Your December weather guide
MildWeather in Alicante in December
Yes, Alicante in December makes sense for a mild city break, but not for a hot beach holiday. Daytime highs average around 16°C, nights fall to around 9°C and the sea is only about 16°C. For a UK traveller, the appeal is time outdoors without summer heat, provided you pack layers and accept some rain. Go for walking and relaxed afternoons outside rather than reliable sunbathing or comfortable sea swimming.
Long-term climate averages for Alicante, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Alicante, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Alicante.
- Average daytime high
- 15.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 19°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +8.2°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 16.2°C
- year to year: 15°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.0h
- 54% of 9.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 5
- 32 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 24.0°C
- 2020-12-11
- Record low 1991-2020
- 0.3°C
- 2009-12-20
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 30 min
- 1424 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Alicante and ranks 69th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Spain it is 35th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Alicante is 8.2°C warmer by day and 6.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Alicante peaks at 15.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.0°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 9.1°C; one night in ten drops to 5.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 24.0°C (2020-12-11) and the coldest night 0.3°C (2009-12-20).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 5 days with 1 mm or more, 32 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2009 with 111 mm, the driest 2015 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 16.2°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.4°C to 17.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.5°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:12 and sets about 17:42 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 47%.
Is December a good time to visit Alicante?
December is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Alicante on our scoring are July, June, August; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Mild afternoons, chilly evenings
December suits travellers who prefer exploring without much heat, rather than those hoping to spend the day in swimwear. The warmer days reach 19°C or more, so a light layer may be enough when conditions feel pleasant, but that is not the everyday expectation. Plan outdoor time around the middle of the day and keep a jacket handy as it cools. Nights can drop to around 6°C or below at the colder end, making a proper outer layer useful for evenings out. Pack clothes you can add or remove rather than relying on either a summer wardrobe or one heavy coat.
Enough sunshine to get outside, with a rain backup
Expect about 5 hours of sunshine within 9.3 hours of daylight: useful for getting outdoors, but not a promise of clear skies throughout your stay. Prioritise outdoor plans during the brighter part of the day rather than leaving them until late afternoon. About 5 rainy days means rain is a consideration, not a reason on its own to rule December out. Bring a compact waterproof and leave room to rearrange plans if a wet spell arrives. The main catch is the sea: it is cold, so coastal time is better planned around walking or sitting out when comfortable than around swimming.
A little perspective
Alicante through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.2°C | 8.0°C | 14.6°C | 5.4 | 34 | 5 | 0% |
| February | 15.8°C | 8.3°C | 13.9°C | 6.0 | 29 | 5 | 0% |
| March | 17.9°C | 10.2°C | 14.4°C | 6.5 | 39 | 6 | 1% |
| April | 19.9°C | 12.2°C | 15.8°C | 7.1 | 45 | 7 | 2% |
| May | 22.8°C | 15.3°C | 18.5°C | 8.1 | 35 | 6 | 21% |
| Junebest | 26.7°C | 19.2°C | 22.2°C | 10.5 | 16 | 3 | 77% |
| Julybest | 29.3°C | 21.9°C | 25.3°C | 11.9 | 5 | 2 | 99% |
| Augustbest | 29.7°C | 22.6°C | 26.5°C | 10.0 | 14 | 3 | 99% |
| September | 26.8°C | 20.1°C | 24.9°C | 7.1 | 47 | 7 | 78% |
| October | 23.2°C | 16.4°C | 22.0°C | 5.9 | 44 | 7 | 28% |
| November | 18.7°C | 12.0°C | 18.8°C | 5.3 | 42 | 6 | 2% |
| DecemberSelected | 15.9°C | 9.1°C | 16.2°C | 5.0 | 32 | 5 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Alicante in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Alicante hot in December?
Alicante is mild in December: the average daytime high is 15.9°C and nights average 9.1°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Alicante in December?
The sea around Alicante averages 16.2°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Alicante in December?
Alicante sees about 5 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 32 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2009 (111 mm) and the driest was 2015 (2 mm).
How sunny is Alicante in December?
Alicante gets around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Alicante compare with the UK in December?
Alicante is on average 8.2°C warmer than London by day in December (15.9°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Alicante?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Alicante reached 24.0°C on 2020-12-11, and the coldest night dropped to 0.3°C on 2009-12-20.
Is Alicante noticeably warmer than London in December?
Yes. Alicante's average daytime high is 15.9°C, compared with London's 7.7°C, a difference of 8.2°C. That makes it a reasonable choice for milder daytime weather, though evenings still call for layers and it should not be treated as a summer holiday.
Can you swim in the sea in December?
The sea averages 16.2°C, with a year-to-year range of 15°C to 17°C, so expect cold water rather than a comfortable holiday swim. If warm sea swimming is central to your trip, December is not a good fit.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Alicante. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C