What's The Weather Like in Toronto in December?
Is Toronto Good In October?
December sees Toronto's heaviest snowfall. This makes it a popular destination for cold-weather activities such as skiing and ice skating. You can snap up more reasonable prices for flights and accommodation as the city is quieter than in the summer. In many ways it's a more authentic time to see the city that's known for its wintery weather.
What's The Weather Like at Christmas in Toronto?
Because of the wintery weather, Christmas in Toronto has a traditionally festive feel. December has three hours of sunshine a day, which is still three times more than you'll see in the UK at Christmas. On Christmas Day in 2019 it was 1C, so bring lots of woolies!
How Cold Is Tornoto In October?
December is one of the coldest months in Toronto. Daily average temperatures range from a high of 1C to a low of -3C with an overall average of -1C. Ideal for a skiing holiday!
How Much Does It Snow In December In Toronto?
December has the lowest level of rainfall of the year with 20 mm falling over 11 days. However, December has the highest level of snowfall with accumulation in the 40 cm range.
Is Toronto Windy In October?
Winds are moderate in December and you can expect gusts to peat at 14 m/s, drop to 0.3 m/s with an average of 5 m/s.
Extreme Weather In Toronto
While Toronto isn't often subject to extreme weather, winter can bring extremely cold weather in December and it has been known to dip as low as - 20!
Hotels for Toronto in December
Would you like to stay at a luxurious Neo-Gothic mansion dating to the 1920s? Perhaps a Beaux Arts high-rise withing walking distance of the city's most popular attractions. From boutique getaways to all-business rooms, Toronto hotels offer a wide range of variety and pricing.
Windsor Arms Hotel
Set in a Neogothic mansion dating to 1927, the Windsor Arms offers grand getaways with Old World style. Spacious suites that are lavishly appointed with furnishings in period French style have separate living rooms, limestone bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and enjoy personal butler service. Accommodations also come with musical instruments.
Play a baby grand piano, harp or guitar on your stay. Plunge into a saltwater pool, indulge in a treatment at a spa with a magnificent terrace and take in a film in their screening room. You can also take tea in a French style serving room and enjoy British fare at an upscale pub.
One King West Hotel & Residence
Set in a high-rise of Beaux-Arts style that dates to 1914, One King West Hotel & Residence offers deluxe all-suite accommodations a short walk from the Hockey Hall of Fame. Modern studio and one-bedroom suites have kitchens and dishwashers and offer magnificent views of the city.
Dine on hearty Canadian meals at the on-site Bistro on King eatery, or enjoy some light bites and a craft beer at Tellers Bar. If you're off to explore the city, Café Plenty has on-the-go meals. Or perhaps you'll choose to work out at a rooftop fitness centre with a resistance lap pool and saunas.
The Beverley Hotel
A centrally located boutique getaway, the Beverley Hotel has compact guestrooms that compensate for their size with modern style and contemporary decors accented by natural wood and gleaming glass.
Upgrade to a room with a separate living area and a vibrant mural by a local artist. Dine on locally sourced cuisine at an on-site restaurant and linger over a craft cocktail at a rooftop patio with sweeping views of the city.
Days Inn Toronto East Lakeview
A nine-minute walk from Lake Ontario, Days Inn Toronto East Lakeview has standard guestrooms with flat-screen TVs, desks, microwaves and mini-fridges. Upgrade to a suite for a spa tub, separate seating area and a fireplace. Enjoy a 24-hour business centre and a daily complimentary continental breakfast.
The hotel is less than twelve kilometres from downtown Toronto and a 40-minute drive from Pearson International Airport.
Beaches for December for Toronto
Woodbine Beach
While December isn't generally considered beach weather, Woodbine Beach is crossed by trails that are great for cold-weather walks. Biking too. The Martin Goodman Trail is plowed and maintained to bare pavent in the winter months. A trail by Ashbridges Bay winds through woodlands before taking you along the shoreline.
Restaurants and Bars for Toronto in December
Splurge on Mediterranean-Canadian cuisine at a high-end hotel restaurant, go organic at a popular local hang, tuck into a gourmet wood-fired pizza or delight in dumplings at a tiny Chinatown spot. Toronto's culinary scene takes you on a trip across the globe.
TOCA
A high-end eatery at the Ritz-Carlton, TOCA has an interior that oozes sophistication and style. Flavours from across the globe are presented by a Canadian chef de cuisine who was trained in France and honed his skills in Portugal and Spain.
The Mediterranean-Canadian cuisine includes dishes such as octopus salad, smoked Nova Scotia trout and Niagra black pork ribeye. Asian influences are apparent in the delights of pastry chef Yusuke Aoki. TOCA is open from Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 10 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 10 pm.
Fresh On Spadina
Begun as a travelling juice bar in 1990, Fresh has since grown to become one of Toronto's most-popular vegetarian restaurants. They defiantly declare that vegetarian fare need not be boring and set out to prove that point with flavourful veggie burgers topped with vegan bacon, kale salads and carrot-ginger soup.
Fruit smoothies are a speciality with unique blends including the Lightning Bolt with apple, banana, cashew-butter and ginger, and the Supersonic with raspberry, mango, spirulina and flax seeds. Fresh On Spadina is open from Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 10 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 10 pm.
Pizzeria Libretto
Pizzeria Libretto brings wood-fired tradition to the Little Portugal neighbourhood. Baked in a wood-burning oven of Italian stone, pizzas are topped by local produce, salami that's made on site and cheese imported from Italy. Stop in for a weekday lunch to enjoy a prix-fixe menu with pizza, salad and gelato.
They also offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes to pair with a wine list of all-Italian vintages. Pizza Libretto is open daily from 11:30 am to 11 pm.
Dumpling House Restaurant
Along the head-spinning number of small eateries in Chinatown, Dumpling House Restaurant stands out as a favourite with locals. They're beloved for affordable dumplings stuffed with vegetables and fried or steamed pork.
Other favourites include their sweet and sour chicken, hot and sour soup and noodle and rice dishes that are made right before your eyes at a small window. Topping almost everything is their signature hot sauce. Dumpling House is open from Wednesday to Monday from 11 am to 11 pm.
Things to Do in Toronto in December
Nathan Phillips Square
A winter trip to Toronto wouldn't be complete with skating at Nathan Phillips Square. A tradition with locals and visitors alike for generations, the iconic ice rink is backed by a holiday tree with sparkling lights that turns the scene into a winter wonderland. There's also a seasonal European-style market in the forecourt that offers artisan works for sale, gourmet treats and festive drinks.
Spadina House Museum
See how elite Torontonians lived in the early 1900s with a trip to Spadina House. The manor house dating to 1866 has been converted to a museum and left much the way it was when the well-heeled Austin family lived there 100 years ago. Visit a stable, chauffeur's residence, gardener's cottage and greenhouse that was constructed in 1913.
Textile Museum of Canada
For a unique visual-arts experience head to the Textile Museum of Canada. The venue exhibits carpets, fabrics and garments that display cultural diversity. Over 13,000 pieces from over 200 countries are housed in a modern space abounding with brilliant colours. The museum also has exhibits of basketry and beadwork.
Distillery District
Each December the streets of the Distillery District come alive with the annual Toronto Christmas Market. Bundle up and stroll cobblestone lanes lined by 19th century structures and industrial buildings that have been renovated for art galleries, cosy cafes and trendy restaurants. Enjoy live music, dance performances and outdoor sculptures during the yuletide season.
