Porto in December: What to Expect

Porto in December is one of the better-value December city breaks in Western Europe. The Atlantic coast keeps temperatures mild by northern standards, prices are genuinely low outside Christmas week, and the port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia are significantly more enjoyable when you're not queuing for 40 minutes in summer heat. Early December is the smart choice. Christmas week brings domestic Portuguese and Brazilian visitors and costs rise, but nothing like the peak-season extremes of more fashionable destinations.

Weather

Mild and wet. Porto in December averages 9°C to 14°C, with rain a consistent possibility. December is one of the wetter months in Porto, so a proper waterproof jacket is not optional. The city is hilly, which means you're often walking into or away from the rain at an angle. The upside: when the rain stops and the sun comes out, the view from the Clérigos Tower or the Serra do Pilar across the Douro is extraordinary. The azulejo tile facades on the buildings glow after rain. Pack for mild and wet rather than cold.

Crowds and Prices

Cheap by any European measure in early December. Flights from the UK are inexpensive, accommodation in the Ribeira and the Bonfim is affordable, and the Livraria Lello bookshop, which requires tickets and has long queues in summer, is accessible on a weekday morning in December. The port wine lodge tours in Gaia, Taylor's, Graham's, and Sandeman among others, run year-round and are much more pleasant when you can stroll the terrace and look across the river in comfortable temperatures without a crowd.

What's On

Porto puts up Christmas lights along the Aliados avenue and the main shopping streets from late November. There's a Christmas market near the town hall that runs through December. The main December activity in Porto is the city itself: a tasting at a port wine lodge, a plate of bacalhau at a proper tasco, the sunset view from the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, and a glass of something on the Ribeira embankment in the early evening. New Year's Eve at the Praça da Liberdade has fireworks and a crowd. The wine-producing Douro Valley, an hour east of Porto by train, is quiet in December and beautiful in the low winter light.

One Thing to Watch

Livraria Lello, the famous bookshop, requires advance ticket booking online. In summer the queues are extreme; in December they're manageable, but the ticket system is still in operation. Buy online before you visit rather than turning up on the day.