December in Bucharest is defined by the Târgul de Crăciun, the city's main Christmas market. It fills Piața Constituției with wooden stalls, mulled wine vendors, and a towering lit tree, all set against the colossal backdrop of the Palatul Parlamentului. Average highs typically reach about 3°C (37°F) and lows drop to around -3°C (27°F), so you will want proper winter layers. The month opens with Ziua Națională on December 1, Romania's national holiday, which brings a military parade down Calea Victoriei and free concerts in the city center. From there, the Christmas market carries the mood through to Revelion, the New Year's Eve celebration that packs Piața Constituției with tens of thousands of people.
To be fair, December is nobody's first choice for Bucharest if warmth and long evenings are the priority. The light is flat, the trees are bare, and 87% humidity at below-freezing temperatures produces a damp chill that cuts through thin jackets. That said, there are real advantages. Hotel rates remain moderate compared to Central European Christmas-market cities like Vienna or Prague. The food scene shifts to hearty winter dishes, with sarmale and cozonac appearing on every menu. And the city, freed from the sweaty crush of July's 32°C highs, is quieter and more navigable. The cultural calendar stays full, particularly at the Ateneul Român, where the George Enescu Philharmonic runs holiday concerts through the month.
The final stretch builds toward Revelion, Romania's New Year's Eve celebration. Piața Constituției fills again, this time with live performances and a midnight fireworks show. Worth noting that many Bucharesters leave the city on December 25-26 to visit family in the countryside, so the center can feel surprisingly quiet on Christmas Day itself. If you're weighing Bucharest against more famous European Christmas markets, the honest case is this. The market is smaller and less polished than Vienna's or Strasbourg's, but the city around it is cheaper, less crowded, and arguably more interesting to explore.
Why visit in December
- The Târgul de Crăciun Christmas market at Piața Constituției offers a less touristy, less expensive alternative to Vienna's or Prague's December markets, with a similar festive atmosphere at roughly half the cost.
- Three distinct events anchor the month. Ziua Națională on December 1, the Christmas market through late December, and Revelion on December 31. Few European capitals stack that much into a single winter month.
- Hotel rates in Bucharest run 30-50% below comparable Central European cities like Budapest or Krakow for similar hotel quality, even with the December holiday uptick.
- The winter food scene peaks in December. Restaurants across Lipscani, Cotroceni, and Floreasca feature seasonal sarmale, cozonac, and warming ciorbă de burtă.
Worth knowing
- Daylight shrinks to about 8.5 hours, with sunset near 4:30 PM, which limits outdoor sightseeing time to roughly 6 usable hours per day.
- The 87% average humidity at below-freezing overnight lows makes the cold feel sharper than the thermometer reads. Grey overcast skies can persist for days without a break.
- Many family-owned restaurants and small shops close December 25-26 for Crăciunul, so Christmas Day itself can feel oddly deserted in the center.
Best for
Think twice if
December in Bucharest tends to be cold and overcast, with frequent grey skies and damp air. Average highs reach about 3.5°C (38°F), while overnight lows drop to around -2.8°C (27°F). The 87% humidity makes the cold feel more penetrating than the numbers alone suggest. Rainfall averages about 47mm across 7 days, sometimes falling as sleet or wet snow. Proper snowfall is possible but not guaranteed. The city gets roughly 8.5 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 7:45 AM and sunset near 4:30 PM.
Seasonal caution
- Temperatures regularly drop below 0°C (32°F) at night and can stay below freezing during daytime cold snaps. Wind chill in open areas like Piața Constituției during the Christmas market or Revelion can push the feels-like temperature several degrees colder.
- Ice forms on sidewalks and pedestrian areas after wet days, particularly in older neighborhoods like Lipscani where cobblestone pavement is uneven and drainage is inconsistent. Waterproof boots with grip are not optional.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | -1 | 50 |
| Feb | 8 | -1 | 19 |
| Mar | 12 | 2 | 51 |
| Apr | 17 | 7 | 64 |
| May | 22 | 12 | 66 |
| Jun | 28 | 17 | 49 |
| Jul | 32 | 20 | 41 |
| Aug | 31 | 20 | 34 |
| Sep | 25 | 14 | 38 |
| Oct | 19 | 8 | 47 |
| Nov | 12 | 4 | 72 |
| Dec | 7 | 1 | 47 |
Headline events
Târgul de Crăciun București (Bucharest Christmas Market)
Late November through December 26
Bucharest's main Christmas market fills Piața Constituției with over 100 wooden stalls selling mulled wine, handmade crafts, cozonac, sheepskin goods, and seasonal Romanian food. A large lit tree and the Palatul Parlamentului as a backdrop make it one of Eastern Europe's more dramatic market settings. The smell of roasted chestnuts and cinnamon wine hits you from half a block away. Live music and performances run on the central stage most evenings after 6 PM.
Revelion (New Year's Eve in Piața Constituției)
December 31 evening through early January 1
Bucharest's official Revelion celebration packs Piața Constituției with tens of thousands of people for live music, DJ sets, and a midnight fireworks display launched from the direction of the Palatul Parlamentului. The event typically runs from around 9 PM until 2-3 AM and is completely free. The atmosphere tends to be more relaxed and accessible than comparable celebrations in London or Berlin.
Best things to do in December
Browse the Târgul de Crăciun at Piața Constituției
marketThe Christmas market runs over 100 stalls along the northern edge of Piața Constituției, with the Palatul Parlamentului lit up behind them. You can spend 2-3 hours working through the food stalls, craft vendors, and sheepskin goods. Weekday afternoons between 3-5 PM tend to be the least crowded window.
The market only runs from late November through December 26, and the full atmosphere with evening lights is a December-only experience.Booking tipNo tickets needed. Free entry, though food and drinks run 10-30 lei per item.
Attend a holiday concert at the Ateneul Român
cultureThe George Enescu Philharmonic plays its holiday program through December in the Ateneul Român, a neoclassical concert hall on Strada Benjamin Franklin. The interior dome fresco alone is worth the visit. Acoustics in the 600-seat hall are considered among the best in southeastern Europe. Ticket prices typically run 50-150 lei depending on seating.
The December program features holiday-themed repertoire that is not part of the regular concert season.Booking tipBook at least a week in advance through the Filarmonica George Enescu website. December concerts fill faster than the rest of the season.
Tour the Palatul Parlamentului
sightseeingThe world's heaviest building and second-largest administrative structure after the Pentagon. The guided tour covers about 5% of the 365,000 square meter interior, including the 2,226 square meter Human Rights Hall. You need a passport or ID to enter, and photography rules change by room.
Freezing December weather makes this massive indoor attraction especially appealing. Tour groups tend to be smaller in winter than in summer.Booking tipBook the standard tour online at least 2-3 days ahead. Tours depart from the entrance on Calea 13 Septembrie.
Warm up at Therme București
wellnessA 30,000 square meter thermal bath complex in Balotești, about 20 minutes north of central Bucharest. The complex includes indoor and outdoor thermal pools fed by a natural spring at 33°C, plus saunas, a wave pool, and a botanical garden under glass. The contrast between the steaming outdoor pools and the -3°C air is something.
The thermal pools hit different when the outside air is below freezing. December is also lower-traffic than summer months at Therme.Booking tipWeekday mornings see the smallest crowds. Weekend afternoons can hit capacity, especially between Christmas and New Year.
Walk the Centrul Vechi under holiday lights
walkingThe Old Town around Strada Lipscani, Strada Covaci, and Strada Franceza gets strung with holiday lights in December. The cobblestone streets, 19th-century facades, and warm light from the restaurants create a different feel than the daytime version. Hanul lui Manuc, the oldest functioning hotel in Bucharest (built 1808), sits at the southern end of the route.
The holiday lighting only goes up in late November and comes down in early January. The evening atmosphere is specific to the December season.Visit the Muzeul Național de Artă al României
museumHoused in the former Royal Palace on Calea Victoriei, the museum holds the Romanian Medieval Art gallery and a European collection that includes works by Rembrandt, El Greco, and Monet. The building itself, rebuilt after the 1989 revolution damage, is part of the experience. Plan for 2-3 hours.
With only 8.5 hours of daylight and sub-zero temperatures, December is the month where Bucharest's indoor cultural offerings earn their keep.What to eat in December
On menus now
Sarmale
Ground pork and rice wrapped in fermented cabbage leaves, slow-cooked for hours until the cabbage turns translucent and the filling melts together. Every Romanian household has its own recipe. You'll find them on practically every restaurant menu in Bucharest by mid-December, typically served with mămăligă (polenta) and a dollop of smântână (sour cream). The smell of simmering sarmale is one of the defining scents of a Bucharest December.
Cozonac
Sweet braided bread filled with walnut, cocoa, or poppy seed paste. Bakeries across Bucharest start producing cozonac in late November, and the good ones sell out by December 23. Strada Covaci in the Centrul Vechi tends to have several shops offering fresh batches. The texture sits somewhere between brioche and challah, with a rich, buttery crumb.
Ciorbă de burtă
Romania's signature tripe soup, served steaming hot with garlic, vinegar, and sour cream on the side. The sour tang and the warmth make it a natural fit for freezing December days. It's also traditionally considered a hangover remedy, which makes it especially popular in the days following Revelion. Most restaurants in Lipscani serve a version.
What to drink
Vin fiert
Romanian mulled wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and dried citrus peel. The Christmas market stalls at Piața Constituției sell it by the cup, and you'll smell it from 50 meters away. It's sweeter and heavier on the clove than the Austrian or German versions. A cup on a -3°C evening is one of the small pleasures of a Bucharest December.
Regular events in December
Ziua Națională a României (Romanian National Day)Free
Romania's national holiday on December 1 brings a military parade down Calea Victoriei, folk performances, and free concerts in the city center. The parade typically starts around 11 AM near Arcul de Triumf and draws significant crowds along the route. Public transport runs on a modified schedule.
December 1Christmas Eve midnight servicesFree
Romanian Orthodox churches across Bucharest hold midnight liturgies on December 24. The Patriarchal Cathedral on Dealul Mitropoliei is the most prominent, though neighborhood churches like Biserică Sfântul Gheorghe Nou in Lipscani offer a more intimate experience. Services run 2-3 hours and are conducted in Romanian.
December 24, starting around 11 PMHoliday concerts at Sala Palatului
Sala Palatului, the 4,000-seat concert venue on Strada Ion Câmpineanu, hosts pop, rock, and orchestral holiday shows through December. The programming varies year to year but typically includes at least one major Romanian act and occasional international bookings.
Various dates throughout DecemberBest places this December
Piața Constituției
squareThe vast square in front of the Palatul Parlamentului becomes the Christmas market's home base from late November through December 26. Even outside market hours, the lit tree and building facade are worth seeing after dark.
Sector 5Ateneul Român
concert hallThe neoclassical concert hall on Strada Benjamin Franklin, built in 1888, hosts the George Enescu Philharmonic's December concert series. The interior dome fresco depicts scenes from Romanian history across 70 meters of painted surface.
Sector 1Centrul Vechi (Lipscani)
neighborhoodThe Old Town district between Calea Victoriei and Strada Șelari fills with holiday lights in December. The density of restaurants, bars, and cafes here means you're never more than a few steps from somewhere warm. Cobblestones can ice over, so watch your footing.
Sector 3Muzeul Național de Artă al României
museumThe former Royal Palace on Calea Victoriei houses Romanian medieval art and a European collection spanning the 15th to 20th centuries. The heated galleries and 2-3 hours of content make it an ideal December afternoon stop when the sun sets at 4:30 PM.
Sector 1Therme București
wellnessA 30,000 square meter thermal bath complex in Balotești, about 20 minutes north of the center by car. Natural thermal spring water at 33°C, indoor botanical garden, saunas, and outdoor pools where steam rises into the freezing December air.
Balotești (outskirts)Palatul Parlamentului
landmarkCeaușescu's colossal parliament building covers 365,000 square meters and took 5 years to build (1984-1989). Guided tours of about 45 minutes show a fraction of the 1,100 rooms. The scale of marble, crystal chandeliers, and hand-woven carpets is hard to process even in person.
Sector 5
Your packing checklist
Tick items off as you pack. Your progress saves in this browser.
Insider tips
The Christmas market at Piața Constituției is significantly less crowded on weekday afternoons between 2-5 PM. Friday and Saturday evenings after 7 PM are the peak crush.
Bucharest's metro system (lines M1 through M4) is the fastest and warmest way to cover distance in December. A 10-trip card costs about 25 lei and covers most tourist-relevant stops. Piața Unirii station connects to both M1/M3 and M2.
For sarmale and cozonac without the tourist markup, try restaurants in Cotroceni or Floreasca rather than the Centrul Vechi. Locals tend to eat their holiday meals in neighborhood spots, not on Strada Lipscani.
If you're staying through Revelion, book your December 31 restaurant well before you arrive. Popular spots in the Centrul Vechi fill their New Year's Eve seatings by mid-November.
Avoid these mistakes
- Underestimating the cold because 3°C (37°F) sounds manageable. The 87% humidity and wind exposure at Piața Constituției make it feel closer to -5°C. Dress for the feels-like temperature, not the forecast number.
- Planning sightseeing for December 25-26 without checking closures. Most museums, many restaurants, and nearly all small shops shut down for Crăciunul. The Centrul Vechi stays partially open, but options shrink by half or more.
- Skipping the Ateneul Român because classical music "isn't your thing." The building's interior, with its 70-meter dome fresco, is worth the visit regardless of the program. Tickets from 50 lei are cheaper than most museum entries in Western Europe.
Practical tips for December
December in Bucharest runs on two distinct schedules. From December 1 through the 23rd, the city operates normally with the Christmas market as the main draw, and most attractions keep regular hours. Then December 24-26 shuts things down for Crăciunul, the Romanian Christmas holiday, when family-owned restaurants and smaller businesses close. The city picks back up on December 27 and builds toward the Revelion crowds on December 31. If your trip spans the Christmas closure, stock up on supplies by December 23 and plan for hotel restaurants or the few chains that stay open. Public transport runs on reduced holiday schedules December 25-26 and January 1, with the metro cutting frequency to every 12-15 minutes instead of the usual 5-6. Currency is the Romanian leu (RON). Card payments are widely accepted in the center, but market vendors at the Târgul de Crăciun often prefer cash.
FAQ
Does it snow in Bucharest in December?
Snowfall in December is possible but not reliable. Bucharest might see a few days of snow or sleet across the month, but a white Christmas is far from guaranteed. The city sits on the Wallachian Plain at about 85 meters elevation, so it tends to get less snow than the Carpathian foothills 100 km to the north. When snow does fall, it often turns to slush within a day or two in the center. Temperatures at around 3°C highs and -3°C lows are right on the rain-snow borderline.
Is the Bucharest Christmas market worth visiting compared to Vienna or Prague?
The Târgul de Crăciun at Piața Constituției is smaller and less polished than the major Central European markets. You'll find fewer stalls (around 100 versus Vienna's 150+) and less variety in craft goods. That said, the setting in front of the Palatul Parlamentului is dramatic, and prices for food and drinks run roughly half of what you'd pay in Vienna. If you're specifically traveling for a Christmas market, Vienna or Strasbourg still delivers more. But if you're visiting Bucharest for the city itself, the market is a solid bonus.
What is the best neighborhood to stay in during December?
Sector 1 near Piața Romană or Piața Victoriei puts you within walking distance of the Ateneul Român, Calea Victoriei, and the Centrul Vechi. The Cotroceni neighborhood in Sector 5 offers quieter, more residential options at lower prices, about 15 minutes by metro to the center. For Christmas market access, anything within a 10-minute walk of the Piața Unirii metro station keeps you close to both the Centrul Vechi and Piața Constituției.
How cold does it actually feel in Bucharest in December?
The raw numbers, around 3°C (37°F) during the day and -3°C (27°F) at night, undersell the chill. Bucharest's 87% December humidity and the wind that sweeps across the flat Wallachian Plain make the perceived temperature feel 3-5°C colder than the reading. Standing in Piața Constituției at the Christmas market on a -2°C evening with wind, the feels-like temperature can drop below -7°C. Dress for that number, not the forecast.
Last verified by automated review (v1.7.2) on June 16, 2026. What is automated review?