Best time to go to Portugal for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 04/06/2024When is the best time to go to Portugal?
The best time to visit Portugal is between March and December. However, it is between April and October that the conditions are most favorable for exploring the entire Portuguese territory.
Like its Spanish neighbor, Portugal experiences climatic differences between the north and the south, accentuated by the presence of the Atlantic Ocean which brings mildness, but also a lot of humidity, especially during the winter period. In general, the further south you go, the longer and hotter the good season is. Thus, in the Algarve, the weather is almost perfect all year round and the most daring can even swim there from April, with water temperatures approaching 20°C (68°F) .
In July and August, it is the peak tourist season: holidaymakers flock from all over Europe to enjoy the heat. Flights and rentals are more expensive, but this is when the weather is most clement and all conditions are met to enjoy the beach along the country's nearly 900 km of coastline.
When is the best time to go to Portugal for hiking? Whether in the mountains punctuated by heavenly rivers of the Peneda-Gerês National Park in the north, or on trails with breathtaking viewpoints in the Algarve in the south, Portugal is a true paradise for hikers between May and November. In summer, between July and September, the heat can be a hindrance, so it is recommended to set off early in the morning and to favor shaded areas in the forests. The rest of the time, the temperatures are perfect for enjoying without suffering, and the colors of nature are splendid in spring and autumn.
If you are a surf enthusiast, it is best to go to Portugal between September and April, when the wind blowing from the Atlantic Ocean creates beautiful waves. Moreover, winter, although less popular, is also a good option for a city trip. In Lisbon, for example, a few tourists seeking tranquility roam the streets and explore the architectural remains of the glorious past of this city.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Alentejo
Evora, Sines, Beja...
Algarve
Faro (Algarve), Albufeira, Lagos...
Central Portugal
Lisbon, Aveiro, Coimbra...
Northern Portugal
Porto, Viana do Castelo, Amarante...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Portugal for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Portugal in january Portugal in february Portugal in march Portugal in april Portugal in may Portugal in june Portugal in july Portugal in august Portugal in september Portugal in october Portugal in november Portugal in december
Best time to travel to Portugal by cities
Climate and Weather in Portugal
Located on the Iberian Peninsula, the climate of Portugal is of the Mediterranean type and is temperate in the northern half, towards Porto, and hot on the side of Lisbon, as well as in the southern part.
Throughout the country, the coasts experience less temperature variations depending on the seasons, thanks to the presence of the ocean and its precious Gulf Stream. However, inland areas have significant temperature differences: in summer, temperatures can be scorching and winters harsh, especially in the far northeast of the country.
Nevertheless, Portugal's weather allows for travel throughout the year. In summer, coastal areas or riverbanks inland are preferred for swimming and sources of coolness, while in winter, the south of the country offers beautiful days. During the shoulder seasons, a stay across the entire territory is perfectly feasible.
Climate in northern Portugal
Much wetter than the south, northern Portugal experiences numerous rainy episodes, mainly concentrated between November and February. Cities like Porto or Viana do Castelo, for example, are on average rained on one day out of three during this period. Inland, temperatures are often negative in the northeast, around Bragança, and it is not uncommon for snow to make an appearance, especially in January.
To avoid the rains, it is best to wait until the end of spring to visit northern Portugal. Thus, from early June, the region offers perfect weather to explore all its treasures.
In summer, the thermometer hovers around 25°C (77°F) in Porto, but can climb above 30°C (86°F) as soon as you move away from the ocean. However, lakes and rivers are plentiful for cooling off.
Autumn, quite short, is marked by the return of rain from early October. Nevertheless, temperatures remain very mild with highs around 22°C (72°F) during the day.
Climate in central Portugal
As you move south, temperatures rise and the air is less humid. Thus, the best time to visit central Portugal extends from March to late November.
Around Aveiro, summers are mild, while in Lisbon or Cascais, to the south, they are hotter with temperatures around 30°C (86°F) from early July to late September.
Spring and autumn are not very marked in terms of temperature, but rain is quite present, especially in November.
In winter, from December to February, the coast is swept by winds and humidity levels are at their highest. In the Serra da Estrela mountains, in the far east, this season is particularly cold and not conducive to a discovery trip.
Climate in Alentejo
Visiting the Alentejo region is a good compromise to avoid the crowds that flock to the Algarve during the summer, between July and September. Bathed in waters whose temperature often exceeds 20°C (68°F) during this period, you can fully enjoy the pleasures of the beach. Inland, however, the thermometer soars and it is not uncommon for it to exceed 40°C (104°F) around Évora.
The transitional seasons are also very pleasant in Alentejo. Highs exceed 20°C (68°F) in April or November and rainfall is low. During winter, between December and March, the sun is shining and the atmosphere is very mild.
Climate in Algarve
The extreme south of Portugal is much drier than the north. As a result, and thanks to consistently mild temperatures, the region can be visited all year round.
In winter, spring, and autumn, the weather is perfect for hiking or touring all the towns and villages. From Lagos to Faro, passing through Albufeira, it's a road trip best done outside of summer, but the weather still offers perfect days for sightseeing!
During the summer period, the heat is mitigated by the trade winds and the air remains breathable, as long as you stay close to the coast.
Climate of Madeira and the Azores
The weather in these two Portuguese archipelagos differs from the mainland, not only due to their geographical position, but especially thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream.
- The Madeira archipelago is a climatic particularity as it benefits from a subtropical climate. Indeed, the islands are at the same latitude as southern Morocco, giving them a very mild climate all year round, as well as a temperate climate in the mountains. The weather is pleasant with few thermal variations.
- Scattered in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km from the Portuguese coast, the Azores islands enjoy a temperate oceanic climate. It is mild all year round, but the most pleasant period is the summer, between June and early October. Although the temperatures are ideal, the archipelago experiences significant precipitation, especially in the transitional seasons, in November and March.
Temperatures and rainfall in Portugal
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Portugal and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Lisbon, Albufeira, Aveiro, Coimbra and Faro (Algarve), as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Portugal
Find out when Portugal has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Portugal
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, June, November and December. The number of visitors to Portugal is high in: July, August, September and October.
- Very low season in Portugal: January, February, March, November and December.
- Low season in Portugal: April, May and June.
- High season in Portugal: July, September and October.
- Peak season in Portugal: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Portugal month by month
Average price for flights to Portugal
A return flight between Montreal and Lisbon is generally cheaper if you go in november ($ 681 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 191 more for your airline ticket to Lisbon if you go in march.
Where to go in Portugal?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Lisbon | 59°F | 61°F | 65°F | 67°F | 72°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 81°F | 74°F | 65°F | 61°F |
| Albufeira | 61°F | 61°F | 63°F | 67°F | 72°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 74°F | 67°F | 63°F |
| Aveiro | 58°F | 59°F | 63°F | 67°F | 70°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Coimbra | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 74°F | 79°F | 85°F | 86°F | 83°F | 76°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Faro (Algarve) | 61°F | 61°F | 63°F | 67°F | 72°F | 76°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 74°F | 67°F | 63°F |
| Fatima | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 74°F | 79°F | 85°F | 88°F | 85°F | 76°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Lagos | 61°F | 61°F | 63°F | 65°F | 70°F | 74°F | 76°F | 77°F | 76°F | 72°F | 67°F | 63°F |
| Porto | 58°F | 59°F | 63°F | 65°F | 70°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Viana do Castelo | 56°F | 58°F | 61°F | 63°F | 67°F | 70°F | 74°F | 76°F | 74°F | 70°F | 61°F | 58°F |
| Amarante | 56°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 86°F | 88°F | 83°F | 72°F | 61°F | 56°F |
| Beja | 59°F | 61°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 88°F | 94°F | 95°F | 88°F | 79°F | 67°F | 61°F |
| Cascais | 59°F | 61°F | 63°F | 65°F | 68°F | 70°F | 74°F | 76°F | 74°F | 72°F | 65°F | 63°F |
| Evora | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 86°F | 94°F | 94°F | 86°F | 77°F | 65°F | 59°F |
| Portimao | 61°F | 61°F | 63°F | 67°F | 72°F | 76°F | 79°F | 81°F | 79°F | 74°F | 67°F | 63°F |
| Praia de Mira | 58°F | 59°F | 63°F | 67°F | 72°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 81°F | 74°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Sines | 59°F | 61°F | 63°F | 65°F | 70°F | 72°F | 76°F | 77°F | 76°F | 72°F | 67°F | 63°F |
| Sintra | 61°F | 61°F | 65°F | 67°F | 70°F | 74°F | 76°F | 77°F | 77°F | 74°F | 67°F | 63°F |
| Alcobaça | 58°F | 59°F | 63°F | 65°F | 70°F | 74°F | 77°F | 79°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Aljezur | 58°F | 58°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Altura | 61°F | 61°F | 65°F | 67°F | 74°F | 77°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 63°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
very bad weather
About Portugal
What can I do in Portugal?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Portugal reliable?
Climate data for Portugal has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Portugal allows us to determine the average for each month in Lisbon, Albufeira, Aveiro, Coimbra, Faro (Algarve), Fatima, Lagos, Porto, and 113 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.