When the hectic month of December arrives, you want to get away and gather strength for one last dash. A short trip to Düsseldorf, for example, is a good solution.
German city on the eve of the holidays gets unique charm and after Christmas begins mad discounts, where you can buy an outfit for New Year's Eve and gifts to loved ones. Düsseldorf is beautiful in December. If you don't feel like spending January 1 here, you can return home in time.
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Holidays in Düsseldorf in December: The pros and cons
Holiday reviews of Dusseldorf in December are full of vivid memories of the beauty of this German city. Dusseldorf in December is as beautiful as the thousand sparkling lights that line its streets. It is a magical time to visit, and here's why:
- The streets are particularly atmospheric at this time of year, with the twinkling lights adding to the holiday spirit.
- Christmas markets immerse people in a magical atmosphere.
- After Christmas, the winter sales come.
- On New Year's Eve, you can watch a gorgeous fireworks display.
To avoid disappointment, bear in mind that:
- December has a lot of unpleasant, light rain — an umbrella is worth stocking up on.
- Airfares get more expensive as the holidays approach.
- Museums and exhibitions are closed on public holidays.
- You should book hotels and restaurants well in advance.
- You will unlikely be able to save money on a December trip.
Düsseldorf weather in December
The weather in Düsseldorf in December and January is rather rainy. The temperature at the beginning of December is still more or less dry, as the previous November was not known for torrential rain. However, the slushy days do not spoil the city's festive mood.
Although December is one of the three coldest months of the year, coming in second place to January, temperatures in Düsseldorf in mid-December do not drop below freezing even at night.
Another unpleasant addition to the month is gusty winds — the strongest of the year, averaging 5.2 metres per second. The weather in Düsseldorf drops a few degrees in late December and gets noticeably colder. But a hot mulled wine or grog will keep you warm during inclement weather. But it's better not to take small children on this trip yet. A cold won't brighten up anyone's holiday.
Air temperature and precipitation
Düsseldorf's climate is by no means harsh. The location of the city and the river have done their bit by softening the city's weather conditions as much as possible. The temperature in Düsseldorf in December never drops below freezing, and the frequent rains make it feel more like autumnal sadness. Sometimes one wants to grab a warm, fluffy blanket and cuddle up in a cosy chair.
But put all weaknesses aside, New Year's Eve is almost upon us, and outside is a beautiful city full of curiosities, good humour and fascinating architecture. There is no bad weather in Düsseldorf for the curious traveller because there is always something to do.
Air temperature in Düsseldorf in December
December ranks as the second coldest month of the year in Düsseldorf. Still, the average temperature does not drop below zero. The average daytime and night-time temperatures are not too far apart. Daytime temperatures average around +6.2°C, and night-time temperatures around +3-4°C.
For the beginning of the month, the most popular average temperature is around +7°C during the day and +3°C at night. In mid-December, the moderate remains the same, but towards the end of the month, the temperature drops to around +6°C during the day and +2°C at night. It is influenced by the approach of Düsseldorf's coldest month, January, and temperatures rise again in February.
Amount of precipitation
December in Düsseldorf closes the top four rainiest months of the year. The average rainfall is 65,4 mm, with around four days of rain and one day of snow per month. More often than not, though, the weather divides the days in half. But don't despair; it is more of a drizzle than a heavy downpour. So pack a small umbrella or rain jacket and discover the city's beauty. No weather can hide the beauty of Düsseldorf from you.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
December has a not-so-small number of sunny days, as many as 6, despite the wet weather. However, most good weather comes at the beginning of the month, just after a dry November. The closer you get to the festivities, the more often the sky gets cloudy. The weather has divided December into 23% sunny and clear weather, 29% grey and 48% overcast. Incidentally, a special magic of the city is that it is often on New Year's Eve that the weather is sunny all day and starts to snow a little by nightfall.
Tour Holidays
To break up a hike in the city's most mundane architectural sights, of which there are many, visit Düsseldorf's most original museums at the beginning of December. For example, go to the Mustard Museum. There are up to 70 kinds of one of Europe's oldest condiments. The museum also tells you the secrets of how to make the savoury sauce. Where else would you find such a museum than in the land of juicy sausage lovers?
One of the most famous museums in Dusseldorf is the Film Museum. You can see the outfits of actresses from the world's greatest films, old posters of popular movies, and a lot of the equipment used in the filming process. There's something for everyone, regardless of gender or age, in the middle of December.
An alternative to the cable cars is the Düsseldorf Sky Train, which runs between the airport and the train station. It offers stunning views of the city, no worse than the view from the TV Tower on the banks of the Rhine.
The TV Tower is an alien saucer-like landmark located on the waterfront. There is also a restaurant on its levels, which rotates in a circle, giving you a 360° view of the city. At the end of December, there's a rush for tables — everyone wants to see the New Year's Eve fireworks from these windows.
Holidays, events and festivals
Christmas brings out the best in people. Holidays in Düsseldorf in December are filled with New Year magic. Christmas services are filled with spiritual energy, and the positivity of the passers-by oozes out.
Children at schools and kindergartens stock presents and cards for their relatives and friends, trying to prove to St Nicholas that they've been good all year and deserve presents under the tree.
Christmas fairs are filled with laughter and merriment. There is a child's mood, the aromas of fragrant mulled wine, grog and gingerbread, and the smoke of sausages and meat delicacies. Colourful illumination wraps the city in the magical Christmas atmosphere, and stalls sell knitted toys, Christmas decorations and handmade candles in odd places. It's all the more festive and immerses you in the positive atmosphere of the approaching festivities.
A delightful firework display on New Year's Eve will provide an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for the next year and the rest of your life.
Shopping
Immediately after Christmas, the shopping season kicks off. Düsseldorf is the shopping capital of Germany, and on sale days, the local shops go crazy. It is not only Germany that attracts shoppers here, but also the rest of Europe.
The famous Royal Walkway, lined with boutiques from leading global brands, is reminiscent of a festival, so many people rush there. Many Germans are already strolling around the shops a few days before the sale, looking for items to pick up in the early hours of the sale.
Prices are now dropping by 30-40%, and by mid-January, they are reaching 70-80%, rarely even 90%!
But then there are often unsaleable sizes, so you have to have unique experience and skill to catch the fine line between still being able to buy well but already at the lowest price. Prices are now dropping by 30-40%, and by mid-January, they are reaching 70-80%, rarely even 90%!
Cost of vacation
Prices in Düsseldorf in December have not yet hit rock bottom. Airfares reach their average cost, tours are initially sold with the name "New Year in Düsseldorf", so it is difficult to compare them with the usual, meals cost from €20 per person for lunch and from €70 for dinner with alcohol for two in an inexpensive restaurant.
A New Year's Eve dinner will cost at least twice as much because of the abundance of drinks and entertainment, which is not accessible at half the establishments. The most exclusive New Year's Eve restaurant is the one on the TV Tower, but here the prices are exorbitant, and reservations must be made several months in advance.
Dusseldorf in December may not be the best choice for travelling with children, but spending time with adults is sometimes a good idea. If that's the case, it's a great choice to satisfy even the most discerning traveller. Send young children to their grandmothers, dress warmly, grab an umbrella and come on a hunt for the local December beauty.
