Lisbon · December · warmth

Warmest places to go from Lisbon in December

The warmest place you can reach from Lisbon in December within 15 hours is Maspalomas at 19.7 °C, costing 341 kg CO₂e return. The lowest-carbon option is Figueira da Foz Municipality at 4.7 kg — 73× less carbon for 8.5 °C less.

Every destination here is on the efficiency frontier: nowhere else in Europe is both warmer in December and lower in carbon. Anything a better option beats outright has been left out.

Where they are. Solid lines are rail or ferry, dashed are flights, from Lisbon. Pick one to compare.

By rail or ferry By air

Carbon against warmth, December, departing Lisbon. Journeys of up to 15 hours each way.

December from Lisbon — 8 destinations on the frontier, 3 without flying.
Destination	How	CO₂e return	Temp	Sun/day	Rain/day	Journey
Figueira da Foz Municipality, Portugal	Rail	4.7 kg	11.2 °C	7.3 h	1.7 mm	4h 12m
Portimão, Portugal	Rail	5.4 kg	13.2 °C	8.0 h	0.5 mm	4h 30m
El Ejido, Spain	Rail	17.6 kg	14.1 °C	8.8 h	0.4 mm	10h 12m
Fnidek, Morocco	Air	117 kg	15.0 °C	8.3 h	0.9 mm	4h 6m
Safi, Morocco	Air	180 kg	15.8 °C	8.7 h	0.1 mm	4h 30m
Taroudant, Morocco	Air	231 kg	17.9 °C	8.9 h	0.3 mm	4h 42m
Puerto del Rosario, Spain	Air	306 kg	18.9 °C	9.4 h	0.3 mm	5h 6m
Maspalomas, Spain	Air	341 kg	19.7 °C	9.4 h	0.5 mm	5h 18m

Warm is not the same as pleasant, which is why sunshine and rainfall are shown alongside temperature. All three are ERA5 monthly means for 2023–2024.

Where the curve breaks

The frontier is gentle until it isn't. Going from El Ejido (17.6 kg, 14.1 °C) to Fnidek (117 kg, 15.0 °C) buys 0.9 °C more warmth for an extra 99.0 kg — 110 kg of CO₂e per degree. That single step is the most expensive warmth on the whole curve.

The pick of them

Figueira da Foz MunicipalityPortugal4.7 kg CO₂e return11.2 °C · 7.3 h sun · 4h 12m by railmild and bright El EjidoSpain17.6 kg CO₂e return14.1 °C · 8.8 h sun · 10h 12m by railmild and bright MaspalomasSpain341 kg CO₂e return19.7 °C · 9.4 h sun · 5h 18m by airwarm, bright and dry

If you'd rather have sunshine than heat

December answers differently depending on what you're after. The sunniest destinations from Lisbon in December are a different list — the brightest places are not always the hottest, and in winter the difference is large.

Where to stay in Maspalomas

Places to stay in Maspalomas, Spain, on a live map. Prices and availability come from Stay22 and its booking partners.

Affiliate disclosure. A booking made through this map may earn 0xCarbon a commission, at no extra cost to you. It changes nothing above it: the emissions figures come from UK Government conversion factors and are computed before anyone is paid anything.See the method.

Other months from Lisbon

December from elsewhere

Questions

Where is the warmest place to go from Lisbon in December?

Maspalomas, Spain, at 19.7 °C. Reaching it emits 341 kg CO₂e return, travelling 5h 18m each way by air.

Can I get somewhere warm from Lisbon in December without flying?

Yes. El Ejido reaches 14.1 °C and is reachable by rail or ferry in 10h 12m, emitting 17.6 kg CO₂e return — though Maspalomas is warmer still, if you fly.

How much carbon does a return trip from Lisbon to Maspalomas produce?

341 kg CO₂e for one person, return, by air. That uses the UK Government's 2026 conversion factors, including radiative forcing for flights.

Carbon uses UK Government (DESNZ/DEFRA) 2026 conversion factors applied to great-circle distance, with radiative forcing included for flights. Rail journey times are modelled estimates, not timetabled services. Full method · download the data.