What's the Weather like in Tel Aviv in December
Temperature
Winter arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel, in December and it's although it gets colder and much rainier, you won't be seeing a white Christmas here. The average temperature in Tel Aviv in December is 13.9°C, with an average high of 19.2°C and an average low of 11.2°C. Temperatures can climb to 23.8°C and Tel Aviv's record December high was recorded as 33.5°C. The record low was 4°C, but it is unlikely to go below 7.8°C. This is similar to the average temperature in Marrakesh in December.
Sea Temperature
The average sea temperature is 21°C. Average relative humidity is very high in Tel Aviv in December at 73 per cent. Check our local weather report for Tel Aviv.
Rainfall
December in Tel Aviv sees the second highest of rainfall of the year. The monthly average is 127mm/5ins and rain will fall on 12 days of the month on average.
Sunshine Hours
Tel Aviv in December gets the lowest average sunshine of the year, with just 189 hours for the month, or 6 hours a day. The days are short in December, with daylight of between 10 hours and 3 minutes and 10 hours and 13 minutes. Sunrise is between 6.23am and 6.41am and sunset is between 4.35pm and 4.46pm. December 21 is the shortest day of the year in Tel Aviv. December sees almost constant cloud in Tel Aviv, with December 30 the clearest day of the year on average for 70 per cent of the time.
Wind
Wind speeds in Tel Aviv are constant throughout December, at an average of 8.7mph with 0.2mph variation. The wind blows predominantly from the west in November.
Dress Code
You will still need warm weather clothing and the swimming costumes should be included. But this is a month when waterproofs and warmer clothing will also be needed, as weather can be wet and it gets chilly at night. Check our 14-day forecast for Tel Aviv before you head for the airport.
Tel Aviv Hotels in December
Trieste Neve Tzedek Suites
If you are looking for value, character and individuality, Trieste Neve Tzedek Suites, in a 90-year-old building in the unspoilt district of Ahad Ha'Am will be up your street. Quaint, retro and colourful they are named after the city of Trieste in Italy and run by an Israeli-American couple from upstate New York since 2016. Exposed limestone walls and concrete floors create a cool ambience. Breakfast is at one of two neighbouring cafes.
The Drisco
History is all around you at the atmospheric and newly-restored Drisco Hotel in Jaffa, which has been trading since 1866 when it was opened by two American brothers. There is a lovely colonial-style bar with ceiling fans and a stylish restaurant The Zada which has a good reputation for fresh and inventive local dishes. The 42 rooms and suites, some with sea views, combine the old and the new and there is a rooftop terrace and gym.
Florentin House
Hailed by many as the best hostel in Tel Aviv, Florentin House is in the bohemian neighbourhood of the same name a little outside the city centre but still close enough to all its attractions. This may be a hostel, but it's a high class one, with immaculate, modern rooms and mixed and single sex dorms, plus a rooftop suite. It even has an atmospheric restaurant, café and bar serving a range of light dishes and meals.
Prima Tel Aviv
The Prima Tel Aviv is a mid-range hotel with 63 rooms in an enviable central position opposite the city's popular Tayelet Beach promenade and the Frishman Beach. Images of Tel Aviv's famed Bauhaus architecture adorn the walls along with works by local artists and there is a highly-regarded Mediterranean-themed restaurant, Yaso, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Bars and Restaurants
Hoodna
The relaxed and welcoming Hoodna (which means 'truce' in Arabic) is in south Tel Aviv's trendy Florentin neighbourhood and is a popular watering hole for locals. Drinks are sensibly priced, there's a food menu to soak it all up and live music daily, mostly from Israeli performers, at no extra charge covering genres as diverse as rock and funk. There's seating inside and out.
Lima Lima
A Tel Aviv nightlife fixture for more than a decade, the Lima Lima, off Rothschild Boulevard in central Tel Aviv, is renowned for staging great parties. The theme varies throughout the week with a range of genres such as hip hop and electro all included. It has a large dance floor and a lovely outdoor seating area for warmer nights. This is a gay-friendly venue with Saturday night a particular highlight for the community.
The Prince
The Prince fills the rooftop of a lovely old building on Nachalat-Binyamin in central Tel Aviv and is a great place to go for music, drinks and food. There's a choice of indoor or outdoor seating on the roof terrace and live DJs aplenty, as well as regular cultural events. It has a reputation for good cocktails and is regularly full, with plenty of locals making it their venue of choice.
Benedict
Benedict Rothschild is newer and much bigger than its sister branch on Ben Yehuda St and has its own all-day (and night) breakfast vibe based on a New York diner. Not surprisingly, eggs Benedict is the speciality here. All breakfasts are huge and come with salads, lots of warm bread, various spreads as well as juice, soft cocktails and coffee.
Things to do in Tel Aviv in December
Christmas in Tel Aviv
Christmas is a special experience in Tel Aviv, with most activities concentrating in Jaffa's old streets. There will be no snow, but Father Christmas will make an appearance at some stage. There are outdoor festivals, concerts and other performances and lots of family-friendly activities. Jaffa's streets are adorned with decorations and Christmas trees, the bars and restaurants are packed and there's a colourful annual street parade.
Hassan Bek Mosque
The white limestone Hassan Bek Mosque was a dangerous place to be in 1948, as Arab snipers operated from its minaret during the Arab-Israeli war. Today, all is peaceful, and this beautiful mosque in Jaffa is of huge religious significance to Israeli-Arabs. It was built in 1916 by Jaffa's Ottoman governor Hassan Bek and has survived all the area's turmoil since.
Azrieli Mall
Tel Aviv is a great place for Christmas shopping and you can get everything under one roof at one of its bustling malls. The Azrieli Mall is the biggest and considered to be the best of the lot. It is located in the Azrieli skyscraper complex and it combines the usual mix of globally-known chain stores with some Israeli originals. There are restaurants and bars and a chldren's play area. Don't miss the circular observatory on the 49th floor!
Haganah Museum
The Haganah Museum chronicles the rise of the legendary Israeli paramilitary force that pre-dated the creation of the state and became the Israeli Defence Force. In a central location in Rothschild Boulevard, it tells the stories of the civilians who joined up and, in many cases, gave their lives protecting Israeli farms in the 1930s, helping to smuggle thousands of Jews into Palestine and confronting the British in the fight for an independent state.
