Alicante in December: Weather and Festive Tips

Alicante’s weather is surprisingly good all year round. Winters are generally dry, sunny and warm, and December is no exception.

In December, Alicante enjoys warm weather with an average temperature of 12.6°C (54.7°F), peaking at 17.7°C (63.9°F). Days offer about 9h 31min of light and it rains on only 3.8 days on average. Sea temperatures average 16.5°C (61.7°F), attracting some tourists for swimming. The city celebrates a vibrant festive season with various Christmas events.

Alicante is still lively in winter. Christmas and New Year’s are very festive in Spain and Alicante is not an exception. Good weather, Christmas markets, events and the general festive vibe make Alicante a good city to be in during December.

The temperature in December in Alicante

Light Hours in December in Alicante

The average direct sunshine in December is 5.3 hours a day, and you will enjoy 9h 31min of daylight in the middle of the month. To give some context, a city like Oslo, Norway, has only about 6 hours of daylight in December.

Sea Temperature in December in Alicante

The sea temperature during December averages 16.5°C (61.7°F). Only January, February, March and April average colder temperatures than December.

The local people won’t go swimming in December in Alicante. During good December days, only some brave tourists will enjoy the water as it is cold for the general public.

The beaches are open all year round and, on the sunnier and warmer days, people enjoy Alicante’s beaches such as El Postiguet or San Juan.

I wouldn’t say you can swim in Alicante in December. It might be just warm enough for a quick swim but not for staying in the water for a long time without a wet suit. In fact, 16°C inside the water feels way cooler than just outdoors as your body loses heat much faster in water.

Rain in December in Alicante

Average rainfall is low in Alicante in December. We have left behind September, October and November, the three wettest months of the year. On average, it rains on 3.8 days in December.

In the city of Alicante, it never snows. To be accurate, no one remembers it. There are some images of snow in 1932. That year was the last time it snowed and settled for a few hours. Never again since then.

If you want to see snow, you have to drive inland, up into the mountains, such as the Sierra de Aitana. Snow falls there in some winters, but it rarely lasts more than a few days.

As you can see, December might not be the month for going to the beach, but it is warmer here than in many other cities in Spain and Europe. It is perfect for escaping the cold and dark winter.

What To Wear

Choosing what to wear on a trip is always a challenge. In December, Alicante is cold at night but warm at daytime.

Pack T-shirts and trousers for the daytime (average high 17.7°C (63.9°F)) and a jumper plus a coat or jacket for the evenings and early mornings (average low 7.4°C (45.3°F)). It is not usual, but on the coldest early mornings it can drop to 3°C (37°F) or even lower.

If you are brave and it is not windy, you might feel comfortable for a few hours on warmer days under the sun in shorts and T-shirts, or even on the beach in your swimming clothes.

Alicante at Christmas

The Christmas lights and decorations are switched on in the second half of November. The next switch-on is on 20 November 2026, at 7 pm on Avenida de la Constitución.

Some of the special decorations are the Christmas tree in Avenida de la Constitución, a gigantic bear in Plaza de la Montañeta and the Christmas lights in 130 locations around Alicante. The lights are on from 6 pm to 1 am. On Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Three Wise Men Eve (the night of the 5th to the 6th of January) they stay on until 4:30 am.

Last season the lights were on for the last time on 6 January 2026.

At Christmas, a circular bus takes passengers to the most iconic Christmas spots in the city of Alicante. The last one ran from 22 December 2025 to 6 January 2026; the council usually announces the next one a few days before Christmas. There is more information on the Alicante Bus Page.

Here is a list of things to do in Alicante at Christmas:

Christmas Events in Alicante

Christmas events announced so far:

• Christmas lights switch-on20 November 2026, 19:00 · Avenida de la Constitución, Alicante · All ages
• Saint Nicholas' House (Casa de San Nicolás)27 November 2026 – 24 December 2026 · Plaza Séneca, Alicante · Families

Events checked on 10 November 2026.

New Year’s Eve in Alicante

On New Year’s Eve, Alicante usually hosts two parties, one for families with children in the morning and one for adults at night.

At the adults’ party, entry is free and the City Hall hands out free bags of grapes for the 12 chimes.

For the parties, the grapes, other events and how to get home that night, see our full guide: New Year’s Eve in Alicante.

Check out the Christmas lights and ornaments

Around the city there are many Christmas lights and ornaments. For example, here is a photo of the decorations on the City Hall:

Enjoy the Belenes and Nativities Around the City

There is a Spanish tradition strongly followed in Alicante: the Belenes or Nativities.

Both the institutions and individual citizens create big or small nativities. For example, Alicante’s giant nativity holds the Guinness World Record for the largest nativity scene figurines.

There is also an exhibition of small nativity scenes in Alicante’s Palacio Provincial de la Diputación. The last one ran from 3 December 2025 to 6 January 2026; the next one usually opens in early December. Entry is free.

Here are the opening hours (source in Spanish):

Location of the exhibition at the Diputación:

But nativities can be found in many corners of the city such as shop windows and another official exhibition at Plaza de la Montañeta.

Other Ideas on What to Do in Alicante in December and Christmas

• Eat the traditional grapes in the City Hall square on New Year’s Eve
• Help children write their letters to Papá Noel or the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos)
• Get into the free Christmas Bus to visit the most iconic festive spots in the city
• Enjoy all the Christmas drinks, food and sweets. Do not forget the traditional turrón!
• Visit the Christmas funfair in Rabasa (open the location in Google Maps). Last season it ran from 28 November 2025 to 18 January 2026.

I hope you have a better idea of how the weather is in Alicante in December and how to make the most of the city during the Christmas season. If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment below. Have you been to Alicante in December? Leave a comment with your experience as well!

What Else to Do in Alicante in December

December is one of the coldest months of the year in Alicante. Days are the shortest of the year, as the winter solstice is on the 21st/22nd of December.

But it is also the month for important Christmas and New Year celebrations so the city is beautifully decorated and full of things to do for people of all ages.

Alicante in December is fun and lively.

If you are a tourist, the main activities remain open:

• Visiting Alicante’s Castle
• Visiting the Museums in Alicante
• A trip to Tabarca Island
• Exploring the beaches in the city even though you don’t get to the water
• Enjoying the restaurants, rooftops and nightlife such as the Latin music nights in Alicante

The Weather In November, January and Other Months

In general, winters are dry and sunny, with rain on just a few days.

Here is an article that explains the winter weather in Alicante.

If you want to know more about November weather there is an article here with weather and what to do info.

In this other link, there is a detailed explanation about the weather in January and things to do during that month in Alicante.