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 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 corners that make the Portuguese capital a unique destination.

In this post, I'll tell you about the things you can't miss if you're travelling to Lisbon in December. There is always plenty to see in Lisbon, and although it is a colder and rainier month than usual for 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 year is, without a doubt, a wine and cheese tasting in a Lisbon wine cellar, where you can sample delicious Portuguese wines from up to six different regions. The experience lasts approximately two hours, and you will pair the wines with an incredible selection of tasty cheeses, cold meats and appetisers.

This is an ideal activity to enjoy with friends, family or your partner, where you will delve into the world of Portuguese wine alongside a professional oenologist and share your experience and opinions with the other members of the tour. Sign up for this unique and unrivalled gastronomic journey!

The best way to explore the Portuguese capital at your own pace and see the Christmas lights in December is to book a tourist bus and tram ticket in Lisbon, which will take you to more than fifty iconic places and monuments, allowing you to hop off at those that interest you most.

All you have to do is 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, Lisbon Cathedral, among other points of interest.

In addition, you will have an audio guide at your disposal so that you don't miss any details 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 that you include a trip to Fátima in your list of things to do and visit in Lisbon, where you can explore the incredible Sanctuary of Lisbon in a month that pays homage to the Catholic festival par excellence.

This guided tour, which lasts approximately 5 hours, includes round-trip transport, so you don't have to worry about how to get to Fátima, 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 details of the history of the place.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the House of the Three Shepherds, and attend mass at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Be sure to check the timetable to make sure your excursion coincides with the day and time of worship.

Whenever you visit Lisbon, you cannot miss out on 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 would not be complete without the melodies of the world's most famous saudade.

And if, like so many of us, you fall in love with this music, you can enjoy its entire history at the Fado Museum. It's the perfect place to enjoy the most authentic Lisbon, as well as being a unique plan if you happen to be there on a rainy, cold day.

Of course, during busy tourist seasons such as December, although there are several legendary places in Lisbon to listen to fado, many of them in the Alfama neighbourhood, you need 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 so you can choose the one that best suits your preferences:

• Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon—from CAD 30: An example of Manueline art, it is one of the most popular and most visited monuments in Lisbon, along with the Belém Tower, a World Heritage Site since 1983.
• Belém Tower in Lisbon—from CAD 25: Also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is one of Lisbon's most iconic monuments, offering incredible views of the city.
• Royal Treasury Museum in Lisbon—from CAD 18: Located in the Ajuda National Palace, it has a collection with 11 different themes and interactive exhibitions spread over three different floors.
• Benfica Museum in Lisbon—from CAD 35: 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 been hosting an event for metal music lovers in December. The organisers offer a different Christmas experience to the one that seems to dominate everywhere else at this time of year.

The Unter The Doom festival has been held in various venues in the Portuguese capital, featuring the best international bands, and is a must if you enjoy dark sounds and amplifiers.

I recommend checking their official website to confirm the exact dates.

If your trip to Lisbon in December coincides with a few cold and rainy days and you feel like doing something interesting indoors, 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 dedicated to the city's public transport.

Yes, as its name suggests, it is a museum focused on rail transport, because you have probably already realised how important trams are in the city of Lisbon. But beware, it's not just about rail transport! There you can see horse-drawn carriages and get an idea of what the city was like over a hundred years ago. A unique experience.

The Carris Museum, located on Rua 1º de Maio, is open all year round (except Sundays) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can usually buy tickets directly at the ticket office, but during the busiest tourist months, such as December, it is best to book in advance. Keep in mind that children can enter for approximately €2 and adults pay around €4.

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

The fair also has space to rest and for the little ones to entertain themselves. If you are in Lisbon at that time of year, it is the perfect way to get ready for the holidays.

Located at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa exhibition centre on Rua do Bojador, this free event changes its dates every year, but is usually held at the beginning of December and lasts for four days. It is worth noting that you can go by car and there are car parks available, but you can also use public transport and take the metro to Oriente station.

Wonderland Lisbon is set up in December in 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 will find it beautifully decorated for tourists. The Wonderland market is first and foremost a market, with stalls selling Christmas products, but it also becomes a great outing for the whole family.

Why? Let me tell you: in addition to stalls selling gifts and Christmas products, at Wonderland you'll find an ice rink and a toboggan run, a giant Christmas tree in a Christmas village, merry-go-rounds and entertainment shows. What's more, admission is free.

Wonderland is a perfect plan for children in Lisbon. To get there, you can take bus 736 or 732 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 open their doors to visitors in December to enjoy music. It is mainly a repertoire of Baroque sacred music, which at this time of year transcends the stone walls of emblematic monuments such as the Basílica da Estrela
and can be heard from the street.

Christmas concerts are a tradition in the city and are very popular with the public. The churches fill up during the concerts, many of which are free, so I recommend checking the programme
and making room 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 and the Church of Gracia, so you have plenty to choose from.

One of Lisbon's attractions is its mild climate, but despite this, Lisbon is colder than usual and rainy in December. The average temperature ranges from a low of 9º to a high of 14º, which is not a bad temperature for walking around the city with the right clothes. 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 many things to do in Lisbon in winter.

The sky is usually cloudy at this time of year and the chance of rain is high, although the rain in Lisbon does not detract from the appeal of the Portuguese capital, quite the contrary. Just remember this information when packing your suitcase to ensure a hassle-free trip.

The high season for tourism in Lisbon is summer (from June to September), but recently tourist **numbers **have increased throughout the year. Portugal is a major attraction for beach tourism in the warmer months, but Lisbon has many other attractions besides its climate.

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

Prices in Lisbon in December are a little higher than in the low season because of the long weekend on 6 December and the approach of Christmas. Lisbon has something to suit all budgets, but at this time of year there are plenty of options for treating yourself and spending a little more.

I recommend booking your hotel and activities in advance because prices can skyrocket and availability decreases as these dates approach. If you plan your trip ahead of time, you can get lower prices and a wider range of accommodation and activities.

Temperatures in Lisbon in December are colder than the rest of the year, but you can still enjoy sightseeing without any problems at this time of year because the city's climate is generally mild. Just remember to bring clothes for rain and cold weather: 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 streets and is full of hills.

Have you already made your plans for Lisbon in December? Wait a minute! I have a few other suggestions to share with you:

• Lisbon has restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. If you want to discover everything the Portuguese capital has to offer, I recommend signing up for a gastronomic tour of Lisbon.
• And if the weather is good and you want a unique experience, don't hesitate to take a cruise on the Tagus. It's another perspective of the city that you won't forget.
• Finally, if you want to discover the urban art galleries and the most popular street artists, I recommend taking a street art tour of Lisbon.

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