December in Nice averages highs of 14 °C (56 °F) and lows of 6 °C (43 °F), with about 5 rainy days and 8 h 56 min of daylight. The sea is cold, around 16 °C (61 °F).
December weather in Nice at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is December a good time to visit Nice?
Tough month: cold and some rain. December is usually low season in Nice: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in December 2026
- Fri 25 Dec: Christmas Day (Noël) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Nice in December
December's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Promenade des Anglais — walk or bike the seafront outdoors
- Vieux Nice and Cours Saleya market outdoors
- Castle Hill — the best view of the bay outdoors
- Èze and Monaco — by bus or train outdoors
- Villefranche-sur-Mer — a swim in a calm bay outdoors
- Matisse and Chagall museums indoors
Where to stay: Vieux Nice for character; near the Promenade des Anglais for the sea; Port area for value.
What to pack for Nice in December
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around 6 °C (43 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Nice costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–140 | €170–350 |
Excluding flights. December is usually low season in Nice: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
December in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | 12° / 3° | 10 | Tough month |
| Venice | 9° / 2° | 5 | Tough month |
| Rome | 14° / 5° | 8 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Nice?
By the numbers, December is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 14 °C (56 °F) and about 5 rainy days. December is usually low season in Nice: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are September.
How warm is Nice in December?
Average highs are 14 °C (56 °F) and lows 6 °C (43 °F) (2015–2024 averages). The sea is cold, around 16 °C (61 °F).
Does it rain a lot in Nice in December?
Expect about 5 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 75 mm in total. It is the 6th driest month of the year in Nice.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.