Things to Do in Pisa in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Pisa
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Piazza dei Miracoli with a fraction of the usual tourists. You might get a photo of the Leaning Tower without ten people's elbows in the frame. The morning chill on the stone pavement feels appropriately ancient.
- + The Christmas lights on Borgo Stretto, the main shopping arcade, go up in early December. They turn the 12th-century passageways into a canopy of white bulbs that reflect off the damp cobblestones. The perfect backdrop for a post-dinner stroll with a paper cup of hot cioccolata densa.
- + Food in Pisa pivots to winter richness. You'll find roasted chestnuts (castagne) sold from carts on Ponte di Mezzo, the river bridge. Menus feature game birds, slow-cooked wild boar (cinghiale), and ribollita, a thick Tuscan bread and vegetable soup that warms you through.
- + Hotel rates drop significantly after the November trade fairs end. A stay in a restored palazzo on the quieter side of the Arno, like near the Palazzo Blu, becomes much more attainable.
- − The damp cold in Pisa, thanks to that 70% humidity, gets into your bones. It's the kind that a thin jacket won't cut. You'll find yourself ducking into the first open doorway, whether it's a church or a bar, just to stand near a heater.
- − Many smaller trattorias beloved by locals in the San Martino quarter close for a week or two over the holidays, from around December 23rd through early January. Your backup plan? Head to the central market area near Piazza delle Vettovaglie, where the old-school places remain stubbornly open.
- − While the main sites are open, some of Pisa's best charms suffer. The botanic gardens near the Knights' Square and leisurely bike rides along the river to the church of San Piero a Grado are much less appealing when the sky is a flat, low gray and the ground is wet.
Year-Round Climate
How December compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11°C | 2°C | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Feb | 12°C | 2°C | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Mar | 15°C | 5°C | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 18°C | 7°C | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| May | 22°C | 11°C | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C | 15°C | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C | 17°C | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Aug | 30°C | 18°C | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Sep | 26°C | 14°C | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Oct | 21°C | 11°C | 5.1 inches (130 mm) |
| Nov | 16°C | 7°C | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Dec | 12°C | 3°C | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Pisa is quiet. The air hovers around 12 degrees Celsius, damp and sharp. Light turns pearly, nothing like the summer glare. Gentle rains darken the cobblestones. Wet earth and old stone fill your nose. Locals stride past in coats, breath clouding, crossing half-empty piazzas. No festivals, just the cathedral bells rolling low through the cool air. Slip inside cafés. Espresso steam fogs glass while your fingers meet cold marble outside. The season slows. Bare branches scratch across grey sky. Shop windows glow at early dusk. Ribollita and rough red wine become daily armor against the chill. You trade peak-season buzz for intimate stone corridors and locals living real life. Crisp air, rain on terracotta, the Leaning Tower alone against winter clouds, that is December Pisa.
Cycling Pisa highlights & hidden treasures - half day tour
guided_experienceA guided bicycle tour in December bites your cheeks as you spin beside the Arno's mirror-like water. Empty medieval lanes echo only tire whir and distant market shouts before you burst into the damp vastness of Piazza dei Miracoli.
Volterra and San Gimignano: a taste of medieval Tuscany!
otherA December day trip to Volterra and San Gimignano drops you into stark medieval heights where mist hugs the valleys under stone towers. Cold paving stones echo, woodsmoke drifts, and Volterra's alabaster workshops glow against short grey daylight.
Pisa's Leaning Tower Climbing, Cathedral, Cemetery and Baptistery guided visit
culturalClimb the Leaning Tower in December. Cold marble meets your soles, humid stillness coils up the spiral. At the summit a sharp breeze snaps past as red rooftops and misty winter fields roll out under cloud-streaked sky.
Pisa: Private local food tour
foodA private food tour in December hunts for warmth: cured meats, truffle pasta, custard pastries pulled from steamy bakeries, glasses of Sangiovese in low-ceilinged enotecas.
Carrara Marble Tour by van from Lucca or Pisa
guided_experienceVisit Carrara marble quarries in December and white cliffs blaze against grey sky while cool dust hangs in damp air. A van climbs switchbacks. Machinery groans distantly before you taste sharp, mineral lardo in a quarry-side shop.
Cinque Terre Private Tour by Minivan and Ferry-Boat from Pisa
private_tourA private Cinque Terre tour from Pisa in December shows a coast in deep repose: steely grey-green sea, waves slamming empty harbors. Salt spray stings on ferry hops between villages. Colored houses cling to fog-draped cliffs and frying seafood scents drift from near-empty trattorias.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Pisa Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Pisa.
See All Pisa Tours on Viator