What the weather is like in December
December is pleasant (25°C) with modest rain from passing fronts. Art Basel (first week) and the Christmas–New Year fortnight are the two most expensive periods of the year; the two weeks between them are quiet and reasonably priced. The Orange Bowl and New Year's Eve on South Beach close the month.
Averages are five-year Open-Meteo (ERA5) figures for Downtown Miami; other parts of Miami vary. Full sources below.
What to pack for Miami in December
- Light layers for warm days
- A light jacket for the evenings
- A packable rain jacket or compact umbrella
What's on in December
- Art Basel Miami Beach (Miami Beach Convention Center and citywide) — First week of December; the single most expensive hotel week of the year.
Is December the right month?
Miami's best month is February; the toughest is September. See the full month-by-month breakdown for Miami.
Where to stay in December
December is peak season in Miami, so prices are at their highest. Book early for the best choice of rooms.
- South Beach (Miami Beach)$$$The beach, Art Deco, nightlife
The classic base; loud south of 15th Street, calmer north of 20th. In an evacuation zone — check the forecast in late summer.
See South Beach (Miami Beach) hotels for 12–18 Dec 2026 - Brickell / Downtown$$Restaurants, rooftop bars, business travel
High-rise hotels with better rates than the Beach; a short ride to Wynwood and Little Havana. Prone to street flooding in heavy rain.
See Brickell / Downtown hotels for 12–18 Dec 2026 - Coral Gables / Coconut Grove$$Quieter base, families, tree-lined streets
Historic, leafy, and calmer, with easy access to the Everglades and the Keys highway. Twenty minutes to the Beach.
See Coral Gables / Coconut Grove hotels for 12–18 Dec 2026
Links open a hotel search for 12–18 Dec 2026; you can change the dates there. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Miami?
December scores 82/100 on the Atlas Ranger Score — "Exceptional" — which blends weather with crowds and price. December is one of the best months to visit Miami — strong conditions and the reason many travellers pick this window. It is also one of the most expensive: book early, and expect holiday-week rates.
How warm is Miami in December?
Expect daytime highs around 25°C (77°F) and overnight lows near 19°C (66°F), with about 8.7 hours of sun a day.
Does it rain in Miami in December?
December sees roughly 118mm of rain — moderate rainfall; a packable rain layer helps.
What should I pack for Miami in December?
For December, pack: Light layers for warm days; A light jacket for the evenings; A packable rain jacket or compact umbrella.
Sources
Every claim on this page is backed by an authoritative source. Atlas Ranger synthesizes data from multiple references so you can see exactly where each fact came from.
- Greater Miami Convention & Visitors BureauUsed for: Official visitor information, event dates
- Open-Meteo Historical Climate Data (ERA5)Used for: Monthly temperature, rainfall, sunshine averages (5-year)
- NOAA National Hurricane CenterUsed for: Atlantic hurricane season climatology and historical South Florida landfalls
- Miami-Dade County Emergency ManagementUsed for: Evacuation zones, storm-surge planning, alert registration
Keep planning