Best time to visit Portugal
May to June and September to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
May to June and September to October
Spring and early summer (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) balance warm weather, smaller crowds and lower prices. July and August are hot and busy.
- “The overall best time to visit Portugal is at the beginning of the summer, between May and June, or towards the end of the summer, from September to October.” shebuystravel.com
- “May-June or from September to November.” evaneos.com
- “visit during the shoulder seasons of May-June or September” myportugalholiday.com
6 of the 12 travel guides we read name these months.
Portugal month by month
Average high and low in Lisbon, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…January is the coldest month, still mild for Europe, with the lowest prices and big winter surf.Porto is cool and often rainy in January, with fewer visitors.Winter in Portugal brings off-season deals, but resorts and beach sites in the south are closed.
FebruaryChecking fares…February is still quiet and cheap, with almond blossoms starting in the Algarve interior.From February the Algarve countryside fills with almond and orange blossom scent.
MarchChecking fares…March is transitional and can be wet, but the first warm days appear.Cherry blossom trains run for about three weeks in March or April near Fundao.In the interior, March and April are especially appealing after light winter rains.Blue whale migration
AprilChecking fares…April is reliably pleasant, with Alentejo wildflowers before peak-season pricing.Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions take place in April, with Braga among the largest.Freedom Day on April 25 is a public holiday.Sónar Lisboa
Best timeMayChecking fares…May is among the months suggested to avoid crowds while it is still warm.May is warm enough for the coast and comfortable for walking cities and hiking.Pentecost at the end of May and Easter are busier times.Fátima May pilgrimage
Best timeJuneChecking fares…June is the month of festivals and called the best month to visit, especially Lisbon and Porto.Lisbon's Santos Populares street parties run from the first weekend to June 12.Porto's Sao Joao festival peaks on June 23; rooms are at a premium.Festas de Santo António · Festa de São João
JulyChecking fares…July brings peak heat, crowds and prices, especially in the Algarve.The north coast is best for swimming in July and August.MEO Marés Vivas music festival is held in Vila Nova de Gaia in July.NOS Alive
AugustChecking fares…The Algarve is extremely busy during the summer school holidays, mid-July and August.Alentejo is best avoided in August because tourists flock there.Porto and the north coast are good value in August.Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…September is called the best all-around month: warm, calmer and better value.September is harvest season in the Douro Valley, one of the best times to visit.Wine harvest runs from September to October.MOTELX Lisbon International Horror Film Festival · MEO Sons do Mar
Best timeOctoberChecking fares…September and October are good months for the Algarve, with summer crowds mostly gone.October is still swimmable in the south, with Douro harvest and building surf.Republic Day on October 5 is a public holiday.EDP Lisbon Marathon
NovemberChecking fares…By November the north turns properly rainy; the Algarve or Lisbon are better choices.By November many hotels and restaurants in coastal Algarve towns close for the off-season.Feira Nacional do Cavalo
DecemberChecking fares…December is cool and quiet, with good city-break weather and big winter swells.Winter starts Portugal's holiday season.Madeira and Braga are named for Christmas celebrations.New Year's Eve in Lisbon
Weather: Lisbon averages from IPMA, Portugal's weather service (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Lisbon from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in Portugal
Festivals and seasons through the year
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- June to August (peak July and August)Hot, sunny beach weather with the most crowds; July and August are the absolute peak for visitors.
- Mid-July and AugustSummer school holidays make the Algarve extremely busy.
Quietest
- November to MarchFewest crowds and lowest prices, though some activities are unavailable and it is colder and wetter.
- WinterCities are quiet with hotel rates well below peak.
Watch for
- July and August (interior)The interior is too hot for sightseeing, averaging 35 C or more, and can top 45 C.
- October to February/AprilThe north, including Porto, gets heavy rain; Porto is called the wettest major Mediterranean-climate city.
- Fall and winterWatch for extreme weather changes and storms, especially on the coast.
- Easter and PentecostHoliday weekends are busier, so avoid them for a quiet trip.
- Winter (south)Beach resorts close in the off-season.
Questions people ask
- What is the weather like in Portugal in October?
- Mild, with a mix of sunshine and the return of some rain; the south is still swimmable and the north gets wetter.
- What is the hottest month to go to Portugal?
- July and August are the hottest, with the interior most extreme.
- Where is the warmest place in Portugal in January?
- The Algarve has some of mainland Europe's mildest winter weather, though not warm enough for sunbathing.
More about Portugal
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