Weather in Barcelona in December

How December compares

December is the 11th warmest month of the year in Barcelona and ranks 102nd of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Spain it is 83rd of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Barcelona is 5.4°C warmer by day and 3.5°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in December

The typical December day in Barcelona peaks at 13.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 6.2°C; one night in ten drops to 2.7°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 19.3°C (2019-12-13) and the coldest night -2.0°C (2001-12-16).

Rain in December

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 42 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 1996 with 127 mm, the driest 2015 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 80%.

Sea temperature in December

The sea averages 14.9°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.2°C to 16.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.5°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 4.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:10 and sets about 17:23 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 50%.

Is December a good time to visit Barcelona?

December is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Barcelona on our scoring are July, June, August; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.

Comfortable for walking, cold for swimming

The main advantage is being able to spend time outdoors without planning around midday heat. Wear layers beneath a jacket so you can adjust as the day warms, and keep something warmer for evenings. The milder days can reach 16°C or more, but colder nights can fall to 3°C or below, so a light jumper alone is a poor packing strategy. The sea averages 15°C and is firmly cold, making December a poor choice if swimming is central to your holiday. Choose it for time on foot with warm indoor breaks, rather than expecting to sit outside comfortably from morning through evening.

Use the daylight and leave room for rain

There are about 9 hours of daylight and 4.5 hours of sunshine a day, so put your longer outdoor plans in the middle of the day rather than leaving them until late afternoon. Sunshine is part of the appeal, but it is not an all-day guarantee. About 6 days have measurable rain, enough to make a waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements useful. Keep indoor alternatives available rather than building every day around dry weather. December works best if you value milder afternoons and can accept short days; it is less suitable if your main aim is warmth and long evenings outdoors.