Best Time to Visit Portugal: Month-by-Month Guide
The best time to visit Portugal is May and September. May offers Portugal before the summer crowds arrive, while September brings harvest season and some of the year’s best walking. Below, you’ll find our honest take on every month, including the ones we’d happily skip, and insider tips you won’t find in most travel guides.
Portugal Weather by Month
Wondering what the weather will look like during your trip? Use the chart below to compare Portugal temperatures by month across the country’s most popular destinations.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | High: 59°FRain: 4 in | High: 61°FRain: 4 in | High: 64°FRain: 3 in | High: 66°FRain: 3 in | High: 72°FRain: 2 in | High: 77°FRain: 1 in | High: 82°FRain: 0 in | High: 82°FRain: 0 in | High: 81°FRain: 1 in | High: 73°FRain: 3 in | High: 64°FRain: 4 in | High: 59°FRain: 4 in |
| Porto | High: 57°FRain: 7 in | High: 57°FRain: 7 in | High: 61°FRain: 4 in | High: 64°FRain: 4 in | High: 68°FRain: 3 in | High: 73°FRain: 2 in | High: 77°FRain: 1 in | High: 77°FRain: 1 in | High: 75°FRain: 2 in | High: 70°FRain: 5 in | High: 63°FRain: 6 in | High: 57°FRain: 7 in |
| Sintra | High: 58°FRain: 2.7 in | High: 60°FRain: 2.0 in | High: 65°FRain: 1.8 in | High: 67°FRain: 2.0 in | High: 72°FRain: 1.6 in | High: 78°FRain: 0.4 in | High: 82°FRain: 0.1 in | High: 83°FRain: 0.3 in | High: 80°FRain: 1.0 in | High: 73°FRain: 2.7 in | High: 64°FRain: 3.1 in | High: 59°FRain: 3.4 in |
| Douro Valley | High: 48°FRain: 8 in | High: 50°FRain: 7 in | High: 54°FRain: 5 in | High: 57°FRain: 5 in | High: 63°FRain: 4 in | High: 72°FRain: 3 in | High: 77°FRain: 1 in | High: 77°FRain: 1 in | High: 73°FRain: 3 in | High: 63°FRain: 6 in | High: 54°FRain: 7 in | High: 50°FRain: 8 in |
| Coimbra | High: 57°FRain: 5 in | High: 59°FRain: 5 in | High: 63°FRain: 3 in | High: 66°FRain: 4 in | High: 72°FRain: 3 in | High: 77°FRain: 2 in | High: 82°FRain: 0 in | High: 82°FRain: 0 in | High: 81°FRain: 2 in | High: 72°FRain: 4 in | High: 63°FRain: 5 in | High: 57°FRain: 5 in |
| Évora | High: 57°FRain: 2.0 in | High: 59°FRain: 2.1 in | High: 64°FRain: 2.8 in | High: 68°FRain: 2.4 in | High: 78°FRain: 1.4 in | High: 85°FRain: 0.3 in | High: 92°FRain: 0.1 in | High: 93°FRain: 0.1 in | High: 86°FRain: 1.5 in | High: 76°FRain: 2.9 in | High: 63°FRain: 3.0 in | High: 59°FRain: 2.2 in |
| Braga & Guimarães | High: 55°FRain: 7 in | High: 57°FRain: 7 in | High: 61°FRain: 5 in | High: 63°FRain: 4 in | High: 68°FRain: 4 in | High: 73°FRain: 2 in | High: 79°FRain: 1 in | High: 79°FRain: 1 in | High: 75°FRain: 3 in | High: 68°FRain: 6 in | High: 61°FRain: 6 in | High: 55°FRain: 7 in |
| Algarve | High: 59°FRain: 4 in | High: 61°FRain: 3 in | High: 64°FRain: 2 in | High: 66°FRain: 2 in | High: 72°FRain: 1 in | High: 77°FRain: 1 in | High: 84°FRain: 0 in | High: 84°FRain: 0 in | High: 81°FRain: 1 in | High: 73°FRain: 2 in | High: 66°FRain: 3 in | High: 61°FRain: 4 in |
High = average daily high temperature • Rain = average monthly rainfall
Best Time to Visit Portugal, Month by Month
If a friend asked us when to visit Portugal, we’d tell them to look beyond summer in Portugal. Here’s our honest take on every month, including the shoulder season Portugal does best.
Visiting Portugal in January
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in January is only worth it if quiet cities and lower prices matter more to you than the full experience.
Insider Tip: Stay overnight in Sintra and book Pena Palace’s first entry before Lisbon’s day-trippers arrive.
Visiting Portugal in February
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in February is not our first choice unless Carnival is the reason for your trip.
Insider Tip: Choose Torres Vedras over Lisbon for Carnival celebrations with fewer international visitors.
Visiting Portugal in March
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in March is too early for our full recommendation. Wait until May unless avoiding crowds is your top priority.
Insider Tip: Visit Alentejo late in the month for early wildflowers before spring tourism picks up.
Visiting Portugal in April
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in April is a good choice, but if you wait a few more weeks, you’ll get Portugal at its best.
Insider Tip: Plan time in Évora before Easter weekend, when its historic streets and cafés are noticeably quieter.
Visiting Portugal in May
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in May is a wholehearted yes. Wildflowers are in bloom, the weather is ideal for walking, and the summer crowds haven’t arrived yet.
Insider Tip: Schedule a walk through the Douro vineyards in the afternoon, when the light over the terraced hills is at its best for photos.
Visiting Portugal in June
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in June is a fantastic time if you don’t mind sharing it with more travelers. The country is buzzing, and summer celebrations are just getting started.
Insider Tip: If you’re in Lisbon on June 12-13, book dinner in Alfama months ahead or join the Santo António street celebrations instead.
Visiting Portugal in July
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in July is a no unless summer is your only option. Heat and crowds work against the experience.
Insider Tip: Base yourself in Porto, where mornings are easier for sightseeing, then save afternoons for the shaded lanes and cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Visiting Portugal in August
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in August is our least favorite month. Unless school holidays dictate your plans, choose almost any other time.
Insider Tip: Many family run restaurants and shops close for August holidays, so confirm opening days before building your itinerary.
Visiting Portugal in September
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in September is Portugal at its best. Harvest season, warm days, and exceptional walking make it an easy recommendation.
Insider Tip: Reserve a Douro Valley harvest experience early. Grape picking and traditional foot treading dates fill quickly.
Visiting Portugal in October
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in October is a smart choice if you want cooler temperatures, quieter towns, and plenty still open.
Insider Tip: October is an ideal month to pair the Douro Valley with the Alentejo, letting you catch the tail end of harvest before heading south for quieter walking routes and historic towns.
Visiting Portugal in November
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in November isn’t a month we’d recommend unless you’re looking for a quieter, slower paced trip.
Insider Tip: Skip Lisbon and head for the Algarve, where coastal trails and seaside towns stay lively long after the summer crowds leave.
Visiting Portugal in December
Our Take: Visiting Portugal in December is worth it for the holidays, but not for a first trip.
Insider Tip: Stay overnight in Óbidos instead of visiting as a day trip so you can experience Vila Natal after most visitors have left.
Finding Your Best Time to Visit Portugal
The best month depends on your priorities, but our answer is simple: May and September rarely disappoint. Explore our Portugal tours and let us help you plan the right trip.
