Early December 1 December
56°F
Typical afternoon high
26% historical wet-day frequency
France · Beach
French Riviera & Provence
in December.
Is December a good time?
Cool days.
Similar overnight stays to November.
December averages 56°F afternoons and 60°F seas, with about 7 rain days.
- Afternoons
- 56°F
- Sea
- 60°F
- Visitor demand
- 17%of August peak
Historical Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional averages, not a forecast or a measure of queues. Overnight demand compares average stays per day. Covers Nice, Marseille, Cannes, Avignon and Saint-Tropez; conditions vary within the region.
Overall match
5.8/10 · scores & prioritiesWhat matters most?
Weather 50% · Crowds 30% · Cost 20%
#11 of 12 months here · Balanced mix
Weather3.8/10Fair
CrowdsLow seasonvs its own year; overnight stays do not measure queuesFor its size, typical for Europe this month
CostModeratefor Europe; France-wide price level
Overall combines weather, overnight demand and cost. It does not include sea temperature.
Plan your December
What to expect.
What should I pack?
Afternoons around 56°F (13°C): a sweater and a light jacket; nights around 41°F (5°C): a warm coat. About 9 hours of daylight. About 7 rain days in a typical December.
Can I swim in December?
The sea averages 60°F. Our swimming guide: cold: short dips, or a wetsuit. Your comfort will vary. This is open water near the coast, not a beach-specific reading.
Monthly coastal averages from NOAA, 2011–2025. Sea temperature is separate from the weather and Overall scores.
A typical day: temperatures & daylightAfternoons, nights, sea temperature & daylight Show detailsHide details
About 9 hours of daylight.
The sun rises about 08:03 and sets about 16:59 (local time, mid-month). Mornings start around 41°F (5°C); afternoons reach about 56°F (13°C). Expect rain on about 7 days in a typical December.
Typical afternoon
56°F (13°C)
average daily high, 15 recent Decembers
Night low
41°F (5°C)
average daily minimum
Sea
60°F (15°C)
cold; open water near the coast, NOAA satellite record 2011–2025
Daylight
8h 56m
on the 15th, computed from latitude
Early, middle or late?
Early or late December?
Early and late December have similar afternoon averages. The afternoon high averages 56°F on the 1st, versus 55°F on the 31st. Historical wet-day frequency falls from 26% to 16% between those dates.
Mid December 15 December
56°F
Typical afternoon high
23% historical wet-day frequency
Late December 31 December
55°F
Typical afternoon high
16% historical wet-day frequency
Historical daily averages from 2011–2025, smoothed over two weeks. A seasonal pattern, not a forecast. This does not establish which week has the lowest prices or fewest visitors.
Public holidays · 2026: 25 Dec Christmas Day.
Daily calendar & holiday datesDecember 2026 · historical weather & dated holidays Show calendarHide calendar
December 2026 calendar
Weather shows historical patterns, not a forecast. Holidays and events use the dates shown for 2026.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156° | 256° | 355° | 455° | 555° | 655° | |
| 755° | 855° | 955° | 1055° | 1155° | 1255° | 1355° |
| 1455° | 1556° | 1656° | 1756° | 1856° | 1956° | 2056° |
| 2156° | 2256° | 2356° | 2456° | 2556° | 2656° | 2756° |
| 2856° | 2956° | 3055° | 3155° |
Afternoon high rain likely (25%+) local school holidays public holiday event
Afternoons hold at about 56°F (13°C) all month. The chance of a wet day runs 16–26%. Local schools are out 20–31 December 2026.
Schools here are off 20–31 December 2026 (Christmas holidays). Public holidays: 25 Dec Christmas Day. Elsewhere in December 2026, the share of people living where schools are out on a typical day: Germany 29%, Italy 35%, Spain 32%, Netherlands 42%. (School holidays: OpenHolidays, ODbL.)
Crowds, cost and getting there
Visitor season
Will it be busy?
Low season. December averages 17% of August's overnight stays per day. Similar overnight stays to November.
Overnight stays across Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur do not measure queues, day visitors or congestion at individual sights. For its size, typical for Europe this month.
Hotel price season
Will it be cheaper?
A little below usual. Estimated from national hotel prices and local visitor demand; no measured regional room rate is available.
Fewer overnight stays do not automatically mean cheaper rooms. Check actual quotes for your trip.
France as a whole
Above EU average
2024 restaurants and hotels price level: 110 where the EU average is 100. A relative index, not a room rate.
Recorded US nonstop flights · 2024
None recorded this month
runs April to October; 2024 schedule, Eurostat
Year-to-year variation
How much does December vary?
Across the recorded years
In the 15 years from 2011 to 2025, the month's afternoons averaged between 52°F (11°C) and 59°F (15°C); in 12 of them they were within 3°F (1.5°C) of the typical 56°F (13°C). Rain days ranged from 3 to 11; half the years had 4–8.
Rain days in each December
Rain days
7
at least 1 mm, typical year; about 10 in a wet year
Mostly sunny days
11 of 31
cloud cover under 30%
Years with a 95°F+ day
0 of 15
no December in the last 15 years had a day at or above 95°F (35°C)
Good weather days
4 of 31
rated very good or better
See every recorded DecemberHistorical monthly averages, year by year Show detailsHide details
| Year | Afternoon high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 55°F | 4 |
| 2012 | 53°F | 5 |
| 2013 | 56°F | 7 |
| 2014 | 54°F | 8 |
| 2015 | 59°F | 3 |
| 2016 | 58°F | 3 |
| 2017 | 52°F | 8 |
| 2018 | 56°F | 4 |
| 2019 | 58°F | 7 |
| 2020 | 53°F | 11 |
| 2021 | 55°F | 7 |
| 2022 | 56°F | 10 |
| 2023 | 56°F | 5 |
| 2024 | 55°F | 4 |
| 2025 | 57°F | 10 |
Checked against 151 local weather stations. How we check
Compare dates
November, December
or January?
| Typical conditions | Nov | Dec | Jan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 61°F | 56°F | 54°F |
| Sea | 64°F | 60°F | 57°F |
| Rain days | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Overnight demand | 15% | 17% | 17% |
November: Warmer afternoons and warmer sea than December. November guide →
January: Cooler afternoons, cooler sea and fewer rain days than December. January guide →
Overnight demand measures accommodation stays, not queues. Sea temperatures are monthly coastal averages.
Compare any of the 12 monthsChoose another month and compare it with December Show comparisonHide comparison
Yellow marks the top three months on the Balanced mix. December stays as your reference.
March to October have a Weather score at least 1.0 point higher than December, but more overnight stays.
Your comparison
December or November?
Overnight stays are 15% of the busiest month.
National hotel prices and local visitor demand suggest a little below usual. No measured regional room rate is available.
Read the November guide →| Typical conditions | December | November |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 56°F | 61°F |
| Nights | 41°F | 47°F |
| Sea | 60°F | 64°F |
| Rain days | 7 | 8 |
| Visitor season | Low season | Low season |
| Overall / 10 | 5.8 | 6.5 |
| Month rank | #11 | #9 |
Every month, in detail Show detailsHide details
| Month | Overall | Rank | High | Low | Sea | Rain days | Weather | Visitor season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.2 | #12 | 54°F | 40°F | 57°F | 5 | 3.2 | Low season |
| February | 5.8 | #10 | 56°F | 40°F | 56°F | 6 | 3.8 | Low season |
| March | 6.6 | #8 | 61°F | 44°F | 57°F | 5 | 5.1 | Low season |
| April | 7.0 | #7 | 67°F | 48°F | 59°F | 5 | 6.7 | Moderate season |
| May | 7.6 | #3 | 73°F | 54°F | 63°F | 6 | 8.3 | Moderate season |
| June | 7.9 | #1 | 83°F | 62°F | 70°F | 3 | 9.7 | Moderate season |
| July | 7.5 | #4 | 88°F | 66°F | 74°F | 1 | 10.0 | Peak season |
| August | 7.2 | #6 | 87°F | 65°F | 75°F | 2 | 10.0 | Peak season |
| September | 7.9 | #2 | 79°F | 60°F | 72°F | 4 | 9.5 | Moderate season |
| October | 7.3 | #5 | 71°F | 54°F | 68°F | 7 | 7.4 | Low season |
| November | 6.5 | #9 | 61°F | 47°F | 64°F | 8 | 4.6 | Low season |
| December | 5.8 | #11 | 56°F | 41°F | 60°F | 7 | 3.8 | Low season |
Near here
Nearby places in December
Nearby regions, nearest first. Distances are centre to centre, as the crow flies; they are not road distances or journey times.
Lyon & the French AlpsRhône-Alpes · France · about 110 miles
Balanced Overall 5.7 · Fair weather, 48°F (9°C) · Moderate season · Cost pricey
PiedmontItaly · about 120 miles
Balanced Overall 7.1 · Good weather, 48°F (9°C) · Moderate season · Cost moderate
Liguria & the Cinque TerreItaly · about 130 miles
Balanced Overall 4.8 · Poor weather, 55°F (13°C) · Low season · Cost moderate
Languedoc-RoussillonFrance · about 140 miles
Balanced Overall 4.5 · Fair weather, 55°F (13°C) · Off season · Cost moderate
Lake Geneva & ValaisSwitzerland · about 170 miles
Balanced Overall 4.4 · Fair weather, 44°F (7°C) · Busy season · Cost expensive
Elsewhere in Europe
Better December weather than French Riviera & Provence
French Riviera & Provence's weather ranks 25 of 77 beach regions this month. These beach regions outside France have clearly better weather on your dates, nearest first, each compared with French Riviera & Provence.
Valencia & the Costa BlancaSpain · about 460 miles
Good weather (6.4): 8°F warmer afternoons, 5 fewer rain days, busier for its season (moderate season), cheaper
MurciaSpain · about 570 miles
Good weather (6.6): 8°F warmer afternoons, 4 fewer rain days, busier for its season (moderate season), cheaper
SicilyItaly · about 610 miles
Good weather (5.5): 5°F warmer afternoons
Maltaabout 710 miles
Good weather (6.7): 9°F warmer afternoons, busier for its season (moderate season), cheaper
AndalusiaSpain · about 710 miles
Good weather (6.0): 7°F warmer afternoons, 3 fewer rain days, busier for its season (moderate season), cheaper
How we knowSources, regional scope & scoring method Show detailsHide details
It's low season, 17% of the busiest month and 60% below its average month. That means about 62,000 overnight visitors on a typical December night across the region, 75% of them from France itself. Rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor add up to 46,000 more: 73 for every 100 counted above. Some are the same properties counted twice.
| Climate suitability (HCI:Beach, 0–100) | 54 |
| How our weather was checked | 151 open weather stations in this region, January and July: afternoon highs typically within 1°F (0.5°C), night lows within 1°F (0.6°C). |
| Tourist nights per 1,000 residents per day | 12 |
| Busiest month here | August · 70 |
| Visitors as share of people present | 1.2% |
| Rank among Europe's regions this month | 71st percentile |
| Domestic share of nights | 75% |
| Platform rental nights per 100 counted nights | 73 |
| Visitor share if every platform night were extra | 2.0% |
| National hotel-price season | France historical 2024–2025 index: About usual (−3% vs its average month). Not a local room quote. |
| Population used | 5.3 million |
| Statistical region | FRL0 · Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur |
Crowds: Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation, by month and NUTS 2 region, 2024–2025 average. Overnight visitors per night is the month's nights divided by its days; the per-1,000 figure is Eurostat's, against each year's population. Platform rentals: Eurostat nights booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor, 2024–2025 average, shown separately because some properties are in both counts. Weather: Holiday Climate Index computed from ERA5 reanalysis with daily highs, night lows and rain days corrected from open national weather-service station records, 2011–2025, population-weighted to the region; day-by-day figures are the same data averaged by date. Heat and rain odds are counted across those years. Sunrise and sunset: NOAA solar equations, local time. Prices: Eurostat price level index and HICP, national. Full method · this region's data.