Where to Go Hiking in Europe in December

By December, hiking in Europe (opens in new tab) has largely become winter mountaineering. Either that, or it's moved somewhere onto the trails and islands of southern Europe, where it's still warm.

By this time, snow has settled across the Alps (opens in new tab), the Apennines and Scandinavia (opens in new tab), mountain huts are shut for the season, and the trails that remain open call for crampons, snowshoes or an ice axe.

December gives us the smallest, sharpest list for hiking — but it's arguably the most atmospheric, mixing winter skills trips (like snowshoeing through untouched forest, wolf tracking in the Apennines and Arctic nights under the aurora) with warm-weather escapes for anyone craving daylight and dry trails.

What's the Weather Like for Hiking in December?

Across the Alps (opens in new tab), the Apennines, the Balkans (opens in new tab) and the Scottish Highlands (opens in new tab), December means winter. Expect the mountains to be snow-covered and properly cold - requiring layers, down jackets, hats, gloves and specialist equipment (depending on your route). It'll be even colder at night, and at altitude.

The Arctic Circle — in both Norway (opens in new tab) and Finnish Lapland (opens in new tab) — sees daytime highs around -6°C to 0°C (21-32°F), with the sun barely, or never, clearing the horizon depending on how far north you are. Famously, it can get extraordinarily cold in the Arctic - down to silly temperatures likes -30°C (-22°F). It's all about being prepared and kitted out properly.

In stark contrast, the Canary Islands (opens in new tab) remain the one true outlier this month, holding daytime temperatures of around 21-22°C (70-72°F) even in midwinter.

Best Hiking Destinations in December

There are a variety of Much Better Adventures in Europe in December - from winter mountaineering trips in Scotland to warmer hikes in the Canary Islands.

The temperatures provided here are rough approximations. They are provided for the relevant towns and valleys and the temperatures at night or at altitude will be significantly lower.

1. Summit Ben Nevis and Learn Winter Mountain Skills, Scotland

• Average daytime temperatures: 1-4°C (34-39°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: -2-1°C (28-34°F)
• Best for: Learning to mountaineer in winter conditions

Based in Fort William, the adventure capital of the Scottish Highlands, this trip teaches essential winter mountain skills before putting them to use on a full winter ascent of Ben Nevis - the UK's highest peak (opens in new tab).

Why hike here in December? There's no substitute for standing on Ben Nevis's summit in full winter condition — and the skills you learn here carry over to mountains everywhere.

Must-do trail section? The summit push itself, ice axe and crampons in hand.

What's the weather like? Genuinely wintry — snow, wind and short daylight hours.

What to know before you go? This is a proper introduction to winter mountaineering, not a casual walk. No prior winter experience is needed, but a good level of fitness is essential.

2. Hike the Volcanic Island of Gran Canaria, Spain

• Average daytime temperatures: 17-20°C (62-68°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: 12-15°C (53-59°F)
• Best for: Summer sun in winter

Gran Canaria (opens in new tab)'s climate barely shifts through the year, making the ascent of Pico de las Nieves (1,949m) one of the few properly warm, dry mountain hikes in Europe this month. If you're looking to get a sun tan in Europe in December, and sample some dusty mountain trails while you're at, then look no further than this Spanish island.

Why hike here in December? Daylight, dry trails and a swim at the end of the day.

Must-do trail section? The summit approach to Pico de las Nieves, with volcanic calderas spread out below.

What's the weather like? Warm, dry and reliably sunny.

What to know before you go? Don't underestimate it. This is sunny hiking - but it's not easy.

3. Hike and Kayak Slovenia in Winter

• Average daytime temperatures: 0-3°C (32-37°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: -7 to -4°C (19-24°F)
• Best for: Snow, saunas and an underground adventure

A multi-activity winter trip through Slovenia (opens in new tab) and northeast Italy, hiking snowy trails in Triglav National Park with views over frozen Lake Bled, snowshoeing by the Fusine Lakes, and kayaking flooded caves 700m below Mount Peca — followed by saunas in the alpine village of Gozd Martuljek.

Why hike here in December? Utter beauty. This is a picturesque, mountain dreamland.

Must-do trail section? Snowshoeing the frozen Fusine Lakes, with the Julian Alps behind.

What's the weather like? Cold and snowy — proper Alpine winter.

What to know before you go? Warm, waterproof layers are essential both for the snowshoeing and the underground kayaking sections.

4. Hike Romania's Carpathian Mountains in Winter

• Average daytime temperatures: 0-6°C (32-42°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: -6 to -2°C (21-28°F)
• Best for: Snowshoeing through untouched wilderness

A shorter winter break based in the Carpathians (opens in new tab), snowshoeing through snow-laden forest, exploring the Neanderthal-linked Vârtop Cave system, and staying in a traditional guesthouse in a remote mountain hamlet.

Why hike here in December? The Carpathians in deep winter feel genuinely wild and empty — a world away from the region's busier hiking season.

Must-do trail section? The snowshoe route through the untouched forest en route to Vârtop Cave.

What's the weather like? Properly cold, with reliable snow cover.

What to know before you go? Snowshoeing experience isn't required, but fitness is.

5. Winter Hiking and Wolf Tracking in Italy

• Average daytime temperatures: 4-8°C (39-46°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: -1-5°C (30-41°F)
• Best for: Snowshoeing after Europe's most elusive predator

This is one for wildlife lovers. You'll be based in Pescasseroli in Abruzzo National Park's Central Apennines Rewilding Area (opens in new tab) — home to one of Europe's steadiest wolf populations. Days mix snowshoeing along quiet ridgelines with a visit to the Apennine Wolf Museum, and twilight hikes spent listening for the howl.

Why hike here in December? Winter snow makes tracks easier to read, and this is prime season for hearing (if not always seeing) wolves in the wild.

Must-do trail section? The dawn hike along the mountain's southern slope, through terrain frequented by wolves, with the chance of spotting Apennine chamois and golden eagles too.

What's the weather like? Cold by Italian standards, and snowy at altitude.

What to know before you go? Sightings are never guaranteed. These animals are wild.

6. Winter Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway

• Average daytime temperatures: -3 to -5°C (23-27°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: -12 to -9°C (10-16°F)
• Best for: Huskies, northern lights and the polar dark

Less a hike than a full Arctic immersion (opens in new tab), this adventure will see you mushing with Alaskan huskies, snowshoeing to a frozen lake, ice fishing, fat-biking under the aurora and taking a snowmobile out to the edge of the Finnmark Plateau, one of Europe's last true wildernesses. Nights are spent in heated Aurora Canvas Domes.

Why hike here in December? This is peak aurora season, and the long polar nights make for some of the best northern lights viewing conditions of the year.

Must-do trail section? The snowshoe approach to the frozen lake, ideally at dusk as the aurora starts to show.

What's the weather like? Deeply cold, with very short daylight hours this far north.

What to know before you go? This is an Arctic trip first and a hiking trip second — come prepared for extreme cold, and manage expectations around aurora sightings, which are never guaranteed.

7. Ice, Snow and Saunas in Arctic Finland

• Average daytime temperatures: -11 to -7°C (12-19°F)
• Average nighttime temperatures: -15 to -12°C (5-10°F)
• Best for: Ice climbing and aurora hunting in Finnish Lapland

Based beyond the Arctic Circle in Lapland's Pyhä-Luosto National Park (opens in new tab), this trip pairs snowshoe hikes through frozen forest with a climb up Korouoma Canyon's ice walls — the highest in Finland — and evenings spent chasing and photographing the aurora borealis.

Why hike here in December? Deep snow cover, long dark nights for aurora-spotting, and a properly wild stretch of Finnish Lapland with none of the Santa Claus theme-park crowds further north in Rovaniemi.

Must-do trail section? The approach hike to Korouoma Canyon, before roping up for the ice climb itself.

What's the weather like? Consistently sub-zero, with only a few hours of daylight.

What to know before you go? No ice climbing experience is needed — full instruction is included — but this is a serious cold-weather trip, not a gentle winter walk.

What to Pack for Hiking in Europe in December

This month splits cleanly into "proper winter kit" and "warm-weather kit" — check which category your trip falls into before you pack.

Of course, what you should pack depends massively on where you're going and when. Below is just a very rough outline. When you've decided on your location, seek out further specifics (a fact relevant for all times of years, but particularly for tough winter conditions).

Bags: Overnight duffel or backpack (40-50 litres), daypack (25-30 litres), waterproof dry bags or liner.

Clothes (winter trips): Thermal base layers, insulated midlayer, down jacket, waterproof and windproof outer shell, waterproof trousers, insulated winter boots, thick hiking socks, warm hat, insulated gloves and a spare pair, buff or neck gaiter.

Clothes (warm-weather trips): Lightweight hiking trousers, breathable shirts, light fleece for the evening, sunhat and sunglasses, swimwear, worn-in hiking boots.

Other: Crampons and ice axe if not provided by your operator (check in advance), trekking poles, headtorch with spare batteries (daylight hours are short), power bank, personal first-aid kit including blister care, thermos or insulated water bottle, travel documents.

FAQs

Is December a good month for hiking in Europe? For committed winter mountaineering, snowshoeing and wildlife tracking, yes — it's one of the most atmospheric times of year. For conventional summer-style hiking, the season has largely ended, and this month's list leans heavily on winter skills trips, with the Canary Islands as the one reliable exception.

Are mountain huts still open in December? Most summer huts across the Alps, Balkans and Slovakia are closed for the season. The trips on this list use winter refuges, lodges or guesthouses instead.

Is it still warm enough to swim in December? Only really in the Canary Islands - or in other parts of southern Europe not listed.

Where are the best places for beginners to hike in December? Gran Canaria's Pico de las Nieves hike and the Italy wolf-tracking trip both offer accessible terrain without technical winter skills.

Do I need a guide in December? Yes, without question, for any of the true winter mountain or Arctic trips — snow, ice and short daylight hours raise the stakes considerably, and expert local knowledge is essential for both route-finding and safety.