Things to Do in Haifa in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Haifa
Long-run averages for December
67°F (19°C)
High Temp
53°F (11°C)
Low Temp
5.3 inches (135 mm)
Rainfall
65%
Humidity
3
Sunny-Day UV
Making the most of December in Haifa? Browse tours and activities in Haifa on GetYourGuide.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December hands Haifa its finest hour: air settles at 11-18°C (52-64°F), cool enough to wander the Bahá'í Gardens without the summer furnace or the tour-bus parade.
- + Hotels slash rates 30-40% from summer highs, along the German Colony where renovated Templar houses turn into boutique rooms priced for the shoulder season.
- + Louis Promenade becomes the neighborhood jogging lane, stripped of selfie-stick armies; Hebrew greetings replace English chatter at dawn.
- + Wadi Nisnas winter markets steam with sahlab, the orchid-root drink, and trays of knafeh pulled straight from the pan, street snacks that vanish after February.
Considerations
- − Showers strike 3-4 afternoons weekly, usually between 2-4pm when Carmel disappears under sea fog. Keep an indoor fallback ready.
- − Beach season ends, Mediterranean water slides to 19°C (66°F) and locals store swimsuits until May.
- − Daylight shrinks, so museums and gardens shut by 4-5pm, trimming sightseeing hours compared with summer's lingering twilight.
Settled on December? Compare hotel prices in Haifa for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Haifa in December exists under a moody, luminous sky. The city's famous Bahá'í Gardens remain impeccably green, framed by the pewter sheen of the Mediterranean, where winter waves crash with a low, rhythmic roar against the sea wall near the German Colony. The air carries a fresh, damp chill, often scented with woodsmoke from cafes and the wet earth of the Carmel mountain range. Compared to the arid, dusty summer months, December in Haifa feels more contemplative. You will see locals bundled in jackets along the Louis Promenade, their breath misting in the cool air, while the cafes of Masada Street glow with warm light, offering refuge with thick Turkish coffee and the comforting sound of steamed milk. The rhythm of the city shifts indoors, toward museums, private tours, and long meals, making it a season for focused discovery rather than casual strolls. For the visitor, this means fewer crowds at major sites and a more intimate encounter with Haifa's complex cultural layers, from its Arab coffee houses to its busy port. The climate data shows December is the wettest month in Haifa, a fact that shapes any visit. Days can be crisp and clear, with brilliant winter sun illuminating the stone of the German Colony, or they can be shrouded in soft, rolling fog that muffles the sounds of the port's cranes and ship horns. This variability makes flexibility key. Having a plan for a full-day excursion to drier inland regions, or a curated indoor experience within Haifa itself, ensures the weather becomes a feature of the trip, not a setback. The search interest in rainy-day activities and Christmas markets underscores this practical need, even as the city itself prepares for its own blend of Hanukkah, Christmas, and secular year-end celebrations, with festive lights appearing in windows across its varied neighborhoods.
Haifa Culinary VIP Private Tour
foodThis is a deep immersion into the city's kitchen culture, moving beyond the well-trodden hummus joints into family-run bakeries where you watch sesame-studded ka'ak bread emerge from stone ovens, and into spice shops where the air is thick with the scent of za'atar and sumac. You taste the tang of pickled vegetables from a barrel in Wadi Nisnas and feel the warm, grease-spotted paper of a fresh falafel wrap in your hands.
It connects you directly to the people who define Haifa's unique food scene, an Arab, Jewish, and Druze traditions you cannot access alone.
Insider tip: Come extremely hungry and ask your guide to include a stop for knafeh, the sweet cheese pastry, in the market, its best when eaten fresh and piping hot.
This month: The cooler December weather makes walking between tastings comfortable, and many indoor market stalls feel welcoming.
Holy Jerusalem Private Tour
private_tourThis tour carves a path through the ancient stones and fervent prayers of Jerusalem, from the whispered hymns echoing under the soaring vaults of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the rustle of paper prayers placed in the cracks of the Western Wall. You feel the cool, worn smoothness of Byzantine paving stones underfoot and see the play of shadow and light across the Dome of the Rock's impressive tiles.
It has a personalized, unhurried exploration of one of the world's most spiritually intense cities, allowing for moments of quiet reflection often impossible in group tours.
Insider tip: Request to enter the Old City via the lesser-used Herod's Gate to avoid the main tourist throngs, on weekends.
This month: December can bring occasional rain showers. Wearing sturdy, waterproof shoes is essential for navigating Jerusalem's slippery stone alleys.
Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2026 - Small Group
guided_experienceThis efficient excursion is tailored for cruise passengers, threading the needle between these two impressive destinations. You will hear the multilingual buzz of pilgrims in Manger Square, smell the incense thick in the Church of the Nativity, and see the stark separation wall en route.
It delivers a complete, logistically smooth visit to both cities in a single day, good for those with limited time ashore.
Insider tip: In Bethlehem, your guide will know which church entrance has the shortest queue to see the Grotto of the Nativity, stick close to them.
This month: Bethlehem sees significant crowds in the lead-up to Christmas. Visiting with a pre-arranged group guarantees coordinated entry.
Haifa Port Shore Excursion: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port
day_tripThis journey moves from the echoing, hushed grandeur of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, with its mosaic walls depicting global Madonnas, to the open, breezy shores of the Sea of Galilee. You will feel the change from city stone to lakeside air, perhaps tasting St. Peter's fish from the water if lunch is included.
It covers the foundational biblical geography of the Galilee region in a straightforward, accessible format good for first-time visitors.
Insider tip: In Nazareth, skip the main souvenir street and ask your guide to point you toward the older market section for more authentic crafts.
In the Footsteps of Jesus - Private Tour of Nazareth & the Sea of Galilee
private_tourThis is a scholarly and reflective journey designed to examine the New Testament narrative. You stand on the quiet shore at Tabgha, hearing the lap of water where the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes is commemorated, and walk the excavated streets of Capernaum, feeling the ancient basalt stone underfoot.
The private format allows for in-depth discussion and uninterrupted contemplation at sites that resonate with Christian history.
Insider tip: At the Mount of Beatitudes, take the path down toward the sea for a view of the Galilee that most group tours miss entirely.
This month: The green winter landscape around the Sea of Galilee, a result of December rains, is notably lush and photogenic compared to the parched summer.
Haifa Highlights Private Tour
private_tourThis tour efficiently unpacks the city's visual and cultural drama, from the panoramic view at the top of the Bahá'í Gardens, where you see the entire city cascade toward the port, to the quiet, shaded lanes of the German Colony below. You will hear the contrast between the solemn quiet of the Bahá'í shrine and the lively chatter of the Arab market in Wadi Nisnas.
It is the most time-effective way to understand Haifa's unique topography and the co-existence of its distinct communities.
Insider tip: Request that your driver take the route along the Louis Promenade for the classic postcard view of the gardens and port before descending.
This month: The Bahá'í Gardens' terraces are exceptionally green in December, and the winter light is good for photography.
Where to Stay in Haifa in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
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View Haifa Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Skip the weekend cable car to Stella Maris; bus #37 costs 5 shekels and spares you 45-minute queues.
Local tip: the Museum of Haifa café overlooks the bay, and you can sip coffee without paying museum entry.
Markets shut early on December Fridays, reach Wadi Nisnas before 1pm for the full buzz.
German Colony kitchens launch winter menus on December 1st, ask for the seasonal kubbeh soup at classic tables.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't expect beach weather, locals pull on jackets after dark and the sea is strictly for looking.
Skip beachfront rooms for the 'view', December waves are steel-grey; mountain-facing hotels give better bang.
Don't squeeze a summer schedule into short winter days, you'll need an extra half-day to cover the same ground.
Short on time? See day trips around Haifa on GetYourGuide.
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