Updated 29 Oct 2026 · recomputed nightly

Is December 2026 a good month to visit Seattle?

Busy — the typical December day in Seattle is busier than 75% of its year.

If you are coming for something that only happens in December, that is the trade. If not, February is quieter.

Calm · Lively · Busy · Packed rank a day against Seattle's own year — not a headcount.

December is Seattle at its busiest: cool and wet, around 8°C / 46°F with rain on about 19 days, and Busy on 26 of 31 days.

No. The typical December day in Seattle is Busy, and 28 of the 31 days in our window run Busy or Packed, so most days feel crowded. Expect around 8 °C by day, with rain on about 19 days. Public holidays in Canada and the UK add to it. Seattle Christmas Market falls on 1–27 December. No week of December is meaningfully quieter — the typical day is Busy throughout; pick by day instead. For similar weather with fewer people, come in October or September. The crush is at the Overlook Walk stairs; the quiet is at Pioneer Square when nothing is on. The calmest day is Tuesday 29 December, the busiest Friday 25 December.

In short, a hard sell — heavy crowds without the best of the weather.

Across the 12 months we forecast for Seattle, December is the busiest of them all. Its heaviest day is Fri 25 Dec, busier than 99% of the year; its lightest is Tue 29 Dec at 40%.

Crowds

28 of 31 days busy or packed

0 calm · 3 lively

Weather

8°C / 46°F

rain ~19 days

Value

A poor trade

a hard sell — heavy crowds without the best of the weather

Preparing pays off in a month like this: timed-entry tickets and pre-booked tours turn the queue time into sightseeing time. see the options →

What to pack for Seattle in December

Pack for wet first — rain on 19 of 31 days.

Two people walking under one umbrella in the rain

rain on 19 of 31 days Compact umbrella

A folding one lives in the day bag and weighs nothing.

See umbrellas →

A pair of worn walking trainers, seen from above

most sightseeing is on foot Walking shoes with grip

Wet stone is the thing to plan around in a month this wet.

See walking shoes →

How busy is Seattle in December?

The busiest days are the 1st, 25th, 26th and 31st, and 24 more. Away from those, most days sit Lively. The calmest stretch is the 28th–30th.

The month is not one thing: its lightest day sits at 40% of the year and its heaviest at 99%, so where you land inside it matters. All five Thursdays run Busy or Packed. Daylight runs about 8 hours.

Either side of it, November is much calmer and January is far calmer.

The calmest days are the 28th, 29th and 30th — aim for those if your dates can flex.

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CalmLivelyBusyPacked⚓ ships in port · % = busier than this share of the year · tap any day for its full forecast

Best daysMon 28 · Tue 29 · Wed 30 — The calmest days are the 28th, 29th and 30th — aim for those if your dates can flex.

Busiest daysTue 1 · Fri 25 · Sat 26 · Thu 31 — the heaviest of 28 busier days — check the calendar for the rest.

Tue 01 Dec Busy busier than 75% of days here · Seattle Christmas Market

Event on this day

Seattle Christmas Market

20 Nov – 27 Dec 2026

seattlechristmasmarket.com ↗

‹ Mon 30 Nov·Wed 2 Dec ›calmer nearby → Mon 30 Nov (Lively)This day in full →

Cruise ⚓ ○ No ships scheduled — confirmed by the port schedule.

Is December 2026 a good month to visit Seattle?

How busy is Seattle in December?

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