Updated 14 Sep 2026 · recomputed nightly

Is December 2026 a good month to visit Vancouver?

Packed — the typical December day in Vancouver is busier than 99% 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 Vancouver's own year — not a headcount.

December is one of Vancouver's busiest months: cool and wet, around 6°C / 42°F with rain on about 21 days, and Busy or Packed on all 31 days — 26 of them Packed, the other 5 Busy.

No — not if you want Vancouver to yourself. Every one of December's 31 days in our window is Busy or Packed, and the typical day is Packed. It is crowded throughout. Expect around 6 °C by day, with rain on about 21 days. Public holidays in Canada and Australia add to it. New football season starts in July at BC Place falls on 1–31 December. No week of December is meaningfully quieter — the typical day is Packed throughout; pick by day instead. The crush is at the three blocks around Canada Place; the quiet is at Stanley Park away from the seawall. The calmest day is Sunday 27 December, the busiest Tuesday 1 December.

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

Among the 12 months we forecast for Vancouver, December ranks 4th for crowd pressure. Its heaviest day is Tue 1 Dec, busier than 99% of the year; its lightest is Sun 27 Dec at 79%.

Crowds

Busy or Packed · all 31

0 calm · 0 lively

Weather

6°C / 42°F

rain ~21 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 Vancouver in December

Pack for wet first — rain on 21 of 31 days.

Two people walking under one umbrella in the rain

rain on 21 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 →

Vancouver travel guide

How busy is Vancouver in December?

The busiest days are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and 27 more.

Across the month the days run from 79% to 99% of the year. Daylight runs about 8 hours.

The lightest days are the 27th, 29th and 30th. Still busy — but the easiest of the month — 4 days share that level, so there is room to choose.

HEAVY199%HEAVY299%HEAVY399%HEAVY499%599%699%799%899%999%1099%1199%1299%1399%1499%1599%1699%1799%1899%1999%2099%2199%2299%2399%2499%2599%2699%2779%2880%2979%3079%3179%

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

Easiest daysSun 27 · Tue 29 · Wed 30 — The lightest days are the 27th, 29th and 30th. Still busy — but the easiest of the month — 4 days share that level, so there is room to choose.

Busiest daysTue 1 · Wed 2 · Thu 3 · Fri 4 — the heaviest of 31 busier days — check the calendar for the rest.

Tue 01 Dec Packed busier than 99% of days here · New football season starts in July at BC Place · Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza · Junior hockey is no longer at the Pacific Coliseum · Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain

Event on this day

New football season starts in July at BC Place

15 Jul – 31 Dec 2026

A new football season starts in the middle of July 2027 and runs into December. For the first time the stadium has league matches right through the busiest weeks of the summer.

Is December 2026 a good month to visit Vancouver?

How busy is Vancouver in December?

Which week of December is quietest in Vancouver?

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December weather in Vancouver

More about Vancouver in December