Portugal in December

Christmas lights; Madeira's New Year fireworks sell out Funchal a year ahead.

• Lisbon and the centre · Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos, Coimbrarainy

  Mild winters with rainy spells; hot, dry summers cooled by Atlantic wind. Sintra is often foggy and 5 °C cooler.

• Porto and the north · Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Douro Valley, Peneda-Gerêsrainy

  The wettest region; green and mild. The Douro Valley bakes in summer and harvest is late September.

• Alentejo · Évora, Monsaraz, Alentejo coastfine

  The interior plain reaches 40 °C+ in summer; spring wildflowers are the high point.

• Algarve · Faro, Lagos, Tavira, Sagresfine

  Most sunshine in the country; the sea stays cool (18–22 °C). August is packed and pricey.

• Madeira · Funchal and the islandfine

  Spring-like all year on the south coast; the north and mountains are wetter. Levadas can close after storms.

• Azores · São Miguel, Pico, Faial, Terceirarainy

  Mild and changeable — four seasons in a day. Whale watching best April–October; winter storms cancel inter-island flights.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Republic Day, All Saints, Restoration of Independence, Immaculate Conception

  5 Oct · 1 Nov · 1 Dec · 8 Dec

  Public holidays; some shops and museums close.

• Christmas

  25 Dec

  Everything closed; the family meal (bacalhau) is on the 24th.

• New Year's Eve

  Dec 31 · Lisbon

  Fireworks over the river at Praça do Comércio; crowds and closed streets.

Crowds · Portugal

Medium

Prices · Portugal

Medium

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Lisbon

  Mild; book early for New Year.