December in Philadelphia is defined by cold. Average highs sit around 7.5°C (46°F), lows dip to -0.2°C (32°F), and the wind off the Delaware River adds a chill that the thermometer alone won't tell you about. If you're coming from somewhere warm, the shock is real. That said, the city puts genuine effort into its holiday season, and the result is more layered than the typical American Christmas setup. Christmas Village at Dilworth Park draws roughly half a million visitors each year, the Macy's Christmas Light Show in the old Wanamaker Building has been running since 1956, and the neighborhoods of South Philadelphia and Old City dress up in a way that feels earned rather than performant.
The trade-off is straightforward. You'll spend more time indoors than in April or October, and some days the gray skies and 99mm of December rain will keep you off the streets entirely. But Philadelphia's indoor offerings, from Reading Terminal Market to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, are strong enough to carry the month. Hotel prices tend to creep up around the holidays without reaching the extremes of New York or Boston, and the tourist crowds at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell thin out compared to summer. It's not the best month. It might be the most atmospheric one, though, if you dress for it.
Why visit in December
- Christmas Village at Dilworth Park and the Macy's Christmas Light Show at the Wanamaker Building give the city a concentrated holiday identity that runs from late November through December 24.
- Indoor attractions like Reading Terminal Market, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Barnes Foundation are at their most comfortable when the weather pushes you inside.
- Hotel rates run roughly 15-25% below peak summer pricing outside of the Christmas and New Year's weeks, making midweek December stays a decent value.
- The city's restaurant scene in neighborhoods like Fishtown and Rittenhouse tends to be easier to book in early-to-mid December, before holiday party season fills tables.
Worth knowing
- Temperatures regularly drop below freezing overnight, and wind chill along the Schuylkill River trail or on the Ben Franklin Bridge walkway can make -0.2°C feel closer to -7°C.
- Rain and occasional sleet account for about 10 wet days in December, with 99mm of total precipitation that can turn a walking day into an indoor day without warning.
- Daylight is short. Sunset falls around 4:35 PM in early December, which limits time for outdoor sightseeing and photography.
- The week between Christmas and New Year's sees reduced hours or closures at some smaller museums, shops along Fabric Row in South Philadelphia, and independent restaurants.
Best for
Think twice if
December brings Philadelphia's first real winter weather. Daytime highs average 7.5°C (46°F) and lows frequently drop to -0.2°C (32°F) or below, especially in the last two weeks of the month. Humidity sits around 70%, which makes the cold feel damp and penetrating rather than dry and crisp. You'll likely see about 10 rainy days totaling around 99mm of precipitation, a mix of rain, freezing rain, and occasionally wet snow. Sunny days do happen, typically 4-5 per month, and when they arrive, the low-angle winter light on the brick rowhouses of Old City and Society Hill is genuinely beautiful. Wind is the variable most people underestimate. Center City's grid of east-west streets channels gusts off the Delaware, and exposed spots like Penn's Landing or the South Street Bridge can feel 5-8°C colder than the sheltered blocks around Rittenhouse Square.
Seasonal caution
- Temperatures regularly drop below 0°C (32°F) at night, and wind chill can push perceived temperatures to -7°C (19°F) or lower near the Delaware and Schuylkill waterfronts.
- Freezing rain and black ice are possible in the second half of December, particularly on bridges and elevated walkways like the Ben Franklin Bridge pedestrian path.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | -3 | 86 |
| Feb | 7 | -2 | 80 |
| Mar | 13 | 2 | 122 |
| Apr | 18 | 7 | 116 |
| May | 23 | 12 | 111 |
| Jun | 29 | 18 | 79 |
| Jul | 31 | 21 | 114 |
| Aug | 30 | 20 | 106 |
| Sep | 26 | 17 | 102 |
| Oct | 20 | 11 | 80 |
| Nov | 13 | 4 | 64 |
| Dec | 8 | 0 | 99 |
Headline events
Christmas Village at Dilworth Park
Late November through December 24
A German-style Christmas market with roughly 100 timber stalls selling handmade ornaments, glassware, textiles, and seasonal food. Modeled after traditional Weihnachtsmärkte, it fills Dilworth Park beneath City Hall and has been running since 2008. The Ferris wheel overlooking Market Street and the smell of roasted almonds and Glühwein give it a density that smaller American markets lack.
Macy's Christmas Light Show
Daily throughout December, shows every 2 hours from 10 AM
A 15-minute sound-and-light show that plays every 2 hours inside the Grand Court of the former Wanamaker department store on Market Street. The 28,000-pipe Wanamaker Organ accompanies the display. The show has been a Philadelphia tradition since 1956, and the building itself, with its bronze eagle sculpture in the atrium, is worth the visit year-round. December is when it becomes an event.
Best things to do in December
Walking the Elfreth's Alley Holiday Tour
culturalElfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States, dates to 1702. In December, residents decorate their Georgian and Federal-style rowhouses with period-appropriate greenery and candles. The alley is only about 30 houses long, so the walk takes 15 minutes, but the atmosphere of candlelit 18th-century windows against December dusk is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Residents open their homes for the annual holiday tour, typically held on the first weekend of December. The rest of the year the interiors are private.Philadelphia Museum of Art Winter Visit
museumThe Philadelphia Museum of Art sits at the top of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in a Greek Revival building completed in 1928. The collection spans 2,000 years, with particular strength in Impressionist painting, medieval armor, and Japanese teahouses. December's 4:35 PM sunsets mean you'll likely be inside by mid-afternoon anyway, and the galleries are noticeably less crowded than in summer months.
December's cold and short daylight make the museum a natural full-afternoon destination rather than a quick stop between outdoor activities.Ice Skating at Dilworth Park
outdoorThe outdoor rink at Dilworth Park sits directly beneath City Hall's 167-meter tower, which was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1901. The rink operates from late November through February. Skating here at night with City Hall lit above and Christmas Village glowing next door is one of the more photogenic winter-city experiences on the East Coast.
December combines the rink with the Christmas Village and Macy's Light Show, all within a 2-block walk, creating a concentrated holiday loop that doesn't exist in other months.Reading Terminal Market Browsing
foodReading Terminal Market has operated continuously since 1893 in the train shed of the former Reading Railroad terminal at 12th and Arch Streets. Over 80 vendors sell produce, meat, cheese, baked goods, and prepared food. The Amish vendors from Lancaster County are a particular draw. In December, the market adds seasonal stalls and the interior warmth makes it a natural refuge from the cold.
The market's enclosed, heated space makes it Philadelphia's best bad-weather destination. December shoppers also find holiday gift vendors and seasonal baked goods not available the rest of the year.Longwood Gardens Christmas Display
day_tripLongwood Gardens in Kennett Square, about 50 kilometers southwest of Center City, runs a massive holiday display with over 500,000 lights across its 445-hectare grounds. Pierre du Pont, the industrialist who created the gardens in 1906, designed the conservatory with indoor gardens that bloom year-round. The heated conservatory is where you'll spend most of your time in December.
The Christmas display runs from late November through early January. The combination of outdoor light installations and warm indoor gardens filled with poinsettias and orchids is unique to the holiday season.The Barnes Foundation
museumThe Barnes Foundation on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway holds one of the world's largest collections of Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings. There are 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, and 59 Matisses. Albert Barnes hung the works in his own idiosyncratic groupings, which the new building (opened 2012) replicates exactly. It's a 2-3 hour visit in a climate-controlled gallery, which makes it a natural December activity.
December's weather makes a dedicated 2-3 hour indoor art visit more appealing than competing with outdoor sightseeing. Weekday afternoons in early December tend to have the thinnest crowds of the year.What to eat in December
On menus now
Roast Pork Sandwich at Reading Terminal Market
Philadelphia's signature sandwich. Slow-roasted pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe on a seeded Italian roll. DiNic's and Tommy DiNic's at Reading Terminal Market have been serving versions of this for decades. The warm, fatty richness of the pork feels right on a cold December afternoon.
What to drink
Glühwein at Christmas Village
Hot mulled wine sold from timber stalls at Dilworth Park. Served in collectible ceramic mugs that change design each year. The spiced warmth is practical as much as festive when you're standing outside at 4°C.
Hot Chocolate at Old City Coffee
Old City Coffee on Church Street has been roasting beans since 1985. Their December hot chocolate is made with real melted chocolate, not powder, and the warmth of the small shop on a freezing afternoon is half the appeal.
Festival food
Struffoli
Deep-fried honey-coated dough balls, a Neapolitan Christmas tradition carried to South Philadelphia by Italian immigrants. Bakeries along the 9th Street Italian Market sell them by the tray from early December onward. The texture is somewhere between a donut hole and a crouton, lacquered in warm honey and dotted with nonpareils.
Regular events in December
The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music
The Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet) performs Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker at the Academy of Music on South Broad Street, a venue that opened in 1857. The production typically runs for about 3 weeks in December with multiple daily performances on weekends.
Early December through late DecemberDeck the Alley at Elfreth's Alley
Residents of Elfreth's Alley open their colonial-era homes to the public for one weekend. Some houses date to the 1720s. Expect period decorations, live music, and the smell of mulled cider in doorways.
First weekend of DecemberBlue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
The seasonal complex at Penn's Landing includes an outdoor ice rink, heated cabins, fire pits, and a lodge bar overlooking the Delaware River. The wind off the river is biting, but the fire pits and warm drinks soften it. The rink has operated in various forms since the mid-1990s.
Late November through early MarchSips and Santa at Independence Beer Garden
Independence Beer Garden near the Liberty Bell runs holiday-themed events on select December weekends, with heated outdoor seating and seasonal beer selections. The proximity to Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center makes it a natural stop on a historic-district walking day.
Select weekends in DecemberBest places this December
Independence National Historical Park
historicIndependence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, and Congress Hall are all within a 3-block radius at Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th. December queues for the Liberty Bell run about 10-15 minutes, compared to 30-45 minutes in July. Independence Hall tours are free but require timed tickets.
Old CityReading Terminal Market
foodOver 80 vendors in a 19th-century train shed at 12th and Arch Streets. The Amish stands close on Sundays. Beiler's Donuts, DiNic's roast pork, and Bassetts Ice Cream (operating since 1861) are the perennial draws. December brings holiday baked goods and gift vendors.
Center CityPhiladelphia Museum of Art
museumAt the top of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The collection includes Duchamp's 'Étant donnés,' a complete 12th-century French cloister, and the Impressionist galleries that rival the Met's. The Rocky Steps outside are cold in December, but people still run them.
FairmountRittenhouse Square
parkThe most polished of William Penn's original 5 public squares, surrounded by restaurants and galleries. In December, the trees are lit and the square hosts a small holiday market. The surrounding blocks of Walnut Street have the city's densest concentration of independent shops.
RittenhouseSouth 9th Street Italian Market
foodThe oldest continuously operating outdoor market in the United States, running along 9th Street in South Philadelphia since 1884. Cheese shops, butchers, bakeries, and produce stands line both sides of the street. December brings holiday specialties like struffoli, panettone, and imported torrone.
South PhiladelphiaEastern State Penitentiary
historicA former prison that opened in 1829, known for its Gothic architecture and the wagon-wheel cell block layout that influenced prison design worldwide. Al Capone's cell is preserved. In December, the site sometimes runs winter programming, though the main Halloween event is long over. The cold stone corridors feel appropriate to the season.
FairmountSociety Hill
neighborhoodPhiladelphia's best-preserved 18th-century residential neighborhood, between Walnut Street and South Street east of Washington Square. Brick rowhouses, cobblestone streets, and gas-style lanterns. December's early darkness actually improves the atmosphere here, since the lanterns and window candles show up by 5 PM.
Society Hill
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Insider tips
The Macy's Christmas Light Show plays every 2 hours, but the 5 PM showing tends to draw the biggest crowd. The 10 AM and noon shows are noticeably quieter, and you'll have better sightlines to the Wanamaker Organ.
Reading Terminal Market is least crowded on weekday mornings before 10 AM. Saturday mornings from 9-11 AM are the busiest period all week, and the Amish vendors close entirely on Sundays.
The SEPTA Market-Frankford Line connects Old City to Center City in about 5 minutes. Walking that same stretch along Market Street in December wind takes 20 minutes and feels longer.
Christmas Village's food stalls tend to have shorter lines on weekday afternoons. Weekend evenings, especially the 2 weeks before Christmas, can mean 15-20 minute waits for popular items like Glühwein and bratwurst.
If you're visiting Longwood Gardens, book timed entry at least a week in advance for December weekends. Weekday tickets are easier to get, and the crowds thin out considerably on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Avoid these mistakes
- Underestimating wind chill near the rivers. The thermometer might read 4°C, but exposed spots at Penn's Landing or along the Schuylkill Banks trail can feel well below freezing once wind is factored in.
- Planning a full outdoor walking day. December daylight ends by 4:35 PM, and most comfortable outdoor time is between 11 AM and 3 PM. Build your itinerary around 1-2 outdoor blocks and fill the rest with indoor stops.
- Assuming the 9th Street Italian Market keeps standard retail hours. Some vendors start closing stalls by 3-4 PM, especially on weekdays. Arrive before noon for the full selection.
- Skipping the Barnes Foundation because the Philadelphia Museum of Art feels like the required stop. The Barnes holds one of the world's best Impressionist collections, and it's less crowded in December than the PMA.
- Booking a hotel for New Year's Eve week at the same rate you'd pay in early December. Rates rise sharply after December 20, and availability in Center City narrows fast.
Practical tips for December
SEPTA's Key Card works on all buses, trolleys, and subway lines. Buy one at any station kiosk rather than paying cash fares, which cost more per ride. The Broad Street Line runs north-south and the Market-Frankford Line runs east-west, covering most visitor destinations between them. Rideshare from the airport to Center City takes about 25 minutes without traffic. The Airport Line regional rail is a reliable alternative and runs every 30 minutes. For December dining, make reservations at least a few days ahead for popular Rittenhouse and Fishtown restaurants, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings during holiday party season. Museum hours typically shorten in late December, so check schedules for the week between Christmas and New Year's before heading out.
FAQ
Does it snow in Philadelphia in December?
Philadelphia averages about 10-15 centimeters of snow in December, but the timing is unpredictable. Some Decembers see no measurable snow at all, while others get a single heavy storm. More commonly, you'll encounter cold rain and occasional sleet rather than the postcard-worthy snow days. When snow does fall, the city's streets are typically plowed within a day, though sidewalks in residential neighborhoods can stay icy longer.
Is Philadelphia walkable in December weather?
Center City's grid is compact enough that most major attractions sit within a 20-30 minute walk of each other, but the wind chill and early darkness make walking less comfortable than in milder months. The stretch from Independence Hall to Reading Terminal Market is about 10 blocks. SEPTA's subway lines cover the same ground faster and warmer. Plan outdoor walks for midday when temperatures peak, and use transit for longer distances.
What are the best free things to do in Philadelphia in December?
The Macy's Christmas Light Show at the Wanamaker Building runs daily and costs nothing. Christmas Village at Dilworth Park is free to enter, though food and gifts cost extra. Independence Hall tours are free with timed tickets. The first Sunday of each month, the Philadelphia Museum of Art offers pay-what-you-wish admission. Walking Elfreth's Alley, Society Hill, and the murals along South Street are free year-round and especially atmospheric after dark in December when the holiday lights come up.
How cold does it actually get in Philadelphia in December?
Daytime highs average 7.5°C (46°F) and overnight lows sit near -0.2°C (32°F). Wind chill is the factor most visitors underestimate. Spots near the Delaware River at Penn's Landing or on the Ben Franklin Bridge can feel 5-8°C colder than sheltered blocks in Rittenhouse Square or the narrow streets of Old City. The second half of December tends to be colder than the first, with more nights dropping below -3°C.
Is Christmas Village at Dilworth Park worth visiting?
It's Philadelphia's largest Christmas market and one of the better German-style Weihnachtsmärkte in the United States. Roughly 100 timber stalls sell ornaments, glassware, and seasonal food beneath City Hall. The quality of goods varies, as with any market, but the Glühwein, roasted almonds, and bratwurst are solid. Weekday afternoons draw manageable crowds. Weekend evenings in the 2 weeks before Christmas are packed, and you might wait 15-20 minutes at popular food stalls.
Things to Do in Philadelphia in December
Free cancellation Philadelphia Old City Historic Walking Tour with 10+ Top Sites
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Free cancellation The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia
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Free cancellation Philly By Night Double Decker Bus Tour
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Free cancellation Philadelphia Historical Independence Walking Tour
City tour — 1.5 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Private Half Day Philadelphia Driving Tour with Local Guide
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Free cancellation Yo! A Private Rocky Balboa Driving Tour of Philadelphia
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