Lithuania in December

Christmas tree and market on Cathedral Square.

December is rated good. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatBlossom and café terraces in Vilnius; good city month.
• JuneGreatLong days; Joninės on 24 June; coast opens.
• JulyGreatCoast peak — book Nida months ahead; 6 July Statehood Day.
• AugustGreatStill summer; Nida jazz and events; warm sea.

• Vilnius and the east · Vilnius, Trakai, Aukštaitija lakescool

  Continental: winter −4 °C (25 °F) with snow, summer 22–25 °C (72–77 °F); September often settled and golden.Continental: winter 25 °F (−4 °C) with snow, summer 72–77 °F (22–25 °C); September often settled and golden.

• Central Lithuania · Kaunas, Šiauliai, Birštonascool

  Similar to Vilnius, slightly milder.

• Coast and Curonian Spit · Klaipėda, Nida, Palangacool

  Windy and milder in winter; the sea warms to 18–20 °C (64–68 °F) only in July–August; Nida largely shuts outside the season.Windy and milder in winter; the sea warms to 64–68 °F (18–20 °C) only in July–August; Nida largely shuts outside the season.

• Aukštaitija: Aukštaitija upland · North-east Lithuania, Panevėžys–Utena–Ignalinacold

  Jun–Aug is lake season, roughly 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) by day; winter is colder and snowier than the coast, and lakes freeze. May and September are quiet and cheap but swimming is for the hardy.Jun–Aug is lake season, roughly 68–73 °F (20–23 °C) by day; winter is colder and snowier than the coast, and lakes freeze. May and September are quiet and cheap but swimming is for the hardy.

• Dzūkija: Vilnius and the north of the region · Vilnius countycold

  Continental; January often below -5 °C (23 °F), July around 20–23 °C (68–73 °F). Snow and ice on minor roads in winter.Continental; January often below 23 °F (-5 °C), July around 68–73 °F (20–23 °C). Snow and ice on minor roads in winter.

• Dzūkija: Druskininkai and the south · Alytus countycold

  Slightly milder than Vilnius; lake swimming runs roughly June to August.

• Lithuania Minor: Coast and Curonian Spit · Klaipėda, Palanga, Nidacold

  Baltic coast: sea breezes keep summer cooler than inland, but rain is frequent year-round. July–August is the only reliably warm swimming window; the sea stays cold in June.

• Lithuania Minor: Nemunas delta and inland · Šilutė and the lagoon mainlandcold

  Similar temperatures, more standing water and mosquitoes in summer; spring floods can close minor delta roads.

• Samogitia: Samogitia (coast and inland) · Northwest Lithuaniacold

  Coastal Palanga is milder and windier than inland; inland lakes and swamp trails are best June–August. Winter brings snow and short days.

• Sūduva: Kaunas and the Nemunas valley · Sūduva lowlandcold

  Continental: January means around -5 °C (23 °F) and snow, July around 18–23 °C (64–73 °F). May, June and September are the driest and most comfortable months; winter days are short and grey.Continental: January means around 23 °F (-5 °C) and snow, July around 64–73 °F (18–23 °C). May, June and September are the driest and most comfortable months; winter days are short and grey.

• Vilnius0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 12 rain days
• Alytus0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Birštonas0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 13 rain days
• Daugai2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Druskininkai0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 16 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 16 rain days
• Jonava-1 °C (30 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 9 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 9 rain days
• Juodkrantė1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 9 rain days
• Kaunas1 °C (34 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
• Kėdainiai0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 13 rain days
• Klaipėda3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 14 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 14 rain days
• Kretinga2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Marijampolė0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 13 rain days
• Mažeikiai3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Merkinė3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Nida3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 13 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 13 rain days
• Palanga2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Panevėžys0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Plungė0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Šiauliai0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Šilutė3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Telšiai0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Trakai0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Tytuvėnai2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Ukmergė3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
• Utena-1 °C (30 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 13 rain days
• Žemaičių Kalvarija3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Židikai3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days

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

  24–26 Dec

  Christmas Eve (Kūčios) dinner of 12 meatless dishes; closures.

• Christmas market and lights

  From late November to early January · Vilnius

  Stalls, a large tree and crowds; higher hotel prices.

• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

  24–26 December · Vilnius

  Nearly everything is closed on Dec 24 and 25; transport reduced.

• New Year's Eve

  31 December · Vilnius

  Fireworks and a crowd; book a table.

Crowds · Lithuania

Medium

Prices · Lithuania

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Lithuania, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Druskininkai

  Best months: May–Sep; Dec–Mar for the snow slope