Florence in December
Christmas markets and a genuinely festive old town.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
December is a good time to visit Florence.
December brings a large German-style Christmas market to Piazza Santa Croce, along with lights and a genuinely festive mood across the historic centre. It is cold, but the first three weeks stay calmer than the holiday week itself.
December in detail
What December actually feels like
- Weather
- 3–10°C
- Cold and often damp, with the occasional clear day
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Moderate — busiest in the final week of the month
- Prices
- €€
- Moderate — rises sharply over the Christmas–New Year week
+Festive atmosphere + the Piazza Santa Croce market
–Cold, with holiday-week crowds
My tip for December
Visit before 20 December for the festive mood without the Christmas–New Year crowds and prices.
- Christmas markets
- Festive atmosphere
How December compares
Against the other eleven months
5th of 12 overall in Florence, 9th for weather, 7th for space, 7th for value. The emptiest month is January; the best value is January.
See all twelve months for FlorenceNot set on December?
Even stronger months in Florence
Also good in December
Weather
Weather in Florence in December
In December Florence averages a high of 10°C (50°F) and a low of 3°C (37°F), with about 97 mm of rain or snow over 12 wet days. The warmest month is July (around 30°C) and the coolest is January (around 9°C); the wettest month is November.
- Average high
- 10°C
- 50°F
- Average low
- 3°C
- 37°F
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Wet days
- 12
Climate data: ERA5 reanalysis 1991–2020 (Open-Meteo). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
Florence in December: the questions people ask
- Is December a good time to visit Florence?
- December is a good time to visit Florence. It ranks 5 of 12 months in Florence overall (9 for weather, 7 for space, 7 for value). The main upside: Festive atmosphere + the Piazza Santa Croce market. The main downside: Cold, with holiday-week crowds.
- What is the weather like in Florence in December?
- Average highs are around 10°C and lows around 3°C. Expect about 97 mm of rain or snow over roughly 12 wet days. Cold and often damp, with the occasional clear day. For comparison, the warmest month is July (around 30°C) and the coolest is January (around 9°C).
- Is Florence crowded in December?
- Crowds are moderate. Moderate — busiest in the final week of the month. The quietest month is January.
- How expensive is Florence in December?
- Prices are at level 2 of 5 (€€). Moderate — rises sharply over the Christmas–New Year week. The best-value month is January.
- When is the best time to visit Florence?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, April is the best month overall (December ranks 5 of 12). The quietest month is January and the best value is January.
Ready to book December in Florence?
Festive atmosphere + the Piazza Santa Croce market
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