yearsofweather

Lisbon in December:
crisp and chilly,

Lisbon, Portugal · Records from 2006 to 2025. Not a forecast.

Mean high16°Hottest day 19.6° (2010)
Mean low10°Coldest night 2.7° (2009)
Rain days9 days3-20 by year
Rainfall102mmDaylight 9.7 → 9.5 h
Lisbon's 12 months iBest: May to July
Trip types Beach Poorcool seaSightseeing on foot Goodmild
Sea temperature16.3°15.1-17.1° by year (last 6)
Sunrise / sunset (15th)07:48 / 17:16Daylight 9.7 → 9.5 h

Lisbon in December

1 December (Restoration of Independence), 8 December (Immaculate Conception) and 25 December are public holidays. It rains often, yet it is mild compared with most European cities and a heavy down jacket is unnecessary. Room prices rise around Christmas and New Year.

December in Lisbon was brisk: 16°C by day, 10°C at night. Standing in the shade felt chilly. There were 9 rain days on average, roughly one day in three. The average is 9, but individual years ran from 3 (2024) to 20 (2010).

Days were short. Daylight shrank from 9.7 to 9.5 hours across the month, so plan outdoor sights early. Cold snaps happened: the record low for December was 2.7°C, set in 2009.

Hurricanes i No tropical storm passed within 300 km in this month over the last 20 years. Hurricanes: September and October

Date by date i

‹ November December 2026 January ›
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Week
1-5rain on 33% of days16° 10°
6-12rain on 26% of days16° 11°
13-19rain on 33% of days15° 10°
20-26rain on 27% of days15° 9°
27-31rain on 30% of days15° 9°

0-5/206-8/209-11/2012-20/20

1-5rain on 33% of days16° 10°
6-12rain on 26% of days16° 11°
13-19rain on 33% of days15° 10°
20-26rain on 27% of days15° 9°
27-31rain on 30% of days15° 9°
Tap another date to change

20064mm
2007none
20085mm
20099mm
201028mm
2011none
20122mm
2013none
2014none
20151mm
2016none
2017none
2018none
2019none
2020none
20212mm
202241mm
202317mm
2024none
2025none
Holidays in December (2026)
  • December 1 Restoration of Independence Day
  • December 8 Immaculate Conception
  • December 25 Christmas Day

1 Local public holiday or break (busier, pricier)

Your trip dates, the past 20 years

Trip dates ~

You can also click two dates on the axis. Hover a cell to see that day's rain.
Trip rain days Month rain days
2006
3 d 8 d
2007
0 d 5 d
2008
4 d 12 d
2009
2 d 18 d
2010
4 d 20 d
2011
1 d 4 d
2012
2 d 10 d
2013
1 d 7 d
2014
1 d 6 d
2015
1 d 7 d
2016
0 d 6 d
2017
2 d 7 d
2018
1 d 4 d
2019
1 d 8 d
2020
3 d 12 d
2021
1 d 8 d
2022
6 d 19 d
2023
2 d 7 d
2024
0 d 3 d
2025
2 d 13 d
Years with rain
Tap a date to start, tap another to end. Each cell is that date in one year.
'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
of 20
7
7
5
7
7
5
9
3
5
4
5
6
6
9
7
9
1
6
8
8
6
4
4
6
8
2
7
4
7
5
7
Rain days on trip
30424121110211316202

No rain1-9 mm10 mm or more Dates outside your trip are dimmed.

One row per year, one cell per day. 2024 had 3 rain days, 2010 had 20.

Lisbon through the year

MonthHighLowRain daysRainfallSea
January 15°9°10 days91mm 16°
February 16°10°9 days83mm 15°
March 18°11°8 days90mm 15°
April 21°13°8 days73mm 16°
MayGood 24°15°4 days45mm 17°
JuneGood 26°17°3 days15mm 18°
JulyGood 28°18°1 day2mm 18°
August 29°19°1 day4mm 18°
September 27°18°4 days36mm 19°
October 23°16°8 days98mm 18°
November 18°12°10 days132mm 18°
December 16°10°9 days102mm 16°

Common questions

Does it rain a lot in Lisbon in December?

Over the past 20 years December averaged 9 rain days (1 mm or more) out of 31. Individual years ran from 3 in the driest to 20 in the wettest.

What should I wear in Lisbon in December?

Days averaged 16°C and nights 10°C. Pack a compact umbrella, a waterproof jacket, and a sweater plus a light jacket.

Can you swim in Lisbon in December?

Sea surface temperature averaged 16.3°C in December, too cold for most people without a wetsuit. Year to year it ranged 15.1-17.1°C. Check local flags for waves and jellyfish on the day.

Is December a good time to visit Lisbon?

On warmth and rain days alone, Lisbon's easiest months were May to July. December ranked 11 of 12.