SeasonMapZell am See weather in December
Austria
December in Zell am See: freezing, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
#2 of 12 months in Zell am See · #312 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 85/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Zell am See in December
Other months in Zell am See
Zell am See's forum calls early January reliable higher up — snow well covered on the pistes above 1,500m, topped up by snow cannons where needed — while regulars note the valley town itself can look comparatively bare some winters even as the mountain stays well covered. The week after January 6th is flagged as low season: quieter lift lines and better rates, if you can live with dark evenings.
Add your own note from Zell am See's card on the map.
Zell am See climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 2°C / 35°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -3°C / 26°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -1°C / 30°F | |
| Rainfall | 112 mm / 4.4 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 15 days | |
| Humidity | 81% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -1°C / 30°F | |
| Sunshine | 5.3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.5 h | |
| Wind | 8 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Snowfall | 72.2 cm / 28.4 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 34 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Zell am See 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 crowdsAdvent market, Christmas holidays in Austria, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Zell am See'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 weatherZell am See's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
December includes Advent market.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Zell am See in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Advent market
20 Nov – 26 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedA lakeside Advent market in the old town and a second one up at Kaprun castle, both small. The Krampus runs in the first week of December are the louder half of it. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
5 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyTwo separate mountains: the Schmittenhoehe above the town, low and dependent on snowmaking, and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun, which is where the snow actually is.
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 72 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Zell am See — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Zell am See?
Zell am See in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Zell am See?
- December in Zell am See: freezing, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Zell am See on SeasonMap's comfort score (85/100).
- What is the weather like in Zell am See in December?
- In December, Zell am See averages a daily high of 1.9°C and a low of -3.5°C, with about 111.7 mm of rain over roughly 15.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Zell am See in December?
- Zell am See has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in December.
- Does it snow in Zell am See in December?
- Zell am See sees roughly 72.2 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Zell am See
Compare Zell am See in December
Warmer or cooler than Zell am See in December
Similar destinations in Central Europe — December
Within 300 km: Berchtesgaden's Buttnmandl and Krampus runs around 4–8 Dec, and Salzburg's Krampus runs around 4–7 Dec.