Peniche (Baleal) weather in December
December in Peniche: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Peniche · #945 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 62/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 16°C
- Nights
- 11°C
- Wet days
- 9
- Sun
- 7 h
- Humidity
- 82%
- Daylight
- 10 h
Traveller notes on Peniche in December
Other months in Peniche
There isn't much Peniche-specific forum detail for January, but Portugal's broader threads sketch the range this stretch of coast falls into: wetter and greyer up north around Porto, milder and sunnier down in the Algarve, with daytime temperatures nationally landing somewhere in the mid-teens C and evenings turning chilly fast once the sun sets around 5:30pm. Peniche's own numbers put it toward the milder, drier end of that spread - still a proper Atlantic winter, but not the grey, near-constant rain some posters describe further north. The town's famous coastal wind is worth packing for regardless of the rain forecast.
Forum posters describe July surf conditions as ideal for beginners - generally small, manageable waves and pleasant water temperatures, with Baleal (a small town just outside Peniche) named as the real center of the area's surf scene, where the large majority of surf lessons and sessions actually happen. Posters are consistent July is genuinely one of the busiest, most touristy months on this stretch of coast, with beaches getting packed and accommodation booking up well in advance - a pattern posters say holds across the whole Peniche-Ericeira-west-Algarve surf coast, not just Peniche itself. On temperature, posters describe comfortable, warm summer days overall, with occasional hotter spikes rather than sustained extreme heat.
Add your own note from Peniche's card on the map.
Peniche climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Peniche 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 crowdsChristmas and New Year, Christmas holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Peniche'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 weatherPeniche's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Peniche in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Winter swell season
1 Oct – 31 MarSurf seasonRiskThe Atlantic lows line up from October and Supertubos gets its heaviest days, with Nazare's canyon an hour up the coast on the same swells. Cold water and a full suit, and not a beginner's season.
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
24 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearClosuresChristmas is kept at home: from the afternoon of 24 December through the 25th most restaurants, shops and museums close, and 1 January is just as quiet. Restaurants that do open on New Year's Eve usually sell set dinners that book up ahead. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Peniche — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Peniche?
Peniche in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Peniche?
- December in Peniche: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Peniche on SeasonMap's comfort score (62/100).
- What is the weather like in Peniche in December?
- In December, Peniche averages a daily high of 15.5°C and a low of 11.3°C, with about 79.9 mm of rain over roughly 9.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Peniche in December?
- Peniche has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in December.
Within 300 km: Cascais' Cascais Christmas Village around 20 Nov – 5 Jan, and Évora's Olive harvest around 1 Nov – 31 Jan.