December is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens, with average highs near 10.4°C and lows around 0.3°C (mean 5.4°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 141 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Athens was 2015 — when the month averaged 11.2°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -1.1°C. Typical December days reach 10.4°C with nights near 0.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Athens, averaging 141 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1990 with 404 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 51 mm.
Relative humidity in Athens during December averages 84%. The most humid December was 1984 at 90%, and the least humid was 2023 at 76%.
December receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Athens. The sunniest December was 2004 at 2.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 1.7.
Average wind speed in Athens during December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest December was 1982 at 1.7 m/s, while the calmest was 1986 at 1.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.9°C | 5.5°C | 4.7°C | 6.3°C | 7.0°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg High | 8.7°C | 10.5°C | 9.8°C | 11.2°C | 12.4°C | +3.7°C |
| Avg Low | -1.0°C | 0.5°C | -0.5°C | 1.5°C | 1.6°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 126 mm | 163 mm | 130 mm | 156 mm | 120 mm | -6 mm |
December temperatures in Athens have risen by about 3.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -19.6°C (1989) to a record high of 24.2°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 141 mm, with a wettest year of 404 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.6°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Athens
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Athens. That said, December — with days averaging 10.4°C and nights around 0.3°C (mean 5.4°C) and higher rainfall (141 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.6°C | 6.1°C | 0.6°C | 22.1°C | -8.0°C | 55 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 11.9°C | 6.7°C | 1.5°C | 19.7°C | -7.0°C | 117 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 13.2°C | 7.3°C | 1.4°C | 21.7°C | -5.9°C | 103 mm | 76% | 1.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2022 | 10.7°C | 5.9°C | 1.1°C | 22.5°C | -15.0°C | 171 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2021 | 16.5°C | 11.0°C | 5.6°C | 22.4°C | -3.7°C | 142 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2020 | 10.2°C | 4.7°C | -0.8°C | 18.3°C | -7.4°C | 130 mm | 85% | 1.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2019 | 13.0°C | 8.2°C | 3.5°C | 20.4°C | -5.1°C | 168 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 10.2°C | 6.0°C | 1.8°C | 19.8°C | -6.0°C | 200 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2017 | 9.7°C | 4.6°C | -0.4°C | 18.8°C | -10.1°C | 126 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 11.2°C | 5.7°C | 0.2°C | 22.0°C | -11.0°C | 149 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 15.9°C | 11.2°C | 6.5°C | 23.3°C | -3.5°C | 236 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2014 | 10.9°C | 6.4°C | 1.9°C | 19.1°C | -4.3°C | 142 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2013 | 10.3°C | 5.3°C | 0.3°C | 23.2°C | -7.3°C | 161 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2012 | 13.4°C | 8.1°C | 2.7°C | 21.2°C | -5.7°C | 165 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2011 | 11.7°C | 6.6°C | 1.5°C | 18.8°C | -5.0°C | 160 mm | 85% | 1.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2010 | 5.9°C | 1.3°C | -3.2°C | 16.9°C | -13.2°C | 51 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 8.2°C | 3.5°C | -1.2°C | 18.2°C | -6.0°C | 155 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 10.1°C | 4.8°C | -0.5°C | 20.2°C | -10.0°C | 236 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 | 13.5°C | 8.2°C | 2.9°C | 23.0°C | -5.3°C | 68 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2006 | 12.7°C | 6.9°C | 1.1°C | 19.9°C | -8.1°C | 85 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 8.2°C | 2.8°C | -2.5°C | 16.8°C | -7.2°C | 99 mm | 82% | 1.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2004 | 9.1°C | 4.2°C | -0.6°C | 18.8°C | -10.4°C | 187 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 9.5°C | 3.9°C | -1.7°C | 14.6°C | -5.7°C | 84 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2002 | 9.3°C | 4.7°C | 0.1°C | 16.7°C | -6.5°C | 165 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2001 | 12.3°C | 7.2°C | 2.1°C | 20.9°C | -6.2°C | 130 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 5.4°C | 0.3°C | -4.9°C | 19.4°C | -10.7°C | 93 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 12.0°C | 5.8°C | -0.3°C | 20.1°C | -6.7°C | 66 mm | 77% | 1.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1998 | 11.6°C | 6.6°C | 1.6°C | 24.2°C | -12.8°C | 182 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 8.6°C | 4.0°C | -0.6°C | 15.5°C | -6.1°C | 91 mm | 87% | 1.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1996 | 11.2°C | 6.1°C | 1.1°C | 19.6°C | -7.9°C | 135 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1995 | 8.0°C | 3.3°C | -1.4°C | 18.6°C | -10.0°C | 105 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 12.2°C | 7.2°C | 2.2°C | 19.1°C | -4.8°C | 92 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 9.2°C | 4.5°C | -0.2°C | 17.5°C | -8.3°C | 163 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 | 9.1°C | 4.6°C | 0.0°C | 17.2°C | -5.9°C | 131 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1991 | 11.2°C | 6.2°C | 1.2°C | 22.4°C | -5.3°C | 260 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1990 🌧️ | 12.3°C | 6.8°C | 1.2°C | 21.4°C | -9.3°C | 404 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 3.6°C | -1.1°C | -5.9°C | 16.6°C | -19.6°C | 88 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1988 | 9.9°C | 4.4°C | -1.1°C | 18.5°C | -5.9°C | 127 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 11.9°C | 6.5°C | 1.1°C | 19.4°C | -5.5°C | 139 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 8.2°C | 3.8°C | -0.7°C | 17.9°C | -4.7°C | 134 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | 6.3°C | 1.2°C | -4.0°C | 19.2°C | -12.7°C | 53 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1984 | 13.9°C | 9.2°C | 4.6°C | 21.7°C | -8.2°C | 70 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1983 | 5.5°C | 0.9°C | -3.8°C | 20.3°C | -18.8°C | 232 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.1°C | 7.8°C | 3.6°C | 22.1°C | -6.7°C | 198 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.0°C | 2.1°C | -2.7°C | 16.0°C | -12.8°C | 89 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 10.4°C with lows near 0.3°C (mean 5.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 141 mm of rainfall in Athens, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 404 mm in 1990.
The hottest December reached 24.2°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -19.6°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 3.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 9°C to 12.8°C and overnight lows from -0.5°C to 2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 10.4°C daytime highs and 0.3°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Athens, averaging 5.4°C.
For December in Athens, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.4°C and lows of 0.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 84% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.7 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 1990 with 404 mm. On average, December sees 141 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Athens behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
