Porto in December: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

14.8 °C

Nighttime low

9.9 °C

Monthly precipitation

122.7 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

14.4

Daylight

9.3 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

Porto, Portugal. In december, the average daytime high is 14.8 °C and the night-time low is 9.9 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

There are 14.4 wet days on average, with about 122.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

How to plan the day

Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

Average daylight is 9.3 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.

What to pack

Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

Precipitation and an alternative plan

Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.

What to pack

Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.

Compared with neighbouring months

Average daytime high: previous month — 16.8 °C, December — 14.8 °C, next month — 13.5 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 14.6, 14.4 and 12.4.

Things to do

Porto steps down to the Douro: Ribeira with its coloured houses at the water, Sé and Baixa above, Vila Nova de Gaia on the far bank. The Luís I bridge joins the two sides, the metro runs from the airport into the centre, and the river is easiest reached on foot.

Ribeira and the Luís I bridge

Walk the Ribeira waterfront under the arcades of the old warehouses, then cross the Luís I bridge on the lower deck. From the upper deck the tiled roofs and the port lodges of Gaia open below.

The port lodges of Gaia

In Vila Nova de Gaia the port wine lodges line the river with tours and tastings. Cross the bridge, choose one lodge and keep time for the quay with its view back to Porto.

Clérigos and Lello

The Clérigos tower and the Lello bookshop stand close together in the Sé area. Climb the tower for the view, then walk down to the Bolhão market and have lunch in a tasca.

Where to stay

Ribeira

Ribeira suits anyone who wants to live by the river among narrow houses and restaurants. Bars keep it noisy at night, but the climb into the city takes about ten minutes and the bridge fills the windows.

Baixa and Sé

Baixa and Sé work for a first visit, with São Bento station, the Clérigos tower and the market nearby. The streets are busy by day and calmer at night, and the river is a fifteen-minute walk downhill.

Foz do Douro

Foz do Douro draws people for the Atlantic beaches and quiet streets at the river mouth. The centre is a tram or bus ride away, though evenings pass without crowds and there is space to walk by the water.

Getting to and around Porto

The metro runs from Porto airport to Trindade in the centre, a journey of about half an hour. In the city the metro, buses and the historic trams link Baixa, Ribeira and Foz, with tickets on an Andante card. Walking down to the river is easy, and the funicular brings you back up.

Three days in Porto

Ribeira and Gaia

Walk the Ribeira quay in the morning and cross the Luís I bridge. In the afternoon go over to Gaia, visit one lodge and return to the Douro bank for sunset.

Sé and Baixa

Start at the cathedral and walk down to the Clérigos tower, then look into the Lello bookshop. After lunch cross the Bolhão market and rest in a café on the square.

Foz and the ocean

Take the tram to Foz do Douro and walk the waterfront to the river mouth. Come back through Boavista after lunch and end the day at Ribeira.

Weather throughout the year

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Frequently asked questions