Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Switzerland in December
December is a reasonable choice for Switzerland if you enjoy cold-weather travel, but not if you want warmth or reliable sunshine. Average daytime highs are around 5°C, nights fall to about -1°C, and roughly 14 days bring rain. Go prepared for damp conditions and regular breaks indoors rather than long, comfortable days outside. It suits travellers happy to wrap up and keep plans flexible; warmth-seekers should choose a different month.
Long-term climate averages for Zurich, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Switzerland, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Zurich.
- Average daytime high
- 4.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 10°C
- Average night-time low
- -0.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -2.8°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 2.3h
- 28% of 8.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 14
- 103 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 84%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 14.9°C
- 1993-12-20
- Record low 1991-2020
- -14.5°C
- 2009-12-20
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 42 min
- 760 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 Switzerland. Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Switzerland is 2.8°C cooler by day and 3.5°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Switzerland peaks at 4.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 9.7°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -0.8°C; one night in ten drops to -4.6°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 14.9°C (1993-12-20) and the coldest night -14.5°C (2009-12-20).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 14 days with 1 mm or more, 103 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2011 with 240 mm, the driest 2016 with 5 mm. Humidity averages 84%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 2.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:06 and sets about 16:36 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 72%.
Is December a good time to visit Switzerland?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Expect colder days than at home
Switzerland is colder than London in December: average daytime highs are 4.9°C against London's 7.7°C. That makes a warm coat, insulating layers, gloves and a hat sensible everyday packing rather than backup kit. The coldest 10% of nights fall to -4.6°C or below, so dress for more than the average if you plan to be out after dark. There can be milder spells, with the warmest 10% of days reaching at least 9.7°C, but those are not temperatures to build your packing around. This month works best if you are comfortable spending time outside in the cold, then warming up indoors.
Keep outdoor plans flexible
The catch is the combination of wet weather and limited light. December has about 8.3 hours of daylight but only 2.3 hours of sunshine daily, so daylight should not be confused with clear skies. Put outdoor plans into the brightest available part of the day and leave room to change them when rain arrives. A waterproof outer layer and water-resistant footwear are more useful than clothing chosen only for dry cold. Avoid filling your schedule with long stretches outdoors without somewhere to warm up or dry off. If your holiday depends on lingering outside in sunshine, December is a poor fit.
A little perspective
Switzerland 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 | 4.5°C | -1.8°C | 2.6 | 89 | 13 | 0% |
| February | 5.8°C | -1.9°C | 3.5 | 84 | 12 | 0% |
| March | 10.0°C | 0.9°C | 4.4 | 95 | 14 | 0% |
| April | 13.9°C | 3.9°C | 5.1 | 104 | 14 | 0% |
| May | 17.7°C | 8.4°C | 5.3 | 142 | 16 | 6% |
| Junebest | 21.2°C | 12.3°C | 6.2 | 143 | 16 | 23% |
| Julybest | 23.2°C | 14.5°C | 6.8 | 146 | 15 | 35% |
| Augustbest | 23.1°C | 14.8°C | 6.1 | 146 | 15 | 33% |
| September | 18.8°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 122 | 12 | 6% |
| October | 14.4°C | 7.1°C | 3.2 | 99 | 13 | 0% |
| November | 8.6°C | 2.3°C | 2.4 | 106 | 13 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 4.9°C | -0.8°C | 2.3 | 103 | 14 | 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
Switzerland in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in December?
Switzerland is cool in December: the average daytime high is 4.9°C and nights average -0.8°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in December?
Switzerland sees about 14 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 103 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2011 (240 mm) and the driest was 2016 (5 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in December?
Switzerland gets around 2.3 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 8.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in December?
Switzerland is on average 2.8°C cooler than London by day in December (4.9°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Switzerland reached 14.9°C on 1993-12-20, and the coldest night dropped to -14.5°C on 2009-12-20.
Is December a good choice for warm weather?
No. Average daytime temperatures reach only 4.9°C, with nights averaging -0.8°C. July, August and June are the better-rated months to consider instead if December's cold, wet conditions do not suit the holiday you have in mind.
Is Switzerland close enough for a short December trip?
The flight from London takes about 1 h 42 min, making it a short-haul option. For a short December stay, keep outdoor plans flexible: limited daylight and wet weather make a tightly packed schedule less appealing.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Zürich (Zurich). 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