Things to Do in Palestine in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Palestine
Long-run averages for December
59°F (15°C)
High Temp
46°F (8°C)
Low Temp
1.7 inches (43 mm)
Rainfall
66%
Humidity
7
Rainy Days
3
Sunny-Day UV
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December strips Palestine's holy sites down to their quietest, most contemplative selves. The spring pilgrim crowds have vanished. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Dome of the Rock esplanade in Jerusalem settle into a meditative hush you will not encounter any other season.
- + Crisp air and moody skies lend the landscape a stark, painterly quality. The West Bank's rolling hills deepen to winter green. Morning mists pool in the valleys around Ramallah. The terraced olive groves look lifted from a biblical etching.
- + This is the season for indoor warmth and communal eating. Woodsmoke drifts from ceramic braziers (mankal) through old quarters. Families crowd restaurants for maqluba, the upside-down chicken, rice, and vegetable dish. Steaming cups of sage tea (maraamiya) follow. The smells linger.
- + Hotel rates and tour prices dip noticeably after autumn holidays and before the late December Christmas increase. Time it right. You will find better value.
Considerations
- − Days are short. Sunset hits around 4:30 PM. This slashes sightseeing time, photography. Plan outdoor activities for the narrow window between the chilly 10 AM start and the early evening fade.
- − The rain is not monsoon-level. It is unpredictable and cold. A persistent drizzle can kill plans to hike Wadi Qelt or explore Hebron's old city markets. You will scramble for museum back-ups.
- − Christmas itself (December 24-26, plus Orthodox Christmas in early January) flips everything. Bethlehem becomes packed, expensive, logistically complex. The peaceful weeks before vanish. The contrast jars.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Old City & Holy Site Private Guided Tours
December's cool, clear days suit the sustained walking these tours demand. Contemplate the worn stones of Jerusalem's Via Dolorosa without summer's oppressive heat or jostling crowds. Hear your guide explain the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard's intricate tilework. The light softens, good for photography. Rain sends other visitors scattering. You get momentarily private views.
Booking Tip: A knowledgeable local guide is non-negotiable. You need context. You need navigation through layered politics and checkpoints. Book two weeks ahead for the best-regarded guides. See current options with licensed operators in the booking section below.
Bethlehem & the Separation Wall Half-Day Tours
The Separation Wall around Bethlehem feels even starker under December's grey skies. A guided tour here is essential to understand the modern Palestinian experience. Afterwards, warm up in Manger Square. Sip sweet, thick Arabic coffee from a vendor. Look up at the Church of the Nativity's ancient facade. The weather keeps souvenir hawkers somewhat at bay. Observation becomes more meaningful.
Booking Tip: Most tours include hotel pickup from Jerusalem. Ensure yours explicitly includes a Palestinian guide from Bethlehem for the most authentic perspective. Check the booking widget for current schedules and operators.
Cultural Cooking Classes & Food Experiences
This is the season for Palestine's most comforting dishes. An indoor cooking class lets you escape the chill. You enter the warmth of a family kitchen. Learn musakhan: sumac-spiced chicken on taboon bread, built for sharing. Feel the oven heat on your face. Smell the tangy sumac and toasted pine nuts. It is sensory. It is filling. It defeats cold days.
Booking Tip: Look for classes in local homes in towns like Ramallah or Beit Sahour, not hotel kitchens. These book fast in December. It is a prime indoor activity. Reserve at least 10 days ahead.
Historical Hikes in the Judean Desert
Hit a dry spell, and winter becomes the only tolerable time for desert trails. The air stays cool and brisk. The low sun throws long, dramatic shadows across canyons. Hike down to the cliffside St. George's Monastery in Wadi Qelt. Hear only gravel underfoot and distant monk calls. The Dead Sea is pleasantly swimmable now. Summer's brutal heat is gone.
Booking Tip: This is highly weather-dependent. Book with flexible operators who can reschedule or pivot to cultural alternatives if rain makes trails slippery and dangerous. Never hike without a local guide who knows the terrain and weather patterns.
Where to Stay in Palestine in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Catholic Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Catholic Christmas Day; Isra' and Mi'raj
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Isra' and Mi'raj
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Catholic Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
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View Palestine Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best weather window is usually mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Use this time exclusively for outdoor sites. Save museums, shopping in the covered markets (like Jerusalem's Old City souq), and long meals for before 10 AM or after 3 PM.
For the authentic Christmas vibe without the late-December bedlam, visit Bethlehem in early December. The giant tree is up in Manger Square. The lights are on. The Christmas spirit is building. You can still move. You can still find a hotel room.
If a rainy day derails your plans, seek out one of the excellent Palestinian heritage centers or museums in Ramallah (like the Palestinian Museum) or Birzeit. They're warm. They're enlightening. They're often empty of other tourists.
December is citrus season. Seek out freshly squeezed juice from Jaffa oranges or bitter-orange (naranj) from street carts. It's brighter. It's tangier. It's more revitalizing than anything you've tasted back home.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the temperature drop at night and in the shade. That sunny courtyard feels warm until you step into the shadow of a millennia-old wall. The cold stone seems to radiate chill.
Trying to pack in too many different cities or sites in one day. The short daylight, combined with potential delays at checkpoints, makes a relaxed, one-location-per-day approach essential.
Assuming everything runs to a tight schedule. Rain, religious observances, or local strikes can close sites or roads with little notice. Build flexibility. Build 'plan B' options into your itinerary.
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