Great Lakes itinerary — December 2026
For the Great Lakes trip (Chicago & Toronto), December 2026 is one of the less comfortable months by weather. Daytime highs run from about 2°C / 36°F to 3°C / 37°F across the stops. Plan around 6–8 days for the full Chicago & Toronto loop.
In this order — about 6–8 days:
- Chicago3 nightsUnited States
- Toronto3 nightsCanada
- Route noteReserve the longest intercity leg first and keep transfer days free of timed sights.
By TripSapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Chicago
Chicago in December
TempTemperature
38°F / 26°F
3.4°C / -3.4°C
RainPrecipitation
11d
2.2in · 55mm
LightDaylight
9h
December is cold and festive, with Christkindlmarket, theaters, and deep-dish dinners better than exposed lakefront time.
City overview
Chicago rises on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Chicago River, with the Loop, Magnificent Mile, Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Pilsen, Hyde Park, and lakefront neighborhoods giving the city its architecture, music, food, and museum range. The elevated L, river bridges, and 1871-fire rebuilding story make the urban form as important as any single attraction.
Food & drink
Chicago food arguments start with deep-dish pizza versus tavern-style thin crust, then move to Italian beef, Chicago-style hot dogs, jibaritos, pierogi, and Garrett popcorn. For a first route, use West Loop restaurants, Pilsen taquerias, Chinatown around Cermak, and the Maxwell Street Market on Sundays.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
- Dec 1
- Dec 2
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
Show all 40 events for December
- Dec 3
- Dec 3 – Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 7
- Dec 8
- Dec 8 – Dec 13
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10
- Dec 10
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
Fool House - The Ultimate 90’s Party Presents “Wow, That’s What I Call 90’s Tour!”
Music · Pop.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 11
Concrete & Jerry Garcia: That's Not Me Comedy Tour
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12 – Dec 27
- Dec 17
- Dec 17 – Dec 31
- Dec 17
- Dec 18 – Dec 20
- Dec 20
- Dec 26 – Dec 27
- Dec 31
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise
- 2Garfield Park Conservatory
- 3Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
- 4Willis Tower Skydeck
- 5Lincoln Park Zoo
- 6Art Institute of Chicago
- 7Wrigley Field
- 8Field Museum
- 9Museum of Science and Industry
- 10Navy Pier
1Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise
4.8★ · 3,300outdoorOpen dailyThe architecture cruise runs along the Chicago River past Marina City, Merchandise Mart, Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Aqua, and newer riverfront towers. The main dock is near Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive.
Reserve sunset sailings early in summer and during Open House Chicago weekends.
2Garfield Park Conservatory
4.8★ · 10,442outdoorClosed Mon/TueJens Jensen designed the glasshouse complex, which opened in 1908 on the West Side. Fern Room, Palm House, Desert House, and seasonal flower shows sit beside the Conservatory-Central Park Drive Green Line station.
Wikipedia
3Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
4.7★ · 39,155outdoorThe downtown park opened in 2004 over rail yards and parking, with Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, Frank Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Crown Fountain, and Lurie Garden. It connects directly to Maggie Daley Park and Grant Park.
Show 7 more sights
- 4Willis Tower Skydeck
- 5Lincoln Park Zoo
- 6Art Institute of Chicago
- 7Wrigley Field
- 8Field Museum
- 9Museum of Science and Industry
- 10Navy Pier
Neighborhoods
1The Loop
The Loop is the downtown rail-and-office core, with the elevated tracks, State Street, Millennium Park, Art Institute, theaters, Daley Plaza, and river bridges close together.
2Magnificent Mile and Streeterville
North Michigan Avenue and Streeterville bring shopping, hotels, Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, Museum of Contemporary Art, Navy Pier access, and high-rise lake views.
3Wicker Park and Bucktown
Wicker Park and Bucktown center on Milwaukee, Damen, and North avenues, with music rooms, vintage shops, restaurants, cocktail bars, and Blue Line access.
4Lincoln Park and Lakeview
Lincoln Park and Lakeview mix brownstones, DePaul students, the free zoo, lakefront paths, comedy clubs, Wrigley Field, and neighborhood restaurants.
5Pilsen
Pilsen is mural-lined and Mexican-American, with 18th Street taquerias, Thalia Hall, the National Museum of Mexican Art, vintage shops, and Pink Line stations.
6Hyde Park
Hyde Park is academic and museum-heavy, with the University of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, Robie House, 57th Street Books, and lakefront parks.
Getting around
CTA trains form the L system, with Ventra cards or contactless payment on Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Yellow lines plus buses. Use the Red Line for north-south lakefront trips, the Blue Line for O'Hare-Wicker Park-Loop, and river or lakefront walks when the weather is good.
Toronto
Toronto in December
TempTemperature
35°F / 23°F
1.5°C / -5°C
RainPrecipitation
10d
2.4in · 62mm
LightDaylight
8.8h
December is cold, with Distillery Winter Village, City Hall skating, holiday lights, and subway-linked museums carrying the trip.
City overview
Toronto sits on Lake Ontario, with Downtown, Kensington Market, The Annex, Distillery District, Leslieville, Yorkville, Queen West, and The Beaches linking towers, streetcars, islands, markets, museums, sports venues, and immigrant food corridors. The CN Tower, St Lawrence Market, Toronto Islands, Queen Street West, and University Avenue give the city a clear axis from waterfront to neighborhoods.
Food & drink
Toronto food is market-stall and diaspora-heavy: peameal bacon sandwiches stack cornmeal-crusted back bacon on a bun, Jamaican patties wrap spiced beef or vegetables in flaky yellow pastry, doubles use curried chickpeas between bara, and butter tarts are the sticky Canadian bakery stop. St Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Italy, Greektown, Queen West, and Scarborough food courts add poutine, dim sum, Korean barbecue, Italian sandwiches, souvlaki, and late-night slices.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 20
Toronto Christmas Market 2026
Annual festive market held in the Distillery Historic District featuring holiday shopping, food, and entertainment.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Toronto Light Festival 2026
An outdoor light art festival showcasing installations by local and international artists in the historic Distillery District.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Winterlicious 2026
Toronto's winter culinary festival offering prix-fixe menus at participating restaurants across the city.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 2
- Dec 2
- Dec 4
Show all 40 events for December
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5 – Dec 31
Cavalcade of Lights 2026
Toronto's official holiday lighting ceremony and winter festival at Nathan Phillips Square, featuring light displays, music, and skating.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5 – Dec 6
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 31
'Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil
Arts & Theatre · Circus & Specialty Acts.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 10 – Dec 13
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 14
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
Holiday Soul with Mississauga Symphony Orchestra
Arts & Theatre · Miscellaneous Theatre.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Toronto Islands
- 2St Lawrence Market
- 3Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square
- 4Royal Ontario Museum
- 5Art Gallery of Ontario
- 6Hockey Hall of Fame
- 7CN Tower
- 8Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
- 9Casa Loma
- 10Distillery District
1Toronto Islands
4.7★ · 2,019outdoorFerries from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal reach Ward's Island, Centre Island, beaches, bike paths, picnic areas, and skyline viewpoints. The car-free islands are the fastest escape from Downtown traffic.
Wikipedia
2St Lawrence Market
4.6★ · 42,216outdoorClosed MonThe market district dates to 19th-century Toronto, with the South Market holding butchers, bakeries, produce stalls, seafood, cheese, and peameal bacon sandwiches. It is east of the Financial District near Front Street.
Wikipedia
3Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square
4.6★ · 41,268outdoorOpen dailyViljo Revell designed the curved twin towers and council chamber, opened in 1965 beside the older City Hall. Nathan Phillips Square adds the Toronto sign, skating in winter, public events, and direct access to Queen station.
Show 7 more sights
- 4Royal Ontario Museum
- 5Art Gallery of Ontario
- 6Hockey Hall of Fame
- 7CN Tower
- 8Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
- 9Casa Loma
- 10Distillery District
Neighborhoods
1Downtown and Entertainment District
Downtown is vertical and event-heavy, with Union Station, CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, theatres, hotels, and PATH corridors.
2Kensington Market and Chinatown
Kensington and Chinatown are dense and food-driven, with vintage shops, produce stands, dumpling houses, cafes, murals, and Spadina streetcars.
3The Annex and Yorkville
The Annex and Yorkville mix university blocks, bookstores, ROM, Bata Shoe Museum, Bloor shopping, Victorian houses, and restaurant patios.
4Distillery District and Corktown
Distillery and Corktown feel brick-and-arts focused, with galleries, theatres, cafes, market events, Canary District paths, and streetcar access.
5Queen West and Ossington
Queen West and Ossington are nightlife-and-design heavy, with Trinity Bellwoods, boutiques, music rooms, cocktail bars, bakeries, and galleries.
6Leslieville and The Beaches
Leslieville and The Beaches are east-end and local, with brunch streets, Queen Street East shops, boardwalks, parks, and lakefront routes.
Getting around
TTC subway, streetcars, and buses use PRESTO and contactless payment, while GO Transit and UP Express link Union Station with suburbs, Niagara routing, and Pearson Airport. Use subway lines for north-south distance, streetcars for Queen and King corridors, ferries for the islands, and GO trains for day trips.
Planning the Great Lakes route?
Add your dates and we'll pace all 2 cities — every place checked for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Weather by month for the Great Lakes trip
In December, the Great Lakes trip runs daytime highs from 2°C / 36°F to 3°C / 37°F, with nights down to about -5°C / 23°F at the coolest stop. Climate averages show about 11 rainy days at the rainiest stop. Weighed across both stops, December is one of the less comfortable months by weather.
The most comfortable months across Chicago & Toronto are September, August and June, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at every stop. December 2026 is a lower-comfort month.
Common questions about the Great Lakes trip
- When is the best time to do the Great Lakes trip?
- The most comfortable months across Chicago, Toronto are September, August and June, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at each stop. December is one of the less comfortable months by weather — see the per-stop weather below for the climate averages in December 2026.
- How many days do you need for the Great Lakes trip?
- A comfortable Great Lakes trip runs about 6–8 days, allowing roughly Chicago 3, Toronto 3 nights plus travel between stops. Add a day if you want a slower pace or extra day trips.
- What's the route for the Great Lakes trip?
- The classic order is Chicago & Toronto. Each city below has its own December weather, any available event listings, and a top-sights list.
Ready to plan the Great Lakes trip?
Turn this route into a day-by-day plan for December 2026, every stop checked for closures and booking needs on your exact dates.