Visiting Sweden in December – is it a good time to go? As the country’s snowiest month, December is a veritable winter wonderland as Swedes prepare for the biggest celebration of the year – Christmas. And there is nothing like Christmas in Stockholm – or other Swedish cities.
In This Post
December in Sweden – a Winter Wonderland?
December is the snowiest month of the year in Sweden. And the country can seem like a winter wonderland. So what to do in Sweden in December?
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights light the sky. And winter sports add excitement to the mix.
However, December days are also the year’s shortest. And the darkness can be a bit overbearing.
Therefore, Swedes rely on candles, lights, festive decorations, cheerful music, and yummy food and beverage to lift their spirits.
Glogg – a.k.a. Mulled Wine
In the cold weeks running up to Christmas, Swedes like to warm their spirits with Glögg, or mulled wine.
Glogg consists of red wine, sugar, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. And some Swedes like to add vodka or brandy to the mix.
Needless to say, children and teetotalers can opt for non-alcoholic versions. But everyone likes to enjoy it with gingerbread snaps.
Swedish Christmas Fairs
Normally, Christmas fairs selling Christmas decorations and handicrafts start to appear as early as November.
And they grow in number as Christmas approaches. In fact, a few fairs actually continue until early January.
Holidays in Sweden in December
Swedes will enjoy a rare four-day weekend in December this year. In addition, there will be two important events.
Swedish Advent – 3 December 2023
In fact, Swedes start celebrating Christmas on the first Sunday of Advent, which is four weeks before Christmas.
While Advent can begin as early as 27 November, it can begin as late as 3 December. .
On this day, Swedes light the first candle of the Advent candle holder. And they add an additional candle on each of the following three Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.
Preparations start gearing up. And children start finding it difficult to fall asleep in anticipation of Christmas.
A list of some of the things to do in Sweden in December follows.
Future Swedish Advent Dates
- 2024 – 1 December
- 2025 – 30 November
- 2026 – 29 November
- 2027 – 28 November
- 2028 -3 December
Nobel Week – 2023 Dates Pending
While winners of Nobel laureates are announced in Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway, in October, the award ceremonies take place in both cities on 10 December.
And a Nobel Baquet follows the awards ceremony at Stockholm’s City Hall.
Lucia Processions – 13 December 2023
Lucia symbolizes light in the midst of winter. Processions of Lucia, the Queen of Light, take place in cities and towns across Sweden on 13 December.
A girl is chosen to act as Lucia. She dresses in white clothes and wears a crown of candles on her head.
And elves, star children, gingerbread men, and other symbols of Christmas follow after her while everyone sings Christmas carols
Christmas – 24 to 26 December 2023
Christmas Eve is the most important day of the Christmas season in Sweden.
And it is also the most important family gathering of the year.
This is when families gather to enjoy a mouth-watering Christmas smorgasbord of pickled herring, meatballs, Christmas ham, and other yummy dishes. And it is often served at lunch.
In fact, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the Day After Christmas are all official holidays. If Christmas falls on a Sunday, Swedes will enjoy a four-day weekend!
New Year’s Eve – 31 December 2023
Swedes celebrate New Year’s Eve pretty much the same way people throughout the world do. For example, there is a spectacular pyrotechnics display at midnight in Stockholm.
Weather in Sweden in December
December weather in Sweden is snowy. In fact, December is Sweden’s snowiest month. While it is usually cold, the weather in December has been relatively mild in recent years. Keep in mind that it is usually colder the further north you go.
Stockholm Weather in December
Stockholm is Sweden’s largest city and the nation’s capital.
Built on a series of islands, Stockholm is a stunningly beautiful city with countless lakes, bays, canals, and wetlands.
So what is Christmas in Stockholm like?
The average high temperature in Stockholm in December is -1.1 degrees Celsius, or 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature drops to an average low of -3.3 degrees Celsius, or 26 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 0.8 hours of daily sunshine in Stockholm in December. In fact, it is one of the two least sunny months of the year. And the average humidity is 93%.
Gothenburg Weather in December
Gothenburg is Sweden’s second-largest city. It is located on the country’s west coast. So what is winter in Gothenburg like?
The average high in Gothenburg in December is 0.5 degrees Celsius, or 33 Fahrenheit. And the average low is -2.2 degrees Celsius, or 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of one hour of sunshine in Gothenburg in December. In fact, it is one of the two least sunny months of the year. And the average humidity is 96%.
Malmo Weather in December
Malmo is Sweden’s third-largest city. It sits at the southwestern tip of Sweden. It is across the Oresund River from Copenhagen, Denmark. So what is winter in Malmo like?
The average high temperature in Malmo in December is 1.7 degrees Celsius, or 35 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature drops to an average low of -0.56 degrees Celsius, or 31 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 1.2 hours of sunshine in Malmo in December. It is the second least sunny month of the year. The average humidity is 91%. In fact, it is the second most humid month of the year.
Uppsala Weather in December
Uppsala is Sweden’s fourth-largest city. It is 71 kilometers, or 44 miles, north of Stockholm. So what is Christmas in Uppsala like?
The average high temperature in Uppsala in December is -2.8 degrees Celsius, or 27 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature drops to an average low of -5.6 degrees Celsius, or 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 0.9 hours of sunshine in Uppsala in December. It is one of the two least sunny months of the year. The average humidity is 97%.
Umea Weather in December
Umea is Sweden’s 13th largest city. It is the gateway to Swedish Lapland. So what is winter in Northern Sweden like?
The average high temperature in Umea in December is -5.6 degrees Celsius, or 22 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature drops to an average low of -8.3 degrees Celsius, or 17 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 0.5 hours of sunshine in Umea in December. It is the least sunny month of the year. The average humility is 95%.
What to Take to Sweden in December
While the weather in December has become milder in recent years, you never know.
Since it can get really cold, you should make sure to bring warm clothes. If you plan to visit the coast, you should also bring windproof apparel.
Weather Data: VisitSweden.com and weather2visit.com
So glad I was able to spend time in
Sweden years ago with an international group called something like The Child’s Right to Play. We visited many playgrounds in Sweden and learned what made a good, safe playground. Sweden’s natural beauty was vast, and the variety of playgrounds was exciting even to adults. Made me wonder if playgrounds these days have become more like little overdone Disneylands which I wouldn’t enjoy at all.
Sweden was a very special place. I enjoyed my four weeks there!
Looks like a beautiful time of year to be there. I enjoyed your photos when you were there a couple of years ago.
Yes! It looks magical,, doesn’t it?