Travel · 6 min read
Christmas Markets 2026: Weather in Vienna, Prague and More
Mulled wine, gingerbread, wooden huts and strings of lights: a Christmas market trip is a December tradition for many travelers. Whether it is a cozy or a soggy day depends a lot on the weather, and that differs more between cities than you might think. We compared the weather in the first three weeks of December at 13 popular Christmas market cities, from Vienna and Prague to London, New York and Chicago.
Photo: Christmas market at the Rathausplatz, Vienna, Palickap, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Temperature: in Vienna, Prague, Nuremberg and Munich the average high from December 1 to 23 is about 5°C (41°F), and it freezes on about half the nights.
- Milder: Cologne (7°C, 45°F), Edinburgh and London (9°C, 48°F) are a few degrees warmer, but wetter.
- Rain: in Cologne and Edinburgh at least 1 mm of rain falls on about half the days; Budapest and Vienna are the driest European cities in our list.
- Snow: a snowy market is the exception: fresh snow falls on about 1 in 10 days in central Europe, and on about 1 in 5 in Munich.
- Tip: go in the late afternoon: in central Europe it is dark by about 4 to 4:30pm, so you see the market in daylight and with all the lights on.
In this article
The weather at 13 Christmas market citiesMilder but wetter: Cologne, Edinburgh and LondonChristmas markets in the US: New York and ChicagoWill there be snow at the Christmas market?What to wear to a Christmas marketFrequently asked questionsThe weather at 13 Christmas market cities
We calculated the average weather from December 1 to 23 for the years 2015 to 2024, and how often it rained, froze or snowed.
| City | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Frost | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | 5.0°C (41°F) | -0.3°C (31°F) | 33% | 54% | 10% |
| Prague | 5.0°C (41°F) | -0.3°C (31°F) | 35% | 51% | 13% |
| Nuremberg | 5.0°C (41°F) | -0.1°C (32°F) | 49% | 52% | 14% |
| Munich | 5.1°C (41°F) | -1.4°C (29°F) | 43% | 65% | 20% |
| Strasbourg | 6.7°C (44°F) | 1.2°C (34°F) | 44% | 42% | 8% |
| Cologne | 7.4°C (45°F) | 2.6°C (37°F) | 54% | 24% | 5% |
| Berlin | 5.3°C (42°F) | 0.9°C (34°F) | 41% | 40% | 9% |
| Budapest | 4.7°C (40°F) | -0.7°C (31°F) | 28% | 57% | 8% |
| Copenhagen | 5.6°C (42°F) | 2.6°C (37°F) | 41% | 17% | 8% |
| Edinburgh | 7.2°C (45°F) | 3.1°C (38°F) | 50% | 17% | 6% |
| London | 9.1°C (48°F) | 4.0°C (39°F) | 40% | 15% | 1% |
| New York | 7.3°C (45°F) | -0.2°C (32°F) | 32% | 56% | 7% |
| Chicago | 4.0°C (39°F) | -2.7°C (27°F) | 24% | 67% | 9% |
Source: our own calculation from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, December 1 to 23, 2015-2024. Rain: share of days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in). Frost: share of nights below 0°C (32°F). Snow: share of days with at least 0.5 cm (0.2 in) of fresh snow in the model; model values can be lower than what local weather stations record, especially in snowier places such as Chicago.
The Christmas markets of central Europe are the coldest: in Vienna, Prague, Nuremberg and Munich the average high in the first three weeks of December is about 5°C (41°F), and it freezes on roughly half the nights, in Munich on two out of three. In Budapest it is just as cold, but drier. Strasbourg and Berlin are a little milder.
Milder but wetter: Cologne, Edinburgh and London
Closer to the sea, the markets are milder but wetter. Cologne averages 7.4°C (45°F) by day, but at least 1 mm of rain falls on about 54% of the days, and in Edinburgh on 50%. London is the mildest city in our list, at 9.1°C (48°F), with frost on only 15% of the nights. Rain at a Christmas market usually means a few showers or some drizzle, rather than a whole wet day, so check the hourly forecast and pick a dry spell for the open-air markets.
Christmas markets in the US: New York and Chicago
The best-known US markets, such as the holiday markets in New York and the Christkindlmarket in Chicago, are in cities with a continental winter. Chicago is the coldest city in our comparison, with an average high of 4.0°C (39°F) and frost on 67% of the nights, and the wind off Lake Michigan makes it feel colder still. New York averages 7.3°C (45°F) by day, but drops just below freezing at night on average. Both cities are drier than the European markets, with rain or snow on about 1 day in 3 or less.
Will there be snow at the Christmas market?
A Christmas market under fresh snow is the postcard picture, but in reality it is the exception in the first three weeks of December. In our numbers, fresh snow falls on about 1 in 10 days in Vienna, Prague and Berlin, and on about 1 in 5 days in Munich, the snowiest European city in our list thanks to the nearby Alps. In London, snow at the markets is very rare. If you want snow, Munich or a market in the Alps gives you the best chance. Read more in our guide to white Christmas odds and snow in Austria at Christmas.
What to wear to a Christmas market
At a Christmas market you stand still a lot and walk slowly, so 5°C (41°F) feels a lot colder than it sounds. Dress in layers, with a hat, gloves and shoes that can handle a wet street, and keep a waterproof jacket with a hood handy: an umbrella is awkward in a crowded market. The feels-like temperature on our forecast pages shows how cold the wind makes it. Go in the late afternoon: in central Europe the sun sets around 4 to 4:30pm in December, so you see the market in daylight first and then with all the lights on. Weekdays are usually quieter than weekends, and opening dates differ per market, so check the market's own website before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How cold is it at the Christmas markets in Vienna and Prague?
From December 1 to 23, the average high is about 5°C (41°F) and the average low just below freezing. It freezes on about half the nights.
Which Christmas market city has the mildest weather?
London, with an average high of 9.1°C (48°F) in the first three weeks of December and frost on only 15% of the nights. Cologne and Edinburgh are also mild, but wetter.
Will it snow at the Christmas markets?
Not often. Fresh snow falls on about 1 in 10 days in Vienna, Prague and Berlin in early December, and on about 1 in 5 days in Munich.
What is the best time of day to visit a Christmas market?
The late afternoon. In December it gets dark around 4 to 4:30pm in central Europe, so you see the market in daylight first and then with all the lights on.
Check the weather in Vienna or search another place on the locations page.