Portugal
Algarve in December: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Clear transition month
Algarve in December is climatically well suited to city breaks and active holidays and hiking. The average daily high is around 16 °C, and the sea is about 18 °C. With about 9 rainy days it is moderate.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
53/100 · #11
Warmth
#10
Dryness
#11
Sun
#12
Sea warmth
#8
Published best categories: none
Algarve · DecemberPhoto: Eurico Craveiro · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 16 °C
- Average low
- 12 °C
- Sea
- 18 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 9 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 3 h/day
- Humidity
- 82 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 19 | 14 | 9 | 82 | 3.5 | 79 | 4.3 | 19 | 64 |
| December (selected) | 16 | 12 | 9 | 90 | 2.8 | 82 | 4.6 | 18 | 53 |
| January | 15 | 11 | 8 | 60 | 3.2 | 80 | 4.5 | 17 | 52 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: December (53/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | +11 | +2.4 °C | +1.7 °C | +0.1 | -7.8 mm | +0.7 h | -2.8 % | -0.3 m/s | +1.5 °C |
| January | -1 | -1 °C | -1.3 °C | -1.3 | -30.3 mm | +0.4 h | -1.4 % | -0.1 m/s | -0.9 °C |
All twelve months in context

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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Algarve in December?
The average daily high is around 16 °C, with an average daily low of about 12 °C.
Can you swim in Algarve in December?
The sea is about 18 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Algarve in December?
The curated estimate is about 9 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 90 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Algarve?
By the climate score, June, July, August and September are the strongest months for Algarve. For a beach trip: June, July, August and September. December is not among them.