Portugal Weather in December 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

December's weather is mild on Portugal's mainland except in mountainous areas. There are about 11 days of moderate rainfall each December at almost all the highlights and several more rain days around Porto and higher elevations. The weather is suitable for touring, hiking, biking, and sightseeing.

Read on for our weather information and travel advice including average temperatures and rainfall, places to go, and travel tips…

Portugal Weather in December: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 10–17°C (50–62°F)
• Rainfall: 14 cm (5 inches)
• Rainy days: 13
• Humidity: 77%
• Sunshine hours/day: 5 hours

Climate Comparison (Averages) for Portugal's Top Tourism Areas

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December's weather is mild in the southern and central mainland, the Azores, and Madeira, cool in the north, and cold in the mountains. There are about 9½ hours of daylight and about 5 hours of sunlight daily and occasional storms. You could tour the cities and sightsee the highlights.

Northern Portugal: The region has a cool Atlantic oceanic climate. There are storms occasionally. It rains about half the days of December. Daily highs reach a cool 14°C (57°F) with only about 4 hours of daily. Most of each day is cloudy. The weather is not well suited for surfing.

Central and southern Portugal: The Alentejo and Algarve regions experience milder Mediterranean fall weather, and the south is sunnier, drier, and warmer. The Algarve is warmer than Lisbon, and since the Algarve has better weather, the surfing is better.

Madeira: See below.

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The Best Places to Visit in Portugal in December

Portugal is one of the sunniest places in Europe, and it is sunnier than Greece in December. Many tourists prefer the cooler weather and darker days to the hot, bright summer sun. When it rains, you could visit urban and sheltered highlights and recreate outdoors in the drier southern regions.

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1.Lisbon — Enjoy the Outdoors, Hiking, Beaches, and Watersports

Lisbon has low tourism and rain about half the days of December. You could enjoy urban tourism when it rains and outdoor activities when the weather is more suitable. There are 5 about hours of sunshine a day on average. There is 81% humidity, which is very high, and average highs are 15°C (59°F).

The big urban highlights in December are the Christmas festivities with twinkling lights, decorations, holiday food, and nativity and manger displays. You can enjoy the festivities as you sightsee, eat the street food, and shop.

The weather isn't good for beach going or watersports due to the rain, choppy and stormy seas, and the low sea temperature. The coast has big waves and about 16°C (61°F) sea temperatures from Lisbon to Porto.

Nights can be cold, but temperatures have never fallen below freezing in December. Lisbon is a popular holiday destination, so book early and expect more crowds if you are going around Christmas.

2. Madeira and Porto Santo — Enjoy Christmas and New Year's in Spring Climate

Madeira and Porto Santo experience about the best weather in Portugal in December. The Christmas holidays have busy tourism, but the first half of the month is low season. People come to enjoy spring-like temperatures with average highs of 21°C (70°F) that feel pleasant with the 70% humidity.

Tourists also like the Christmas festivities and seasonal entertainment. On December 1, Funchal turns on the Christmas lights and decorations, and these stay on until January 7th. There are entertainers, both officially organized and unofficial, caroling groups, philharmonic concerts, choirs, a Christmas village, and a Christmas market on Avenida Arriaga.

To end December and the year in a wave of light and booms, the New Year's Eve firework display in Funchal on 31st of December dazzles and delights both locals and tourists. There are dozens of official fireworks viewing sites including the amphitheater, the shoreline, and even offshore.

Even watersports are doable with a wetsuit since the average water temperature at Funchal and around Porto Santo is about 20°C (68°F). For more about Funchal, see visiting Portugal in May.

Serra da Estrela — Have a White Christmas and Perhaps Even Ski

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park is about 1¾ hours east of the scenic old university town of Coimbra. For a white Christmas and winter sports in Portugal, it is the best place to be. Portugal's best ski resort is on Portugal's second tallest mountain there.

The ski resort is best suited for beginners, but there are intermediate runs too. For winter scenery, there are snow covered thick forests, granite peaks, and lakes. You can find a cabin or guesthouse with good mountain scenery and perhaps take excursions to be out in nature and explore.

It takes about three hours to drive there from Lisbon. Coimbra could be your base for sightseeing and exploring the mountains. For more about Coimbra, see visiting Portugal in August

4. Algarve — Surf or Do Watersports with a Wetsuit or Sightsee and Hike Inland

For more warmth than Lisbon and the northern areas and no crowds, the Algarve region in the south is the place to go on the mainland. Most resorts close by the end of the month, and unless you love watersports such as surfing, you might find little to do in the resort towns.

There are more open hotels and guest houses at the larger towns such as Lagos and Faro. The water temperature is about 18°C (64°F), and this means it is too cold to do watersports without a wetsuit, but the nicer weather makes it the best surfing region.

The daily highs reach about 17°C (63°F). You can go out to walk along the coastal trails or explore the beautiful inland countryside villages.

• For more about Lagos, see visiting Portugal in May.
• For information about Albufeira, see visiting Portugal in March.

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Low Tourism Season: Touring Advice for December

Storms from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic roll in, and in the last few years, there have been unusually big winter storms. However, for lower prices often half that of high season, solitude, and being able to tour and visit places in quiet and peace, you might really enjoy touring in early December.

Christmas and New Year's Holidays

Lisbon and Porto have increased tourism during the Christmas holidays, but the mainland beach resort areas close down. Madeira has busy tourism. So book accommodations earlier if you plan to be visiting after the middle of December when prices for accommodations and travel goes up.

When Christmas festivities ramp up, the crowds outside get larger. Many Portuguese like putting up nativity scenes called presépios and doing nativity plays that depict Jesus, the Son of God, being born in a barn with animals.

The Christmas season officially ends on the 6th of January. New Year's Eve, or Réveillon, is a big day for celebration, and most restaurants close. Most people have the 1st of January off from work.

New Year's Eve Fireworks

There is a massive display over the Tagus River in Lisbon. The fireworks display in Funchal in Madeira (see above) is one of the grandest in the world and a big seasonal highlight. In the past two decades, it has often been recognized as the biggest in the world.

Public holidays in December:

There are a lot of holidays in December.

• December 1 is Restoration of Independence Day, a national holiday. It is a bank holiday, and schools and most businesses close. The holiday commemorates the declaration of independence of Portugal from Spain in 1640.
• December 8 is Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a national holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses close.
• December 25 is Christmas, a national holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses close.

What to Wear in December

Have clothes suitable for cooler rainy weather including a jacket and raingear. Wear warmer winter clothes for the mountains.

Shoes: You will need shoes that are waterproof with good traction to comfortably and safely hike on the trails and the smooth cobblestone streets in historical areas.

Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Portugal

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