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Lisbon's red rooftops and hills rolling down to the river in golden evening light, seen from aboveRooftop view over Porto, the Douro River and the Dom Luís I Bridge

Lisbon vs Porto in December

Porto edges it in December. Lisbon averages 9–15°C with low–medium crowds; Porto 7–14°C with low crowds.

By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026

Lisbon and Porto

The verdict for December

  • WeatherVery similar5/10 vs 5/10
  • CrowdsVery similarLow–Medium vs Low
  • PricesVery similar€€€ vs €€
  • OverallPorto comes out ahead6.5/10 vs 7/10
Lisbon's red rooftops and hills rolling down to the river in golden evening light, seen from above

Lisbon in December

Mild winter escape

Temperature
9–15°C
Crowds
Low–Medium
Prices
€€€

+Mild compared with northern Europe and beautiful in winter light.

–Rooftop weather is not reliable.

A good winter escape if you want sun without flying far.

Lisbon in December
Rooftop view over Porto, the Douro River and the Dom Luís I Bridge

Porto in December

Festive streets, winter rain

Temperature
7–14°C
Crowds
Low
Prices
€€

+Seasonal atmosphere and quieter sightseeing outside the holidays.

–Frequent rain and holiday-related price spikes.

December brings Christmas decorations and a seasonal atmosphere, but the weather is often wet. Visitor numbers are generally lower outside the holiday period, when demand can rise again.

Porto in December

Scores and crowd levels are my own judgement; temperatures are monthly averages. Higher scores are better: quieter, cheaper and more pleasant.

Another month