sunshine is a bonus rather than something to rely on throughout the day. Give outdoor plans priority during daylight and leave room to change their order around showers. A waterproof outer layer and shoes that keep your feet dry are more useful than packing for occasional mild weather.
A little perspective
Florence through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.4°C | 1.8°C | 3.4 | 67 | 10 | 0% |
| February | 10.6°C | 1.8°C | 4.5 | 76 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 14.3°C | 4.4°C | 5.3 | 72 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.7°C | 7.3°C | 5.8 | 82 | 12 | 1% |
| May | 21.9°C | 11.4°C | 6.9 | 74 | 10 | 19% |
| Junebest | 26.4°C | 15.6°C | 8.9 | 48 | 7 | 64% |
| Julybest | 29.7°C | 18.3°C | 10.8 | 29 | 4 | 92% |
| Augustbest | 29.9°C | 18.7°C | 9.6 | 33 | 5 | 92% |
| September | 24.7°C | 14.6°C | 6.9 | 85 | 9 | 46% |
| October | 19.4°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 113 | 12 | 4% |
| November | 14.0°C | 6.8°C | 3.3 | 128 | 13 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 10.1°C | 2.9°C | 3.4 | 97 | 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
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
Florence in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Florence hot in December?
Florence is cool in December: the average daytime high is 10.1°C and nights average 2.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
How much does it rain in Florence in December?
Florence sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 97 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2020 (194 mm) and the driest was 2015 (6 mm).
How sunny is Florence in December?
Florence gets around 3.4 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 8.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Florence compare with the UK in December?
Florence is on average 2.4°C warmer than London by day in December (10.1°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Florence?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Florence reached 17.6°C on 2018-12-05, and the coldest night dropped to -10.7°C on 1996-12-30.
Is Florence warmer than London in December?
Yes, but only modestly. Florence's average daytime high is 10.1°C, compared with London's 7.7°C, a difference of 2.4°C. That is a little milder rather than warm, so you should still pack for a winter city break.
What should I pack for December evenings?
Bring a warm coat, layers, a scarf and gloves. Average night temperatures are around 3°C, and the coldest nights reach around -2°C or lower. Waterproof footwear is also sensible given the wet conditions, especially if you plan to spend evenings walking outside.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Florence. 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