To figure out the best time to visit Portugal ask yourself what you want from your trip. Is it sunshine and lazy days on epic beaches, or sightseeing around hilltop villages, cities and historical sites? Perhaps you’ve heard about the great mountain trekking, river kayaking and surfing. Or maybe you’re polishing your clubs for a few rounds on Portugal’s renowned golf courses.
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Wine tours along the Douro are a highlight, and there are plenty of festivals to include in your itinerary. Indeed, even the sleepiest villages seem to hold their own festa – from the low-key, to full-on affairs involving week-long celebrations and not a lot of shut eye. But whatever you plan on doing, the weather will play an important part in deciding when to go.
Broadly speaking, the best time to go to Portugal is spring (from February) or early autumn. In September and October, the weather isn’t too hot, the sea is warm, and the summer crowds have gone. A drop in temperature during these months also makes it an ideal time for sightseeing.
Beach at Porto Covo © Shutterstock
You can pretty much rely on sunshine and heat wherever you are in Portugal in the summer months, with July seeing very little rainfall in the Algarve and up the coast to Lisbon. Central Portugal can be fiercely hot. Rain is far more likely in Porto and the Costa Verde, averaging 20mm in the same month. Indeed, the northern end of the country experiences more rain throughout the year.
Autumn conditions are often delightful, (highs of 23˚C in the Algarve and Lisbon), although the month brings the start of more rainfall and less predictable weather.
Lisbon tram © Shutterstock
Winter is cooler and it can get rather stormy, but there are still plenty of hours of sunshine, making Portugal a year-round destination. The Algarve, in particular, more often than not has bright days and mild temperatures. In contrast, the north is rather cold with temperatures sometimes dropping to 8˚C around Porto and snow likely to fall in the mountains bordering Spain.
It warms up in spring throughout Portugal. As with the rest of the year, it rains more in northern areas than in the south. Temperatures in Lisbon range from 10˚C –18˚C in March, climbing to 13˚C –22˚C in May; Porto and the Costa Verde is cooler: 7˚C –15˚C in March and 10˚C–19˚C in May.
April to early May is also wonderful. Although sea temperatures are decidedly bracing, the landscapes are beautiful – lush, and alive with flowers, before the dry months of summer roll in.
Rolling fields in the Alentejo © Shutterstock
Visiting historical and cultural sights should be on the agenda in spring. Lower visitor numbers mean you won’t have to spend time queuing or jostling for space, and the shoulder season brings lower prices on accommodation. Also, pleasant temperatures makes it easier to explore towns and cities without flagging.
Pena Palace, Sintra © Shutterstock
Go for a city break in Porto © Shutterstock
Indeed, the Algarve is lovely this time of year – a great time to chill out on one of its many splendid beaches. And, if you’re wondering when to go to Portugal for the warmest sea temperatures, this is your window, after it’s had the summer months to warm up.
If you’re visiting central and northern Portugal, this is also a great time to head for its river beaches, often with picnic and barbecue areas. Bear in mind though that from mid-September the facilities are closed, as the official swimming season is only from the beginning of June until the middle of September.
Porto and the north are well known for its vineyards and wineries and sees its annual grape harvest between September – October. Head for the Douro region to take part in the harvest and grape pressing, and tour the wine estates.
Vineyards on the banks of the Douro © Shutterstock
By the end of October, the autumn swell sees bigger waves and more unpredictable weather, and by the time November rolls around, it’s a playground for just the more experienced wave riders. Stormy weather and strong swells off the west coast and cold waters in winter won’t deter the more serious surfer. But if surfing is on your wish list and you’re new to the sport, you should take this into account when weighing up when to visit Portugal.
Almost every village in Portugal has its own festival (festa) or traditional pilgrimage (romaria), usually to celebrate the local saint’s day or the regional harvest. Some are little more than an excuse for the villagers to hold a low-key procession and picnic or barbecue and dance, while others have become serious celebrations lasting several days and attracting tourists from all over the world.
The great weekly feiras, like that at Barcelos in north, were originally simply markets, but nowadays are a combination of agricultural show, folk festival, amusement park and, admittedly, tourist bazaar. Most towns also put on concerts, dances, processions and events throughout the year (especially between June and September), while an increasing number of music festivals are held in Portugal, pulling in giants of the music world: big events include NOS Primavera in Porto (June) and NOS Alive in Lisbon (July).
Only the major highlights are picked out in the festival calendar given here. Check with local turismos and have a look at the websites of the various town halls (Câmara Municipal: usually "cm-nameoftown.pt"), which always carry news about forthcoming festivities.
Among major national events, Easter week and the Santos Populares festivities – associated with St Anthony (June 12/13), St John (June 23/24) and St Peter (June 28/29) – stand out. All are celebrated throughout the country with religious processions. Easter is most magnificent in Braga, where it is full of ceremonial pomp, while the saints’ festivals tend to be more joyous affairs. In Lisbon, during the saint’s day festa for Santo António, the Alfama becomes one giant street party. In Porto, where St John’s Eve is the highlight of a week of celebration, everyone dances through the streets all night, hitting each other over the head with leeks or plastic hammers.
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written by Michelle Bhatia
updated 17.05.2021
