Medellín · Colombia
December
Alumbrado season — Medellín's Christmas light festival transforms the valley into one of the world's most extraordinary illuminated cities.
Best match
#1 of 12 months
December is one of the best times to visit Medellín.
Climate
High
28°C
Low
17°C
Rain
68mm
Sun
6hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How December scores in Medellín
Weather
Excellent
Value
Above average
Crowds
Above average
Events
Outstanding
Atmosphere
Outstanding
What you gain in December
- ↑Alumbrado Navideño (from 7 December): the Medellín Christmas lights festival is the largest illuminated Christmas event in Latin America and among the most spectacular in the world — 30km of riverfront esplanade, public parks, bridges, and comunas transformed by millions of lights, with a different theme every year
- ↑Día de las Velitas (7 December): the night the lights turn on is the most festive evening of the Colombian calendar — the entire city turns out, candles are lit outside every home, and the atmosphere is extraordinary
- ↑Dry season returning: 68mm versus 134mm in November — sunshine returns, evening are warm and clear, and the terrace restaurant scene is fully alive again for the Christmas period
What you sacrifice
- ↓Christmas tourism driving prices back up from the October–November lows: accommodation in El Poblado rises significantly through December as domestic Colombian tourism peaks for the holidays
- ↓The Alumbrado main esplanade becomes crowded on weekend evenings, particularly around Parque Norte and the Estadio area — go on weeknights for a more relaxed experience
- ↓Christmas week and New Year see domestic travel surges that make intercity transport (bus to Bogotá, Santa Fe de Antioquia) harder to book last-minute
December in other destinations
Lisbon (14.4°C)Barcelona (13.8°C)Tokyo (12°C)Bali (30.3°C)Santorini (14.5°C)Paris (6.9°C)New York (5.1°C)Marrakech (18.1°C)Amsterdam (6.4°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (11.7°C)Bangkok (30.4°C)Istanbul (9.4°C)Vienna (3°C)Seoul (3.7°C)Dubrovnik (11.6°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.5°C)Kyoto (11.3°C)Phuket (31.8°C)Cape Town (25.6°C)Prague (3°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)Mexico City (21°C)Fiji (30°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Medellín, not across destinations. Methodology →