Canton of Zurich · Switzerland
Zurich in December
In December, Zurich averages a daytime high of 4 °C and a night-time low of -1 °C, with about 80 mm of rain over the month. Zurich has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here.
- Average high
- 4 °C
- Average low
- -1 °C
- Rain in the month
- 80 mm
- Daylight on 15 Dec
- 8 h 30 min
- Comfortable month
- No
- Places to stay
- 154
When to go
How December compares with the rest of the year in Zurich
December is tied for the 10th warmest month in Zurich by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 3 °C to 23 °C and the lows from -2 °C to 14 °C. By day, December is 4 °C cooler than November, and January is 1 °C cooler than December.
December brings 80 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 100 mm (1200 mm a year); it is the 9th wettest month.
On 15 December the sun is up for about 8 h 30 min, against 8 h 30 min at the shortest and 16 h at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 °C | -2 °C | 64 mm | |
| February | 4 °C | -2 °C | 62 mm | |
| March | 9 °C | 1 °C | 70 mm | |
| April | 14 °C | 4 °C | 83 mm | |
| May | 17 °C | 8 °C | 130 mm | |
| June | 21 °C | 12 °C | 143 mm | |
| July | 23 °C | 14 °C | 145 mm | |
| August | 23 °C | 13 °C | 146 mm | |
| September | 18 °C | 10 °C | 106 mm | |
| October | 13 °C | 7 °C | 90 mm | |
| November | 7 °C | 2 °C | 83 mm | |
| December | 4 °C | -1 °C | 80 mm |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is December a good time to visit Zurich?
Not by the measure used here: the average high of 4 °C is below 18 °C. No month in Zurich meets it.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in Switzerland in December
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Zurich
This guide lists 154 places to stay in Zurich: 21 chain properties with their details and own websites, and 133 hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 54; 1–3 km, 57; 3–10 km, 20; 10 km or more, 23.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from the OpenHolidays API (ODbL); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.