Kolkata events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Howrah Bridge and Hooghly ferries, Victoria Memorial, plus Eden Gardens. December in Kolkata averages 27°C / 80°F highs, 14°C / 57°F nights, and about 0 rainy days.
Expect 27°C/80°F days and about 0 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Howrah Bridge and Hooghly ferriesHowrah Bridge, officially Rabindra Setu, links central Kolkata with Howrah over the Hooghly.
- Victoria Memorial★ 4.6 · 89.2k reviewsVictoria Memorial is the marble landmark on the Maidan, built as an imperial monument and now used as a museum and garden complex.
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Kolkata in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
80°F / 57°F
26.5°C / 13.9°C
RainPrecipitation
0d
0.4in · 9mm
LightDaylight
10.6h
December is dry and pleasant, with Park Street lights and excellent weather for long walks.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 31
KIFF
The Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) takes place from 15 December to 22 December every year at 4PM.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: Month Signals
- Dec 15 – Dec 22
Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) 2026
The annual Kolkata International Film Festival showcasing a diverse range of films from India and around the world, held at multiple venues across Kolkata starting at 4 PM daily.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Kolkata
City overview
Kolkata sits on the east bank of the Hooghly, with colonial-era institutions, North Kolkata lanes, river crossings, literary culture, Durga Puja pandals, markets, and India only surviving electric tram network. The city rewards slow movement: Maidan and Park Street show the grand central frame, while College Street, Kumartuli, Kalighat, and the Hooghly ghats carry older local life.
Food & drink
Kolkata food starts with hand-held snacks: kathi rolls wrap kebab or egg in paratha, fuchka is the local tamarind-water pani puri, and jhalmuri mixes puffed rice with mustard oil, peanuts, onion, and chili. The deeper route adds potato-studded Kolkata biryani, Tangra Indian Chinese, rosogolla, sandesh, and mishti doi around Park Street, New Market, College Street, Gariahat, Tangra, and North Kolkata sweet shops.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Eden Gardens
- 2Indian Museum
- 3Park Street
- 4Kalighat Kali Temple
- 5Science City
- 6College Street and Indian Coffee House
- 7Kumartuli
- 8Marble Palace
- 1
Eden Gardens
4.6★ · 46,614mixedEden Gardens is one of world cricket best-known stadiums and the home ground for major Kolkata matches. Even without a game, the Maidan setting explains the city sports culture.
Wikipedia 
2Indian Museum
4.5★ · 56,745indoorClosed MonThe Indian Museum opened in the early 19th century and remains one of India major museum collections. Archaeology, fossils, art, coins, and natural history make it a strong indoor stop near Park Street and Esplanade.
Wikipedia
3Park Street
4.5★ · 4,717mixedPark Street is the classic restaurant, music, nightlife, and Christmas-light corridor of central Kolkata. It works well after Maidan, Indian Museum, or cemetery visits.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Kalighat Kali Temple
- 5Science City
- 6College Street and Indian Coffee House
Neighborhoods
1BBD Bagh and Esplanade
BBD Bagh and Esplanade hold colonial administrative buildings, markets, transport hubs, office crowds, heritage walks, and the practical center of the old city.
2Park Street and Maidan
Park Street and Maidan combine restaurants, nightlife, Victoria Memorial, museums, cricket grounds, churches, cemeteries, and the city green central space.
3North Kolkata
North Kolkata brings old mansions, narrow lanes, Kumartuli workshops, Shyambazar, Sovabazar, Bagbazar, book culture, temples, and a slower historic texture.
Day trips
12km / about 45min by train, metro, taxi, or river route from central Kolkata
Belur Math and Dakshineswar
Belur Math and Dakshineswar sit on opposite banks of the Hooghly and make a strong temple-and-river half-day. Combine them by road bridge, ferry, or taxi depending on timing.
165km / about 2.5h by train from Kolkata
Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan is associated with Rabindranath Tagore and Visva-Bharati University. It is best as a long cultural day trip or overnight stay.
110km+ / usually a full-day or overnight road-and-boat trip from Kolkata
Sundarbans
The Sundarbans mangrove delta is a major nature trip with boat routes, villages, mudflats, creeks, and tiger-reserve habitat. Plan it through a reputable operator because transport is multi-stage.
Getting around
Kolkata Metro is the fastest cross-city backbone, while buses, auto-rickshaws, yellow taxis, app cabs, trams, suburban trains, and Hooghly ferries fill gaps. Traffic and humidity slow surface travel, so cluster days by district and use ferries or metro where routes line up.
Planning a Kolkata trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Kolkata in December
- What to pack for Kolkata in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Kolkata checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 27°C / 80°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 14°C / 57°F.
- Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.
- How many days do you need in Kolkata
- 4 days covers the main Kolkata highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Kolkata worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Kolkata averages 27°C / 80°F highs, 14°C / 57°F nights, and about 0 rainy days.
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