Month guide · Porto · Portugal
Porto in December
What December is really like in Porto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 9.2 hours of daylight. Rainy but festive, with Christmas lights on the Avenida dos Aliados.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 9.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Porto: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with November (17°C (63°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:53
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:07
- Daylight
- About 9.2 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Cool, rainy and quiet, with the lowest prices; port lodges and museums make good wet-weather refuges.
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 market on the Avenida dos Aliados (usually December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the river and Aliados (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.
Viewpoint · Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront
Serra do Pilar and Jardim do Morro
On the Gaia end of the bridge's upper deck, the terraced Jardim do Morro and the circular church of the Serra do Pilar monastery give the widest view over Ribeira, the bridge and the old town.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- After dark
Experience · Ribeira
Historic tram line 1
Board at the Infante stop near São Francisco and sit on the left side for river views.
- Time needed
- 1 hour return
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- History
.jpg){kind=link}
Experience · Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront
Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia
For centuries, port wine was shipped down the Douro and aged in lodges on the Gaia riverbank.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Food
- Couples
- Rainy day
- History
Architecture · Baixa and Aliados
Livraria Lello
Book the first time slot of the day online; queues on Rua das Carmelitas grow quickly.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Shopping
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 6°C and 14 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Porto?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Porto in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Porto?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Rainy but festive, with Christmas lights on the Avenida dos Aliados.
+How warm is Porto in December?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Porto in December?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.