Cinque Terre

Italy Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Italy in December.

Planning a trip to Italy this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Italy in December

Italy has a wide variety of climate types. During December, you can expect temperatures that range from very cold to pleasant and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Maso Corto at -6°C (21°F) to pleasant in Lampedusa at 18°C (64°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 15°C (59°F) in Lampedusa and -14°C (7°F) in Maso Corto.

For a closer look at conditions across Italy, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Valguarnera Caropepe with an average of 50 mm (2 in) to heavy rainfall in Pellezzano with 184 mm (7.2 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Rome as an example - it receives around 112 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Italy by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Italy - and find the best time to visit. (based on Rome)

Best Places to Visit in Italy in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Italy.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Italy

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Italy?

Temperature range in Italy (December)

Precipitation variation in Italy (December)

Rome

In December Rome generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
129 hours
112 hours
121 hours
Monthly rainfall
164 mm (6.5 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Florence

In December Florence generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
97 hours
96 hours
134 hours
Monthly rainfall
131 mm (5.2 in)
101 mm (4 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Milan

In December Milan generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
9°C (48°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
72 hours
68 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
178 mm (7 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Venice

In December Venice generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
78 hours
81 hours
Monthly rainfall
134 mm (5.3 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
65 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Naples

In December Naples generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
126 hours
105 hours
114 hours
Monthly rainfall
190 mm (7.5 in)
154 mm (6.1 in)
123 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Italy.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Italy in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Rome 15°C (59°F) 10°C (50°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Florence 10°C (50°F) 3°C (37°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Milan 9°C (48°F) 2°C (36°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Naples 15°C (59°F) 10°C (50°F) 154 mm (6.1 in)
Venice 10°C (50°F) 5°C (41°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Catania 17°C (63°F) 9°C (48°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)

Italy weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Italy in December?

Italy typically experiences mixed weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Rome average around 15°C (59°F), and temperatures drop to about 10°C (50°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Italy in December?

Daytime temperatures in Rome peak at roughly 15°C (59°F) in December, dropping to about 10°C (50°F) overnight.

Does Italy get a lot of rain in December?

Yes, December tends to be a wetter month in Italy. Average rainfall in Rome sits around 117 mm (4.6 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Italy?

Given the typically mixed weather conditions in Rome, December may not be the ideal time to visit Italy.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in May, June, July, August and September offering mostly excellent weather in Rome. On the other hand, the weather in December tends to be mixed.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Italy.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Italy? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Italy.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.