When to go · Chamonix
Chamonix in December
Great month. Inside Chamonix's best window: Jun–Sep for hiking and lifts; Dec–Mar for skiing.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) / −6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 11
- Crowds
- Medium
- France overall
- Prices
- Medium
- France overall
Verdict
Inside Chamonix's best window: Jun–Sep for hiking and lifts; Dec–Mar for skiing.
Is another month better than December?
No other month rates higher than December for Chamonix in this guide.
Weather in December
- ChamonixHighs around 3 °C (37 °F), lows around -6 °C (21 °F), rain on about 11 daysHighs around 37 °F (3 °C), lows around 21 °F (-6 °C), rain on about 11 days
- Mountains, France · Chamonix, Annecy, Pyreneescool
Skiing mid-December to April; hiking and lifts late June to early September. Many resorts close in May and November.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christmas big impact
25 Dec · France
Most shops and many restaurants close on the 25th; Christmas Eve dinner is the big family meal.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · France overall
- Medium
- Prices · France overall
- Medium
France overall: Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar (book hotels months ahead); ski season opens mid-month.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Chamonix, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Dec: 3 °C (37 °F)37 °F (3 °C)
Jan: 3 °C (37 °F)37 °F (3 °C)
Night low
Dec: -6 °C (21 °F)21 °F (-6 °C)
Jan: -7 °C (19 °F)19 °F (-7 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 11
Jan: 10 (better)
Crowds
Dec: Medium
Jan: Low
Prices
Dec: Medium
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
Dec: 1
Jan: 0
December: Inside Chamonix's best window: Jun–Sep for hiking and lifts; Dec–Mar for skiing.
January: Inside Chamonix's best window: Jun–Sep for hiking and lifts; Dec–Mar for skiing.
Chamonix: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket