December in Tuscany suits travelers who plan around museums, villas and long lunches. Afternoons in Florence reach 53°F (11°C), and rain falls on ten days of the month.
In Florence, new access bans for older vehicles take effect on December 1, and daylight lasts under nine hours.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Florence: 53°F (11°C)
- Night low in Florence: 37°F (3°C)
- Rainy days in Florence: 10
- Rainy days in Siena: 9
- Daylight on December 15 in Florence: 8 hours 57 minutes
- Event: 50 Giorni di Cinema in Florence, until December 10
What is the weather like in Tuscany in December?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 60°F (16°C) | 44°F (6°C) | 4.5 in (115 mm) | 10 | 9 h 42 |
| December | 53°F (11°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 3.2 in (81 mm) | 10 | 8 h 57 |
| January | 52°F (11°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.3 in (58 mm) | 8 | 9 h 15 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
December in Tuscany is cool and damp, a month for coats and an umbrella. Florence reaches 53°F (11°C) in the afternoon and drops to 37°F (3°C) at night.
Florence has ten rainy days in the month and Siena nine. Plan outdoor sights such as gardens, walls and village streets for the dry stretches, and keep a museum in reserve for each wet afternoon. With under nine hours of daylight in mid-December, start the walking early.
November is milder, with a Florence high of 60°F (16°C), but it brings more rain, on ten days. January is colder, with a Florence high of 52°F (11°C) and a low of 36°F (2°C). Its rain is lighter, and its days are a few minutes longer than in December.
Where to go in Tuscany in December
Florence
Florence is the easiest base for a cool month, because Palazzo Pitti alone houses five museums. The Boboli Gardens and the cinema season add reasons to come. Expect a 53°F (11°C) afternoon, so alternate indoor and outdoor stops through the day.
Siena
Siena holds the Palazzo Pubblico, home of the Allegory of Good and Bad Government. That suits a day built around one large civic museum.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1990. Its civic museums are three: the Town Hall with the Picture Gallery and Great Tower, the Church of San Lorenzo in Ponte, and the Complesso Museale di Santa Chiara. That gives a rainy day plenty to do indoors.
Lucca
Lucca’s main sights include the Walls of Lucca, the Cathedral of San Martino, Piazza Anfiteatro, the Guinigi Tower and the Torre delle Ore. The Botanical Garden is on the list as well. Most of these can be strung together on foot, pausing at the cathedral when it rains.
Val d’Orcia
The Val d’Orcia covers five municipalities: Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani and San Quirico d’Orcia. Routes for trekking and bicycles link villages, monuments and nature reserves, and the official app shows them. With short days, pick one route and one village to finish in.
What to do in Tuscany in December
Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens in Florence
Palazzo Pitti houses five museums, enough to fill a damp December day indoors. The Boboli Gardens are among the 12 Medici villas declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Start with the palace if the morning is wet and walk the gardens in the first dry window.
Palazzo Pubblico in Siena
The Allegory of Good and Bad Government is in the Palazzo Pubblico, and visitors can also see the Hall of Nine. The Museo Civico offers a free audioguide app in Italian, English, French, German and Italian sign language.
The museum sits inside the restricted traffic zone, so it can’t be reached directly by car. Download the app before going in.
50 Giorni di Cinema in Florence
The 50 Giorni di Cinema season in Florence runs from October 6 to December 10, 2026.
Early December is the time to catch it, since the program ends on the 10th.
Villa medicea della Petraia
The villa has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013 and stands on the slopes of Monte Morello with a view of Florence. Its terraces are described as elegant and flowering.
Go on a dry day so the views and terraces are part of the visit. Plan the trip for a clear afternoon.
Fondazione Salvatore Romano in Florence
The foundation is housed in the Cenacolo di Santo Spirito.
Pair it with a larger museum in the same part of the city.
Is Tuscany busy in December?
Lodging in Tuscany ranges from agriturismi and apartments to resorts, B&Bs and campsites. In Casale Marittimo, the Il Moreto farmhouse sleeps up to 15.
Tuscany’s municipalities can charge a stay tax of up to 5 euros per night. In Greve in Chianti the rate runs from 0.50 euro in a 1-star hotel to 4.00 euros in a 5-star, for up to 7 nights. In Lucca the tax is due for a maximum of three consecutive nights in the same accommodation.
What to pack for Tuscany in December
December asks for layers and a rain plan. Nights fall to 37°F (3°C) and the rain comes on about ten days.
- A warm coat and a sweater for evenings that reach 37°F (3°C)
- A waterproof jacket or umbrella for ten rainy days in Florence
- Shoes with grip for a walk like the Maremma Park route to San Rabano, 6 miles (9.6 km) and 5 hours
- A phone and headphones for the free Museo Civico audioguide app in Siena
- A small flashlight, since daylight lasts under nine hours in mid-December
What to know before visiting Tuscany in December
Florence’s ZTL (restricted traffic zone) is active Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not active on Sundays and public holidays. There is no on-street parking inside it, and without a garage you may enter for only 3 hours to unload luggage. From December 1, 2026, new access bans apply to Euro 1 petrol and Euro 2 diesel vehicles.
The U.S. State Department rates Italy Level 2, Exercise increased caution, issued September 10, 2026, due to terrorism. It recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and highly recommends buying travel insurance before the trip.
Is December a good time to visit Tuscany?
Yes, for travelers who want museums, villas and food at a quiet pace. December gives cool afternoons and ten rainy days in Florence. It suits a trip built around palaces and indoor collections.
January is colder and a little drier.
If you want to walk, the coastal parks and the Maremma Park offer routes on foot, by bike or on horseback. Choose a dry day and carry a rain layer. If you want museums, base yourself in Florence or Siena.
Early December is the time to pick, because 50 Giorni di Cinema in Florence ends on December 10.
Sources
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com//en/ideas/top-things-to-do-in-tuscany-in-spring/), checked 2026-10-30
- feelflorence.it (https://www.feelflorence.it/it/dalle-redazioni/auto-firenze-ztl), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.greve-in-chianti.fi.it (https://www.comune.greve-in-chianti.fi.it/servizi/tributi-finanze-e-contravvenzioni/imposta-di-soggiorno), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.casale-marittimo.pi.it (https://comune.casale-marittimo.pi.it/it/page/115086), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.montespertoli.fi.it (https://www.comune.montespertoli.fi.it/Servizi/Imposta-di-Soggiorno), checked 2026-10-30
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/sea-and-wilderness-nature-parks-along-the-tuscan-coast/), checked 2026-10-30
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com/it/idee/2026-tutti-i-grandi-eventi-dellanno-a-firenze-e-dintorni/), checked 2026-10-30
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30