Month guide · Lisbon · Portugal
Lisbon in December
What December is really like in Lisbon: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.5 hours of daylight. Mild and festive, with Christmas lights in the Baixa and Chiado; rain is common but rarely lasts all day.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Lisbon: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (18°C (64°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:48
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:16
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild and green with rainy spells; uncrowded sights, Christmas lights in the Baixa and the lowest hotel rates.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas lights and markets in the Baixa (December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks at Praça do Comércio (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Waterfront · Parque das Nações
Parque das Nações and the riverside cable car
The former Expo 98 site is a modern riverside district with Santiago Calatrava's Oriente station, the 12-km Vasco da Gama Bridge on the horizon and a cable car gliding above the water's edge.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Almada
Cristo Rei
Take the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas for the river views, then a bus or taxi up to the monument.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the ferry
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Avenidas Novas
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
The oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian's collection spans Egyptian antiquities, Islamic ceramics and carpets, European painting including Rembrandt, and a celebrated room of René Lalique jewellery.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Parque das Nações
Lisbon Oceanarium
Book online for a timed slot and combine it with the riverside cable car and the Pavilhão do Conhecimento science centre nearby.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 9°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Lisbon?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Lisbon in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Lisbon?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and festive, with Christmas lights in the Baixa and Chiado; rain is common but rarely lasts all day.
+How warm is Lisbon in December?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lisbon in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.