Your December weather guide
MildWeather in Nerja in December
Nerja in December suits a mild-weather break, not a holiday built around swimming or reliable beach heat. Daytime highs average 16°C, nights fall to around 11°C, and about 7 days have rain. For a UK traveller, the appeal is being able to spend time outdoors without needing summer temperatures. The catch is that evenings need layers, the sea is cold, and you should leave room for wet-weather changes to your plans.
Long-term climate averages for Nerja, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Nerja, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Nerja.
- Average daytime high
- 16.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 19°C
- Average night-time low
- 11.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 8°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +8.7°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 15.9°C
- year to year: 15°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.9h
- 52% of 9.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 64 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 24.5°C
- 2018-12-03
- Record low 1991-2020
- 4.0°C
- 1999-12-18
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1627 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 Nerja. Within Spain it is 30th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Nerja is 8.7°C warmer by day and 8.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Nerja peaks at 16.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.2°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 11.0°C; one night in ten drops to 8.0°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 24.5°C (2018-12-03) and the coldest night 4.0°C (1999-12-18).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 64 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2009 with 266 mm, the driest 2015 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 15.9°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.1°C to 16.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.8°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:21 and sets about 18:00 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 48%.
Is December a good time to visit Nerja?
December is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Nerja on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Mild afternoons, but pack for cool evenings
Plan outdoor time around the middle of the day, when temperatures are more likely to feel comfortable. The warmest days reach around 19°C or more, but that is a bonus rather than the temperature to pack for. A light top with a jumper or jacket gives you flexibility as the day cools. Average nights are around 11°C, while the coldest can fall to 8°C or below, so bring a warmer layer if you expect to stay out after dark. This is a better fit for travellers who prefer being active in mild weather than for anyone wanting dependable heat while sitting on the beach.
Allow for rain and treat the sea as cold
With about 7 rainy days, December needs a flexible plan rather than an assumption that every day will be dry. Pack a waterproof jacket and shoes you are comfortable wearing in wet weather, and keep outdoor plans movable. Rain is a meaningful possibility, but it does not make the whole month a washout. The sea averages around 16°C, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. If warm-water swimming is central to your holiday, December is a poor match. Time beside the water is a more realistic focus than time in it, with layers handy when you stop moving or the temperature drops.
A little perspective
Nerja 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 | 15.6°C | 9.8°C | 15.0°C | 5.5 | 47 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 16.1°C | 10.2°C | 14.8°C | 6.2 | 43 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.9°C | 11.7°C | 15.1°C | 6.7 | 55 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 19.4°C | 13.3°C | 15.8°C | 7.7 | 35 | 6 | 1% |
| May | 22.6°C | 16.2°C | 17.5°C | 9.0 | 21 | 4 | 23% |
| Junebest | 26.7°C | 20.0°C | 19.9°C | 11.5 | 8 | 2 | 76% |
| Julybest | 30.1°C | 23.0°C | 22.4°C | 12.8 | 1 | 0 | 99% |
| Augustbest | 30.3°C | 23.5°C | 23.8°C | 11.2 | 3 | 1 | 100% |
| September | 26.6°C | 20.4°C | 22.0°C | 8.4 | 18 | 3 | 76% |
| October | 22.9°C | 17.1°C | 19.6°C | 6.5 | 45 | 6 | 20% |
| November | 18.7°C | 13.2°C | 17.2°C | 5.6 | 62 | 7 | 1% |
| DecemberSelected | 16.4°C | 11.0°C | 15.9°C | 4.9 | 64 | 7 | 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
Nerja in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Nerja hot in December?
Nerja is mild in December: the average daytime high is 16.4°C and nights average 11.0°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Nerja in December?
The sea around Nerja averages 15.9°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 Nerja in December?
Nerja sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 64 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2009 (266 mm) and the driest was 2015 (2 mm).
How sunny is Nerja in December?
Nerja gets around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Nerja compare with the UK in December?
Nerja is on average 8.7°C warmer than London by day in December (16.4°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Nerja?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Nerja reached 24.5°C on 2018-12-03, and the coldest night dropped to 4.0°C on 1999-12-18.
How much warmer is Nerja than London in December?
Nerja's average daytime high is 16.4°C, compared with 7.7°C in London - a difference of 8.7°C. That makes it a noticeably milder option for spending time outdoors, though it still calls for layers rather than a summer wardrobe.
How much sunshine can I expect?
December averages about 4.9 hours of sunshine within 9.5 hours of daylight. There is scope for sunny outdoor time, but not an all-day sunshine guarantee. Keep your plans flexible and make use of brighter spells when they arrive.
Should I choose December or a summer month?
Choose December if mild daytime weather matters more than heat and you can accept some rain and cold seawater. July, August and June are Nerja's best-rated months overall, so they are better starting points if December's compromises do not suit you.
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 Nerja. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3.1 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