SeasonMapGstaad weather in December
Switzerland
December in Gstaad: cold, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 14 rainy days.
#2 of 12 months in Gstaad · #393 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 82/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Gstaad in December
Other months in Gstaad
Gstaad's forum has a thread specifically for visitors who aren't skiing, which tells you something useful: regulars point non-skiers toward the fondue hikes and the valley's hiking trails, with the Château-d'Oex hot air balloon festival a genuine draw if your January dates happen to overlap it.
Add your own note from Gstaad's card on the map.
Gstaad climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 4°C / 39°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -4°C / 25°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 1°C / 34°F | |
| Rainfall | 173 mm / 6.8 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 14 days | |
| Humidity | 80% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Sunshine | 5.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.6 h | |
| Wind | 8 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Snowfall | 79.7 cm / 31.4 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 35 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Gstaad 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 and New Year, Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Gstaad'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 weatherGstaad's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
December includes New Year Music Festival.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Gstaad in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Opening
Glacier 3000 autumn skiing
1 Nov – 10 Dec · usuallySki seasonThe glacier above the pass opens for skiing in early November, weeks before anything in the valley, and is the only snow within reach until December. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
10 Dec – 5 Apr · usuallyA wide, low, gentle area spread over several villages, which is why it is more about the walk back to the village than the vertical. Glacier 3000 above it holds snow far longer.
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
20 Dec – 6 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe fortnight the chalets are all occupied and the promenade is the point rather than the piste. Rates are at their year's high and the good tables are booked from the autumn. Source ↗
- Festival
New Year Music Festival
26 Dec – 10 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearBook earlyClassical concerts across Gstaad, Rougemont, Saanen, Lauenen and Chateau-d'Oex from just after Christmas to just after New Year, timed for the people already in the chalets. Tickets move with the chalet bookings, not after them. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 80 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Gstaad — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Gstaad?
Gstaad in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Gstaad?
- December in Gstaad: cold, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 14 rainy days. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Gstaad on SeasonMap's comfort score (82/100).
- What is the weather like in Gstaad in December?
- In December, Gstaad averages a daily high of 3.9°C and a low of -3.8°C, with about 173.2 mm of rain over roughly 14.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Gstaad in December?
- Gstaad has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in December.
- Does it snow in Gstaad in December?
- Gstaad sees roughly 79.7 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Gstaad
Compare Gstaad in December
Warmer or cooler than Gstaad in December
Similar destinations in Central Europe — December
Within 300 km: Chamonix's Lifts open for winter around 5–22 Dec, and Geneva's Fete de l'Escalade on 11–13 Dec.