If the aim is warmth in December, Portugal gives a clear ranking, and the order surprises many visitors because the best sun is not on the mainland. Madeira wins, the Algarve is the mainland answer, and Porto trails. The table below ranks the regions by approximate daytime December temperature, then we name towns and one hotel from our own guides for each. Figures are long-term averages from the national weather service IPMA and will vary by a few degrees in any year. For the full month, see Portugal in December.
Ranking by December Temperature
| Rank | Region | Day high | Night low | Sea | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madeira south coast (Funchal) | approximately 19-20°C | 14-15°C | 19°C | 8-10 |
| 2 | Porto Santo | approximately 19°C | 14°C | 19°C | 5-7 |
| 3 | Azores (Ponta Delgada) | approximately 17°C | 13°C | 18°C | 15+ |
| 4 | Algarve (Faro, Lagos, Tavira) | approximately 16-17°C | 8-9°C | 16-17°C | 7-9 |
| 5 | Lisbon and Cascais | approximately 14-15°C | 8-9°C | 15-16°C | 11-13 |
| 6 | Porto and the north | approximately 12-14°C | 6-7°C | 14°C | 13+ |
1. Madeira South Coast: Funchal, Calheta and Câmara de Lobos
Funchal sits on the sheltered south coast with mountains behind it, which keeps winter highs near 19-20°C and nights rarely below 14°C. The sun is steadier than on the mainland, though cloud collects on the high peaks. Choose the hotel zone for walkable restaurants and sea-water swimming pools, the old town for atmosphere, and nearby Calheta for the island’s artificial golden beach.
Hotel: Pestana Casino Park Hotel, approximately €140-€200 per night in normal weeks as of 2026, with a pool and spa. More in our Funchal hotel guide. The week from 26 December onward is far more expensive, and it fills for the world-famous fireworks, see New Year’s Eve in Portugal. Read the Madeira island guide and best time to visit Madeira. Search Funchal stays or browse Madeira tours.
2. Porto Santo
Madeira’s smaller sister island is flatter and drier, with a 9 km sandy beach and a sea around 19°C in December. It is quiet and many places close, but it is a good sunbathing option on clear days. A short flight or ferry from Funchal gets you there. Hotel/guesthouse: Residencial Palmeira in Vila Baleira, from our Porto Santo page, where we list the simple guesthouse option close to the beach.
3. The Azores: Ponta Delgada and Furnas
The Azores stay mild all year at 17°C by day, and the Atlantic is still about 18°C in December. The catch is rain and cloud, often on more than half the days. We recommend it for thermal pools and landscapes rather than sunbathing. Hotel: Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas, São Miguel, beside the thermal park, listed in our Azores hotel guide. See the São Miguel guide.
4. The Algarve: Faro, Lagos, Tavira
The warmest region of mainland Portugal. By day the sun makes sheltered beaches pleasant for sunbathing in a jumper, even though the evenings turn cool at 8-9°C. The sea is around 16-17°C. Lagos suits walkers (the clifftop path to Ponta da Piedade), Tavira suits a quiet old-town base, and Faro is the practical airport stop.
Hotel: Pousada de Tavira (Convento da Graça), approximately €130-€200 per night as of 2026, a converted 16th-century convent with a pool and garden, in our Tavira hotel guide. Our best time to visit the Algarve guide gives monthly figures, and Algarve stays are the starting point for booking.
5. Lisbon and Cascais
Lisbon is a coat-and-scarf December at 14-15°C, but bright days are common and the Christmas lights are the draw. Cascais, on the Estoril coast, is a degree or so warmer and calmer. Hotel: Bairro Alto Hotel in Chiado, approximately €150-€220 per night normally, as of 2026, in our Lisbon hotel guide. Read our Lisbon in winter guide and Christmas in Portugal.
6. Porto and the North
Cool, wet and atmospheric: 12-14°C, with Atlantic rain. Port lodges, Christmas lights and winter surf at Matosinhos replace beach life. Hotel: Hotel Torel Avantgarde in Bonfim, approximately €130-€180 per night as of 2026, in our Porto hotel guide. Higher ground, such as Serra da Estrela, can see snow.
How We Would Choose
If the only requirement is T-shirt weather, book Madeira or Porto Santo, accepting that a flight from the UK takes around four hours and that Funchal prices rise from 22 December. If the budget is tight, choose the Algarve in the first three weeks of December, when hotel rates sit near the annual low, and fares can be approximately €30-€80 each way as of 2026. For a city break with a cultural focus, choose Lisbon but pack waterproofs; our packing list shows the layers. Compare more broadly in our Portugal winter sun guide and, if you are considering Spain, in Algarve vs Costa del Sol for winter sun. Search flights to Portugal and see our flights guide for timing.
A Few Practical Points About Winter Warmth
Heating is a weak point in many Portuguese buildings, particularly older guesthouses and self-catering flats on the mainland. A room that looks excellent in July can feel cold in December, so we check the listing for air conditioning with a heating mode, or a heater, before booking. The best winter sunshine tends to fall between 11:00 and 16:00, so plan outdoor lunches and walks into that window and keep the early mornings and evenings for indoor activities. Wind matters as much as air temperature: the exposed west coast of the Algarve (Sagres) feels several degrees colder than the sheltered south coast near Tavira. Finally, check the forecast on IPMA 48 hours before travelling; Atlantic fronts pass through quickly, and a wet Tuesday often becomes a clear Wednesday.