Greatest Time To Go to Portugal

Questioning about the perfect time to go to Portugal? We’re right here for you!

You probably have visions of exploring the colourful hilly streets of Lisbon, tasting port wine within the Douro Valley, or enjoyable on the sunny seashores of the Algarve, step one it’s essential to take is deciding when to plan your trip to Portugal. The time of 12 months you select can influence the expertise you’ll have.

For instance, do you need to spend time on the seashore? How do you’re feeling about crowds? Are you okay with extraordinarily sizzling climate or do you favor milder temperatures? Do you need to expertise sure festivals or occasions? These are all essential components to contemplate when selecting the perfect time to go to Portugal.

Though it doesn’t have fairly the identical stage of vacationer numbers as France, Italy, or neighboring Spain (but), Portugal is quickly rising as one of many main journey locations in Europe, and it falls throughout the high ten most visited nations in Europe.

The height vacationer season for Portugal is summer season (June to August) whereas the remainder of the 12 months provides a respite from crowds. Our high picks for the perfect time to go to Portugal are late spring (Could) or early fall (October) for the perfect mixture of fine climate and low crowds.

Nonetheless, even in the event you can’t go to Portugal in late spring or early fall, you don’t have to fret. Portugal is a year-round vacation spot and it could possibly even be an important winter solar vacation spot to flee to when a lot of Europe is chilly and coated in snow.

You possibly can decide the perfect time to go to Portugal utilizing our season-by-season breakdown beneath.

An Overview of Portugal’s Seasons

Portugal experiences all 4 seasons. That mentioned, how gentle or excessive the seasons are will depend on which a part of the nation you go to.

Spring, which lasts from March to Could, is a gentle and nice time to go to Portugal. Nonetheless, within the northern a part of the nation, it could possibly nonetheless be fairly chilly. 

Summer season is the most popular time of 12 months to go to Portugal and the prime vacationer season. You’ll expertise the most popular climate and highest crowds in the summertime – particularly in July and August. But, this can be a nice time to go to Portugal’s seashores. Many coastal areas have a pleasant ocean breeze year-round which mitigates the warmth.

The additional north you go, the cooler it’s, even throughout the summer season. For instance, Porto could be a number of levels cooler than Lisbon resulting from its location within the northern a part of the nation.

The months of September to November are fall in Portugal, and that is one other glorious time to go to. September is often very heat and sunny, however the summer season crowds have tapered off a bit. October and November are cooler and really feel extra like fall.

Winter in Portugal lasts from December to February. Though that is the low season, it could possibly nonetheless be a stunning time to go to. However don’t get your expectations too excessive. It’s not just like the Caribbean and you continue to would possibly expertise chilly climate. Nonetheless, Portugal boasts gentle winters, in comparison with a lot of the remainder of Europe.

Right here’s an extra breakdown of every season in Portugal, together with the benefits of visiting and the perfect locations so as to add to your itinerary primarily based on the season.

Spring in Portugal (March to Could)

Spring is a wonderful time of 12 months to go to Portugal. The nation is popping out of winter hibernation and all the things is beginning to bloom once more. Crowds should not too dangerous and the climate is nice all through the nation.

Spring Climate & Local weather in Portugal

The common excessive temperatures from March to Could vary from 62° F to 74° F. Common lows could be between 47° F and 58° F. The northern a part of the nation, together with Porto and the Douro Valley, can nonetheless be colder at the moment of 12 months, whereas you’ll expertise the warmest temperatures on the southern coast of the Algarve.

Benefits of Visiting Portugal in Spring

The benefits of visiting Portugal within the spring are fewer crowds and extra manageable climate. Varied celebrations begin taking place in Portugal within the spring, with the biggest being Easter. All all through Holy Week main as much as Easter Sunday, there are parades and festivals in each metropolis and city. 

Greatest Portuguese Locations To Go to in Spring

The most effective locations to go to within the spring are Lisbon and its surrounding space, different cities in central Portugal like Coimbra, and the Algarve area.

Specifically, spring is a superb time to go to Lisbon with out the crowds. It’s also possible to take widespread day journeys, like visiting the fairytale-like castles of Sintra or the seashore city of Cascais with fewer vacationers. One other good possibility is Obidos, a captivating city, one hour north of Lisbon.

Spring can be a good time of the 12 months to go to Coimbra, a historic metropolis in central Portugal that was as soon as the nation’s historical capital. This underrated metropolis is the third-largest in Portugal however doesn’t get practically as many vacationers as Lisbon or Porto.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to head south to the Algarve, which warms up quicker than the remainder of the nation. Though March and April are sometimes nonetheless too chilly to be thought of seashore climate, issues actually begin to heat up in Could.

Summer season in Portugal (June to August)

Portugal’s peak season is summer season, and that is if you’ll encounter the very best variety of vacationers. Seaside cities refill with locals and overseas vacationers alike, and cities like Lisbon and Porto are at their most crowded. The summer season months are additionally the most popular time of 12 months to go to Portugal.

Summer season Climate & Local weather in Portugal

Summer season in Portugal is kind of heat, with common highs starting from 76° F to 85° F. Nonetheless, in actuality, temperatures can usually attain 95° F and above in July and August. The standard low temperature throughout the summer season is between 58° F and 63° F.

Benefits of Visiting Portugal in Summer season

Days are sizzling throughout summer season in Portugal, however nights usually deliver a welcome break from the warmth. Early summer season (June) could be the proper time to go to earlier than the climate will get uncontrolled. June can be probably the most festive months of the 12 months in Portugal.

Festa de São João, or Pageant of Saint John the Baptist, is a significant occasion all throughout Portugal. Each metropolis and city celebrates this vacation with music, dancing, cookouts, fireworks, and extra.

Greatest Portuguese Locations To Go to in Summer season

A few of the greatest locations to go to in Portugal in the summertime are the Algarve, the western coast of Portugal, and northern Portugal.

When you’re after a seashore trip, summer season is a superb time of 12 months to go to Portugal. Regardless of the new climate, there’s all the time a pleasant ocean breeze to maintain you cool. July and August are probably the most crowded months of the 12 months, so early June is a perfect time to go to the Algarve or the western coast of Portugal.

The Algarve has a enjoyable vacation environment. A few of the greatest locations to remain embrace the bustling cities of Lagos and Albufeira. Alongside Portugal’s western coast, which is well-known for its nice browsing seashores, a few of the high locations are Peniche and Nazare.

When you’re not very eager on seashores, we suggest heading to Portugal’s northern areas in the summertime. It’s often cooler within the north throughout the summer season, typically considerably so. 

This could be a good time to go to town of Porto and the close by Douro Valley wine area. If you wish to get a bit off the overwhelmed path, head to the historic northern cities of Braga and Guimaraes, each about 45 minutes north of Porto. 

Keep away from Lisbon and the central and southern inside of Portugal at the moment of 12 months. Lisbon will get extraordinarily crowded and far of the remainder of the nation is simply too sizzling.

Fall in Portugal (September to November)

Fall, like spring, is one other candy spot for touring to Portugal. September to November have the proper mixture of being not too sizzling and never too crowded. 

Fall Climate & Local weather in Portugal

Common fall highs can range quite a bit relying on the place you’re within the nation, starting from 62°F to 80°F, whereas the common lows are between 48°F and 64°F. You’ll discover the higher finish of these fall temperatures in southern Portugal alongside the Algarve Coast. 

September is the tail-end of the summer season season within the Algarve, and it’s often nonetheless heat sufficient to be on the seashore. Nonetheless, it begins to chill down in northern Portugal round this time.

Benefits of Visiting Portugal in Fall

Because the excessive season in Europe continues to increase past the summer season months, September feels extra crowded than it used to, however it’s nonetheless not as dangerous as July and August when it comes to vacationer crowds. Late September and early October are nice instances to go to Portugal due to the decrease crowds and milder climate.

Greatest Portuguese Locations To Go to in Fall

A few of the greatest locations to go to throughout this time of 12 months embrace the Alentejo area, Porto, and the Douro Valley.

Alentejo is within the southern a part of Portugal, and it begins to chill off within the fall. This area is the biggest within the nation but in addition the least populated.

One of many highlights of Alentejo is town of Evora, the fascinating historic capital of the area. Alentejo can be house to some nice wild seashores that really feel undiscovered in comparison with the favored Algarve Coast.

One other good vacation spot for fall in Portugal is Porto and the Douro Valley. Portugal’s second-largest metropolis actually shines throughout the fall, when the climate is sunny and there’s a crisp, cool be aware to the air.

The second half of September is usually the grape harvest season within the Douro Valley, which is a singular time to go to in the event you’re inquisitive about studying how port wine is made earlier than indulging in a wine tasting or two.

Winter in Portugal (December to February)

Though it’s the low season, winter could be a good time to go to Portugal if you wish to keep away from the crowds fully. Visiting across the holidays can be a singular expertise.

Winter Climate & Local weather in Portugal

Winter in Portugal is the coldest time of 12 months. But, chilly is a relative time period with regards to Portuguese winters. All through Portugal, the common excessive throughout the winter months is between 57° F and 63° F whereas the common low is between 43° F and 47° F.

With daytime temperatures sometimes hovering across the low sixties, winter is gentle in Portugal, particularly in comparison with a lot of Europe the place winters are freezing chilly and snowy.

Though snow is extraordinarily uncommon in Portugal, winter is the wettest time of 12 months with a median of 5 to 10 days of rainfall per 30 days, relying on the place you’re.

Benefits of Visiting Portugal in Winter

When you don’t thoughts the chillier and wetter climate, winter is a wonderful time to go to Portugal. It’s one of many least crowded instances of the 12 months, which could be very pleasurable.

When you go to in December and early January, it’s also possible to expertise the vacation festivities in Portugal. Though the vacation season isn’t celebrated with the identical fervor you would possibly discover on the Christmas markets in Germany or Austria, most cities and cities in Portugal nonetheless beautify for the vacations and have particular celebrations.

Christmas is widely known in Portugal, however Three Kings’ Day on January 6 can be an essential vacation and the cheerful spirit continues till then.

Greatest Portuguese Locations To Go to in Winter

A few of the greatest locations to go to within the winter are Lisbon and the Algarve. Lisbon has quite a bit occurring year-round, whereas some smaller cities and villages could also be quieter throughout the winter months. Porto isn’t pretty much as good to go to within the winter since it could possibly rain quite a bit and also you gained’t be capable to benefit from the close by Douro Valley.

The Algarve is far calmer within the winter in comparison with the energetic summer season months, however this coastal area nonetheless attracts some vacationers searching for to flee the chilly in different components of Europe. Though you may need a number of further wet days per 30 days within the winter, the Algarve continues to be an total sunny vacation spot year-round.

Different Issues To Take into account When Deciding When To Go to Portugal

We’ve shared our high selections for the perfect time to go to Portugal and the best locations for each season, however there are a number of different issues to remember when planning your Portugal journey. The primary of these is the benefits of visiting Portugal throughout the off-season.

As Portugal continues to develop in reputation, so do the gang ranges. Whereas main cities like Lisbon and Porto haven’t fairly reached the degrees of Paris or Rome, they’re definitely getting extra crowded annually. The identical goes for widespread seashore locations in Portugal.

Visiting throughout the summer season means you’ll should cope with increased crowds and extra excessive climate. With temperatures hovering previous 100° F in July and August, exploring Portugal can get fairly uncomfortable and even disagreeable.

Selecting spring or fall on your journey alleviates these points and provides a way more pleasurable expertise.

It’s additionally essential to keep in mind that the perfect time to go to Portugal can range by area. For instance, early spring and late fall are nice instances to go to Lisbon, however in the event you needed to go to the Algarve or the western coast of Portugal, it could be too chilly for seashores.

Summer season is a superb time to discover Portugal’s lovely seashores if you’d like sizzling, sunny climate with a robust ocean breeze, however it may be too sizzling to go to the inland areas of the nation. 

These are essential components to remember when deciding when to go to Portugal.

Select The Greatest Time To Go to Portugal & Let JayWay Deal with All The Relaxation

The most effective time to go to Portugal might range, relying in your journey fashion and the sort of trip you take into account. But, one factor that by no means adjustments is that JayWay Journey is your ticket to an impeccable European expertise to cherish and bear in mind for all times.

Whether or not you’re on the lookout for an itinerary that showcases the perfect of Portugal or one that mixes the charms of Portugal and the highlights of Spain, our journey specialists will ensure you have an unforgettable time in continental Europe’s westernmost nation.

Born and raised in Athens, Maria’s obsessed with journey and storytelling, a mixture that makes her splendid for her position as our content material supervisor.