Alicante in December: Weather, What's On & Is It Worth It

Alicante in December is mild, sunny and properly festive, which catches a lot of people out. Daytime highs sit around 17-18°C, nights drop to about 7°C, and a typical December only has three or four rainy days. It's not beach weather, but for long lunches on a terrace, a walk up to the castle and the Christmas lights, it's one of the best months to be here.

Quick facts

• Average high / low: 17.7°C / 7.4°C (AEMET normals for the Alicante city station, 1981-2010)
• Sea temperature: about 16.5°C on average, ranging from roughly 15°C to 18°C over the month
• Rainy days: about 3.8 days with 1mm or more, around 25mm in total
• Sunshine: about 164 hours, so a bit over 5 hours a day, and around 7 completely clear days
• Daylight: about 9.5 hours. Sunset is around 17:40 early in the month and 17:50 by New Year's Eve
• Crowds: quiet on weekdays, lively in the centre on weekend evenings and over Christmas week
• Prices: hotels are usually well under summer rates, apart from the Christmas and New Year dates
• Christmas lights switch-on: date TBD. Last year it was Friday 21 November, so expect around Friday 20 November 2026
• Christmas market: dates TBD. Based on last year, expect early December to about 6 January

Is Alicante warm in December?

In the sun, yes. At lunchtime on a clear day you'll be fine in a long-sleeved top, and plenty of people eat outside on the Explanada and in the old town. The catch is the drop after dark. With sunset before 18:00 and lows around 7°C, evenings feel properly wintry, especially by the sea when there's a breeze.

The other thing nobody warns you about is indoors. A lot of Spanish flats and older hotels are built to stay cool, not warm, so a room can feel colder than the street. If you're booking an apartment, check it has heating, not just air con.

All weather figures here are AEMET's long-term normals for Alicante city (AEMET climate data). Any single December can be warmer, cooler or wetter.

Can you swim in the sea in December?

You can, but most people don't. The sea averages about 16.5°C in December according to seatemperature.org, which is cold for a proper swim and fine for a brave five minutes. The council's 2025 Christmas programme even included a Christmas sea swim from Postiguet beach, so some people clearly go for it. For most visitors, December is about walking the beach, not swimming off it.

What to wear and pack

• Layers. A T-shirt, a jumper and a proper jacket you can take off at lunch and put back on at 17:30.
• A warm jacket for evenings. A light padded jacket is ideal. You'll want it on the Rambla at night.
• Jeans or trousers. Shorts are for the brave or the very Northern.
• Comfortable shoes. The castle hill and the old town streets are steep and the stone gets slippy when wet.
• Sunglasses and some sun cream. The sun is low but bright.
• A small umbrella, just in case.

There's a fuller list in our winter packing guide for Benidorm and Alicante.

Is Alicante open in December? What's closed

Alicante is a working city, not a resort, so almost everything stays open all winter. Shops, restaurants, bars, markets and museums run as normal, and the centre is busier at Christmas than in November.

• Santa Bárbara Castle: entry is free and the lift costs €2.70 according to the castle's official site. Alicante's tourist office lists winter hours of 10:00 to 18:00 from mid-November to the end of February, but check before you go, as it closes in bad weather.
• Bank holidays: 25 December is a public holiday, so most shops close. Restaurants are a mixed bag, so book ahead.
• Beach kiosks: don't plan a day around beach bars on Postiguet or San Juan in winter. Some keep short hours. The restaurants back from the sand are a safer bet.

What's on in December 2026

The council hasn't published its 2026-27 Christmas programme yet (October 2026), so every date below is TBD and based on last year's programme. The pattern tends to repeat, but check the council's Christmas announcement closer to the time.

• Christmas lights: switched on on Friday 21 November 2025 at 19:00 on Avenida de la Constitución, with 2.6 million LED lights across 130 locations and an 18-metre tree. The 2026 date is TBD. Based on last year, expect it around Friday 20 November.
• The giant Belén: the Belén Monumental in Plaza del Ayuntamiento has held the Guinness record for the largest nativity figures since 2020. San José alone is about 18 metres tall.
• Christmas market: wooden stalls on Paseo de Federico Soto selling crafts, jewellery, leather and second-hand books. Dates TBD. Based on last year, expect early December to about 6 January. It's small. More on that in our Christmas in Alicante guide.
• 6 December, San Nicolás: the procession for Alicante's patron saint left the Concatedral at 11:45 in 2025, with a Moors and Christians parade from Plaza de los Luceros later in the day. Times for 2026 are TBD.
• Mid-December: a carol contest on Avenida de la Constitución, and "Fogueres en Nadal", a Christmas bonfire monument in Plaza de la Montañeta. Dates TBD. Last year it went up on 18 December and was burned on 21 December.
• Tardeos Navideños: live music and DJs at the bullring. Days and times TBD. In 2025 it ran Thursday to Sunday through December.
• Funfair: the Christmas "feria de los caballitos" in Rabasa ran from 28 November to 18 January last year. 2026 dates TBD.
• New Year's Eve: the free street party where the Rambla meets Portal de Elche. Times TBD. Last year it ran from 23:00 to 04:00, with free grapes and a live band. See our New Year's Eve guide.

Best things to do in December

• Do the castle on a clear morning. Take the lift up, walk down through the Santa Cruz quarter. The views are sharpest in winter.
• See the lights after dark. Start at Avenida de la Constitución, then the Rambla and Plaza del Ayuntamiento for the Belén. An hour's wander covers it.
• Have a long Spanish lunch. December is the month for it. Nou Manolín is where Alicante takes people it wants to impress. Book for weekends in December.
• Catch a sunset drink. Boga Sky Lounge is a rooftop, so bring that jacket.
• Get out of town for a day. The tram runs up the coast, and our Altea day trip by tram guide shows how to do it.
• Base yourself centrally. Everything Christmassy is in Alicante centre, all walkable.

Is it busy? Prices

Early December is calm, and you'll get good hotel rates and easy restaurant tables midweek. It builds from mid-month, with locals out in force for the lights and Spanish families travelling for Christmas. Christmas week and New Year are the pricey dates, so book those early.

If you're flying from Ireland, Ryanair's winter 2026-27 schedule includes a twice-weekly Cork to Alicante route, and Dublin had Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights to Alicante through last winter. Check the airlines for current timetables. Our airport to city guide covers the bus and taxi from the airport.

FAQ

Is Alicante warm in December?

Mild rather than warm. Average highs are about 17.7°C and lows about 7.4°C (AEMET), so it's pleasant in the sun at lunchtime and chilly at night.

Can you swim in Alicante in December?

Only if you like cold water. The sea averages about 16.5°C. There's even an organised Christmas swim, but most visitors just paddle.

Does it rain much in Alicante in December?

Not much. AEMET's normals give about 3.8 days with 1mm or more of rain and around 25mm for the month.

Is Alicante worth visiting in December?

Yes, if you want sun, food and a city at Christmas rather than a beach holiday. The lights, the giant Belén and the terraces make it a good winter break.

When do Alicante's Christmas lights go on?

The 2026 date is TBD. In 2025 they were switched on on Friday 21 November at 19:00, so expect around Friday 20 November. Check the council website in November.

Bring a jacket for the evenings and you'll be grand.

Planning the rest of the winter? See January · February