Things to Do in Jerusalem in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Jerusalem
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
58°F (14°C)
High Temp
47°F (8°C)
Low Temp
4.4 inches (112 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Sudden, heavy rain showers can occur, making limestone streets and steps very slippery.
⚠ Temperatures can feel much colder than the thermometer reads due to humidity and wind chill, after sunset.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December is your best bet for exploring the Old City on foot without the punishing summer heat. The air is crisp, the light is a soft gold, and you can walk the Via Dolorosa or the ramparts without ducking into a shop for water every fifteen minutes. Pack layers.
- + The rain, when it comes, sweeps over the Mount of Olives in dramatic grey sheets. It clears the limestone alleys of the Muslim Quarter for an hour and leaves the air smelling of wet stone and damp earth. Then the sun returns, turning the Dome of the Rock's gold into a brilliant beacon against the washed-out sky.
- + December is a surprisingly quiet shoulder season for international tourism, sandwiched between the Jewish High Holidays and Christmas itself. You'll find the Western Wall plaza less crowded, shorter lines at the Tower of David, and a more contemplative atmosphere in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Enjoy the space.
- + Hanukkah transforms the city. From late November into December, the nightly lighting of the menorahs in public squares like Zion Square or the Mamilla Promenade creates pockets of warm, communal light. The smell of sizzling oil from sufganiyot (jelly donuts) frying at bakeries like Angel Bakery on Jaffa Road is as much a part of the season as the carols in the Christian Quarter.
Considerations
- − Let's be honest: the weather is a gamble. That warm and humid feel can flip to a bone-chilling dampness within an hour, once the sun drops. A 58°F (14°C) day in Jerusalem's stone-and-concrete landscape, with a 70% humidity breeze, feels colder than you'd expect. Bring layers you can shed and add constantly.
- − December days are short. The sun sets around 4:30 PM, which gives you eight hours of daylight for sightseeing. That said, it forces efficiency. You can't dawdle over a late lunch if you want to fit in the Israel Museum and still catch the last light from the Haas Promenade.
- − While international crowds are thinner, the city is alive with local life, including school holidays. Places like the Machane Yehuda Market on a Friday afternoon before Shabbat can be a contact sport of elbows and shopping baskets. It's part of the energy, but it's not a peaceful stroll.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Jerusalem smells of rain on old stone and roasting chestnuts. Shopkeepers yank plastic over their stalls. Prayers drift through the Old City, mixing with the slap of drops on cobblestone. Summer's dry roar is gone. Locals layer sweaters. The alleys breathe damp air. This is the wettest month after January. No big festivals, just daily ritual and elbow room. Pack for swings. Highs hit 14 °C; expect ten rainy days. Sip cardamom coffee from a copper pot in the Muslim Quarter. Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the air turns thick with incense and wax. Daylight is short, so carry a shell. Winter starts now and stays through February, a sharp flip from the furnace of May to September.
Best seller! Jerusalem old city four quarters tour
guided_experienceYou'll pass the quiet blue-tiled Armenian courtyards, then hit the shouting spice souq. Bells, calls, prayers overlap.
Experience the lively and contrasting atmospheres of the Old City.
Insider tip: Grip is important. Wet limestone is ice.
JERUSALEM private tour with ELAD VAZANA - Life in Israel & Palestine Then & Now
private_tourYou might sit in a seamline neighborhood, hear lentil soup bubbling while diesel drifts. The city stays alive, not frozen.
Experience the authentic, living city through local stories and neighborhoods.
Insider tip: Cold rain? A private car keeps talk flowing.
Full-Day Private and Guided Tour of the Jerusalem's Old City
day_tripFinger the Western Wall's worn blocks. Stare at Dome of the Rock mosaics if the gate is open. Tear warm pita from a bakery bin.
Spend time in the profound religious and historical heart of Jerusalem.
Insider tip: Ask your guide about Temple Mount hours; December weather and security can trim the window.
Private Tour Jerusalem Old City
private_tourTrace the Via Dolorosa or dive into the Arab souq. Pickle brine and olive-oil soap ride the air.
Explore the well-known religious path or the lively market at your own pace.
Insider tip: Ask for rooftops. The wind up there maps the hills in one sweep.
Magical Walking Tour in Old City of Jerusalem
walking_tourHear why that archway is crooked. Watch winter light slide across golden stone. A sunny courtyard gives instant heat.
Appreciate the architectural details and atmospheric light unique to winter.
Insider tip: Afternoon light stretches shadows.
Explore Jerusalem's Old City
otherThe plaza at the Western Wall feels wide. The Cardo lane feels narrow. Languages layer like rugs.
Get a complete and accessible introduction to the Old City's key sites and atmosphere.
Insider tip: Use the walk to bookmark corners you'll revisit alone.
Where to Stay in Jerusalem in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late November through December (dates vary yearly)
Hanukkah
The eight-day Festival of Lights usually falls in late November or December. It's a domestic, family-oriented holiday. But its public face in Jerusalem is memorable. Each night, giant menorahs are lit in city squares. Join the crowd at the Kotel (Western Wall) for the main public lighting. Solemn prayer meets joyful singing. The real treat is wandering the Nachlaot or Yemin Moshe neighborhoods afterward. Peek into ground-floor apartments. Families gather around their own menorahs in the window.
December 24th & 25th
Christmas Eve & Christmas Services
The midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most sought-after tickets in the Christian world. For most, it's not feasible. The better local move is to attend one of the earlier Christmas Eve services at churches like St. George's Cathedral or the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City. Carols echo off ancient stone in the cold night air. That's a Jerusalem Christmas. On Christmas Day, join the procession of patriarchs and pilgrims through the Old City to Bethlehem.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Jerusalem Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best light for photographing the Dome of the Rock from the Mount of Olives is in the morning in December. The sun rises behind you, illuminating the golden dome and the Old City walls. By afternoon, the sun is already low and the city falls into shadow.
On a rainy day, skip the crowded indoor sites and head to the Jerusalem Artists' House in the old Bezalel building near the center of town. It's a beautiful gallery space that's often overlooked, and they have a decent cafe.
If you're here during Hanukkah, don't just buy a packaged sufganiyah. Go to a proper bakery like Marzipan in Machane Yehuda in the late afternoon when a fresh batch comes out, still warm and oozing with raspberry jam. The line is part of the experience.
The Ramparts Walk on the Old City walls is one of the best value experiences in town. Do the northern section from the Jaffa Gate to the Lions' Gate. In December, you'll likely have it mostly to yourself, with memorable, bracing views over the different quarters.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the cold. That 'warm and humid' forecast feels very different at 7 AM waiting for the gates to the Temple Mount to open. Pack for the low, not the high.
Trying to do too much in one day. The Old City's topography is all hills and stairs. Factor in the short daylight hours and the time it takes to move between sites. Two major sites per day is a good pace.
Forgetting that everything shuts down for Shabbat. From Friday afternoon until Saturday night, public transport stops, most shops and restaurants close, and the city slows to a crawl. Plan accordingly. Have a hotel dinner booked, or explore Arab East Jerusalem where business continues as usual.
Explore More Activities in Jerusalem
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Jerusalem.
See All Jerusalem Tours on Viator