Los Angeles in December: What to Expect

Los Angeles in December makes more sense than most Europeans expect. The weather is good, it's never cold in any meaningful way, and the city's Christmas decorations in Beverly Hills and the main shopping districts are a genuine spectacle. It's not cheap, because Los Angeles is never cheap, but early December offers better hotel rates than peak summer. The last two weeks of December fill up with domestic holiday travel and prices rise accordingly.

Weather

Mild and mostly sunny. December temperatures in Los Angeles sit around 15°C to 20°C during the day, with cooler evenings around 8°C to 10°C. Rain is possible, with December and January being the two wettest months, but most days are clear. Compared to summer, the smog is lower, the temperatures are comfortable for walking, and the Santa Monica beach and Malibu coast are perfectly pleasant without being beach weather. Pack a light jacket for evenings.

Crowds and Prices

LA is expensive year-round, and December doesn't change that fundamentally. Hotel rates are lower in early December than during the summer peak, and popular attractions like the Getty Center, the Griffith Observatory, and the Universal Studios Hollywood are more manageable. The last two weeks of December bring a surge of domestic visitors over the Christmas and New Year holidays, and hotel prices spike accordingly. Universal Studios and Disneyland have full Christmas programming from late November and get very busy. Book park tickets in advance if that's on the plan.

What's On

The Beverly Hills Christmas lights on Rodeo Drive are consistently impressive, and the Sherman Oaks Galleria and the Grove shopping centre put on good Christmas decorations. Universal Studios Hollywood runs a Christmas-themed overlay through December, and Disneyland in Anaheim (about 45 minutes from central LA) goes all-in on Christmas with decorations, special events, and peak-season pricing. The Hollywood Bowl closes for the winter, but the city's live music scene and restaurant calendar continues normally. New Year's Eve in LA is lower-key than New York or Las Vegas, with various neighbourhood parties rather than a single central event.

One Thing to Watch

Disneyland and Universal Studios in December are peak-season theme parks with peak-season prices and queues. If you're visiting either, book in advance and arrive at opening time. Going in without a plan in the Christmas holiday window is one of the slower ways to spend a day.