This post is an overview of the Lisbon weather in December, including temperatures and rain forecasts, as well as things to do.
HOW HOT OR COLD IS LISBON DURING DECEMBER?
The days are cool and the nights tend to be cold in Lisbon during December, however, the temperature has never fallen below freezing this month.
Afternoon high temperatures tend to be near 16 C ( about 61 F) early in the month falling to about 14 C (57-58 F) by New Years Eve.
A few of the warmer afternoons, early in December can reach 19 C (66 F).
The record high temperature in Lisbon during December was 23.2 C (73.8 F). Late night and early morning low temperatures tend to be near 10 C (50 F) early in the month, falling to near 9 C (about 48 F).
A few of the colder mornings can see temperatures dipping down to 4 C - 5 C ( about 40 F). The record low temperature recorded in Lisbon during December is 2.4 C (36.3 F).
HOW MUCH SUN AND RAIN?
About 16 days, on average, will be sunny or at least partly sunny skies.
Some rain falls on about 15 days, however, only 8-9 days will record at least 1 mm (.04 inches), and only about 4 days record at least 10 mm (0.4 inches) or more.
You can expect about 9.5 hours of daylight this month still should be adequate to explore the city.
December can be a bit windy in Lisbon ranging from gentle (12-19 kph/8-12 mph) to moderate (20-28 kph/13-18 mph) but occasionally can be fresh (29-38 kph/19-24mph) with higher gusts.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Best to dress for Autumn including at least one medium-weight jacket or coat and a couple of sweaters.
A scarf & hat and perhaps a pair of gloves might come in handy on those colder and windy days.
If a chilly morning tour warrants gloves, be sure to get ones that have touchscreen capabilities so you can still take photos on your phone.
We use these from Agloves because they have gripper dots on the palm to help hold things!
Wear sensible shoes as the cobblestone streets can be slippery when wet.
An umbrella will also come in handy during those wet days. We recommend a pocket umbrella, like this one.
WHAT TO DO IN LISBON IN DECEMBER
With moderate weather, most of the year-round activities can be enjoyed in December. Some things to do this month are:
- Take a free walking tour
- See the city from a sightseeing cruise or a hop on hop off bus tour
- Explore a neighborhood! These are a few of the best areas to see:
- Baixa (the downtown area)
- Chiado + Bairro Alto
- Alfama
- Belém
Find out about the best things to do in Lisbon at any time of year.
TIP: Many of the museums, tours, and historic locations one can visit this month are included with at least one Lisbon tourist attraction discount pass which can save you anywhere from 20% – 40% off general admission prices on average.
