Brits are chasing real winter sun while the calendar screams December. Travel pros kept giving the same answer: there’s one European city where the thermometers still flirt with 26°C. It’s hiding in plain sight.
The sea breathed in, breathed out, and the lifeguard flipped the sign to green as a breeze moved the palm crowns like slow metronomes. A digital pharmacy cross blinked 26°C, just after lunch, in mid-December.
Over at the promenade kiosks, gelato dripped down waffle cones and a father zipped a child into armbands with that smiling patience of someone who expected a grey holiday and got an azure one. A man in a Santa hat carried a surfboard on the cycle lane, which felt wrong and perfect. This city runs on an entirely different clock.
The clue is the wind.
The European city where December still feels like summer
Say it out loud: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A European capital of sand and everyday life, where December doesn’t cancel the beach. The promenade at Las Canteras turns golden around 3pm, cafés clinking, surf schools still teaching.
Travel data shows daytime highs rubbing shoulders with 24–26°C on many December days, and average highs in the low 20s even when the rest of Europe zips up. The sea lingers near 20°C, which is the difference between “maybe a paddle” and “let’s swim before coffee.” We’ve all had that moment when we step off a plane and the air itself feels like a promise.
Why this pocket of warmth? Latitude helps, tucked about 28° north, close to the Sahara yet culturally and politically Spain. The Canary Current keeps things mild, while the trade winds filter the heat and the island’s mountains create microclimates that shield the city. The result is a soft, steady warmth that behaves like late spring, then spikes into genuine beach weather.
How to do Las Palmas in December like a local
Pick a split-stay: two nights in Vegueta/Triana for history, three or four by Las Canteras for the beach. Walk the Paseo early, when the water is sheet-flat and the fishermen are quietly untangling lines. Then claim a spot near La Cícer for afternoon sun and rolling sets.
Pack light layers, not heavy coats. Bring reef-safe sun cream and a shirt for the breeze later on, because shade can nip after sunset. Book dinners the day before at popular spots, and remember 6 December (Constitution Day) and 8 December (Immaculate Conception) can shift opening hours. Let’s be honest: nobody actually plans every meal a week in advance, so build in a backup tapas bar.
“Las Palmas is the only true European city where you can work in the morning, then swim at lunch, and still get a 26°C day before Christmas,” a veteran tour planner told me, half-proud, half-astonished.
- Warmest window: 12:30–15:30 on clear days.
- Beach pick: Las Canteras’ La Barra reef calms the water at mid-tide.
- Sea temp: around 20°C, kinder than most of the Med in June.
- Microclimate tip: if clouds sit over town, hop 15 minutes south to Alcaravaneras or take the bus down-island where it often reads 2–4°C warmer.
- Wind pattern: trade winds ease many days in winter; surf stays playful at La Cícer.
What the experts mean when they say “26°C in December”
It’s not a guarantee every day. It’s the way this city keeps offering spells of real warmth when Paris is in scarves and Berlin goes slate-grey. Think tees in the afternoon, sandals on the promenade, swims that don’t feel brave.
Numbers tell a calm story: average December highs hover near 22–23°C, with frequent peaks toward 26°C, and the city’s urban beach makes the warmth usable. Four-and-a-bit hours from the UK, no jet lag, and buses that roll from the airport to town in under 30 minutes. *This is the moment that sells the trip.*
If you want near-certainty of the upper range, slide down-island for a day to the south-facing dunes and resorts, then come back for the food markets and galleries. That back-and-forth is the trick: weather that plays nice, culture that keeps you there. Winter sun without the trade-offs.
Small moves that make a December trip sing
Time your day around the light. Swim at lunchtime, museum in late afternoon, dinner after 20:30 when the streets hum softly. For runners, the prom is a dream at sunset, the lava rock glowing and the tide whispering along the reef.
A few easy wins save you money and faff. Load a contactless card for yellow Guaguas buses, and you’ll glide across town without hunting for coins. Pick a room with cross-breeze rather than AC; the air’s dry, and nights settle around 18–19°C, which is sleep weather in any language.
“Pack like it’s April in Brighton and July in your heart,” said a guide who’s watched a thousand winter arrivals smile at the first warm gust.
- Footwear: beach slides and one pair of trainers for cobbles in Vegueta.
- Clothing: light trousers, a breezy shirt, a jumper for nights, swimwear always.
- Charging: EU plugs, so no new adapters if you’re already set for Spain.
- Workation: strong café Wi‑Fi around Las Canteras, espresso never far.
- Mindset: chase sun, not schedules; the city rewards wandering.
The feeling you bring home
The best part isn’t the brag that you swam in December, though you’ll definitely say it. It’s the low thrum of being outside again, skin warmed, days stretching in a gentle loop of coffee, sea, small discoveries. You start to remember what light does to mood.
This isn’t an escape so much as an edit. Trade heavy routines for a week where decisions are simple and the weather slips out of your way. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria lets you keep Europe’s rhythms while dodging its winter.
Tell a friend who’s wavering and watch their face lift a notch. Share a photo of that 26°C cross and hear the group chat crackle to life. The city will still be there next December, wind and all, waiting to hand you an afternoon that feels like June.
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| The city | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, urban beach plus historic core | European culture with real beach days in December |
| The weather | Average highs 22–23°C; regular peaks around 26°C in December; sea ~20°C | Swimmable, T‑shirt afternoons, pleasant evenings |
| Getting there | Direct UK flights ~4–4.5 hours; frequent airport buses to city | Fast, no jet lag, easy transfers keep costs and stress low |
FAQ :
- Where exactly is this city?On Gran Canaria in Spain’s Canary Islands, about 28° north, off the northwest coast of Africa.
- Is it really warm enough to swim in December?Yes for most people. Daytime air often hits the mid‑20s and the sea stays near 20°C, which feels comfortable once you’re in.
- Do I need a car?Not in the city. Buses cover the beach, old town and port easily; hire a car only if you’re exploring the mountains or the south extensively.
- What should I pack?Light summer wear, a jumper for nights, sandals and trainers, reef‑safe sun cream, and a small umbrella for a brief shower that may blow through.
- Is it good for solo travellers?Yes. The promenade is lively, cafés are welcoming, and accommodation ranges from boutique guesthouses to beachfront hotels with friendly staff.
Sold. Las Palmas in December? Yes please.
26°C in December sounds great, but is that like once a week or most days? If the average high is 22–23°C, I’d plan tees by day and a jumper at night—fair?