Bhutan
Thimphu in December
🧥 WinterCool and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat
Why December scores 9.1What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.7
- !Cool (17°C highs / -1°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -2.4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~4 mm rain)
- Air quality9.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~11 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.1 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 17° / -1° | 25° / 12° |
| Rain | 4 mm | 50 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -2° | dew pt 7° |
| PM2.5 | 11 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Thimphu-Simtokha weather-station normals. Rainfall: Thimphu-Simtokha weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: National Day (17 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore ThimphuEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyBhutan's capital is a small mountain city without traffic lights, mixing government buildings and monasteries. Visitors come for Buddhist culture, festivals and a gentle introduction to Bhutan.
Druk Wangyel TshechuEvery year13 December every year
Festival of masked dances at the mountain pass.
Why go: On clear days there are Himalayan views; bring warm clothes.
Where: Dochula Pass, near Thimphu
National DayEvery year17 December every year
Celebrates the crowning of the first king in 1907.
Why go: Public holiday with celebrations.
Where: Across Bhutan
Coming up later
Thimphu TshechuDate variesDates vary with the lunar calendar; usually September or October
Major religious festival with masked dances.
Why go: Dress respectfully and book tours and hotels well ahead.
Where: Tashichho Dzong
Tashichho Dzong
Fortress-monastery that houses the government and the central monastic body.
💡 Wear long sleeves and long trousers or skirts; opening hours are limited when government work is happening.
Buddha Dordenma
Giant bronze seated Buddha on a hill overlooking the valley.
National Memorial Chorten
White stupa where locals walk clockwise and pray throughout the day.
💡 Walk clockwise around it like locals.
Motithang Takin Preserve
Reserve where you can see the takin, Bhutan's national animal.
Centenary Farmers' Market
Big riverside market for produce, chillies, dried cheese and local goods; busiest at weekends.
Ema datshi
Chillies cooked in cheese, the national dish.
💡 Restaurants and hotels
Kewa datshi
Potatoes cooked in cheese sauce, milder than ema datshi.
💡 Restaurants and hotels
Momos
Steamed dumplings filled with meat, cheese or vegetables.
💡 Cafes and small restaurants
Red rice
Nutty, semi-milled red rice served with most meals.
💡 Most restaurants
Handwoven textiles
Traditional fabrics used for the kira and gho.
💡 Craft bazaars and textile shops
Bhutanese stamps
Colourful collectable stamps.
💡 The post office and its museum
Incense
Traditional incense made from local herbs.
💡 Craft shops and markets