Lisbon in December 2014 – major tourist attractions, events and weather in December in Lisbon, Portugal
The capital of Portugal remains one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe, also during the winter. Although between November and March the weather in Portugal does not allow to fully enjoy the many wonderful beaches on the Lisbon coast, the city has still plenty to offer, enough to fill in a couple of days of sightseeing, with an additional benefit: low season prices.
Visit the iconic Lisbon landmarks and try roasted chestnuts sold from the street cars or other seasonal delicacies as for example Bolo Rei cake eaten only around Christmas time.
Christmas season in Lisbon
December is a great time to visit Lisbon with Christmas as the leading theme. Although it doesn’t snow in the Portuguese capital, the city actually puts a lot of effort into creating the Christmas atmosphere with a wonderful display of seasonal decorations.
For a real sample of winter in Portugal, skip the shopping centres filled to capacity and head straight to Avenida da Liberdade and Lisbon Downtown (Baixa) to admire the beautiful street illuminations of the city’s old quarter:
Terreiro do Paço Square (also known as Praça do Comercio) on the Tagus river front is an important venue for Christmas festivities: here you can admire Portugal’s largest Christmas tree and, from a few year back, also multimedia presentations held at night, in December.
Lisbon Christmas shopping
Baixa is also a great place to buy souvenirs and Christmas gifts from Portugal. This area of Lisbon was traditionally the city’s shopping district and despite the many cheap souvenir and fake goods stores pooping up on almost every corner, here you can still find the best Portugal has to offer. For traditional sweets and chocolate, look for Confeitaria Nacional. Portugal’s finest wines can be found at Manuel Tavares. In Fabrica Sant’Anna, in the Chiado buy traditional, hand-painted white-and-blue tiles. More quality ceramics, crystal and glassware, as well as cutlery are sold from another Portuguese brand with nearly 200 years old tradition, Vista Alegre. A Vida Portuguesa (meaning Portuguese Life) is a fairly new, yet tremendously popular concept store gathering some of the fines and longest-produced Portuguese goods, amongst them toiletries, gourmet products and designer ceramics.
Outside Baixa, visit a Christmas Bazar (Mercado do Natal) held from early December at Campo Pequeno bullring – it is a great place to buy traditional Portuguese products and handcraft, as well as to try local food and liquors from the numerous food stalls.
Main landmarks of Lisbon area
Portuguese capital boasts an exuberant historic and cultural heritage. The monuments and sights are countless and Lisbon sightseeing programmes can go from a day to a week or longer, depending on how thoroughly you wish to get to know the city and its fascinating past. If you are in Lisbon only for a short break, the absolute must-sees are: Baixa (Downtown) with Sao Jorge Castle, Chiado and Bairro Alto (the Upper Town) as well as Avenida de Liberdade, the city’s most representative avenue. This whole area can be seen in a day or two, on foot. Prepare for walking a lot though; Lisbon is known as “the city on seven hills” and some of them are quite steep. Walking in Lisbon old quarters will be, however, a very rewarding experience, especially if you are a photography enthusiasts. There are many view point, miradouros, at hilltops, providing you with spectacular views of Lisbon and river Tagus.
Outside of the strict city centre, do not miss out on the Belém area with the famous Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), the Belem Tower and the stunning Jeronimos Monastery.
If time and weather allow it, a trip to Sintra, some 20 miles northwest of Lisbon is well worthwhile. The picturesque town of Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lisbon weather in December – bring a raincoat
Central Portugal and Lisbon enjoy subtropical Mediterranean climate characterized by warm sunny summers and short, mild winters. December, however, happens to be, together with January, the coldest month of the year in Portugal with average daytime temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius, being the key word here “average”. Please note, that when the sun is out, the temperatures during the “winter “ days in Lisbon can easily rise to 18 or even 20 degrees, just to drop rather abruptly to well below 10 degrees at the end of the day, when the sun goes down. It is advisable to use several layers of clothes rather than one thick jacket, to adjust to the quickly changing weather conditions. See Lisbon weather in more detail (temperatures, rainfall, sunshine hours).
There is not much difference in temperature in Lisbon on rainy days, however, and those are plentiful in December – together with November, the rainiest months in Portugal. You may also experience strong winds and high humidity. When visiting Lisbon in the winter, bring a raincoat or an umbrella and do not let the changeable weather stop you from exploring this unique city.
Lisbon Aquarium – open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
“Oceanário de Lisboa” or Lisbon Aquarium is not only one of the greatest attractions of the Portuguese capital, but also a safe bet for sightseeing during rainy weather. The aquarium is located entirely indoors and offers long opening hours: from 10 am to 7 pm during wintertime. The aquarium remains open even when virtually all other Lisbon attractions close: on Christmas Day (from 1 pm to 6 pm) and on 1 of January, New Year’s Day (from noon to 6 pm).
Half Marathon Lisbon 2014
If you are a running enthusiast visiting Lisbon in December, don’t forget to pack up your running shoes. Lisbon half marathon, scheduled for 7 December 2014 is a great opportunity to both work out and get to know the city: the race course leads through some of the most notable historic areas of the city, including the district of Belem, known as the starting point of the Portuguese overseas expeditions in 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
The event is not directed only to long distance racers. Less able runners can join the 10 km race, or the 5 km (free pace) race held simultaneously. Find out more info about Half Marathon Lisbon 2014 and registration.
Cheap flights to Lisbon – all year long
Lisbon Portela Airport, the busiest in Portugal, offers year-round opportunities for cheap flights from the UK. In late 2014 low-cost routes to Lisbon were available from Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London-Gatwick and London-Luton, with Easyjet, as well as from London-Stansted and Manchester with Ryanair.
Lisbon Airport car hire – find cheap off-season car rental deals in Lisbon
