Lisbon in December: Weather, Daylight and What to Pack
Mild days, short evenings and Christmas lights: the weather and daylight numbers, what is on, and how to plan a day (and a photo session) around the early sunset.
Lisbon in December is mild and a little wet: expect daytime highs around 15°C, roughly ten rainy days and sunset at about 5:20 pm, so plan your best light for the afternoon.
That is the short version of Lisbon in December. Below you will find the climate numbers from Portugal’s weather service, the real sunrise and sunset times, what the city usually does for Christmas, which day trips still work in winter, what to pack and how to fit photos into a nine-and-a-half-hour day. We checked every figure in October 2026 and name the source next to it.
Highs of about 15°C (59°F), lows of about 9°C (48°F), around 100 mm of rain over roughly 10 days. The sun rises around 7:35 to 7:55 am and sets between about 5:15 and 5:25 pm. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket, and book photos for late afternoon.
What is the weather like in Lisbon in December?
Mild by northern standards, damp by Lisbon’s own. The figures below are the 1991 to 2020 averages from Portugal’s weather service, IPMA, for its Lisbon station near the airport. They are averages, not a forecast, so any single day can be warmer, colder or wetter.
December is one of the wetter months of the year. IPMA’s November figure is 114.6 mm, so the rainy season is well under way by now, and the wet days often come in spells rather than one a week. The usual pattern is a few grey, showery days followed by clear, cool ones.
On sunshine, weather2travel’s long-term averages put it at about five hours a day. That is why a plan with one indoor option and one outdoor option for each day works better than a fixed itinerary.
How many hours of daylight does Lisbon have in December?
About nine and a half. December holds the shortest days of the year, and the winter solstice on 21 December is the shortest of all at 9 hours 30 minutes. Lisbon is on Western European Time in winter, after the clocks go back on 25 October. The times below come from sunrisesunset.io (daily data for central Lisbon), rounded to the minute.
Notice how flat the curve is. The earliest sunset of the year comes in the first half of December, the latest sunrise only after New Year, and sunset creeps later again from mid-month. The practical point is the same all month: the good light is between about 4:30 and 5:50 pm, and it is dark by 6 pm.
Check your own date, because the minutes shift week by week. A quick search for “sunset Lisbon” the evening before is enough to set the plan for the next day.
What is on in Lisbon in December?
Christmas, mostly, and the city does it well. We have not seen official 2026 dates yet, so below is what happens in a typical year and what to confirm closer to the time. For the full picture, our posts on Christmas lights in Lisbon and on why Lisbon feels so festive go into more detail.
Christmas lights
In 2025 the lights were switched on at Terreiro do Paço (Praça do Comércio) on 22 November, with about 46 locations across the city and a 30-metre tree, according to Lisboa Secreta. Rua Augusta, Rua Garrett and Rua do Carmo were on the route.
Dates for 2026 are still to be confirmedWonderland and Rossio
Wonderland Lisboa sets up in Parque Eduardo VII with a Ferris wheel and an ice rink, and entry is free (rides cost extra), per Discover Portugal. The Rossio market runs from mid-November to around 21 December.
Check the official sites for 2026 datesPublic holidays
1 December, 8 December and 25 December are public holidays in Portugal, as listed on Wikipedia. In 2026 the first two fall on Tuesdays and Christmas Day on a Friday.
Expect many museums and shops to close on 25 DecemberTrams and the metro run less often over the holiday period, and most sights and shops close on Christmas Day, so check each opening time before you go. Look at the lights after dark, from about 6 pm, and give the busiest streets, Rua Augusta and the Baixa, a weekday evening if you can.
Want the lights, the tram and the river in one set of photos? Tell us the evening and we will plan the route.
Check availabilityCan you still do day trips from Lisbon in December?
Yes, and Sintra is the obvious one. The monuments stay open, but with winter in mind two things change: the hills are often misty, and the sun is gone before the monuments close. The official Pena page notes that mists often cover the Sintra hills, which can be atmospheric or can hide the view completely.
- Pena Palace. Park 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, palace 9:30 am to 6:30 pm (as of October 2026), with palace tickets sold for a specific date and time.
- Moorish Castle. 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, last ticket 5:30 pm, so sunset arrives before closing. Go in the morning.
- Old town streets. Free to shoot in and sheltered, which suits the hours after the monuments close.
- Check before you leave. The official opening times page shows the latest hours and does not list holiday closures, so confirm for 24 to 26 December and 1 January.
Our guide to the best photo spots in Sintra covers each place in more detail. If you only have time for one thing outside the city, leave Lisbon early and plan to be back by dusk.
What should you pack for Lisbon in December?
Layers, a waterproof jacket and shoes with grip. With an average high near 15°C and a low near 9°C, you will wear a coat in the evening and take it off by lunchtime on a sunny day.
- A waterproof jacket with a hood. Wind can wreck a small umbrella on the hills.
- Shoes with a proper sole. Lisbon’s polished stone pavements and tram tracks get slippery when wet.
- Layers you can add and remove. A light jumper, a scarf and a warmer coat cover most days.
- Gloves and a hat if you plan to stand around outdoors after sunset, for the lights or for photos.
- A power bank. Maps, tickets and photos all run on the phone, and short days mean longer evenings out.
For photos, winter colours work well against Lisbon’s pale stone and tiles: deep red, navy, forest green, cream. Our guide on what to wear for a photoshoot in Lisbon in every season has more detail.
When is the best time for a photo session in Lisbon in December?
Late afternoon. Golden hour starts around 4:35 to 4:45 pm, sunset is about 5:15 to 5:25 pm, and the sky stays interesting until close to 6 pm. The sun stays low all day in winter, so harsh midday glare is less of a problem, and the choice is mostly about picking the warmest hour.
- Pick the date, then check sunset. Use the table above and note the exact minute for your day.
- Start about an hour and a half before sunset. For a one-hour session, a start around 3:45 to 4:00 pm lets us finish in the gold. For 30 minutes, 4:30 pm works.
- Choose a place that suits the hour. Belém and the riverfront suit the last light, while Alfama and the Baixa give you warm stone and the first Christmas lights.
- Keep a backup morning or day. Rain is likely on one in three December days, so a flexible second day helps.
We offer three session lengths: 30 minutes (up to 25 edited photos), one hour (up to 40) and 90 minutes (60+). A session covers up to two people, and more people can join, up to 10 in total. You receive a private online gallery within seven days, with professional edits, full-resolution files without watermarks and location scouting included.
If the forecast is clearly poor, we reschedule at no extra cost, and we decide together the evening before. Details, other cities and the booking form are on our booking page, and the Lisbon photographer page shows how a session runs. The current prices are on the booking page too.
Is December a good month to visit Lisbon?
If you accept shorter days and a few showers, yes. Lisbon stays open all winter, the lights and markets add a reason to be out in the evening, and the mild temperatures mean you can still sit on a terrace in a coat on a dry afternoon.
If you want long evenings and reliable sun, our Lisbon in September guide covers the opposite season. For a first-time list of places that work in any month, see our top 10 things to do in Lisbon.
Common questions
What is the weather like in Lisbon in December?
Mild and showery. IPMA’s 1991 to 2020 averages for its Lisbon station give a daytime high of 14.9°C (59°F), a night-time low of 8.7°C (48°F) and about 100 mm of rain over roughly 10 days.
Does it rain a lot in Lisbon in December?
It is one of the wetter months. The average is 9.7 days with at least 1 mm of rain, and about 3.5 days with 10 mm or more. Rain often comes in spells, with dry, bright days in between.
What time does the sun set in Lisbon in December?
Between about 5:15 and 5:26 pm for the whole month, on Western European Time. Sunrise is between about 7:34 and 7:53 am, and the shortest day, 21 December, has about 9 hours 30 minutes of daylight.
What should I pack for Lisbon in December?
Layers, a waterproof jacket with a hood, shoes with good grip for wet cobbles, and a hat and gloves for evenings. Lows average around 9°C, and the average high is near 15°C.
Is Lisbon worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you plan for short days. The city stays open, there are Christmas lights and markets, and you can still do Sintra as a day trip. Allow for some rain and check opening times around 24 and 25 December.
When is the best time of day for photos in Lisbon in December?
Late afternoon. Golden hour begins around 4:35 to 4:45 pm and sunset is about 5:15 to 5:25 pm, so a session that starts between about 3:45 and 4:30 pm catches the warmest light.