Month guide · Algarve · Portugal
Algarve in December
What December is really like in Algarve: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ricardo Oliveira, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 9.6 hours of daylight. Mild but the wettest period; Christmas lights in town centres and New Year's Eve fireworks in resort towns.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Algarve: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (19°C (66°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:38
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:16
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild and often sunny but quiet, with many beach restaurants closed; popular for golf and long stays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- New Year's Eve celebrations in Albufeira and other resorts (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Lagoa
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
This clifftop path runs about 6 km each way between Praia da Marinha and Praia do Vale Centeanes, past sinkholes, rock arches and dry 'hanging' valleys that end abruptly above the sea.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Nature
Viewpoint · Lagos
Ponta da Piedade
Come at sunset for warm light on the cliffs, then walk the clifftop paths back towards Praia do Camilo.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Viewpoint · Sagres
Cape St Vincent
Mainland Europe's south-western tip is a headland of high cliffs topped by one of Europe's most powerful lighthouses.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Sagres
Fortress of Sagres
Walk the full loop around the promontory to see fishermen on the cliffs and the blowholes on the west side.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 9°C and 6 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Algarve?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Algarve in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Algarve?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild but the wettest period; Christmas lights in town centres and New Year's Eve fireworks in resort towns.
+How warm is Algarve in December?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Algarve in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.