Porto · Portugal

December

Porto's Christmas markets and festive lights along the Avenida dos Aliados make December charming despite the rain.

Strong option

#12 of 12 months

There are better months for Porto — see the full ranking below.

Climate

High

14°C

Low

7°C

Rain

130mm

Sun

3.8hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How December scores in Porto

Weather

Average

Value

Above average

Crowds

Good

Events

Good

Atmosphere

Very good

↑Christmas lights and markets along the Avenida dos Aliados and through the Baixa district transform the city into something genuinely festive; Porto does Christmas with warmth and without the corporate gloss of northern European capitals
↑The port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia are particularly appealing in December: warm, richly atmospheric tasting rooms where aged tawnies and vintage ports feel entirely appropriate
↑Visitor numbers are lower than the summer peak but higher than November — a moderate crowd level that gives December a livelier energy than the deepest winter months without the crushing congestion of summer

↓130mm of rain and only 3.8 sunshine hours daily — December in Porto is genuinely wet and dark, and outdoor plans require serious flexibility
↓Christmas week and New Year push prices upward from November's floor; the city is busier than November though far less crowded than June
↓The Douro Valley day trips are limited by short daylight hours — worth attempting on clear days but not reliable in December

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Porto, not across destinations. Methodology →