Portugal in December: Mild Cities, Island Sun and Honest Weather

Portugal in December is mild, green and quiet, but it isn’t a beach month on the mainland: Lisbon and the Algarve sit around 15 to 17 °C by day, Porto and the north take the heaviest rain, and Madeira stays close to 21 °C. The cities fill with Christmas lights, markets and roast chestnut stalls, while the coast empties and hotel prices drop until the holiday week. Days are short and Atlantic storms roll through, so the trip works best when you plan around the weather instead of against it. This guide gives you real numbers by region, the dates that matter and an honest answer on who should go.

📘 Planning Portugal?When to Go: PortugalEvery month rated for weather, crowds and prices. Best months: May, Sep, Oct.

JFMAMJJASOND

See the guide · $19 →Digital download · All sales final

Portugal in December by Region: The 7-Place Weather Table

This section gives you the month in numbers. Portugal’s winter is Atlantic: mild, changeable and wetter in the north than the south. Fronts bring a day or two of rain and wind, then clear to cold, bright days. Read the row for the places on your route.

These are long-term averages from Climates to Travel’s Portugal climate tables, with island figures from the Madeira and Azores pages; Portugal’s official climate normals are published by IPMA, the Portuguese weather institute. Single years vary a lot: one December can be dry and sunny for two weeks, the next can bring a run of storms. Daylight figures are approximate for the shortest days of the month.

Lisbon and Sintra in December: Lights, Hills and Short Days

This section covers the city that suits December best on the mainland. Lisbon rarely gets truly cold, rain usually comes in bursts rather than all day, and the low winter sun turns the river and the pastel facades gold in the late afternoon.

Lisbon: a city break built around the weather

Lisbon is a walking city on seven hills, and the cobbled calçada pavements get slippery when wet. Wear shoes with real grip, use the trams and funiculars on rainy days, and save the miradouros for the clear spells.

The Christmas lights in the Baixa, Chiado and along Avenida da Liberdade usually go on in late November and stay up into early January. A Christmas tree and market usually fill Praça do Comércio or a nearby square, and chestnut sellers work the street corners. Bolo rei, the crown-shaped Christmas cake, is in every pastelaria.

Sintra and Cascais: green hills, misty palaces

Sintra sits in hills that catch cloud off the Atlantic, so it’s usually cooler, damper and mistier than Lisbon, sometimes on a day when the capital is sunny. That mist is part of its character, but it can hide the views from the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle completely. Go on a clear day if you can, start early, and dress in layers; the palace terraces are exposed and windy.

The complete kit

Every country guide, every timing tool

All 24 When to Go country guides, the six Smart Timing tools and every 12-Month Map, with a Start Here that tells you what to open first.

See the kit · $127

The five bundles cost $225 separately · Digital download · All sales final

The Sintra palaces usually stay open through the winter with shorter hours, but most close on 25 December and 1 January, so check before you plan a day trip around those dates. Cascais, below on the coast, is milder and makes an easy half day by the sea.

Porto and the Douro Valley: Rain, Port and Fireside Evenings

This section covers the north, where December is wetter and colder but still rewarding if you set your expectations right. Porto is a city of port lodges, tiled churches and cosy taverns, and it suits rain better than most.

Porto: plan for wet days

Porto gets the most December rain of any major city in Portugal, with around 13 wet days on average, and nights drop to about 7 °C. Luckily, many of the best things are indoors: port cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, the São Bento station tiles and the Serralves museum.

Christmas lights usually go up across the Baixa and along Avenida dos Aliados from late November, and a Christmas market usually opens in the city centre. On a clear evening, walk the top deck of the Dom Luís I bridge for the classic Ribeira view.

The Douro Valley: quiet terraces and closed quintas

After the harvest in September and October the Douro Valley turns quiet. The vines lose their leaves through November and December, so the terraces look bare and brown rather than green or gold, and cold, damp fog often fills the valley floor in the morning.

Many quintas reduce their hours or open for tastings by appointment only in winter, and fewer river cruises run. The scenic Linha do Douro railway runs all year, and a day trip from Porto to Pinhão or Régua by train is still a lovely way to see the valley on a clear day.

The Algarve in December: Winter Sun Without the Swim

This section covers the south coast, which is the mainland’s best bet for dry, bright days in December. Faro averages about 17 °C by day with roughly 8 rain days, and there are many crisp, sunny days between fronts.

What changes is the mood. The big beach towns are quiet, some beach restaurants and bars close for the season, and hotels that serve summer crowds drop their prices or shut until spring. Lagos, Tavira and Faro old town stay lively, and walkers and golfers love the empty coast.

Madeira and the Azores: Island Options for December

Madeira: the warmest corner of Portugal in December

Funchal, on Madeira’s sheltered south coast, averages about 21 °C by day and 16 °C at night, and the sea stays near 20 °C. Showers are frequent, with around 13 wet days, but they’re often brief. The north coast and the mountains are much wetter and cooler, and the high peaks can be cold, windy and, on rare days, frosty.

📘 Planning Portugal?When to Go: PortugalEvery month rated for weather, crowds and prices. Best months: May, Sep, Oct.

JFMAMJJASOND

See the guide · $19 →Digital download · All sales final

December is also Madeira’s festive peak. Funchal’s Christmas lights are usually switched on in early December and cover the city centre and the hills behind it. On 23 December the Mercado dos Lavradores usually stays open late for the Noite do Mercado, a street party with stalls and music. On 31 December the New Year fireworks over Funchal bay are among the largest in Europe, and cruise ships usually anchor in the bay to watch.

Lower levada walks are usually fine in December, but high routes such as Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo can close after storms or ice, so check trail status first.

The Azores: wild, green and unpredictable

The Azores in December are mild, about 18 °C by day in Ponta Delgada, but very changeable: rain on around 14 days, frequent strong wind and the famous four seasons in a day. Flights and ferries between the islands can be delayed or cancelled when storms pass through.

If you love the islands, December can work for a slow trip with flexible days. For hiking, whale watching and calm seas, plan instead for the summer months; our Pico Island in September guide shows what the islands are like at their best.

Christmas, New Year and Holidays: Portugal in December by Date

This section shows which dates change your plans. For most of December Portugal is in low season, but a handful of public holidays and the festive week bring closures and price spikes.

In Lisbon the main New Year party is usually at Praça do Comércio by the river, with a concert and fireworks over the Tagus. In Porto the crowds usually gather on Avenida dos Aliados, with music and fireworks at midnight. In Óbidos, north of Lisbon, the walled village usually runs a Christmas village event for families from late November into early January.

If you’re comparing other European city breaks for the season, see our guides to Ghent in December and Trieste in December, or browse the full best travel destinations in December list.

Storms, Big Waves and Cold Houses: The Honest Winter Facts

This section covers the parts of a Portuguese winter that brochures leave out.

Atlantic storms and swell

From autumn to spring, deep Atlantic lows bring periods of heavy rain, gusty wind and huge swell to the coast. Beaches that are calm in summer can have dangerous shore break and rip currents in December, and waves can wash over harbour walls and promenades.

At Nazaré, the giant waves of Praia do Norte usually appear between October and March, when big swells meet the deep underwater canyon offshore. On a big day you can watch surfers from the headland by the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo. Stay behind the barriers, go early for parking.

Cold, damp interiors

Portuguese homes were built for heat, not cold. Many older apartments and guesthouses have thin walls, single glazing and no central heating, so it can feel colder inside than out on a damp December evening. Ask about heating when you book; modern hotels are usually fine.

The complete kit

Every country guide, every timing tool

All 24 When to Go country guides, the six Smart Timing tools and every 12-Month Map, with a Start Here that tells you what to open first.

See the kit · $127

The five bundles cost $225 separately · Digital download · All sales final

When NOT to Go, and the Better Month If You Want X

This section is the honest part. You can also read our when not to go guide for the months to skip in other countries.

Weighing Portugal against warmer December trips? Morocco is a short flight away and much drier; see our guide to Morocco in December. For true summer heat, the southern hemisphere is the answer: compare South Africa in December and Australia in December, or try the crisp, clear winter of Japan in December.

5 Common Mistakes People Make in Portugal in December

1. Packing for a southern beach holiday

Portugal is in southern Europe, but December on the mainland is cool and often wet. Bring a real waterproof, warm layers and closed shoes. The 17 °C sea in the Algarve looks inviting in the sun, but it’s cold, and winter swell can be dangerous.

2. Booking a cold old apartment

A charming flat in the Alfama or the Ribeira can be damp and chilly without heating. Ask about heating before you book, and choose a hotel or a renovated apartment if warmth matters to you.

3. Forgetting the holiday closures

On 1, 8 and 25 December and 1 January many shops, museums and restaurants close, and 24 December evening is quiet. Check opening days for the sights you care about and book Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners early.

4. Overfilling short days

With about nine to ten hours of daylight, a plan that works in June falls apart in December. Limit long drives, start early, and save indoor sights for after dark.

5. Getting too close to the winter sea

Every winter, big waves catch people on rocks, piers and beaches. Watch the swell from a safe distance, follow red flags and closures, and never turn your back on the sea on a rough day.

Portugal in December: FAQ

The Bottom Line

Portugal in December is a rewarding trip if you treat it as a winter city-and-coast break, not a beach holiday: Lisbon and the Algarve for mild, bright days, Porto for port and cosy taverns, and Madeira for real warmth and New Year fireworks. Your next step is to choose your base by how much rain you’ll accept, fix your dates around the holidays, and book early if you want Christmas or New Year. For more winter ideas, browse our best travel destinations in December guides.