SeasonMapNazaré weather in December
Portugal
December in Nazaré: cool, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit.
#11 of 12 months in Nazaré · #921 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 62/100 (tier C)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Nazaré in December
Other months in Nazaré
Nazaré's forum is consistent that this stretch of Atlantic coast runs noticeably cooler and breezier than southern Portugal, even in July — genuinely fresh compared to the Algarve or Lisbon, with wind a near-daily feature both day and night. Regulars note the beach season here doesn't fully kick into gear until late July, and a light jumper for the evening is worth packing regardless of the month.
Add your own note from Nazaré's card on the map.
Nazaré climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 16°C / 61°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 9°C / 49°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 14°C / 57°F | |
| Sea temperature | 16°C / 62°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 83 mm / 3.3 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 10 days | |
| Humidity | 83% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 9°C / 49°F | |
| Sunshine | 7 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | |
| Wind | 21 km/h / 13 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 37 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nazaré in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsTow Surfing Challenge window, Christmas holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nazaré's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherNazaré's weather peaks July–September, best around August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nazaré in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Big-wave season, Praia do Norte
15 Oct – 15 Mar · usuallySurf seasonAtlantic storms funnel down the Nazare canyon and the tow-in crews chase them from the lighthouse headland. Six to ten genuinely enormous days a winter, and no way to book them in advance.
- Festival
Tow Surfing Challenge window
15 Oct – 15 Mar · usuallySurf seasonCrowdedBook earlyThe big-wave contest is called on 24 to 48 hours' notice when the forecast clears about twelve metres, so the town can go from empty to sold out inside a day between October and March. Source ↗
- Season
Out of season in town
1 Nov – 31 MarOff-season shutdownClosuresHalf the seafront restaurants shut while the surf crowd is here for the waves rather than the town. Rooms are cheap, the wind off the Atlantic is not gentle, and the fish market carries on.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Nazaré — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Nazaré?
Nazaré in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Nazaré?
- December in Nazaré: cool, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Nazaré on SeasonMap's comfort score (62/100).
- What is the weather like in Nazaré in December?
- In December, Nazaré averages a daily high of 16°C and a low of 9.2°C, with about 82.9 mm of rain over roughly 10.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nazaré in December?
- Nazaré has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 37 in December.
Other months in Nazaré
Compare Nazaré in December
Warmer or cooler than Nazaré in December
Similar destinations in Southern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Cascais' Cascais Christmas Village around 20 Nov – 5 Jan, and Ericeira's Winter swell season on 15 Sep – 30 Apr.