Portugal

Portugal Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Portugal in December.

Considering a trip to Portugal this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Portugal in December

In December, Portugal experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from cold to pleasant and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from cold in Montezinho at 9°C (48°F) to pleasant in Santa Maria at 22°C (72°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 19°C (66°F) in Santa Maria and 2°C (36°F) in Montezinho.

For specific regional insights in Portugal, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Vila Baleira with an average of 51 mm (2 in) to heavy rainfall in Terras de Bouro with 258 mm (10 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Lisbon, you can expect around 141 hours of sunlight in December, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

Explore Portugal by month

Best Places to Visit in Portugal in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Portugal.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Portugal

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Portugal?

Temperature range in Portugal (December)

Precipitation variation in Portugal (December)

Lisbon

In December Lisbon generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
155 hours
141 hours
150 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Porto

In December Porto generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
138 hours
124 hours
122 hours
Monthly rainfall
163 mm (6.4 in)
160 mm (6.3 in)
142 mm (5.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
16 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Albufeira

In December Albufeira generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
176 hours
169 hours
156 hours
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Lagos

In December Lagos generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
173 hours
166 hours
157 hours
Monthly rainfall
69 mm (2.7 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Portimão

In December Portimão generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
176 hours
169 hours
156 hours
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Portugal.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Portugal in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Lisbon 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Porto 15°C (59°F) 9°C (48°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Cascais 17°C (63°F) 13°C (55°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Ponta Delgada 18°C (64°F) 15°C (59°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Coimbra 15°C (59°F) 6°C (43°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Braga 14°C (57°F) 6°C (43°F) 223 mm (8.8 in)

Portugal weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Portugal in December?

December in Portugal brings tolerable weather. In Lisbon, daytime temperatures are typically around 16°C (61°F) and nighttime lows hover near 10°C (50°F).

What is the average temperature in Portugal in December?

In Lisbon, the average daytime high in December is 16°C (61°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 10°C (50°F).

Does Portugal get a lot of rain in December?

Not particularly. Lisbon averages just 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Portugal.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Portugal?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Portugal with often tolerable weather in Lisbon.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August, September and October provide perfect weather in Lisbon. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have tolerable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Portugal.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Portugal? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Portugal.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.