Lisbon in December: A Holiday Walk in an Enchanting City
Updated in 2025
Is Lisbon Worth Visiting in December? My Honest Take
Absolutely, yes. If you’re craving festive charm without the frenzy, December in Lisbon is a delightful time to visit. The city glows (literally), the evenings feel enchanted, cafés are cozy, and the Christmas markets bring a joyful, local buzz. Lisbon at night in December feels especially magical, with lights cascading down historic streets and music floating through the neighbourhoods.
If you love mild winter weather, holiday spirit, and wandering through illuminated streets, Lisbon in December will fill your cup. It certainly filled mine. I spent a month in Lisbon, which included the colourful pre-Christmas season.
Holiday Lights and Christmas Markets: Lisbon in December
I’m a December baby. My birthday has always felt extra special because it seemed to be part of the kickoff to the festive holiday season. My mother would save decorating for Christmas until my birthday, which made the magical twinkle of holiday lights feel like my celebration was included and extended to the new year! Familiar, meaningful decorations, tastefully organized and artistically displayed, create a magical, festive feeling.
It’s no surprise, then, that this attention to decorative detail has left me a bit of a critic of poorly done Christmas lights. You know, the lame string with a mismatch of coloured bulbs, the random stringing together of a garish assortment of lights, or the haphazard installation of every light, outdoor ornament and inflatable figure known to mankind. The latter is something I have semi-affectionately termed “festive vomit”: too much, too garish, too chaotic, too over the top. I know some people love the excess, but I prefer lights and decorations that leave me with a sense of awe.
Every year, I seek out an opportunity to take in some lights…whether in my neighbourhood or other Island communities. When booking an extended trip to Portugal over the fall months, I was adamant that our return flight be AFTER my birthday. I was eager to experience the holiday build-up in Europe and planned a night of December enchantment for my big day. The holiday lights and Christmas markets of Lisbon in December were on my mind!
Christmas markets are a wonder in Europe and date back to medieval times. While the most visited and probably the most traditionally festive markets are in Germany, France, and Austria, the holiday season is celebrated uniquely in every country!
The weeks leading up to Christmas are, indeed, magical all around Portugal. Being in Lisbon for 4 weeks, we watched the progress of the extravagant decorations and 2.1 million LED bulbs being hung. Even before any official light-up, the streets were stunning and Christmas markets were open daily with local artisans, lots of food and fun for families.
There are walking tours, double-decker bus routes, and tuk-tuk tours available to move around the city quickly and view all the displays. Get Your Guide is where I’d start to research what fun things you can do in Lisbon.
Don’t have the app? Download it here and start exploring! (You can even earn a discount on your first tour with the code: TRAVELBUGTONIC5)
I chose to simply wander by foot — slowly, intentionally, letting awe lead the way.
December Moments Not to Miss
A few small, seasonal delights that make Lisbon at Christmas feel especially warm and wondrous:
Bolo Rei — Portugal’s beloved “King Cake”, which is oh so colourful and festive.
Roasted chestnuts — their smoky scent trails through the streets.
A cozy brunch at a neighbourhood café on a cooler morning. (We went to Sage Brunch!)
Ginja in a chocolate cup — the perfect December nightcap.
Lisbon at night — when the city feels wrapped in light.
These aren’t checklist items — just small invitations to slow down, savour, and experience the season.
Festive Walking Route of Lisbon in December
Plug these spots into your Google Maps app to figure out your route! There isn’t a particular order - if you are in Lisbon in December, design your walk from your hotel or accommodations. This one is pretty long, so you may consider splitting the journey into two. Enjoy the Baixa and Chiado districts one evening and Parque Eduardo VII and Avenida da Liberdade another. Everything is free, but be prepared to purchase some delicious holiday treats along the way!
Parque Eduardo VII
Hop the metro to Parque station to begin the journey dazzled by Wonderland Lisboa.
Parque Eduardo VII is a stunning and elegant park that stretches uphill to a marvellous view over the city and riverfront. The park is transformed into Wonderland Lisboa (aptly named) Christmas fair that includes a Ferris wheel, a skating rink, and rows of stalls filled with sweet treats. The skating rink looks oddly out of place in the mild Portuguese temperatures, and I later discovered that it is an “ecological” or synthetic rink which consumes no water or energy.
Wonderland Lisboa is a magnet for young families. Upbeat Christmas music fills the air and dances with the smoke of roasted chestnuts and laughter. Our night of lights was raining lightly which didn’t dampen anyone’s enjoyment!
At the bottom of the Parque hill is the Marques De Pombal Square, a massive statue in a busy roundabout dedicated to a noted Lisboa statesman from the 1700s. The roundabout is decorated, and if you take the time to cross all 5 lanes of traffic, you will discover an escape from the crowds of Wonderland Lisboa. It feels almost serene being alone, circled by heavy traffic, with Christmas carols and family laughter in the distance.
Avenida da Liberdade
Stroll down the spectacular avenue that runs from the square for a kilometre on Avenida da Liberdade under the rows of Jacaranda trees. In December, you won’t see their beautiful purple blossoms, but the lights that hang from their majestic limbs are ethereal. Fancy high-end shops line the intricately tiled avenue and are gussied up with creative holiday decor!
Christmas Markets in Lisbon
Discover the Christmas markets at Rossio Square and/or nearby Praça da Figueira.
Both happened to be very close to our accommodation, so my husband and I visited them frequently. We tried to stop by during quiet times to admire the regional products and to do some Christmas shopping.
Rossio Square is large. At one end is the sparkly Queen Maria National Theatre. At the other end is a glowing mermaid fountain. The Christmas market has traditional wooden stalls filled with handicrafts and food. Santa is a regular visitor along with (surprisingly to me) Mini Mouse. Sample a to-die-for pork sandwich, pastel de nata, and a delicious hot mulled wine. Caqtch the kid-sized Christmas train for a ride around the Baixa neighbourhood.
If you want more market, don’t fill up on all the good food but stroll through a little twisty pedestrian lane past my favourite burnt church (Igreja São Domingos Lisbon) for a detour to Praça da Figueira. Here is another delightful Christmas market full of mostly food vendors. The charming stalls with cookies, nuts, dried fruit and chocolates are as beautiful as they are tasty!
Chiado Neighbourhood
Crisscross through the Baixa towards Chiado, a neighbourhood of funky restaurants and trendy stores. Head to Amazens do Chiado, a shopping center famous for its extravagant Christmas outdoor display. I’m not a mall shopper, so we stayed outside and followed the beautiful street lights up the hill, past an outdoor nativity scene, to the small but magical Praça Luis de Camoes. This popular square is packed with lights, more food, and live music. We ordered some ginja in chocolate cups and sat inside the glittering Christmas ball to toast the season (and happy birthday to me)! Ginja (or Ginjinha) is a yummy sour cherry Portuguese liquor.
Feliz Natal and feliz aniversário!
Praça do Comércio
The final walk is to gorgeous Arco da Rua Augusta towards the grande finale - Praça do Comércio. This magnificent plaza is a hive of activity and boasts the largest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen and entered!
Praça do Comércio is stunning day and night. Three sides of the square are defined by dramatic yellow buildings with elegant arches, distinctive of the Marqués de Pombal era of the 1700s. The south side of the square looks over the Tejo River. This expansive space holds so much history as it defined the epicentre of the city after the great earthquake of 1755.
Weather in December in Lisbon, Portugal (And How It Actually Feels)
The weather in December is typically between 14 and 16 C (57 F) during the day. But when the sun is out in early December, you’ll be taking off your layers with temperatures around 19 C (66F). It is a rainy-er month, so pack a jacket and umbrella.
Coming from Canada, the temperatures are relatively balmy in Lisbon in early December but be prepared for locals to be bundled up. As I stripped off layers, they donned puffy coats, scarves, and mittens! Lisbon in winter is mild, lively, and perfect for wandering.
I am fully confident that you will not be exposed to lame lights or ‘festive vomit’ in Lisbon or exploring any of the other great cities of Europe during the holiday season. Not that I truly had any doubts, but I was happy to check things out for you! 😉
Ready for More Awe-Filled Travel?
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