★★★
Mid-Range
Collegian Hotel & Suites, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
From $107 / night
Check Prices on Trip.com →
Things to Do in Syracuse in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Syracuse
Long-run averages for December
37°F (3°C)
High Temp
25°F (-4°C)
Low Temp
4.4 inches (112 mm)
Rainfall
79%
Humidity
14
Rainy Days
1
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Freezing rain and black ice are common hazards, on elevated roadways and bridges. Driving requires extreme caution.
⚠ Lake-effect snow squalls can develop quickly and locally, reducing visibility to near zero on highways north and west of the city with little warning.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + The city wraps itself in a festive atmosphere that feels local, not staged. Neighborhoods like Tipperary Hill and Westcott string their own lights. Woodsmoke and mulled cider drift from shops in Hanover Square. You can smell the season here.
- + Snowfall stays lighter than in January or February. Often it merely dusts the frozen shoreline of Onondaga Lake and the hills of Green Lakes State Park. The result is a stark, beautiful monochrome landscape. You won't get trapped indoors.
- + The cold clarifies the air. Winter sunsets over the lakefront stretch long and low, seeming to last forever. Orange light spills across the salt-stained brick of Armory Square. The colors linger.
- + December runs cheaper than peak summer festival season. Hotels downtown have more availability. The Everson Museum and the Erie Canal Museum move at a slower, more contemplative pace. Fewer crowds, more space.
Considerations
- − The cold here is wet cold, amplified by 79% humidity. Twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit (-4°C) cuts straight through your layers. It settles in your bones. The wind whipping off the lake makes it worse.
- − Fourteen rainy days and frequent snow-sleet mix keep outdoor plans provisional. You will watch the sky often. Gritty, salted slush seeps into shoes. Pack spare socks.
- − Daylight is scarce. The sun sets before 4:30 PM. Sightseeing compresses into a short, grey window. Night starts in the late afternoon here.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Downtown Syracuse Holiday Lights Walking Tours
Syracuse's downtown architecture, all brick and limestone, becomes a stage for holiday spirit in December. The best time is just after dusk, when the chill has settled and your breath clouds the air. Colored lights reflect off wet pavement in Clinton Square. The giant tree at Bank Alley glows. The city center turns into an urban snow globe. Crowds are thin, mostly locals heading to dinner. The experience feels authentic. No packaged tour can replicate this.
Booking Tip: Skip the formal tour. Map a route from Armory Square up to Hanover Square instead. For historical context on the buildings you see lit up, guided walking tours are available through local historical societies. Check the booking widget below for current seasonal options.
Finger Lakes Wine Country Tasting Tours (Winter Edition)
December brings the quiet, fireside season to the Finger Lakes region south of Syracuse. Vineyards around Skaneateles and Cazenovia lie dormant under possible snow. Tasting rooms, often in rustic barns or converted farmhouses, trade patio views for roaring hearths. The focus shifts to strong reds and ice wines. Pourers give you undivided attention without summer bus crowds. The drive south on Route 81, bare trees etched against grey skies, completes the stark, beautiful appeal.
Booking Tip: Winter tours need advance booking. Many smaller wineries reduce hours or open by appointment only. Look for tours specializing in the 'winter cellar' experience or including transportation. Rural roads get slick. See current options in the booking section.
Onondaga Lake Park Winter Wildlife Walks
Frozen marshes and leafless forests transform Onondaga Lake Park, northwest of the city, into a starkly beautiful theater for winter wildlife. Cold air carries sound further. You hear your boots crunch on gravel paths, distant calls of overwintering birds, ice crackling along the shoreline. Bald eagles, deer, and flocks of waterfowl appear against the grey lake expanse. The city skyline sits visible but distant. This bracing, solitary experience vanishes in greener months.
Booking Tip: No formal tour is needed for the park itself. Local conservation groups sometimes offer guided birding or nature walks in December. Dress in serious layers. The wind off the frozen lake is merciless. Check the booking widget for seasonal nature tours.
Syracuse University Campus & Cultural Institution Tours
December brings a specific quiet to the Syracuse University hill, after students leave for break but before the new year. Brutalist concrete of buildings like Brutten Hall and the I.M. Pei-designed Newhouse School strike harder against grey skies. Empty quads invite wandering without distraction. Visit on-campus art museums or catch holiday performances at Setnor Auditorium. Then warm up with coffee at townie cafes on Marshall Street that stay open.
Booking Tip: Campus tour schedules shrink but remain available. University art galleries and the nearby Everson Museum of Art run varying holiday hours. Confirm ahead. For tours combining campus history with city landmarks, check the booking section for current guided walk options.
Where to Stay in Syracuse in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
★★★
Mid-Range
Best Western Syracuse Downtown Hotel and Suites
From $119 / night
Check Prices on Trip.com →
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
New Year's Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Syracuse Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals know the best warming-up spots aren't the obvious chains. Duck into the Pastabilities building in Armory Square for the heat from their open kitchen and a cup of their spicy hot tomato oil, or grab a booth at the dark, woody Coleman's Irish Pub on Tipperary Hill, which feels like it's been steaming up its windows since the 1930s.
Parking downtown is easier and often cheaper in December, as the daily commuter crush eases. The garages under Clinton Square or the OnCenter are usually your best bet, sheltering your car from the elements.
If you're driving to outlying areas like the Finger Lakes, keep a small bag of kitty litter or sand in your trunk. It's not just for traction if you get stuck. Sprinkling it on an icy windshield can help melt a stubborn freeze when your scraper won't cut it.
The holiday farmers' markets, like the one inside the Regional Market on Saturdays, are where you'll find the real seasonal treats: local honey, hard apple cider, and dense, fruit-studded stollen breads you won't see in supermarkets.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the driving conditions. A 'dusting' of snow here often comes with invisible black ice, on bridges like the I-81 viaduct or roads around the university hill. Give yourself double the travel time.
Packing only for extreme cold and forgetting about the damp, 40°F (4°C) rainy days that feel even more miserable. You need a flexible wardrobe.
Trying to do too much in one day. The short daylight and weather delays mean two solid activities (one indoor, one outdoor) is a realistic, satisfying day in December Syracuse.
Ready to plan your trip to Syracuse?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.
Explore More Activities in Syracuse
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Syracuse.
See All Syracuse Tours on Viator