What's the weather like in Vancouver in December?
Temperature
December is one of the coldest months in Vancouver, tied with January with an average daily temperature of 4°C. Daytime highs only reach 6°C while nighttime average temperatures are only 1°C. On occasion the temperatures drop down to -4°C in Vancouver during December. Temperatures will more or less remain constant through January.
Rainfall
December is almost as rainy as November with rainfall totals of 160mm. On average it rains for 21 days out of the month in December. The chances of precipitation stay right around 55% during the entire month.
Snowfall
It does get cold enough to snow in December in Vancouver, with most of it falling in the surrounding areas where the terrain is higher. On average it snows for three days in December with snowfall totals at the airport averaging 16cm.
Sunshine Hours
Vancouver only sees the sun for an average of four hours per day during December, a function of the cloudy skies and shorter days. December has the shortest day of the year at 8 hours 11 minutes. The chances of a cloudy sky remain a constant 72% throughout the month.
Humidity
The relative humidity in Vancouver in December stays right around 81%. The cold temperatures will make the air feel very dry and cold against your skin, especially when the wind kicks up.
Wind
Vancouver's strongest average winds of the year are in December, maintaining a steady 6.5 mph throughout the month. Winds are mostly out of the east. A windstorm ripped through Vancouver in mid-December 2006 with maximum winds of 78 mph. The blow uprooted over 5,000 trees in Stanley Park.
Sea Temperature
Average water temperatures in Vancouver have reached their lowest temperature in December at 8°C. The waters will more or less stay at this temperature until April.
Dress Code
It's important to bring appropriate raingear and warm clothing if you visit Vancouver in December. Your first priority is to stay dry, so your raingear (boots too) should be able to withstand heavy rains. Your next priority is to stay warm, so dress in layers. Wools and synthetics are preferred over cotton. Check the Vancouver forecast for a more accurate picture of expected weather. Vancouver is a casual city, so just wear what's comfortable for you.
Vancouver Hotels in December
Residence Inn By Marriott
If you plan on staying in Vancouver for an extended period you may want to look into the Residence Inn in Yaletown. This recognizable high-rise features clean, modern studios with fully equipped kitchens, luxury bedding, free Wi-Fi, desks, and large flatscreen TVs. Common hotel amenities include a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, fitness centre, laundry facilities, and a business centre. The Residence Inn is close to the Vancouver Art Gallery and Yaletown's numerous outstanding restaurants. The Residence Inn is also pet-friendly.
Executive Hotel Vintage Park
Budget travelers wishing to stay near Granville can find some affordable rates at the three-star Executive Hotel Vintage Park. The chic, modern rooms all feature comfortable bedding, flatscreen TVs, and sizeable bathrooms. Some standard rooms also have whirlpool tubs. One and two-bedroom apartment suites are also available with full kitchens, en-suite laundry, and amazing views all around. There is one on-site restaurant serving modern French cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. The Executive Hotel also puts you close to the ferry, English Bay, Davie Street restaurants, Robson Street shopping, and trendy Yaletown.
GEC Granville Suites
The GEC Granville Suites is perfectly located in downtown Vancouver. This three-star hotel puts you close to the Roundhouse Community Arts & Rec Centre, Vancouver Aquatic Centre, Yaletown's restaurants, the Granville Ferry, and Rogers Arena. All rooms are clean, bright, and spacious with large windows. Accommodations also include seating areas, cozy beds, and flatscreen TVs. Guests of the GEC Granville Suites will also enjoy the fitness center, sauna, business center, and rooftop deck. The White Spot Restaurant & Lounge is connected to the hotel and offers discounts to hotel guests, serving American cuisine all day long.
Bars and Restaurants
Le Crocodile
Le Crocodile is one of Vancouver's more upscale traditional French restaurants. The award-winning Le Crocodile has a number of different menus including a chef's menu, set menus, lunch menus, and a la carte menus. On these menus you'll find delicious, elegant dishes like grilled asparagus with arugula salad, grilled quail, pan-seared veal sweetbreads, grilled Chilean seabass with lobster bisque, and garlic-sautéed frog's legs. Le Crocodile is open for lunch from 11:30AM until 2:30PM Monday thru Friday, dinner from 5:30PM until 10PM Monday thru Thursday, and until 10:30PM Friday and Saturday. Le Crocodile is located on Burrard Street.
Medina Café
One of Vancouver's more fun, trendy breakfast joints is Medina on Richards Street in Downtown Vancouver. Medina takes its inspiration from the Mediterranean and puts a personal, modern twist on their breakfasts, brunches, and lunches. Medina is perhaps best known for their delicious waffles and variety of gourmet toppings. Other menu items include paella, flatiron steak & eggs, couscous, salmon & fried egg, pork belly breakfast sandwich, and avocado toast. This bright, airy restaurant is open from 8AM until 3PM during the week and opens at 9AM on weekends.
Shizen Ya Restaurant
You'll love the casual Shizen Ya Japanese restaurant if you're a fan of Japanese cuisine. Shizen Ya prides itself in being the healthiest Japanese restaurant chain in North America, using only brown rice with their sushi and organic, fresh ingredients. The cooks are ready to accommodate your gluten-free or vegan diets. They've really done an outstanding job of creating their own sushi dishes to take advantage of the untraditional brown rice. Salads, noodle bowls, and quinoa bowls are also on the menu. Shizen Ya is open at 11:30AM every day, closes at 10PM Monday thru Saturday, and 9PM on Sunday.
The Regal Beagle Bar & Grill
The Regal Beagle on West Broadway is a fun local's pub with a casual, warm atmosphere. The food menu features standard pub fare like burgers, pizza, wings, dry ribs, and fish & chips. They also have a popular brunch menu with all the classics and great eggs benedict. There's a great selection of beers on tap and a full bar for cocktails. The Regal Beagle opens at 11:30AM Monday thru Friday and at 10AM for brunch on the weekends. They close at 2AM Friday and Saturday and 1AM during the week. The Regal Beagle also occasionally features live music.
Things to do in Vancouver in December
Victoria Parliamentary Buildings
One of Victoria's more recognizable landmarks is the British Columbia Parliament Buildings overlooking Inner Harbour. These beautiful buildings with stirring architecture are still used in government today and are open to the public. You may do a self-guided tour of the grounds on your own or take a guided tour. Guides are available to educate you on the history of the buildings and the parliamentary process in British Columbia. There is also a gift shop and dining room on the property. The buildings are open to the public from 8:30AM until 5PM.
VanDusen Festival of Lights
Kick off the holiday season by attending the VanDusen Festival of Lights. This fun family event takes place at the VanDusen Botanical Garden fifteen minutes south of downtown Vancouver. It's perhaps Vancouver's most impressive holiday lights displays, made all the better with the beautiful backdrop of the gardens. The festival typically lasts for the entire month of December and into the first week of January. Tickets are required to view the show; admission is $19 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth. Viewing hours are from 4:30PM to 9PM.
Vancouver Aquarium
When it's too cold to walk through Stanley Park, head into the impressive Vancouver Aquarium. The Aquarium isn't just an attraction, it's also a research center and marine animal rehabilitation centre. There are many different areas of the aquarium, covering a total of over 9,000 square meters in 166 displays. The main display exhibits local fish from the neighboring Straight of Georgia, while other displays include Arctic species, African penguins, tropical fish, and sea otters. The Aquarium has many educational opportunities for children and focuses on marine conservation. The Vancouver Aquarium is open daily from 10AM until 5PM.
Ice Skating in Robson Square
Robson Square is a popular public plaza in downtown Vancouver. It's the seat of the provincial law courts, adjacent to the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is a popular destination for shopping. During the winter Robson Square has the distinction of being the only public outdoor ice skating rink in Vancouver. Admission to the skating rink is free; skate rentals are a minimal $4. Some of the great cafes and restaurants around the skating rink include Bellaggio Café, Faubourg Paris, Bacchus, and even a Starbucks. Weekday hours are from 9AM until 9PM, weekend hours are from 9AM until 11PM.
