Algarve weather in December
Algarve averages 17°C by day and 10°C at night in December, with the sea at 17°C and about 69 mm of rain in the month. That is about 2°C cooler than November.
Day
17°C
Night
10°C
Sea
17°C
Rain
69 mm
Flight from London
2½h
What December feels like
December is mild in Algarve: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather.
The sea is 17°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
Rain is occasional: about 69 mm in the month.
That is 8°C warmer than an average December day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Algarve is the #48 warmest in December, and #15 of 23 within 5½ hours of the UK.
Comparing places? See the warmest place in Portugal in winter for every winter month, place by place.
Going to Algarve in December?
Share the TikToks and Instagram Reels you've saved for Algarve to Dream Trip. It finds the places, pins them on a map and builds your days around them.
Want it warmer in December?
These are hotter than Algarve this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Algarve weather by month
December is highlighted. Compare with November and January, or see the full year in Algarve.
Algarve in December: quick answers
Is Algarve hot in December?
December is mild in Algarve: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather. Average highs are 17°C and lows 10°C.
Can you swim in Algarve in December?
The sea is 17°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
Does it rain in Algarve in December?
Rain is occasional: about 69 mm in the month.
What is the warmest month in Algarve?
August, at an average high of 32°C. The coolest is January at 16°C.
How long is the flight to Algarve from the UK?
About 2½h direct from London, estimated from the 1,713 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in December for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in December from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Algarve in December?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Algarve straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
