SeasonMapGarmisch-Partenkirchen (Garmisch) weather in December
Germany
December in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
#2 of 12 months in Garmisch-Partenkirchen · #440 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 80/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December
Other months in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen's forum puts January and February around freezing on average, genuinely cold, with temperatures capable of dropping to -10°C. Regulars call the skiing conditions great in a good snow year, and recommend dressing for cold and wet if walking the surrounding countryside — the Garmisch Classic ski area typically opens by this point in the season.
Add your own note from Garmisch-Partenkirchen's card on the map.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 4°C / 40°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -4°C / 25°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 2°C / 36°F | |
| Rainfall | 83 mm / 3.3 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 12 days | |
| Humidity | 81% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Sunshine | 4.9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.5 h | |
| Wind | 8 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Snowfall | 44.3 cm / 17.4 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsChristmas market, New Year ski jumping, Christmas holidays in Germany(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Garmisch-Partenkirchen's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherGarmisch-Partenkirchen's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
December includes Christmas market.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Christmas market
25 Nov – 24 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedA small market on the Richard-Strauss-Platz and in the old Partenkirchen lanes, busiest at the weekend when Munich comes down on the train. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
5 Dec – 20 Apr · usuallyTwo separate areas: the Garmisch Classic above the town, and the Zugspitze glacier, which holds snow into spring when the lower runs have gone to grass. One pass covers both.
- Festival
New Year ski jumping
30 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe second leg of the Four Hills tournament lands on New Year's Day at the Olympic hill, with qualifying on the 31st. The town is booked out and the hill is loud from mid-afternoon. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 44 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Garmisch-Partenkirchen — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
- December in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Garmisch-Partenkirchen on SeasonMap's comfort score (80/100).
- What is the weather like in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December?
- In December, Garmisch-Partenkirchen averages a daily high of 4.3°C and a low of -4°C, with about 83.4 mm of rain over roughly 11.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December?
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.
- Does it snow in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December?
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen sees roughly 44.3 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Compare Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December
Warmer or cooler than Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December
Similar destinations in Central Europe — December
Within 300 km: Innsbruck's Christmas markets around 15 Nov – 6 Jan, and St. Anton am Arlberg's Stanton Ski Open around 1–8 Dec.