What is the best time to visit Portugal?

Best Time to Visit Portugal

The best time to travel to Portugal is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Portugal

Spring in Portugal is a great time to visit, with pleasant temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The days are getting longer and the weather is mild, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities. Nature is in full bloom and the countryside is full of wildflowers. The traditional festivals of Easter and Festa de São João take place during this season, as well as the cherry blossom festival in Évora. Travelers can expect warm days and cool nights, perfect for exploring the country’s many attractions.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Portugal

Portugal in January

Weather

January in Portugal is typically cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 5-15°C (41-59°F). The days are usually short and dark, and rainfall is common.

Events

• The New Year’s Day celebrations in Portugal are a time for family gatherings and traditional meals.
• The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th, and is marked by parades, fireworks, and the blessing of the waters.
• The Festival of São João is held in Porto on June 24th, and includes bonfires, fireworks, and traditional music.
• The Lisbon Half Marathon is held in January, and is one of the largest running events in Portugal.
• The Feast of São Sebastião is celebrated on January 20th, and is marked by parades, fireworks, and traditional music.

Portugal in January

Weather

January in Portugal is usually mild, with temperatures ranging from lows of 8°C to highs of 16°C. Rainfall is common, with an average of 11 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The New Year’s Day Parade is held in Lisbon on January 1st, celebrating the start of the new year.
• The Festival of São Gonçalo is celebrated in the city of Amarante on January 10th. This festival is dedicated to the patron saint of the city.
• The Feast of St. Anthony is celebrated in Lisbon on January 17th. This festival honors the patron saint of Lisbon and includes a procession and fireworks.
• The International Music Festival in Porto is held in January. This festival features performances from international and Portuguese artists.
• The International Film Festival of Estoril is held in January. This festival showcases films from around the world.

Portugal in March

Weather

March in Portugal is the start of spring, with temperatures ranging from 8-20°C (46-68°F). The days are longer and the weather is mild, with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Queima das Fitas is a traditional celebration that takes place in Coimbra, Portugal in the first week of May. It is a week-long celebration of the end of the academic year, with concerts, parades, and fireworks.
• The Lisbon Half Marathon is an annual event that takes place in March. The race is a 21km course through the city of Lisbon, with thousands of runners from all over the world participating.
• The International Music Festival of Sintra is a classical music festival that takes place in March. The festival features performances from renowned classical musicians from around the world.
• The Madeira Flower Festival is an annual event that takes place in Funchal, Portugal in March. The festival celebrates the beauty of the island’s flowers with parades, performances, and exhibitions.
• The International Film Festival of Porto is an annual event that takes place in March. The festival showcases films from around the world, and is a great opportunity for film lovers to discover new directors and films.

Portugal in April

Weather

April in Portugal is typically mild and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C. The days are long and the sun is out for most of the day. Rain is common, but usually light and short-lived.

Events

• The Festa de São Jorge is held in Lisbon on April 23rd. This is a traditional feast day in Portugal, celebrating the patron saint of Portugal, St. George. The day is marked with parades, music, and traditional Portuguese food.
• The Festival of the Flowers is held in the city of Loures on April 28th. This is a celebration of spring, with a parade of floats decorated with flowers and other decorations.
• The International Music Festival is held in Lisbon from April 9th-18th. This festival features a variety of music from all over the world, including jazz, classical, and folk music.
• The Festa de Nossa Senhora da Piedade is held in the city of Fátima on April 12th. This is a religious festival celebrating the Virgin Mary, with processions, music, and traditional Portuguese food.
• The International Film Festival is held in Lisbon from April 25th-May 3rd. This festival showcases some of the best films from around the world, including feature films, documentaries, and short films.

Portugal in May

Weather

May in Portugal is typically mild and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to mid-twenties Celsius. It is the perfect time to explore the country’s beaches, cities and countryside.

Events

• The International Film Festival of Lisbon takes place in May. This event showcases the best in independent and international cinema.
• The Festival of St. John celebrates the arrival of summer in Portugal. This event includes parades, bonfires, and fireworks.
• The Queima das Fitas is an annual event in Coimbra. It is a week-long celebration of the end of the academic year, with parades, concerts, and other activities.
• The Festival Med is a music festival that takes place in the Algarve. It features a variety of musical acts from around the world.
• The Festival of Our Lady of Fatima is held in May. This event celebrates the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in 1917.

Portugal in June

Weather

June is a beautiful month in Portugal, with warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The average high temperature is around 25°C (77°F), with an average low of 17°C (63°F). The days are long, with an average of 14 hours of daylight. Rainfall is relatively low, with an average of 2 inches.

Events

• The Festival of St. Anthony is celebrated on June 13th in Lisbon. The festival includes a parade, music, and traditional Portuguese cuisine.
• The Queima das Fitas is a university celebration held in Coimbra. The festival includes parades, concerts, and fireworks.
• The Rock in Rio music festival is held in Lisbon in June. The festival features some of the biggest names in music from around the world.
• The Atlantic Festival is held in Porto in June. The festival includes music, art, and cultural events.
• The Festival of St. John is celebrated on June 24th in many cities in Portugal. The festival includes bonfires, fireworks, and traditional Portuguese cuisine.

Portugal in July

Weather

July is the hottest month in Portugal, with temperatures reaching an average high of 25°C (77°F) and an average low of 17°C (63°F). The days are long and sunny, with an average of 12 hours of sunshine a day. The south of Portugal is usually drier than the north, where there may be some showers.

Events

• The Festival Med Festival takes place in July in the city of Evora. This festival celebrates the traditional music of the Mediterranean with concerts, workshops, and other cultural activities.
• The city of Viana do Castelo celebrates its patron saint, Santa Luzia, with a week-long festival in July. The festival includes parades, concerts, and traditional Portuguese cuisine.
• The city of Porto celebrates the Festival of São João in June and July. This festival includes parades, fireworks, and traditional foods such as sardines, boiled potatoes, and bolo rei (a traditional Portuguese cake).
• The city of Lisbon celebrates its patron saint, Santo Antonio, with a week-long festival in June and July. The festival includes parades, concerts, and traditional Portuguese cuisine.
• The city of Faro celebrates its patron saint, St. John the Baptist, with a week-long festival in July. The festival includes parades, concerts, and traditional Portuguese cuisine.

Portugal in August

Weather

In August, Portugal’s weather is generally hot and sunny. Temperatures range from the mid-twenties to the mid-thirties. The average high temperature is 28°C (82°F) and the average low temperature is 17°C (63°F). August is the hottest month of the year in Portugal, with the highest temperatures usually occurring in the south of the country.

Events

• The Festival of Our Lady of Agony is held in the town of Vila do Conde on the first Sunday of August. This festival celebrates the patron saint of the town and features traditional music, dancing, and fireworks.
• The Festival of St. Lawrence is held in the town of Lagos on August 10th. This festival celebrates the patron saint of the town and includes a parade, traditional music, and a fireworks display.
• The Festival of Our Lady of the Assumption is held in the town of Tavira on August 15th. This festival celebrates the patron saint of the town and features traditional music, dancing, and fireworks.
• The Festival of Our Lady of the Sea is held in the town of Cascais on August 15th. This festival celebrates the patron saint of the town and includes a parade, traditional music, and a fireworks display.
• The Festival of Our Lady of the Assumption is held in the town of Ovar on August 15th. This festival celebrates the patron saint of the town and includes a parade, traditional music, and a fireworks display.

Portugal in September

Weather

September is generally a warm and pleasant month in Portugal. Average temperatures range from the mid-60s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit (18-24 Celsius). Rainfall is lighter than in the summer months, and the days are usually sunny.

Events

• The Lisbon Half Marathon is held in September. The race takes place in the city of Lisbon and is open to runners of all levels.
• The Algarve Cup is a women’s soccer tournament held in the Algarve region of Portugal. It features some of the top teams in Europe and is a popular event for soccer fans.
• The Festival do Marisco is a seafood festival held in the city of Setúbal. The festival features a variety of seafood dishes, as well as live music and entertainment.
• The Festival Internacional de Música de Cascais is an international music festival held in the city of Cascais. The festival features a variety of musical genres, from jazz to classical.
• The Festival do Vinho do Douro is a wine festival held in the Douro Valley. The festival features tastings of local wines, as well as food and live music.

Portugal in October

Weather

October in Portugal is generally mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C. The days are usually sunny with some rain in the evenings.

Events

• The Lisbon Half Marathon is held in early October, attracting runners from all over the world.
• The Festival Med, held in the Algarve region, celebrates traditional Portuguese music and culture.
• The Algarve Cup is a major international women’s football tournament held in October.
• The International Music Festival of Sintra is held in October, featuring classical music from around the world.
• The Festival of the Sea is held in the port city of Setubal, celebrating the local fishing industry.

Portugal in November

Weather

November is the start of the winter season in Portugal. Temperatures range from 10-17°C (50-63°F) during the day and can drop to as low as 5°C (41°F) at night. Rainfall is common, with an average of 12-15 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• All Saints Day (Dia de Todos os Santos) is celebrated on November 1st. It is a public holiday in Portugal, and it is a day to honor and remember deceased loved ones.
• The Lisbon Marathon is held on November 17th. It is a popular event that attracts runners from all over the world.
• The International Documentary Film Festival of Lisbon (Doclisboa) is held in November. It is one of the most important documentary film festivals in Europe.
• The Festival of St. Martin is celebrated on November 11th. It is a traditional holiday in Portugal, and it is celebrated with bonfires, music, and food.
• The International Music Festival of Sintra is held in November. It is a popular event that features classical and contemporary music performances.

Portugal in December

Weather

December in Portugal is generally mild and wet, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Precipitation is common, with an average of around 10 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The Feast of Our Lady of Conception is celebrated in Portugal on December 8th. This is a national holiday and is celebrated with religious processions and fireworks.
• On December 12th, Portugal celebrates the Day of the Virgin Mary. This is a day of celebration for Catholics, and many churches will hold special services and processions.
• December 21st is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in Portugal. This is a time of celebration for many, as it marks the start of winter and the coming of the Christmas season.
• Christmas is celebrated in Portugal on December 25th. This is a time of celebration and family gatherings, with traditional foods such as bacalhau (salted cod) being served.
• On December 31st, New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Portugal. This is a time of celebration and reflection, with fireworks, parties, and gatherings taking place throughout the country.