December is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens, with average highs near 12.4°C and lows around 1.5°C (mean 7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 115 mm of rainfall and 83% 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 13.2°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 1.8°C. Typical December days reach 12.4°C with nights near 1.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Athens, averaging 115 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 291 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 40 mm.
Relative humidity in Athens during December averages 83%. The most humid December was 2015 at 90%, and the least humid was 2001 at 74%.
December receives about 2.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Athens. The sunniest Decembers were 2003 and 2004 at 2.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 2.
Average wind speed in Athens during December is 0.2 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2016, 2017 and 2018, among others at 0.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 5.7°C | 6.7°C | 6.5°C | 8.2°C | 8.0°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | 11.1°C | 12.0°C | 12.2°C | 13.5°C | 13.9°C | +2.8°C |
| Avg Low | 0.3°C | 1.4°C | 0.7°C | 2.9°C | 2.2°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 115 mm | 94 mm | 113 mm | 149 mm | 93 mm | -22 mm |
December temperatures in Athens have risen by about 2.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -14.9°C (1983) to a record high of 25.5°C (2007).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 115 mm, with a wettest year of 291 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 May and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Athens. That said, December — with days averaging 12.4°C and nights around 1.5°C (mean 7°C) and higher rainfall (115 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 | 13.8°C | 7.6°C | 1.4°C | 24.6°C | -7.5°C | 47 mm | 76% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 13.3°C | 7.4°C | 1.4°C | 21.9°C | -5.9°C | 111 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2023 | 14.5°C | 8.4°C | 2.4°C | 20.5°C | -4.7°C | 109 mm | 76% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2022 | 11.9°C | 6.9°C | 1.9°C | 24.0°C | -12.0°C | 112 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2021 | 17.2°C | 11.5°C | 5.8°C | 23.4°C | -2.7°C | 100 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 12.4°C | 6.3°C | 0.2°C | 19.3°C | -6.0°C | 81 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2019 | 14.0°C | 8.7°C | 3.3°C | 20.5°C | -3.9°C | 163 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 11.7°C | 7.3°C | 2.8°C | 21.3°C | -4.9°C | 251 mm | 90% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 12.7°C | 7.2°C | 1.7°C | 22.1°C | -5.8°C | 75 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 13.8°C | 8.1°C | 2.5°C | 23.0°C | -5.4°C | 78 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2015 🔥 🌧️ | 18.0°C | 13.2°C | 8.4°C | 24.2°C | -3.8°C | 291 mm | 90% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2014 | 14.1°C | 8.7°C | 3.2°C | 21.1°C | -4.0°C | 115 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2013 | 13.3°C | 8.1°C | 3.0°C | 24.0°C | -5.4°C | 219 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2012 | 15.1°C | 9.6°C | 4.2°C | 22.7°C | -4.0°C | 150 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2011 | 14.9°C | 9.1°C | 3.3°C | 22.0°C | -2.9°C | 109 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2010 | 7.7°C | 2.1°C | -3.5°C | 17.1°C | -6.9°C | 41 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2009 | 9.7°C | 4.7°C | -0.3°C | 20.4°C | -3.8°C | 221 mm | 88% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2008 | 13.9°C | 8.5°C | 3.0°C | 21.7°C | -6.9°C | 123 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2007 | 15.6°C | 9.6°C | 3.7°C | 25.5°C | -5.0°C | 127 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 15.4°C | 9.1°C | 2.8°C | 22.1°C | -7.4°C | 93 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2005 | 10.7°C | 5.0°C | -0.8°C | 19.9°C | -5.2°C | 110 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2004 | 11.8°C | 5.9°C | 0.0°C | 20.9°C | -7.3°C | 100 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2003 | 11.0°C | 4.7°C | -1.6°C | 17.4°C | -5.3°C | 70 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2002 | 10.7°C | 5.4°C | 0.2°C | 16.3°C | -4.6°C | 166 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2001 | 16.6°C | 9.9°C | 3.2°C | 24.6°C | -5.5°C | 57 mm | 74% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 7.0°C | 2.0°C | -3.0°C | 17.3°C | -7.6°C | 61 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 13.1°C | 6.7°C | 0.3°C | 21.2°C | -6.1°C | 59 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 15.1°C | 9.6°C | 4.0°C | 25.0°C | -4.7°C | 79 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1997 | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 0.7°C | 17.1°C | -5.9°C | 134 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 12.0°C | 6.7°C | 1.4°C | 21.9°C | -7.6°C | 74 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1995 | 10.0°C | 4.7°C | -0.5°C | 18.7°C | -7.7°C | 82 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1994 | 12.4°C | 7.6°C | 2.7°C | 20.8°C | -4.5°C | 61 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 10.1°C | 5.0°C | -0.1°C | 19.0°C | -5.7°C | 87 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1992 | 9.7°C | 5.4°C | 1.0°C | 20.2°C | -5.1°C | 166 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 13.3°C | 7.5°C | 1.7°C | 24.4°C | -5.5°C | 100 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1990 | 13.5°C | 8.3°C | 3.1°C | 21.3°C | -6.2°C | 102 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 6.4°C | 1.8°C | -2.8°C | 16.4°C | -13.3°C | 134 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1988 | 11.6°C | 5.4°C | -0.8°C | 20.0°C | -5.8°C | 40 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 | 13.4°C | 7.7°C | 1.9°C | 22.4°C | -5.0°C | 94 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1986 | 10.5°C | 5.7°C | 0.9°C | 17.8°C | -5.7°C | 92 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1985 | 9.8°C | 4.0°C | -1.8°C | 19.7°C | -9.0°C | 49 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1984 | 16.0°C | 10.2°C | 4.5°C | 22.7°C | -7.0°C | 74 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1983 | 9.4°C | 4.0°C | -1.4°C | 20.4°C | -14.9°C | 233 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 14.0°C | 9.0°C | 4.0°C | 23.0°C | -5.9°C | 137 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 8.6°C | 3.6°C | -1.4°C | 18.1°C | -7.3°C | 185 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 12.4°C with lows near 1.5°C (mean 7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 115 mm of rainfall in Athens, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 291 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 25.5°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -14.9°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 11.6°C to 14.1°C and overnight lows from 0.8°C to 2.6°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 12.4°C daytime highs and 1.5°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Athens, averaging 7°C.
For December in Athens, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 12.4°C and lows of 1.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.2 m/s (1984).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 291 mm. On average, December sees 115 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.
