31 Best Things to Do in Seattle in December + Weather Info [2023]
PLANNING A VISIT TO SEATTLE IN DECEMBER?
We can help! We’ve been traveling together since 2010 and we love visiting the Pacific Northwest! It’s such a beautiful place to visit, especially when it’s frosted over during the winter months.
Seattle is one of our favorite cities, and it has a ton to offer on a winter getaway. Come along as we countdown the best things to do in Seattle in December!
Things to do in Seattle in December
1. Visit The Space Needle
No trip to Seattle would be complete without a visit to the famed Space Needle. It offers amazing views of Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound. Not to mention the Olympic Mountains, covered in snow thanks to the Seattle December weather.
There are many popular attractions in this area of town, and you can often times save money by booking a combination ticket to multiple venues. The Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass combo ticket is a great way to visit the Space Needle and Chihuly Museum to enjoy the glass art exhibits.
▶️ BOOK Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass Combination Ticket
2. Take a Harbor Cruise
One of our favorite ways to explore and learn about coastal cities is on a cruise. The Seattle Harbor Cruise showcases the best of what the city’s waterfront offers. From Elliot Bay to Seattle Harbor, this cruise is a fun way to take in the sights and sounds of Seattle.
Be sure to bundle up as Seattle in December weather will be cold, especially while on the water! Concessions and warm drinks are available for purchase during the cruise.
3. Explore Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is one of the most quintessential Seattle attractions. From the Fishmongers tossing fish around to the fresh flowers and artisan shops, it’s such a colorful and fun place to explore.
We love picking up some fresh produce from the market and, of course, seeing the fish markets where they throw the fish across their storefront. There is also really yummy clam chowder here. Also, don’t miss out on a quick stop at the Seattle Gum Wall, just a 2-minute walk away. It is one of my kids’ favorite places to visit in Seattle.
If you’re ever asking yourself what to do in Seattle in December, we recommend tasting your way through Pike Place Market on a Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market. This 2-hour tour will allow you to sample some of the best food the market has to offer. From Mac and Cheese to Greek Yogurt, it’s a tour the whole family can enjoy!
▶️ BOOK Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market
4. Go Back in Time in Seattle’s Underground City
We love spending time in Seattle, and the city’s Underground Tour is one of our favorite attractions! We loved walking through what was the historic Pioneer Square before it was covered up following the 1889 Great Seattle Fire. It’s like experiencing Seattle through a time capsule!
Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour is a sure bet for fun for the whole family! And definitely one of the most interesting things to do in Seattle in winter!
▶️ BOOK Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour
5. Take a Hike in Discovery Park
If you’re an outdoorsy family, a visit to Discovery Park is one of the best things to do in December in Seattle. It offers some amazing views and so many fun trails to explore. You can make your way through meadows or hike alongside gorgeous cliffs.
Kids will love visiting the lighthouse or Daybreak Marine Center here as well. Even during the winter, it’s a beautiful place to visit, especially for a winter sunrise or sunset.
6. Play in the Snow at Snoqualmie Pass
Skiing and snowboarding are some of the best ways to enjoy Seattle winter activities. The city itself doesn’t get a ton of snow during the winter, but Snoqualmie Pass sure does, and it’s only 45 minutes outside the city.
It’s the perfect place to sneak off to enjoy the fresh mountain air and the slopes! Skiing isn’t the only way to enjoy the snow here, they have a tubing park as well!
7. Warm Up on a Coffee Tour
Seattle is known as the home of amazing coffee. If you’re a fan, there’s no better way to stay warm in Seattle in the winter than on a Seattle Coffee Culture Tour.
This tour will take you on a tasting adventure through the coffee shops in Capitol Hill, one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. You’ll learn more about coffee, its origins, and its impact on the city than you ever knew you needed to. This tour makes for a fun and invigorating Seattle experience!
▶️ BOOK Seattle Coffee Culture Tour
8. Check out the Renegade Craft Fair
If you’re looking for more thoughtful gifts this Christmas, spend some time exploring the Renegade Craft Fair in Seattle in December.
The temperature in Seattle in December can get decently chilly, but as long as the whole family is bundled up warm, you’ll enjoy your outing at Magnuson Park, perusing the different small business offerings curated by some gifted local artists and shop owners. It’s also just a fun and festive space to take a breather with the family if you’ve had a busy day.
9. Sip Your Way Through a Winter Beer Festival
The Seattle Winter Beer Festival is an annual event where 30-plus local breweries gather together to showcase their best winter beers, imperial stouts, and spiced ales.
People move from booth to booth, sampling the beverages and enjoying the holiday decorations and atmosphere. Visitors are encouraged to wear ugly Christmas sweaters and hats to add to the ambiance!
10. Go to the Theater
No matter what city you’re in, magic gets conjured up when attending the theater in the wintertime.
Pacific Northwest Ballet puts on a yearly production of The Nutcracker, which is wonderful to enjoy during this time of year. ACT Theater’s production of A Christmas Carol is another excellent choice for catching the holiday spirit through the enchanting performing arts in Seattle.
11. Go On A Haunted Walking Tour
If you’re a paranormal thrill seeker or are just looking for a fun way to enjoy Seattle after dark without the kids, muster up your courage and join a lively Haunted Seattle Ghost and Pub Walking Tour.
Participants on this tour will enjoy both liquid spirits and those of the paranormal persuasion. This lighthearted tour is led by an experienced guide who will take the group to some of Seattle’s best bars while regaling everyone with haunting tales of the city’s storied past.
▶️ BOOK Haunted Seattle Ghost and Pub Walking Tour
Take A Day Trip From Seattle
12. Visit Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is one of the Seattle area’s most recognized natural landmarks. There’s so much natural beauty to be explored in this part of the state, but most of the roads to Mt. Rainer are closed during the winter for personal visitors.
Mt. Rainier Day Trip from Seattle is a tour that offers trips from Seattle to Mount Rainier National Park, even in December. Tour groups are picked up in Seattle and then enjoy a scenic drive to the park. Beautiful winter landscapes, including Alder Lake Park, located in the foothills of Mount Rainier, will be on display.
The tour also includes views of Christine Falls, the Nisqually River, and Narada Falls, which at 188 feet, is taller than famed Niagra Falls. They are all cool sights to experience with your family.
Paradise (5,400 feet above sea level) is where you will be able to take in the best view of Mount Rainier. If time and conditions allow, winter adventures here often also include snowshoeing or sledding excursions.
▶️ BOOK Mt. Rainier Day Trip from Seattle
13. Visit Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is about 2 hours and 10 minutes outside of Seattle and is another great place for a day trip. Most of the park remains open and accessible during the winter, so as long as you’re willing to brave the cold and snow, it’s a great time to explore the evergreen forests and gaze at the Olympic Mountains blanketed in beautiful snow.
Some of our favorite places on the Olympic Peninsula are Ruby Beach and the Hoh Rainforest. If you’re up for a hike, you can visit Sol Duc Falls and then warm up after your hike in the nearby hot springs. We loved visiting the hot springs after hiking to the waterfall with our family.
If you’d prefer a guided experience instead of exploring the park on your own, keep the Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour in mind. This tour transports visitors from Seattle to Olympic National Park and guides you through your journey there. They cover the beaches and forests, as well as short hikes on some of the park’s best trails.
▶️ BOOK Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour
14. Explore North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is yet another outdoor gem to consider visiting while in Seattle. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Seattle.
We stopped here on one of our road trips and thought it was beautiful! If you are a national park enthusiast and/or love hiking, this national park is well worth visiting.
There are so many things to do in North Cascades. We recommend taking the scenic drive down North Cascades Highway, where you can stop off to enjoy the viewpoints or check out a hike along the way. It’s a great way to see some of the park’s highlights in a limited amount of time.
15. Visit Forks
A day trip to Forks is a great option to consider if you’re interested in exploring the Olympic Peninsula and coastline while in Washington. At 4 hours, it’s a lengthy drive from Seattle, but if you’ve got the time to spare, we highly recommend visiting this area.
It’s another spot that is perfect for families who love the outdoors, with so many hiking trails in an enchanting landscape, nature lovers will thoroughly enjoy Forks!
16. Go International on an Adventure to Victoria
British Columbia is closer to Seattle than you might think, and thanks to high-speed ferries, it’s quick and easy for families to visit.
The Day Trip from Seattle to Victoria on the Victoria Clipper is such a convenient way to explore Victoria, British Columbia. You hop on the ferry in Seattle and cruise in comfortable style as the Victoria Clipper transports guests through Puget Sound and onto the Strait of Juan de Fuca eventually ending up in Victoria’s Inner Harbor.
The travel time from Seattle to Victoria is around 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll have the day to explore Victoria how you see fit before boarding the ferry for your return trip to Seattle that evening.
▶️ BOOK Day Trip from Seattle to Victoria on the Victoria Clipper
17. Take a Winery Tour
Woodinville is about 25 minutes outside of Seattle and is known for its wineries.
Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour provides transportation to local wineries, during which your guide will share insights about Washington wines. Samples of some of the best wines will be available at each stop but require an additional fee.
▶️ BOOK Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour
18. Enjoy Some Pacific Northwest Waterfalls
The Pacific Northwest is such a majestic and striking region of the United States. One of the most memorable ways to truly experience the landscape here is to face it up close on a hike. And there’s nothing more rewarding than views of a gorgeous waterfall to cap off a strenuous walk.
Forest Hike to Gorgeous Twin and Snoqualmie Falls is an awesome tour to consider if you’re looking for a guided hiking experience in this area. Not for everyone, this tour includes a lengthy and moderately challenging hike through an old-growth forest. As well as stops to relish the beauty of Twin Falls, Upper Falls, and Snoqualmie Falls, among other highlights.
▶️ BOOK Forest Hike to Gorgeous Twin and Snoqualmie Falls
Places to See Christmas Lights in Seattle in December
19. Winterfest
Winterfest is Seattle’s premier outdoor Christmas event. It runs from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve.
It’s the perfect place to catch the holiday spirit in Seattle. The Seattle Center will be decked out with Christmas lights to enjoy. Visitors can relish the holiday ambiance as they go ice skating or admire the ice sculptures on display throughout the campus.
This is one of the best things to do with kids in Seattle in December. There are all kinds of fun activities and attractions, including a model train display that runs through a winter village and live entertainment on the weekends. The winter weather in Seattle in December will be cold, so make sure you dress for warmth!
20. Pike Place Market
Only a true Seattle staple would make our list twice. Different than the shopping experience during the day, a visit to Pike Place Market under the stars during the month would warm even the Grinch’s tiny heart. The holiday spirit is alive and well in this part of town, complete with lights for days, holly jolly decorations, and even themed holiday drinks throughout the market.
21. Olympic Manor
Olympic Manor is a charming Seattle neighborhood located between N.W. 75th & N.W. 100th. It’s the most wholesome entry on our list because it’s simple, just a small neighborhood community that worked together to transform their neighborhood into a winter wonderland for the month.
The lights here bring joy for parents and children alike. They are best experienced on a walk through the neighborhood, so wear layers and bring a thermos of hot chocolate to keep everyone warm!
22. Garden d’Lights
Garden d’Lights is the Christmas light display at Bellevue Botanical Garden. It’s one of Seattle’s most beautiful light displays because it combines the glow of the lights with the sheer beauty of nature on display in the gardens.
Kids love the displays here as the lights are designed to appear as animals, plants, and waterfalls, among other things.
23. Christmas Ship Festival
Everyone loves a Christmas parade. But have you ever seen one on water? Seattle’s Christmas Ship Festival is a nightly occurrence running from the day after Thanksgiving up until December 23rd.
A group of festively decorated ships make their way through 45 different waterfront communities, tracing the shorelines of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Puget Sound.
You can purchase tickets to ride on one of the boats in the procession, gather outside along the route where there are often bonfires, or you can enjoy the sight from the warmth of a restaurant along the water’s edge.
24. Holiday Lights and Delights
Holiday Lights and Delights is an impressive lights display in West Lake Park in downtown Seattle. Holiday-themed sculptures like presents and a Christmas tree are adorned with nearly 80,000 lights throughout the park.
This event is a fun way to explore downtown Seattle with your family during the holiday season.
25. WildLanterns
Woodland Park Zoo goes above and beyond on its creative and captivating WildLanterns display. A favorite for kids for sure, this is not your standard Christmas light display. Instead of strings of colorful glowing lights, children will meet stunning nature scapes and playful-looking animals in the form of large-scale lanterns.
It’s not holiday-based, so this is a viable family night activity for those who do not celebrate Christmas.
Seattle Christmas Events
26. Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets are such fun places to walk through and enjoy. Whether you’re looking to check some names off your Christmas list, shopping for yourself, or just interested in checking out the talent and craft work on display, these are often some of the jolliest places to spend an afternoon in Seattle.
Julefest at Nordic Museum and the Winter Solstice Night Market (21+ only) are some of the best Christmas Markets in town.
27. Christmas Ship Cruise
A cruise is always a great way to spend time in Seattle, no matter what time of year. But the holidays do offer a different and more festive excuse to hit the water in Seattle.
Christmas ship cruises offer your family the chance to take an over-the-top magical Seattle boat ride, including everything Christmasy you could dream of. From sparkling lights to beautiful trees, singing choirs, and of course, hot chocolate. And if you’re lucky, Santa Claus may even make an appearance too!
28. Santa Con
Every year a group of bars craft a list of holiday-themed drink specials and orchestrate a pub crawl that they call Santa Con. Participants pay $7 to join the crawl and are highly encouraged to dress up for the occasion. From Santa hats, ugly sweaters, and questionable onesies, it’s an excuse for a lively night on the town for adults.
29. Gingerbread Village
Every year the Seattle Sheraton plays host to the Gingerbread Village. Not just your standard gingerbread houses, these sugar-coated creations are seriously impressive, designed by local kids suffering from type 1 diabetes, with help from area architects.
It’s a great cause, and the village is so fun to come and see. Your kids won’t believe what can be built with gingerbread!
30. Snowflake Lane Parade
Visiting Snowflake Lane is one of the most magical experiences you can have in Seattle in December. Each evening, beginning at the end of November and ending on Christmas Eve, the town of Bellevue stops, for a nightly parade, to celebrate the joy of the holiday season.
Downtown Bellevue is decorated to the nines with twinkling lights and bedazzled floats. Marching bands play joyful holiday music while performers and crowds dance in this winter wonderland.
31. Festival of Trees
Festival of Trees is a lovely fundraiser that takes place at the Fairmont Hotel in Seattle. Trees are thoughtfully and creatively decorated by children and then put on display at the hotel to be bid upon. The proceeds from the selling of the trees go to area children’s organizations.
Seattle Weather in December
Rainfall: 5.72”
Hours of Sunshine (Entire Month): 54
Days With Precipitation: 18
Average Daily High Temperature: 46°F
Average Daily Low Temperature: 37 °F
Seattle weather in December will be cold but not frigid. Temperatures during this month don’t typically get over 55°F, but they don’t typically slip into freezing temperatures either, rarely falling under 38°F.
December is Seattle’s third rainiest month, so prepare for a rainy day here and there as well. A typical day this month averages just shy of 1 hour and 45 minutes of rain.
Where to Stay in Seattle in December
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
⭐️ Rating 9/10 | 📍 Location: 411 University St. in Seattle | 🏩 View on Expedia.com
Fairmont Olympic Hotel is one of the most beautiful luxury hotels in downtown Seattle. Guests can enjoy the ultimate comforts here, as this property has high-end hotel rooms and suites. The rooms are both stylish and cozy, and most of them offer amazing views of downtown Seattle.
The property also boasts two restaurants and a bar for any culinary needs. As well as a full-service spa for the ultimate rest and relaxation winter getaway.
▶️ Check Rates & Availability at Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center
⭐️ Rating 8.4/10 | 📍 Location: 601 Roy St. in Seattle | 🏩 View on Expedia.com
Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center is another exceptional place to stay when exploring Seattle, Washington, in December. This 3-star hotel is comfortable but not pretentious. We love its excellent location, as it’s just a short walk away from the Space Needle or a quick drive from the waterfront.
Families especially will value a stay here. Free cribs and convenient laundry facilities make for happy travelers!
▶️ Check Rates & Availability at Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center
FAQ: Seattle in December
Does it Snow in Seattle in December?
Seattle does experience some snow during the month of December, but not much. The city typically only sees around 1.7” of snow during the month.
Is December a Good Time to Visit Seattle?
December can be a great time to visit Seattle because the town gets really festive for the holidays. There’s always something going on in December that will keep visitors busy during this cooler month.
What is Seattle Like in December?
Seattle is known for its cloudy countenance year-round, and December is no exception. You can expect cool temperatures, some rain, and not a ton of sunshine.
Is It Cold in Seattle in December?
The average temperature in Seattle in December is 46°F, as a high, while the low is 37 °F. The temperatures aren’t absolutely frigid, but they are definitely cool.
Is Seattle Worth Visiting in Winter?
Yes! Seattle can be a really wonderful place to visit during the winter. There are so many things to do with kids in Seattle in December that could also be enjoyed as a couple or even a solo traveler. Seattle in January is another great choice, especially for travelers who would like to avoid the holiday hubbub.
Conclusion: Seattle in December
Seattle in December can be a lot of fun, especially if you’re in the holiday spirit. We hope these ideas will help you craft your perfect Seattle itinerary. From snow-laden hikes to coffee-tasting throughout the city, the Emerald City makes for a fun winter getaway!
And if you’ve got extra time, be sure to check out these honorable mentions that didn’t make our list! Go whale watching or take a longer drive out to Ocean Shores to check out the tidepools!
