10 Things to Do in Lisbon in December

December in Lisbon is a great idea. The city is getting ready for Christmas: the streets are lit up, the city centre is filled with craft markets, cultural activities for children and the smell of Bolo Rei and roasted chestnuts. It's the perfect time to enjoy the charm of the places that make the Portuguese capital a unique destination.

In this post I'll tell you about the things you can't miss if you travel to Lisbon in December. In Lisbon there is always plenty to see, and although it is a month with more cold and rain than usual in the area, the mild climate allows you to enjoy all the activities I have selected for you. Just don't forget your umbrella!

My favourite plan for this time of the year is, without a doubt, to do a wine and cheese tasting in a wine cellar in Lisbon, where you can taste delicious Portuguese wines from up to 6 different regions, an experience that lasts approximately 2 hours, and in which you will pair the wines with an incredible selection of tasty cheeses, cold meats and appetizers.

An ideal activity to go with friends, family or your partner, in which you will delve into the world of Portuguese wine with a professional oenologist, and where you can share your experience and criteria with the other members of the tour. Join this unique and incomparable gastronomic journey!

The best option to get to know the Portuguese capital and the Christmas illumination in December in comfort and at your own pace, is to book a tourist bus and tram ticket in Lisbon, with which you will visit more than fifty emblematic places and monuments, with the possibility of getting off at those that interest you the most.

You will only have to design the route that best suits your interests, for which you will be provided with a map, and you will be able to admire the Belém Tower, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the Oriente Station, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Lisbon Cathedral, among other points of interest.

In addition, you will have at your disposal an audio guide so that you do not miss any detail of the history and architecture while you explore the city.

And if you are going to be in Lisbon for more than three days in December, I recommend you to include in your list of things to do and visit in Lisbon, an excursion to Fatima where you can explore the incredible Sanctuary of Lisbon in a month in which the Catholic feast is honoured par excellence.

This guided tour, which lasts approximately 5 hours, includes transport to and from the shrine, so you don't have to worry about how to get to Fatima, which is located 127 kilometres from the Portuguese capital. In addition, an expert local guide will accompany you throughout the tour so that you don't miss any detail of the history of the place.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the House of the Three Shepherds, as well as attend mass in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Check the timetable to make sure that your excursion coincides with the day and time of worship.

Whenever you go to Lisbon, you can't miss a good Fado concert. Although at this time of year the streets and shopping centres are filled with Christmas carols, a visit to the Portuguese capital will never be complete without the melodies of the world's most famous saudade.

And if you fall in love with this music, as so many of us do, you can enjoy its history at the Fado Museum. It is the perfect place to enjoy the most genuine Lisbon, as well as being a unique plan if you happen to be caught on a rainy and cold day.

Of course, in times of high tourist influx such as December, although there are several mythical places in Lisbon to listen to fado, many of them in the Alfama district, it is necessary to book in advance if you want to enjoy a good concert, especially if you want an evening of fado that also includes dinner in Lisbon.

If you want to escape the winter cold, you can choose to visit some of **Lisbon'**s main museums and monuments. Here is a list for you to choose the one that best suits your preferences:

• Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon: An example of Manueline art, this is one of the most popular and most visited monuments in Lisbon, together with the Belem Tower, a World Heritage Site since 1983.
• Belém Tower in Lisbon: Also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is one of the most iconic monuments in Lisbon from which you will have incredible views of the city.
• Royal Treasure Museum in Lisbon: Located in the National Palace of Ajuda, it has a collection with 11 different themes and interactive exhibitions distributed on three different floors.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: An impressive collection to get closer to the culture and history of the city.
• Benfica Museum in Lisbon: If you are passionate about football, don't miss the guided tour of the Estádio da Luz and the Benfica Museum in Lisbon.

For almost ten years now, Lisbon has hosted an event for metal music lovers in December. The organisation offers a different experience to the Christmas season that seems to fill every corner of the city at this time of year.

The Unter The Doom festival has played at different venues in the Portuguese capital with the best international bands and is a must if you enjoy dark sounds and amplifiers.

I advise you to check their official website to confirm the exact dates.

If your December trip to Lisbon coincides with some cold and rainy days and you feel like doing something interesting under cover, I have the perfect plan for you. One of the museums I liked the most in the Portuguese capital was the Carris Museum, a museum of the city's public transport.

Yes, as the name suggests, it is a museum focused on rail transport, because I 'm sure you've already realised how important trams are in the city of Lisbon, but beware, not only rail transport: there you can see the horse-drawn carriages and get an idea of what the city was like more than a hundred years ago. A unique experience.

The Carris Museum, located on Rua 1º de Maio, is open all year round (except Sundays), between 10 am and 6 pm. You can usually buy tickets directly from the ticket office, but during peak tourist months such as December it is best to book before you go. Note that children can get in for around €2 and adults pay around €4.

At the beginning of December, the Natalis Fair is held in Lisbon, with tasting products and handicrafts. It is a fair organised to prepare and enjoy the approaching Christmas, so there you will find gifts of all kinds: gastronomic products, books, decoration and fashion.

The fair also has space to relax and for the little ones to entertain themselves. If you're in Lisbon at this time of year, it's the perfect way to get ready for the holidays.

Located at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa fairgrounds on Rua do Bojador, this free event changes its dates every year, but usually takes place at the beginning of December, over 4 days. One thing to bear in mind is that you can get there by car and there are parking facilities, but you can also use public transport and take the metro to Oriente station.

Wonderland Lisboa takes place in December in the Eduardo VII Park, the largest park in the city. The park is a must-see all year round, and at this time of year you'll find it highly decorated for tourists. The Wonderland market is first and foremost a market, with its stalls selling Christmas products, but it is also a great plan for the whole family.

Why? I'll tell you why: in addition to the stalls selling gifts and Christmas products, at Wonderland you'll find an ice-skating rink and a toboggan run, a giant Christmas tree inside a Christmas village, merry-go-rounds and entertainment shows. Plus, admission is free.

Wonderland is a great place to do with children in Lisbon. To get there, you can take the 736 or 732 bus or the metro. In any case, the stop where you have to get off is called Marqués de Pombal.

Lisbon has some ancient and monumental churches, which in December open their doors to visitors to enjoy music. It is above all a repertoire of Baroque sacred music, which at this time of the year is heard from the streets outside the stone walls of emblematic monuments such as the Basílica da Estrela.

Christmas concerts are a tradition in the city, with a great response from the public. The churches fill up during the concerts, many of them free, so I advise you to check the programmeand make time in your itinerary to enjoy chamber music in an impressive setting.

Some of the churches that organise free concerts in December are the Church of San Roque, the Church of Santo Domingo or the Church of Gracia, so you are spoilt for choice.

One of Lisbon's attractions is its mild climate, but in spite of that Lisbon has colder than usual and rainy weather in December. The average minimum temperature is around 9ºC and the maximum is 14ºC, which is not a bad temperature for walking around the city with appropriate clothing. You can also enjoy sunny days or moments, especially at the beginning of the month. Temperatures drop as December progresses and the chance of rainfall increases, but there are plenty of things to do in Lisbon in winter.

The skies are usually cloudy at this time of year and the chance of rain is high, although rain in Lisbon does not make the Portuguese capital any less attractive - quite the opposite, in fact. Just remember this information when packing your suitcase for a hassle-free trip.

The peak tourist season in Lisbon is the summer (June to September), but recently **the number of tourists has been increasing all year round. Portugal has a strong appeal for beach tourism in the warmer months, but Lisbon has many attractions in addition to the weather.

Especially in December, as it is a city with many Christmas celebrations. It is a city much appreciated by travellers, so the demand for accommodation and transport in Lisbon is constant. If you know that your destination in December is Lisbon, book in advance the activities you are interested in so you don't miss out on anything.

Prices in Lisbon in December are a little more expensive than in the low season because of the 6 December long weekend and the approaching Christmas season. Lisbon has something to suit all budgets, but at this time of year there are plenty of options to treat yourself to a little extra money.

I advise you to book your hotel and activities well in advance as prices can go through the roof and availability drops as the dates get closer. If you plan your trip in advance, you can get lower prices and a wider choice of accommodation and activities.

Temperatures in Lisbon in December are colder than the rest of the year, but you can easily go sightseeing at this time of year as the city's general climate is mild. Just remember to pack for the rain and cold: a good coat, umbrella and extra clothes in case you get caught in an unexpected downpour.

And above all, if you plan to explore the city on foot, wear comfortable shoes, as the city has many cobbled sections and is full of hills.

Do you already have a plan for Lisbon in December? Just a moment! I have some other suggestions to share with you:

• In Lisbon there are restaurants for all tastes and for all budgets. If you want to get to know all that the capital of Portugal has to offer, I suggest you sign up for a gastronomic tour of Lisbon by the city.
• And if the weather is good and you want a unique experience, don't hesitate to take a cruise along the Tagus. Another perspective of the city that you won't be able to forget.
• Finally, if you want to get to know the urban art galleries and the most popular street artists, I recommend you take a street art tour of Lisbon.

Now I've told you everything. Good luck with the rain and... enjoy your trip!