December is a cold and rainy month throughout most of Europe. The website Weather2Travel lists the average daytime highs in London and Moscow at 48 F and 25 F, respectively, so most people looking for warmer weather head to southern Mediterranean countries and cities. Cyprus is traditionally the warmest country in December, followed by Malta, but southern parts of Spain, Greece and Italy can also have warmer winter weather.
Soak up the Sun in Cyprus
- Cyprus, the southernmost country in Europe, geographically sits in the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Syria. Its location naturally affords warmer weather. For December, the World Meteorological Organization lists the daily climate as ranging between 49.6 F and 66.6 F, while Weather2Travel notes an average of five hours of sunshine out of 10 daylight hours. However, the island country does experience almost 80.9 mm (3.2 inches) of total rainfall during the month. The ocean is generally warm enough in December for a dip, and the country boasts numerous archeological attractions.
Take in the Temples in Malta
- Malta is another Mediterranean island country that claims a warmer December than most of Europe. Located 50 miles south of Sicily and 176 miles east of Tunisia, the island's December temperatures average between 51.8 F and 62.1 F, according to the World Meteorological Organization. It's rainier than Cyprus, though, with a mean monthly total of 112.3 mm (4.4 inches) falling on an average of 14.2 days. Covering just 122 square miles, Malta is one of the world's smallest countries, but it is large on architectural monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Megalithic Temples. According to the New Testament, the Apostle Paul was once shipwrecked on the island.
Heat Up on the Canary Islands
- Cyprus and Malta are the warmest countries in December, but Spain's Canary Islands are the warmest territory. The Spanish archipelago, which sits off the northern coast of Africa's Western Sahara desert, is the most southernly point of Europe proper. The December temps on the Canaries average between 59 F and 70 F with six hours of sunshine, says Weather2Travel, and the average sea temperature is 68 F. Moreover, the month's mean total rainfall is only 59 mm (2.3 inches). As far as other islands associated with mainland Europe, the Greek island of Crete also has decent December temps that average between 50 F and 62 F, while the Italian resort island of Capri averages between 44 F and 54 F.
Staying Warm on the Mainland
- If you're looking to forgo an island experience, the Andalusia province on the southern coast of Spain usually has the warmest mainland climate in December. Narrowly separated from North Africa by the Strait of Gibraltar, Andalusia cities like Cadiz, Tarifa, Seville and Malaga typically average temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s. The Costa del Sol region in particular benefits from the Sierra Nevada mountains, which blocks a significant amount of cool air coming from the north.
