Three cities for a three-day December break
In December, a short break works well when built around compact city routes and places to visit on a cool or wet day. Lisbon, Málaga and Paphos offer different combinations of old districts, museums and coast.
Travel month
Average temperatures in the cities on this page, °C
Contents
Compare the weather by city
| City | Daytime | At night | Sea | Wet days | Rainfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 16 °C | 11 °C | 16 °C | 7.3 | 65.5 mm | 9.5 h |
| Málaga | 18 °C | 11 °C | 16 °C | 5.7 | 43.7 mm | 9.7 h |
| Paphos | 17 °C | 13 °C | 19 °C | 10.3 | 78.1 mm | 9.9 h |
Air: average daily highs and lows for 2015–2024. Wet day: at least 1 mm of precipitation. Sea: a monthly coastal reference.
Lisbon: centre and Belém
Group Baixa, Chiado and Alfama, then make Belém a separate outing. On a shorter day, visit open viewpoints earlier and keep a museum for later.
Málaga: fortress, museum and port
Walk Málaga’s old centre in the morning and climb to the Alcazaba, then choose a museum or the port. Distances make it easy to change the order if skies turn grey.
Paphos: archaeological park and old districts
Spend one day around the archaeological park and harbour, another in the Upper Town, and keep the third for the coast or district museum. This separates Paphos’s two centres without a packed schedule.
Detailed city guides
Lisbon in December
December in Lisbon is about architecture, museums and unhurried lunches. Keep an indoor alternative for a rainy day and avoid overloading the schedule with long cross-city walks.
Málaga in December
December suits a short Málaga break with museums, walks and festive evenings. Spend daylight hours beside the sea or on the fortress routes, then return to the decorated centre after sunset. Bring a warm layer for a longer evening out, even when the afternoon invites a sunny outdoor seat.
Paphos in December
A December trip suits visitors who put history and a relaxed city break first. Swimming depends on your comfort with cool water and calm sea conditions.
Common questions
Does this work with shorter daylight?
Yes, if you group nearby districts and begin with the main outdoor sights. Save museums and indoor stops for later hours and give distant areas their own day.
Which route suits a rainy day?
Choose the Picasso Museum in Málaga, Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon or the district archaeological museum in Paphos. Add a short walk through neighbouring streets.
Where is a practical place to stay?
In Lisbon, consider Baixa or Chiado; in Málaga, the historic centre or Soho; in Paphos, Kato Paphos by the harbour or the Upper Town. Base your choice on where you want to start each day.
Compare destinations
Funchal or Lisbon in December: compare the trip
Compare Funchal and Lisbon in December for city sights, walkable routes and the pace of a short break.
Funchal or Málaga in December: compare the trip
Compare Funchal and Málaga in December for city sights, walkable routes and the pace of a short break.
Antalya or Paphos in December: compare the trip
Compare Antalya and Paphos in December for city sights, walkable routes and the pace of a short break.